Her breathing picked up. She licked her lips, and David nuzzled her neck.
He pulled her close and then dipped her down. Looking into her face, he pulled her bottom lip into his mouth. “You just taste so good.” Toying with her mouth, he played for a minute more.
She chuckled. “I hope so.” And stuck out her bottom lip in plump allurement.
He kissed her, then again, and then he lifted her back up to standing in his arms, and covered her mouth with his own, capturing every bit of her again and again. She responded immediately, hands up in his hair, pulling his face closer, her needy demands spurred him on, their kisses urgent and seeking.
And somehow he felt his concerns lessen, replaced by a fiery need. He backed up, clutching her to him and fell into a chair, Sarah landed on top of him, not giving up one second of their kiss. His hands found her hips and nudged her closer, their legs tangled together. His need increased but her kisses slowed, and intensified. He responded and after one agonizing, slow perusal of every inch of her mouth, he paused, out of breath and very much needing a drink of cold water. “Mmm.”
She giggled and rolled to the side, resting on the edge of the chair. “Is this what we do on real dates?”
Her pulled her back onto him. “Dates, and at work, in the grocery store…every time I see you.”
She kissed him again, once, softly. “This is nice.”
“I think I might be falling in love with you.”
“I hope so cause I don’t kiss just anybody like that.”
He pulled her tight and she rested her cheek on his chest. She sighed. “I’m totally falling for you too.”
She ran her finger in circles on his shirt. “Are you gonna be okay?”
His breath came out a little bit ragged, but he nodded. “I think so. It’s been a rough week, but I’m seeing the way out.”
“Good. I’ve never met a person who deserves to be happy as much as you.”
“Don’t we all deserve to be happy?”
She shrugged. “All I know is you do. All those people you serve. Your practice. This town would be a sad and sorry place.”
He wasn’t sure how such a thing could be true, how one person could make such a difference, but he was willing to try to accept that his efforts were doing some good.
“I have one more letter for you today.”
“Hmm?”
“And then we need to eat.”
“Ah yes, dinner. I’ve been waiting for this meal for a long time, you know.”
They stood and she pulled an envelope out of her bag.
His name was written on the front in shaky hand. Lily.
Dear Dr. McArthur, David, if I might,
I wanted to thank you for your excellent care. It was because of you that I could continue on to the end with the strength I needed. I knew you would be with me through it all and that helped me have courage. Dying could be a scary journey but every time I got a little shaky, I would remember you were there and everything seemed easier.
I wanted you to know, I’ve been having symptoms for quite some time but didn’t share them with anyone until the end. You could have never known any earlier and there’s nothing you could have done to prevent my passing. Some things are meant to be. And me meeting your father and you has made my world all the sweeter.
Much love,
Your Miss Lily
His heart filled with sadness again. “I miss that woman.”
“I do too.”
“Even in death she is enriching my life.” He laid the paper down at his side and considered her words. “She means to lighten my burden and I think she has, but I think it would be even better if I just looked at myself in the mirror and said, “You’re not a perfect doctor and that’s Okay.”
Sarah nodded. “I struggle with that too.” She tugged on him. “So come on, you. I’m gonna warm up our dinner.”
As he took his seat at her new table and watched her beautiful hips swing playfully to carry his dinner back into the kitchen, he hoped that this wonderful date, this wonderful and full life he lived, would just get richer. That the hard parts, the lonely and difficult moments would add to the beauty of living and that he’d always have this incredible woman to share it all with.
*
To read the next book in the Love for the Holidays series, click HERE. And read a preview of the first two chapters on the next page.
Chapters 1-2 of Miracle on 34th Floor
Chapter One
Decker Kringle shrugged into the new suit coat, holding still while the tailor made marks. Gimbels always saved him his size in the newest holiday sports coats. He’d been coming since he purchased his first suit at the age of nineteen. His internship back then at Synergy Systems had required full suits and ties. Smiling at the memory, he slipped off the jacket. “Thank you Stephen.”
“You’re very welcome sir, I’m happy we can fit you again this year. How are your parents?”
“They’re well, spending Christmas in warmer weather.”
“Will you be joining them?”
He rotated his shoulders. “Not this year. I’m afraid I’ll be sharing Christmas cookies with the office.”
Stephen nodded. “Very good sir. May I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas?”
“Thank you. I’ll have my assistant pick up the jacket tomorrow.”
As Decker made his way out of the men’s department, he paused, a suddenly nostalgic desire to go check on Santa on the top floor filling him. He checked his watch. He had a few minutes. So he turned around and took the escalator up twice to the very top floor.
The whole place was decorated from top to bottom. It reminded him of the movie, Elf. Paper chains, fake snow, toys, trees had all transformed the kids department into a magic wonderland. Crowned by the throne and platform for Santa and his elves.
But as Decker approached the far end of the floor, mothers were walking away, with concerned expressions, clutching sad children to them.
After three such pairs had passed, Decker reached out a hand, “Excuse me. Many seem unhappy with something today. Might I ask what happened?”
The mom turned tired eyes to Decker. “They said they’re gonna cancel the Santa exhibit.” Her gaze flickered to her son. “It’s a shame. We’ve been coming here for years.”
“Why doesn’t Santa want to talk to us, Mom?” Her little boy’s wide eyes did something to Decker.
“Of course he wants to talk to you. This is all a big misunderstanding, I’m sure of it.”
The boy’s eyes lit for a moment. “Do you think so?”
“I know so.”
His mother shook her head and tugged her son after. “Come on. We’ll call tomorrow.”
Decker picked up his pace. The platform was empty. A few elves were tidying up, but no Santa sat in the chair. He approached a woman, older in years, wearing pointy ears and a green costume. “Excuse me. Could you tell me when the Santa will be returning?”
“That is a good question.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s up and quit.” She looked around but not children in sight seemed to have emboldened her. “And the manager is trying to cancel the whole program, said it’s too hard to find a Santa this late in the year.”
“But don’t you have kids with appointments, children expecting to see Santa?”
She eyed him like he’d grown his own set of pointy ears. “Well, yeah, they’re just gonna have to go somewhere else I guess. My question is, what am I gonna do for my holiday pay? I’m counting on this gig for some extra money this time of year.”
“Maybe we can work something out.” Gimbel’s was crazy to try and cancel the Santa visits. He would bet half their holiday business and sales came from families shopping there while their children sat on Santa’s lap. And besides, it was a tradition. Gimbels without Santa was just plain Anti-New York. And he had something to say about it.
He followed a man, arms full of boxes, into the back room. When someone saw
him, they approached. “Um excuse me, sir, you’re in the back room?”
He nodded. “I see that. I wonder if I might talk to the manager please?”
After a moment’s hesitation, the shop clerk eyed Decker’s suit and then nodded. “I’ll get her for you.”
He stood taller.
A flush faced woman, with hair falling out of her bun, a pencil behind her ear and a clipboard clutched in her hands approached. “yes, What can I do to help you?”
“Hello.” He held out his hand. “I’m Decker Kringle.”
She adjusted her board and shook his hand. “Mary Welling.” She stood on the balls of her toes as if any minutes, she would run from him to put out another fire.
“I’ll make this quick. I noticed that Santa has left his post.”
She puffed out a long breath of air. “Yes.”
“Will he be returning?”
“He has quit.”
“and?”
“And we don’t have a replacement.”
“Surely in our times someone is looking for a temp job.”
“I’m sure they are Mr…”
“Kringle.”
“Kringle…Really?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sure there are people looking for a job, but we don’t have time to connect people with job in time for Christmas. It is almost kinder to just make a general announcement that the Santa visits will end early this year.”
He shook his head. “But the families who come for pictures? The traditions. You will lose sales surely. I bet your quarter will report a loss.”
She eyed him with annoyance. “While I can’t account for your sudden interest in our success as a store, I thank you, and ask that you submit a feedback form. You can find them at all exits…”
“I’ll do it.”
“Pardon me?”
“I’ll do it. I can put on the suit right now and we can do today’s Santa pictures.”
“wh—human resources will need—”
“No, no need. I don’t want to be paid. Let’s just get this going.” He hardly heard himself speak, but he knew he had to do it. “And then you start setting something up for a new Santa. I’m giving you one afternoon and evening grace period here.”
A hurried and frenzied looking elf woman came running in. “The line is forming again. Kids are crying. We need to make a general announcement.”
Decker eyed her, his shoulders raised. Then he relaxed into a smile. “I can do this. I love kids.”
Another elf ran in. “Mary…”
“Okay, get him the suit.”
Both elves exhaled in relief.
Decker followed a clerk to a storage room where a suit was tossed at him. He called over his shoulder. “Get those kids singing carols. Tell them Santa only comes to Christmas cheer. And we all know the best way to raise Christmas cheer….”
One elf looked at another “Is he for real?”
“Who knows. Let’s go do what he says.”
Decker laughed to himself. What had come over him? He texted his assistant, postponing his meetings and calls until tomorrow. This would be fun. A part of him felt like he was living in one of those cheesy Christmas movies, saving Christmas for all the children.
But when he stepped out onto the platform, instead of happy singing children and a room full of expectant parents, people were frowning. The line was overly long and the elves were singing a duet in the front, an off tune, poorly sung duet.
“Uh… HO. HO. HO!”
That got things going a little bit. “Merry Christmas!”
A few of the younger kids pointed and laughed. But most everyone kept their anxious pinched expressions.
“I can’t hear you. Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas!” A bit better.
“What was that?”
“Merry Christmas!”
“Ah, and a Merry Christmas to you too!” He sat in his chair and the elves brought him the first child.
She was small, looked scared. Her mother was pulling her along.
“Oh hi little one. You don’t have to come close if you don’t want. Would you like to talk to me from there?”
Her mother looked like she might put up a fuss. She had her camera ready. But he held up a finger so she nodded.
“Tell me what you want for Christmas.”
She twirled her ankle a few times before whispering something.
“I can’t hear you, but I bet that is a super cool thing. Maybe you want a skate board?”
She shook her head no.
“oh, I thought I heard skate board. So maybe you want a hot wheels car?”
“No way.”
“Oh, okay, glad I didn’t bring that one. Maybe you would like a dirt bike?”
She shook her head and ran to him, leaning against his leg. “No. What I want… is a baby doll stroller except my mom says I can’t ask fro that so instead I’m asking for a toy kitchen, pink.” She climbed up onto his lap and he felt like he’d won all the victories with this one child.
“ho ho ho. We will do our best. Have you been a good girl this year?”
“Oh yes.”
“Excellent. Have a merry Christmas!”
He lifted her down. And then beckoned ot the next child.
And so it went, for hours and hours until the last child hopped off his lap and the store was ready to close.
He exited into the back room, tugging on his beard. He place a large mound of white fluff in the outstretched hands of the manager. “Mary?” He asked with hoarse voice. “I don’t think I”ve ever been more exhausted.”
Her smile was considerably warmer than the harried frown he received when he first met her.
“You have saved us today. When I saw that crowd, I realized how right you are. We need a Santa.”
He nodded. “Any luck finding one?”
“Some great leads. Hopefully they will call me back tonight….” She hesitated, her head tilted. “Do you think, you could step in tomorrow night? One more time? I think we can put people off through the day, but this evening crowd, it’s gonna be a nightmare if we can’t get someone to start right away.”
He closed his eyes. “I can, for one more night, but then I have evening events and things I have to go to.” As is, he would be rushing from the store to attend a board meeting party for the City Books Festival he helped chair every year.
“Thank you. And Mr. Kringle?”
“Hmm?”
“You make an excellent Santa.”
He laughed. “I don’t think I’ve been more pleased to hear a compliment. I’ll see you at around six thirty tomorrow.”
“Very good.”
He took off the rest of the Santa pieces and handed them back to Mary then made his way out of the store. The crowds had only grown since his late afternoon fitting. He jostled through the shoppers, the commuters heading home from work, to make his way back across the street to his building.
Inside the doors always felt nice. It was either cooler than outside or warmer, depending on the time of year. The space in the first floor was large and open. Security sat at the desk. He made his way to the elevators.
His key card allowed him access and he pushed the button for the thirty fourth floor.
What a rewarding afternoon and evening. He smiled. That was his pro bono for the season. He always tried to fit in some significant service of some kind. He donated all over the city to programs he found worthy, but he also tried to give some time. Which was difficult in his line of work. But he found that the act felt more rewarding if he himself participated. And besides, sometimes he enjoyed giving back from his years of education and experience. Like today, for example. That manager was about to make a career altering move, one that she might have regretted for a long time. He was happy to step in and lend just a bit of his perspective and his example by actually stepping in and performing the task that needed to be completed.
The elevator dinged and stopped on his floor. He stepped out,
not expecting to see anyone but was almost knocked over by a woman, rushing to get in.
“Oh, oh my gosh. I am so sorry.”
“No, please excuse me.” He spoke to the top of her mass of curls. He stepped out and the doors closed after him.
The floor was empty. Most people took their work home at this time of year if they had more to do after hours. He knew he would be working at home. The Spritzer account still needed some tweaks and he had to get ready for that pitch. Otherwise he might have some time to watch a game. He thought the Knicks played that night. Or the Mavericks. Which would be just as great. And he’d order some delivery. After today, an evening at home sounded like just what he needed. Even though he was exhausted, he smiled, looking forward to what the kids might say tomorrow.
Chapter Two
Joylin stood in open mouthed horror as the doors closed, shutting her out from the man she’d been admiring for a full year, a man who had never noticed or even looked in her direction before.
No one knew how many times she’d walked by her office when she looked particularly good, when she had a new pair of shoes or fresh lipstick. That path in front of his office was well worn. She’d imagined all the different ways they would final y meet, all the possibilities of things she could do or say, what she would be wearing, how interested he would become after seeing her just one time. But barreling into him in the elevator was never one of her scenarios. Nope. Not the plan. Perhaps he’d forget all about it. She’d looked down. Maybe he wouldn’t recognize her if he saw her again.
She could only hope.
A deep breath with her nose, caught the last whiff of his cologne that lingered after he was gone. What was he doing in the office so late? Maybe she should head back up, run into him again, only this time gently. No one was up there. Was it worth it to meet him if he might notice she was the same woman who’d run into him?
Her hands started to shake at the thought. She pushed a button to stop the elevator. Got off on the thirteenth floor and then pushed the call button for the elevator to come back.
She stepped out into a dimly lit floor.
“May I help you?” A gruff voice behind her made her jump.
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