by Annie Adams
The old man turned and shrugged, then grumbled his way back to the hunched over position on his stool.
I took a step closer to Elma so I could look more intimidating. But then my chest was uncomfortably close to her face and her bosoms were jabbing me in the gut. Ick. I stepped back a couple of inches. “You listen to me, Elma. You can bet I’m not the only one in that video who’s going to find out what you’ve done. He’ll probably never want to set foot in here again. I can try and convince him not to boycott, but there’ll be no more banning. And my breakfast will be complimentary this morning. The works.” I gave her the stink eye. “Got it?”
She flared her nostrils and her nose scrunched up like she smelled a dirty dishrag. “Fine.” She turned on her heels.
“Oh and, Elma?”
“What?” she spat out.
“Don’t even think about spitting or boogering or doing anything to alter my food.” I pointed to my eyes with two fingers then pointed them back at her, I’m watching you.
***
Bulgy Burger had the cutest crepe paper silver bells and garland hanging in their windows. I noticed them every time I passed the front of the restaurant on the way to the drive-through lane. They were antique decorations, like the kind we had in elementary school.
Simple. Like life used to be back then. Now life was a complicated roller coaster with deadlines and pressure. And that was just with work. The stress in my personal life was enough to push me over the edge. But I couldn’t go over the edge, because then I couldn’t fulfill my responsibilities at work, and I wouldn’t have any money to live on and I would have to move home. With my parents. Which would really hamper my personal life. The only thing I could think to do was order a peppermint shake with my dinner-to-go.
Once home, I kicked my shoes off and slouched down deep into my couch. There had to be a showing of It’s a Wonderful Life somewhere.
My phone rang.
“Hey, gorgeous,” Alex said.
“Hey, handsome.” Were we sickening or what? “I thought you had to work tonight.”
“I do. I am. Just taking a break. I miss you.”
“I miss you too. How are Eleanor and Jack?”
A not too serious sigh came over the phone. “They’re fine. Mom feels terrible. She keeps mentioning the change.”
“I don’t know if I believe that.”
“My dad would probably verify it for you. He found out there was a Jazz game tonight and got tickets.”
I inhaled sharply and felt butterflies in my stomach. “Are they at the game now? What time will you be done?”
He laughed. “I’m so sorry. My mom hates basketball.” Of course she did.
“Did I ever tell you how I played on the high school basketball team?”
“She hates basketball. Not you,” he said. He sighed. “Looks like I’m gonna be stuck here for a while.”
“I think you’re just hiding.”
He laughed and my insides felt warm and melty, like hot caramel sauce on a sundae.
“Did your dad go alone?”
“No, he called yours. They should be leaving your parents’ house any time now. I think our mothers are going Christmas shopping together. How was your day?”
I groaned.
“That bad?”
“Elma took a little video at Christmas dinner and posted it online.”
“Don’t remind me about that woman. Why do we care?”
“She took the video in the kitchen. When we were…”
“Oh yeah. Thanks for reminding me.” I could hear him smiling through the phone. “That was so long ago.”
“My only solace is that my mother doesn’t really use the Internet,” I told him.
My phone beeped that I had a text.
“She does, however, know how to text.” I looked at the message. “Oh, crap. She’s seen it. No, no, no, no!”
“What?” he asked.
“Your mother will be at my parents’ house any minute. I’ve got to stop mine before she shows yours,” I said.
I relaxed a little when my dad answered the phone instead of my mom. I brought up Mom’s text and he apologized for letting her see the video over his shoulder while he was on Facebook.
I was doomed. The MLM had to be all over this one. I made him swear not to bring it up with the Coopers and to tell my mother not to say anything.
“Convince Mom it will prevent embarrassment if she doesn’t tell,” I told him. He laughed and said he’d give it a try.
“Would you like to talk to your mother? She’s right here.”
“No!” One of her freak outs per day was my quota.
“I’m just kidding, lass. Take care of yourself. And good luck tomorrow. I love you.”
“Thanks, Dad. Good luck to you too. And I love you too.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“It’s finally here, Starbuck,” I said to the handsome face reflected in the bathroom mirror from my t-shirt. “Let’s get this over with.”
As much as I hated putting the elf costume back on, everyone on the celebration committee had loved it when they saw me on TV. I’d planned to dress normally for the work day, then don the costume in the afternoon when the early birds began to line up for Santa.
I ran down the schedule of events one more time before leaving the house. My first stop would be Tasty Treats Bakery where Pam and her crew had no doubt been up since the wee hours getting ready. Santa would arrive at the city park two blocks from my shop by helicopter, at three p.m. K.C.’s husband would switch with her after the triumphant landing. He didn’t mind sitting with all the kids from the town, but he didn’t want to take away K.C.’s moment in the sun. They didn’t mind renting two Santa suits, and I didn’t mind having K.C.’s help at the shop, so while complicated, it was still a win-win situation.
The forecast called for more cold, with winds picking up occasionally. Snow wasn’t expected for another couple of days. I looked out the kitchen window and saw the leaves on the neighbor’s trees twitching. I went to turn down the thermostat and realized I hadn’t heard it kick on lately. The warm before the storm, I thought, hoping I was wrong.
I heard a strange squeaking noise coming from the front of the house. The last thing I needed was a mouse running around getting into my cupboards and my food. Well, if I’d had any food in my cupboards. But the thought of it was still awful.
I got the heebee jeebees and started to scratch. There it was again. I went into the dining room, closer to the front of the house. I franticly searched the corners of the room. The squeaking sound was coming from behind the front door, on my porch.
Probably not a mouse. My stupid almost (couldn’t come soon enough) ex-husband had left something on my porch. Someday I’d have to apologize to Alex. Apparently he’d guessed right about my Secret Santa. I grabbed the baseball bat out of the umbrella box next to the door. If there was some rabid animal on my porch, or an ex-husband, I’d defend myself. The bat had been a gift from K.C. after Allie’s crazy ex-boyfriend had paid an un-expected visit to my house and crashed a party.
I carefully unbolted the lock, readied the bat, and flung the door open. I looked down into the craven, depraved eyes of a…puppy?
It looked back at me with dark brown, bright and happy, eyes. Its long, fuzzy fur made it appear to be covered in tufts of chocolate colored cotton. The poor little thing squeaked again. I scanned the neighborhood to find who could have left a defenseless puppy on my porch, but Secret Santa was a ghost. I scooped it out of a giant basket with a built-in dog bed, and saw that it was a him. He squeaked at me some more and I cuddled him close. A lump developed in my throat when he licked my hand. A puppy, or any pet, is a terrible gift to give someone who isn’t prepared to take care of another living creature. I was barely taking care of myself.
I had to find out who had left this little darling out in the cold. It was lucky I happened to go to the front porch. And thankfully it was unusually warm outside. I felt for a collar underneath the bow an
d found a gift tag scrawled with now familiar handwriting.
The card read, “This is more than puppy love. You deserve someone who will shower you with gifts all year long. This is only the beginning. The best are yet to come.”
I didn’t have time for this. I looked down at the little guy I was holding. “You are so cute. Do you know that? And this is the worst day you could’ve possibly chosen to show up,” I baby-talked. “Yes it is.” I held him up to my face and rubbed noses with him. He licked my nose and I thought I might perish. He exuded so much adorable I couldn’t tolerate it all. He was a super-hero and his special power was the ability to render humans completely helpless from his cuteness.
I looked at my Riders in the Sky watch. I was seriously late. And I had no idea what to do with the little guy. I couldn’t leave him in my house. I didn’t have time or the heart to take him to animal control, and I didn’t know anyone who could take him for me.
I did the only thing I could do. I put him back in his bed, grabbed it and the little bag of food that was left with him and we all got in the van. Zombie Sue started with a purr. The dog and I would have to face this horrible day together until I could figure out what to do.
Raindrops fell on the windshield on the way to run our errands. The puppy squeaked several times as we drove and every time it made a painful pang in my heart.
I pulled up to the Tasty Treat Bakery and debated what do with my temporary companion. Could I leave him in the car? It wasn’t summer, but what if something happened? What if he fell out of his bed atop the passenger seat? What if someone took him? I decided I was being silly. He wasn’t staying with me—but I wouldn’t want the wrong person to take him. Like some puppy hater or—I don’t know! Get a hold of yourself! I would run in, grab the food and be back within three minutes. I looked over and confirmed that he was asleep, nestled into his comfy bed. I hopped out and he immediately sat up and whimpered at me. I looked at his giant, round, teary eyes and melted.
“Who do we have here?” Pam asked amidst a chorus of “Owhs,” and “So cutes,” when we walked in to the bakery together.
“He doesn’t have a name. I figure it will be easier to give him back that way.” Pam gave me a strange look. “It’s a long story—he’s just visiting.”
“He’s a sweet little ball of fur,” Pam said. “I’ve got your order ready for you. These guys can help you load it. Good luck tonight.”
“Thanks, you too.”
“You’re gonna be at the helicopter landing right?” Pam asked.
“Yep, three p.m. at Santa’s castle.”
“In that cute elf costume?”
Gack. “Absolutely. Can’t wait.” I couldn’t wait until it was all over.
By the time I parked behind the shop, the rain had turned to light, but fast moving snow. The puppy really started to whine and I realized he hadn’t been out to tinkle since we left home. I set him down and he found a little spot nearby and did his business. His paws seemed to leave disproportionately large tracks in the snow compared to the size of his body.
I put my companion down in the back room. “Well, here it is, puppy. Rosie’s Posies. What do you think?”
He sniffed as he walked around in a looping pattern. When he reached the narrow doorway between front and back design rooms, he stopped, dropped and slept.
He was becoming far too adorable. I left him there while I got his bed and food out of Zombie Sue. Daphne and K.C. pulled up at the same time. The snow still fell, so they each grabbed a box of pastries and we rushed back inside.
“Why are you holding a bag of puppy chow? Oh please, oh please let there be a puppy!” Daphne said.
“Your lucky day,” I said and pointed to him.
Daphne saw him and squealed, scooped up the poor, unsuspecting creature and cuddled him close. He didn’t seem to mind.
“What’s the story?” K.C. asked.
“Secret Santa strikes again.”
“You’re sure it’s not Alex?”
“Yes. Why would he leave a puppy out in the cold on my doorstep?” The phone rang and Daphne answered it, pup in hand. Then the second line rang. “Especially today of all days,” I said as I rushed to the other phone.
We were closed for deliveries on the day of the open house as had been our custom every year. The three of us rushed around the shop, setting out candles, putting fresh flowers out for display and making sure there was a clear path for visitors to enter the store, wind their way around the shop, pick up items for purchase and finish at the cash register. After we dressed in costume, K.C. and I would leave. Daphne said she would watch the dog at the shop and when I returned we would turn on the music, light the candles and let the festivities begin.
The snow let up about eleven a.m. K.C. was relieved. She’d worried all morning she wouldn’t get to go on her helicopter ride. I took the dog out to potty again and when we came back in, he ran over to a cardboard box full of old odds and ends, including some ancient stuffed animals I hadn’t gotten around to tossing out. It was if he had stuffed animal sonar. He stood up on his hind legs to look into the box, reached in and gently picked one of them up with his teeth. He looked over at me with a guilty look and when I said it was okay, he shook it ferociously for about a minute. Then he took the toy to the middle of the narrow doorway leading to the front design room, dropped it on the floor, plopped on top of it and fell asleep.
“That’s a funny place for him to sleep,” Daphne said. “Right there in the walkway. You’d think he’d find a comfy corner somewhere.”
“You’re gonna have to move, puppy,” I said. I scooped him up and he licked my face.
The phone rang again and K.C. answered. “Boss, the phone’s for you. Can you stop making out with your new boyfriend long enough to take the call?”
I noticed she hadn’t removed the phone receiver from her ear as she shouted across the room to me.
“Who are you making out with?” said a familiar deep voice through the receiver.
“Someone new. Nobody you would know,” I said secretively.
“What’s his name?” Alex asked.
“Jerome.” It was the name of the last customer I’d spoken with on the phone.
“Oh.” Long pause. “Is Jerome your Secret Santa Admirer?”
“Not—exactly.”
“What does that mean? We’re just…joking around here, right?” he asked.
“Of course.” My heart wrenched at the thought of ever causing him to worry about something like that. “Jerome isn’t a real person.”
“Good. Weird, but good.”
“He still has real feelings though. And he loves to cuddle. And his brown eyes are almost as cute as yours.”
“Not possible,” he said.
“Maybe not. I miss looking up into yours though, so his will have to do. By the time I see you again, he’ll be gone anyway.”
“In that case I won’t worry.” He paused. “Do I need to worry?”
“No. You most definitely have nothing to worry about. We’re just playing around getting ready for the big event.” Now just didn’t seem to be the best time to tell him about the gift—an especially harmless, fluffy and cute little gift.
“You’re not wearing that elf costume yet are you?”
“Not yet.”
“Darn. I was getting ideas,” he said.
“Oh, yeah?” I thought about asking him what kind of ideas, but there was no time for that today.
“You’ll have to show it to me later. Without the ears. Or the tights. Or the—“
“I think we’d better change the subject. I’ve got to work here, I can’t get distracted.”
He groaned quietly. “Me too. So, I called to tell you good luck.”
“Thanks.”
“And that I’m really sorry I had to make up time at work. I know it’s crazy for you today.”
“It’s okay. You spent your time off trying to be a good son.”
“I don’t know about that. Speaking of
the parental units, they want to come over tonight.”
“Oh.” I paused this time. “You know what? That will be great. I’d love to see them.”
“Quincy—”
“No, really. I would love for them to come and have a good time.” And see how busy/difficult my “little job” really is.
“Sounds suspicious.”
“You have nothing to worry about.” I sighed. “I hate this.”
“They don’t have to come,” he said.
“No, I mean not being with you. Am I going to see you before next year?”
“I don’t know. It’s not looking good.”
“I was exaggerating! Next year is in two weeks. I won’t see you before then? What about Christmas?”
“It’s the job, Q. I’m doing my best here.”
“I’m sorry. I know you are. I just miss you.”
“Me too.”
I really did love the guy, but now I was wondering if he felt the same way. Maybe the abundance of my family, or my inability to impress his, was too much to take. Or maybe, it was just…me. One of the above was wearing on him too much, and no matter how he skilled he was at hiding emotions, it was beginning to show.
***
“It’s time to go, Boss. My public awaits me,” K.C. said.
“Okay, let me just finish with this last pin,” I said. I wasn’t taking any chances with that elf costume splaying open again, especially not in front of a gathering of children and their parents.
“You’re okay to watch him, Daphne?” I said, nodding at the puppy.
“Absolutely. The store will be closed while you’re gone, so I’ll just be cleaning today’s buckets and getting them out of view. What are you going to do with him, I mean, from now on?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t had time to think about it yet. Would you like to keep him?”
“I would love to, but my apartment doesn’t allow pets.”
I looked at K.C. “Count me out,” she said. “Shim’s got the run of the roost. I don’t think he’d take too kindly to a dog.” K.C. and I had run into Shim the cat at a customer’s house and he became a stowaway inside Zombie Sue. K.C. ended up adopting him.