Eloise stopped rocking. Her recollections faded, and she gazed upon the snow globe. Helen sent it, she assured herself. The coincidence of the tune brought forth her long buried memories. Seth Durham disappeared from her life as quickly as he entered it. For one sparkling moment he touched her life. She loved Elmer. Petty Officer Third Class Durham was a tease, a part of her unreality.

The widow sighed.

With a heavy heart, Eloise rose from her seat. She slowly entered the kitchen to prepare another solitary meal. Three years of loneliness bent her shoulders as she hovered over the stove. Wearily, she contemplated her grilled cheese sandwich and bowl of tomato soup. Since Elmer's passing, all her days remained the same. Oh how she wished he had hung on for just a few more years.

Lackadaisically, Eloise picked up her soup spoon. Her hand trembled slightly as she lifted the red liquid toward her mouth. As she began to sip, the doorbell chimed for a second time. An older and different voice called out 'Amazon.'

Rising, Eloise trudged toward the door. Another gift from another child, she thought. Time and distance had not dampened their holiday cheer. She smiled ruefully as she reached for the door handle.

Swinging the door opened, Eloise confronted a mass of red roses. She stepped back in astonishment. Surely, the flower delivery belonged to another widowed lady who lived in the complex.

"Merry Christmas!" a man's voice bellowed. He thrust the long-stemmed roses at her. Hazel eyes sparkled gleefully above a cock-eyed smile.

"Seth Durham," Eloise gasped in surprise. Quickly, she gathered the two dozen roses into her opened arms.

"I came back for you, darling," the retired sailor exclaimed. Tears flooded his rheumy eyes, "You were already married."

"I waited for you to come back," Eloise choked, falling into Seth's embrace.

"Well, I'm here now," the Navy veteran announced. Swiftly, he strode into the condo. Lifting the music box, he twisted the key on the bottom and vigorously shook it. Snow fell upon the sleigh ride couple.

"Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now"

Embracing, the couple sang along with the snow globe tune.