One Day in December

Laurie’s father survived the heart attack, but his health is in decline. The stress of the family she is not living with keeps Laurie tired and unfocused on her goal of finding a magazine job. The holiday season brings with it many parties at the hotel she works at, and she feels that “Christmas insults my eyeballs everywhere I look” (85). While shopping, she runs into Jack “bundled inside his big winter coat and scarf, and I sigh because I’m caught by the memory of him at the bus stop” (86). Nonetheless, Laurie has come to better terms with her feelings for Jack. She has started to truly appreciate him as a friend and has been able to get closer to him while still maintaining her friendship with Sarah.

Jack and Laurie decide to go around looking for Jack’s gift for Sarah. Jack brings Laurie to a bazaar of unique jewelry, a hidden spot in London Jack is familiar with because his father bought his mother a gift there she still wears now, years after his death. Jack notices how tired and stressed Laurie looks. When they find Sarah’s gift, Jack invites Laurie for a drink, and when she agrees, Jack is surprised: “I was sure she going to dash off” (90).