A Heavenly Christmas. Rhonda Merwarth

      Eve Morgan sighed as the Christmas song blaring through her alarm clock pulled her out of a deep sleep. “Wasn’t it just Thanksgiving?” she murmured to herself. The days were passing faster than she’d realized. She changed the station to a financial report program and slid out of bed.

      Though it was clearly cold out with a thick layer of snow covering the trees and ground outside her apartment complex, Eve was cozy in her silky gray pajamas. She padded her way across her smooth tile floor and started her day. Shower, dress, makeup, hair: all finished right on time. She had her schedule down to a science, and she prided herself on it.

      Her brain was already running down the massive list of things she needed to accomplish that day. New client cold calls, stocks review for existing clients, meetings… It would all get done, and she’d stay as late as it took to ensure that.

      When she got into her kitchen, she saw her cat perched on the countertop and shook her head. That doggone cat was so stubborn, refusing to stay on the ground where she kept trying to move him, but oh well. She could indulge him. “Good morning, Forbes,” she said lightly, putting down her cell phone on the granite counter and shifting to the drawer where she stored the cat’s food. “We need to look at your portfolio,” she teased the animal. “I think it’s time to diversify.”

      The cat meowed its opinion on the topic. At least her clients showed more enthusiasm for her suggestions. She’d helped them make a lot of money, and they appreciated that—and her.

      She slid the bowl across the counter to the cat. “There ya go.” With a smile, she grabbed her phone, taking a peek at the stock app she’d pulled up. “Catnip is trading up, ooh!” Eve grabbed a bottle of water from her stainless steel fridge, then added to the cat, “All right, text me if you need me.”

      Forbes ignored her teasing comments, focusing on his meal.

      Eve stepped out her front door, locking it behind her, then headed to the elevator. Before the doors could shut, her neighbor Ruth slipped in, dressed in what could only be described as a garish green Christmas sweater. Her Yorkie was curled up in her arm, as cozy as a bug. The dog was rather yippy and not that friendly to anyone but Ruth.

      “Hello, Eve,” Ruth said with a smile as she moved to the back of the elevator. Her dark skin was glowing with her happy mood, and she hummed under her breath—probably a Christmas song. The woman had been singing them since early November.

      “Hey, Ruth.” She could see the red and green lights on the sweater blinking in the elevator door reflection. “Wow, that is some sweater,” she said as tactfully as possible.

      “Well, thanks!” She could hear the perkiness in Ruth’s voice. Her neighbor loved the holidays and was always inviting Eve to participate in this or that Christmas celebration in her apartment next door. Eve always declined, not really one for parties—or holidays, to be truthful. Thankfully, the walls were thick enough that she barely heard the ruckus. “I could pick you up one. There are quite a few left.”

      Oh, heavens no, Eve thought with a mental shudder. Totally not her style. She replied to a client’s text, confirming their upcoming meeting time later today. “That’s okay,” she said to Ruth in what she hoped was a non-horrified tone. “I think that is a one-sweater-per-building sweater.”

      She stepped out onto the sidewalk and made her way to her office, scrolling through her phone at her emails. Her heels clacked solidly on the concrete. The morning air was crisp. It felt like winter even though it was technically still a few days away. Christmas decorations covered all of downtown Chicago in preparation for the holiday festivities. People were bundled up in their warmest gear as she strolled past them, barely glancing up from her phone.

      Her

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