Charity entered Cromwell's with her list in her hand. This was her first Christmas without her parents and she promised herself she'd make the best of it. Briefly she wondered how the investigation was going and when the search would come to Dreamville. She'd been lucky up until now, but she knew it was only a matter of time before her luck ran out.

She caught sight of Elena by the counter and smiled as she approached her friend. "Well what brings you here?"

Elena turned with a smile of her own. "Just picking up some gifts that I ordered. You?"

"Looking around. I haven't even started Christmas shopping."

"Will Cody be getting something from you?" Elena asked with a teasing smile.

Charity blushed. "I'm not sure. I didn't know if I should buy him anything. Now that Jacy is back I figured I didn't have a chance."

"Well, you did go to the Turkey Trot with Ian maybe you could make Cody jealous."

"Ian needed a date, and I was free. He doesn't like me that way. Besides, Cody would have to have some kind of feelings for me in order to feel jealousy."

Elena shrugged. "Still I'd pick up something for him. Maybe send it to him from Santa."

Charity grimaced. "Maybe. I noticed you weren't at the Turkey Trot. I thought you would be there since Luke was your partner."

Once again Elena's shoulders lifted. "I've decided to give Luke some breathing room."

"Really?"

"Don't act so surprised. I'm feeling charitable for the holidays."

Charity giggled softly. "So do you have a long list for gifts?"

"If you're asking if I give gifts to my customers, the answer is no. I'm just giving to Anjanette, Dean, Vanessa and Tally. They're my family so I owe them that much. What about you, don't you have family to send gifts to?"

Charity shook her head quickly. "No, I have no family. I thought I'd just pick up a little something for my friends." She smiled at Elena's expectant face. "Yes, you are on my list too."

"Good cause you're on mine." She picked up her packages and turned to leave.

"Elena?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for being my friend."

"Same to you. We unsavory characters have to stick together you know."

Charity laughed softly. "We're the spice of the world."