Chapter 2 - The Gift

Gracie and her aunt sat at the massive oak table in the dining room, the walls covered by a chaotic arrangement of paintings. Watercolours, oil paintings, and pastels from a dozen different artists, and each landscape paired with a unique, and often intricately carved, wooden frame.

“Gracie, before everyone gets here, would you like your birthday gift?” asked Aunt Bee as she reached into the hutch behind her.

“You didn’t have to get me anything, auntie – coming here every summer is my favourite birthday gift,” she replied.

“Hahaha, right. I was 15 once, and spending the summer on a farm is hardly a gift. You earn your keep here at the Escape, but I do love our summers together. I actually have two gifts for you this year,” she said, then handed Gracie the first package, wrapped in a pretty blue crêpe paper and ribbons with curls.

Gracie unwrapped the present, trying to be respectful of the effort that went into making it pretty but excited to see what her aunt had picked out for her. Aunt Bee gave the best presents. They were never something Gracie would have picked out for herself or even thought of asking for, but she always ended up loving them. She practically wore out the easel, canvasses, and beginner’s watercolour set she was given when she was five and must have played a thousand songs on the flute she got on her seventh birthday. Her parents were worried she’d burn down the house with the wood shaping and burning kit she got when she turned ten, but many of her pyrographs could still be found throughout their home. She was still trying to master the acoustic guitar she was given when she turned twelve, and now there were few evenings with friends that didn’t involve a singalong accompanied by Gracie’s guitar. Of all the gifts that Gracie was given each year, it always seemed to be the ones from Aunt Bee that she spent the most time with and cherished the most.

Buried under the paper and ribbons, Gracie discovered a Sony Walkman. The bright yellow case a rich contrast against the blue wrapping.

“I have batteries and a few cassettes for you upstairs, and when we go into town tomorrow, you can pick out a few of the bands you like. I’m sure my stuff is too old for you, but you don’t seem to mind it when we’re driving around.”

“Oh, I love it!’ exclaimed Gracie.

As Gracie admired the cassette player, Aunt Bee silently put another present on the table in front of her. It was bigger than the first and seemed to be fairly heavy. It was wrapped in the same paper, and there was a small card attached. Gracie opened it to see her aunt’s familiar handwriting, with a phrase she’d often heard her say: “Escape when you can.”

Gracie put the Walkman on the table and picked up the second gift. She opened it to find a small wooden box with intricate designs around its edges and her name inlaid in a darker wood on the top.

“Oh, it’s so pretty,” she said.

“It was made by a good friend of mine. I’m glad you appreciate his work.”

Gracie admired the details etched into the heavy wood. A tune began to play as Gracie opened the box, a song she’d heard her aunt singing many times. Gracie started to sing along to the tune, “... if you like Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain.” As the lid opened, a small carving of a familiar red dog skipped along a mirrored surface. She picked up the dog to look at it more closely.

“This is Ginger,” she exclaimed, and her aunt nodded, her loving smile growing larger.

Gracie put the dog back on the mirror to continue its dance, then examined the jewelry box. She saw herself in the mirror on the inside of the lid, a few of her Aunt’s many paintings appearing behind her. Inside the box was an assortment of slots and compartments to hold rings and things, though there was nothing atop the silky soft pink cushions. Other than her recently pierced earrings, Gracie didn’t own any jewelry, but she knew that when she did start wearing some, this would be the perfect place to keep them safe.

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“It’s so beautiful. I love it. Thank you so much, Auntie Bee,” said Gracie.

As she admired the box, she realized that Barb was watching her with a curious look.

Gracie explored the box and noticed that the depth wasn’t quite right. She picked it up and said, mostly to herself, “It feels heavier than it should.”

“Perhaps there’s more to it than you can see,” said Barb cryptically.

And from the glint in her aunt’s eyes, Gracie knew this was more than an empty jewelry box. She traced her fingers along the outside of the box, seeing where the different types of wood joined but unable to feel their joints. On the right side of the box, she discovered a small pinhole, so tiny that it blended into the wood unless you looked at it from the right angle. Gracie knew right away what it might be and put the box on the table to go looking for the tool she thought she’d need.

In a few minutes, Gracie came back to the table, unfolding a paperclip as she walked. She stuck the pin into the hole and giggled when she heard a slight click come from the other side of the box. The once smooth surface of that side now had a small rectangle poking out. As Gracie pulled it free, she saw the same pink lining slowly appear in the hidden drawer, and unlike the top of the jewelry box, this one wasn’t empty. A slip of paper rested on the silk cushion, and Gracie pulled it out.

My dearest Gracie,

You’ve always been a clever child, and I hope you never lose your sense of wonder and ability to think beyond the obvious. I have loved you since the moment you were born, and I am proud of the woman you’ve become.

I love you to the stars,

Auntie Bee

P.S. Every dog has her day

The tune played on as Gracie read the note.

She got up from her chair to give her aunt a hug. “Thank you, Auntie, I love it,” she said.

Gracie went back to her chair, her eyes still exploring the box. The little dog continued to dance around the mirror. Gracie knew it was a magnet that was pulling it along, but the movement was quite magical.

With the note removed from the hidden compartment, Gracie noticed that the lining had a small, star-shaped indent to it. She traced a finger along the soft fabric, and when she got to the indent, she pressed on it. Nothing happened.

She quietly explored the box. A key on the back of the box slowly turned, powering the clockwork mechanism inside that made the music play and the doggie dance. When the music stopped, Gracie reached for the key. It was securely attached. She wound it a few turns, making the music and dog start up again.

“I wonder,” she said, scooping up the little dog.

She held the little carving and looked more closely at it. The details on the dog were amazing. It was clearly her Aunt’s faithful companion, mounted on a small pedestal. The bottom of the pedestal was shaped like a star.

“Oh, that’s so clever,” she said.

Aunt Bee smiled and watched Gracie move the little dog to place it on the indent in the hidden drawer. As soon as the dog was in place, another click came from the backside of the box.

Gracie smiled at her aunt, then turned the box to see what this new drawer held inside.

“Good work Gracie – most people would stop after finding the first hidden compartment, but not you,” said Barb.

Gracie slid open the final drawer to discover a new compartment. The same pink fabric lined the box, and this time there was a piece of jewelry inside. She took out the necklace to admire it.

A fine gold chain held a small teardrop-shaped pendant about the size of a nickel. It was a gray stone with small flecks of white running through it, set inside a gold backing. The evening sun glinted off the polished stone, making the flecks sparkle.

“It’s so pretty. Thank you so much,” she said, getting up to hug her aunt for all of the gifts.

Her aunt took the chain and draped it around Gracie’s neck. “This is a special stone, Gracie. There aren’t many left. It was given to me by my grandmother when I turned 15, and she’d been given it by her grandmother. I’ve been waiting a long time to give this to you, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.”

“I love it,” said Gracie. She could barely feel the chain against her neck, but the stone felt warm against her skin.

The whack-whack-whack of Ginger’s tail thumping on the floor meant that someone would be knocking on the door in moments; the neighbouring families coming over to share some cake and laughs with Aunt Bee and Gracie.

“Maybe put the box in your room for now, Gracie. I have more to tell you about the necklace, but it’ll have to wait until later.”

The neighbours came in to wish Gracie a happy birthday, and the rest of the evening was filled with card games, cake, coffee, and laughter.

But later never came.