The Perfect Gift extended preview

The Perfect Gift.

Jessica planted her head against the window. “Oh my god, please be open.” She shivered as snow fell off the roof, landing on her head. Shaking it free, she dashed for the door.

She had to get something for her husband before Christmas, something he would just adore. The problem was he was impossible to shop for. What would you get someone who was just obsessed with blueberries? Another year of a boring old blueberry pie just wasn’t going to cut it.

She slammed the door open, snow falling onto the floor as she strutted into the store. “I am here to find a gift for my loving husband.”

The man behind the counter stood up. “I am sorry, but we don’t sell anything here.” He narrowed his blue eyes at Jessica, his eyebrow arching as snow fell from her hat and onto the floor. “Now I will ask if you clean up your mess and leave miss.”

“But all of these wonderful blueberry statures.” She looked around the small room.

“Oh, and this. It looks like a fountain of blueberry juice.”

He tugged at his jacket. “Ma’am, we have a very selective clientele. I don’t think you would want anything to do with our products.”

She rushed across the room and grabbed his suit. “Please. My husband loves blueberries, and I want to give him the perfect gift.” He shoved her to the floor. “You have no idea how hard it is to shop for him. I am begging you.” She looked at his name tag. “Please, Nester. It’s Christmas.”

“I am warning you. This isn’t something that you want to get for your husband.”

She stood up. “There isn’t any other gift out there that would suit my husband other than the blueberry products here.”

Nester rubbed his fingers against his brow. “Ugh. You aren’t going away until I relent, are you?” She nodded her head. “Fine. Fine!” He turned around. “But I want you to understand something. You are fully volunteering for this of your own free will.” He looked back at her. “Correct?”

“Sure. As long as my husband will be happy with the blueberry present, I give him this year.”

“Right. Then, right this way and, we can get everything set up. We will make your holidays the most juicy thing you have ever had in your life.”

She clasped her hands together. “Oh, perfect. James is just going to adore it.”

Nester sighed and lowered his voice. “I hope he loves blueberries as much as you say he does, as he is about to get a very juicy one.”

Nester led Jessica into the back room. “Wait, the floor is covered with blueberry juice.

What do you do back here?”

“Oh.” He shrugged his shoulders. “This is where we make our wonderful creations.” He laughed. “And we are going to make a custom-made blueberry for you, my dear.”

“Oh.” She giggled. “How nice of you. Umm. . .” She pulled her wallet out of her purse. “How much do you want for it?”

Nester laughed as he turned around. “Oh, don’t worry. We will get that settled in a bit.” He patted her on the shoulder. “For now, just relax. I will be right back. I have to go take care of one thing in the other room. Just wait a second.” He backed away. “Don’t you move now. You don’t want to ruin the surprise now, do you?”

“Of course not. I can’t wait to see what you plan on making for me and James.”

She hummed away as Nester exited the room. “With all of those wonderful blueberry products out there, I can’t wait to see what he has in store. Maybe it’s one of those blueberry fountains. Or maybe—”

She looked up as a blue mist began to fill the room. “Wait. What is going on?” Jessica took a step back. “Hello? Nester?” She held her hand over her mouth.

“What are you doing?” She turned around and tried to dash for the door but slipped in the blueberry juice instead. “Ahhh.” Jessica rubbed her head as she landed on the ground, blueberry juice covering her skin. “Just what is going on around here?” She took a deep breath as the mist filled the air. “Ugh, why the hell does it smell like blueberries?”

She stood up and hugged herself as she walked towards the door. “This is getting weird. I think I will leave my contact info and head out.” She gasped as she realized the door was locked tight. “Huh? What is going on! Hey!” Jessica wrapped her hands around the door handle. “This isn’t funny.”

She twisted around, taking deep breaths. “Ugh, why do I feel so funny?”

Jessica rubbed her forehead. “Just what is in this stuff?”  She moaned and rubbed her breasts.

“My boobs are starting to get tingly.” She slumped down against the wall. “Just what is the purpose of this room anyway?” She flicked some of the blueberry juice with her fingers. “And why is there so much juice around here?”

Jessica moaned as she held her hand over her chest. “God. I feel so hot.” She unzipped her winter jacket. “Can you all just. . .” Jessica wiped the sweat from her forehead, not realizing that her skin was turning blue. “Can you turn the temperature down? I am burning up. Oh god. Oh fuck.” She squeezed her legs. “When I get home, I am going to have to take a long bath.” She shook her blue head. “To get all of this blueberry juice out of my skin. Ohhh fuck.”

Gurrgle. Blort.

Jessica blinked her eyes. “What was that?” She looked down. “What was that strange sensation?”  Gurrrrrggglee.  Jessica jumped to her feet. “That came from inside of me! What in the world?” She moaned. “Oh god. What. . .” She rubbed her belly, feeling it press tightly against her juice-soaked shirt. “I. . . feel so full. . .” Her clothing suddenly turned an even darker shade of blue as her belly slowly expanded outward. “Oh god. I. . . I. . .”