by Sioux Dallas
As he turned to lock his door he heard the Dixon’s door open. “Hello there,” Betty’s cheerful voice rang out. “Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee or I would gladly fix breakfast for you.”
“That’s so kind of you, Mrs. Dixon, but I’ve already eaten and I must get to work. Thank you for thinking of me.”
It hurt him to see the disappointed expression on her face, but Jason felt he didn’t really know what to talk about with them. He hadn’t really tried to get involved with any specific friends since he moved in Village of Fayette three months before. He truly wasn’t searching for a permanent relation-ship and wasn’t interested, or didn’t have time, to find people just to run around with them. He hunched his shoulders against the cold air.
Big fat snowflakes started to fall and were beautiful. The sun had not been able to show through the snow and overcast skies which left the mercury lights still on. The lights made a fantasy backdrop for the snow. He smiled as he opened his door and entered his place of business. He turned around to go out again and admire the sign that was recently painted on the window. Jason McBride, CPA. Up until a couple of days ago, he had only a hand-lettered sign on a cardboard in the window.
Grace came in right behind him shivering and stomping her feet to get the snow off her boots. They greeted each other and proceeded to hang up outdoor wear and get ready for the day. Grace started the coffee and then jumped in surprise when Jason hurriedly put on his outer wear and ran out.
“Well, for goodness sakes. Where can he be going in such a hurry?” she said out loud. Shrugging her shoulders she continued with her activities for the day.
Beth came rushing in. “Delightful! The furnace is still working. I’m always afraid that it will fail on one of our cold days.” she grinned at Grace.
Greg came in with a rush of cold air. “Where was Jason going in such a hurry? He didn’t even acknowledge me when I spoke to him.”
“I don’t know,” Grace answered, “but wherever he was hurrying to is his business. After all, he is the boss. Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t intend for that to be so smarty sounding. Truthfully, I wondered myself where he was going.”
The three of them settled in to their assigned tasks while Grace answered the ever ringing phone. “No, Ms Archer. Mr. McBride is not here. He’s tending to some business outside of the office and I don’t know when he’ll be back.” She listened and held the phone away from her ear, looking down at it as if she thought it might attack her. “I’ll give him your message, but you do need to make an appointment.”
“Well!” Grace snapped. “She slammed her phone down in my ear. I hope that woman doesn’t come in here, but, I’ll admit, I’m now curious as to how she looks and what she wants.”
“What’s bugging you, Grace?” Greg asked sauntering into the front office. “Is that woman a client of ours?” He put emphasis on “that” just as Grace had done.
“Grace looked annoyed. “No, she isn’t a client and I suspect she isn’t interested in becoming a client. She has called several times wanting to speak to Jason.” Grace simpered and said Jason’s name as a flirty person might. “She won’t tell me what her connection with Jason is or what she wants. She refuses to make an appointment, probably afraid she’ll have to part with some money.”
Beth came in to stand by Grace. “I hope she isn’t one of those poor souls who stalks someone and causes a lot of trouble.”
“Who knows,” Grace shrugged her shoulders. “I just know she makes the hair on my neck crawl. There’s something about her voice that grates on the ears. I can’t explain it; I just have a bad feeling about her. I hope she quits calling or will give up and come in.”
“Don’t let it bother you,” Greg patted Grace’s shoulder. “Our Jason’s a big boy and we’re here if he needs us.”
Greg and Beth filled their mugs and returned to their desks.
The four of them had their own personal mug, however, in the front office there was a table with a thirty-two cup coffee urn, Styrofoam cups, napkins, cream and sugar both real and substitute. This was free for clients.
To the left of Grace there was a restroom. Beside that was a doorway leading into a large, rectangular room where Greg and Beth had their desks. There was also a long table for their use. In the back of this room was a refrigerator and a microwave. Jason had provided appliances in case any of them wanted to bring a lunch or heat something. Frozen dinner could be cooked in the microwave and potatoes could be baked.
To the far left of this long room was a short hallway leading to Jason’s office and private restroom. At the end of the hall was a door leading out to an alley. This door had an alarm on it and would be opened only in emergencies.
Behind Grace’s share of space, and beside the long room was a small, privately owned business by a man who cleaned and repaired watches and sold jewelry. This had previously been part of Jason’s purchase, but Jason decided to allow someone who needed an income to use it for their business.
Franklin Shackelford, who was the watchmaker, was a widower with grown children who lived in states too far away to care for him. Jason had learned about him through the church and offered the space to him.
At the back of this small business was a curtained doorway leading to a restroom and a small area holding a twin bed and a bedside table with a lamp. Jason offered for Franklin to keep food in the office refrigerator if he wished. It was Jason’s idea to place the bed in the shop in case Franklin needed to lie down and rest. Too, Jason had never learned where Franklin really lived and he was afraid that the old man needed shelter. He had instructed Grace to share pastries, fruit, and any extras with Franklin.
Chapter Seven
Grace looked and gawked in surprise when Jason came hurrying in carrying a big bakery box and a bag of groceries.
“What in the ---”
“Never mind, Grace,” Jason grinned. “Call Franklin and tell him that I want to see him at two o’clock. He hurried through the front room, into the long room and almost ran to the refrigerator. He deposited some items in the refrigerator and other on the floor beside it. Putting a finger to his lips to show, ‘no talking’, he motioned for Greg and Beth to come into his office. They hurried quietly after him.
“I’ll talk fast. I don’t want Grace to catch on, but today is her birthday. I found out by accident. I have a cake, two kinds of ice cream and a gift for her. Let’s have a surprise party at about two o’clock unless a client comes in at that time and we have to have it later. After all, it’s Friday and we don’t have a need to put in long hours at work today.”
“Are you sure it’s her birthday? She hasn’t said a word about it.” Beth said with a frown and looked worried.
“Yes. December nineteenth. I happened to look at her application and found it. Now get out of here before she gets suspicious. Keep her out of the refrigerator if you can.”
Greg and Beth scuttled out. Greg looked back protesting that he hadn’t known about it and had no gift for her.
“She won’t expect it,” Jason assured him.
Grace was naturally curious but everyone was then acting so normal she decided whatever it was, it was Jason’s business. She had called Franklin and given him Jason’s message. He naturally asked why Jason wanted to see him, but she didn’t know.
The morning progressed as usual with paper work to do and a few phone calls. Jason walked to the front.
“Why don’t the three of you go to lunch and I’ll keep an eye on things here. Don’t rush. I don’t want anything now, but I might go out later.”
Jason was pleased when Franklin wandered in after the three had left. It gave him time to tell Franklin about the surprise birthday party he’d planned for Grace.
“That’s wonderful,” Franklin was so pleased he was almost bouncing around. “Grace is such a kind, thoughtful person. She deserves nice treatment.”
As the three came in from lunch, Franklin hurriedly excused himself and said he’d be back later. When he r
eturned at two, he was looking so pleased with himself that Grace asked him why he looked so happy. He just smiled, gave a jaunty wave and walked on back to Jason’s office.
In a few minutes, Jason called for Beth to come to his office. She hurried back and listened to his instructions. She went back and whispered to Greg who quietly got up and helped her. He picked up the bag Jason had placed on the floor and took out a paper tablecloth with Happy Birthday written on it. There were also balloons and cakes with candles printed on it.
Beth placed matching napkins, paper plates, tableware and cups on the table. She opened the refrigerator and took out the bakery box. She had to make a strong effort to keep quiet when she saw the beautifully decorated cake that Jason had ordered from the bakery. It was a sheet cake, double layer yellow, with white icing. Around the edges were green vines and leaves with yellow roses and rose buds. On it was written HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACE.
Greg took out two quarts of ice cream from the freezer and placed each one on a paper plate to catch any drips. He opened them and placed an ice cream scoop on the plate beside each one. “Yummy” he breathed in the delectable odors.
Beth turned to give him a stern look. He ducked his head, grinning, and went to the front office to casually get his mug full of coffee. “How’s it going, Grace, my love?”
Grace looked suspiciously at him because he looked like the cat that had caught the canary. “Everything’s fine and since when did I become your love?” she smiled.
“You’ve always been a love for all of us,” Jason said from the doorway with Franklin looking over his shoulder. The four of them started clapping and singing Happy Birthday to Grace.
“Oh, dear, you’ve taken me by surprise,” Grace sniffled wiping her eyes.
“Don’t flood the place,” Jason laughed. “Come in here with us.”
Puzzled, Grace followed them and then gasped and placed a hand on her heart. She burst in tears. “How-- how--” she stuttered. Her eyes grew wide when she saw the cake with ten lighted candles on it and the ice cream. A beautifully decorated box with a huge red ribbon was on one end of the table.
“You deserve this more than anyone I know,” Jason told her.
She walked shakily to the table and sat down. She looked at all of them with moist eyes. “How did you all do this without me knowing?”
“That doesn’t matter,” Jason told her. “Here, open this.” He gave her the package.
She opened it and gulped in surprise to find another lovely wrapped box inside. She opened it and found a smaller wrapped box in it. “What is the meaning of all these boxes?” she asked puzzled.
“Don’t let it bother your pretty head,” Jason smiled. “Just keep opening.”
The smaller box had a gift in it. She took it out and again burst into tears. “Jason, you stinker. This is too sweet of you, but I can’t take it.”
“Well, what is it?” Beth asked impatiently.
Grace smiled through her tears and waved her hand in the air with the contents of the box. “It’s a round trip plane ticket to Hawaii and a check for five hundred dollars,” she finished breathlessly.
“Consider it an end of the year bonus, a Christmas gift, a birthday gift and whatever. You’ll leave on December twenty-sixth and return on January second.” Jason said proudly.
“Hooray! You’ll be out of the snow and cold weather,” Greg was excited for her. “Grace, I didn’t have time to get something for you, in fact, I didn’t know this was your birthday until a couple of hours ago. I hope you won’t be insulted if I give you money to spend.”
“Oh, Greg, I can’t take your money. Don’t be insulted, but you need your money for your mother and your own expenses.”
“Nonsense. You’d insult me if you don’t take it. I honestly want you to have it.”
Grace hugged him. “Thank you, Greg, maybe I’ll find something nice to bring back to you.”
Beth pushed by Greg. “Remember when I left you two in the diner and ran out for a short time? I went to get this.” She held a flat package wrapped in gold paper with a big blue bow, Grace began to sniffle again. Beth smiled, “Now none of that. Just open my gift.” Inside was a lovely pale blue silk blouse with tiny seed pearls around the hart-shaped neck line. The long sleeves ended in a wide cuff.
“Beth, darling, it’s too beautiful for me. I’m glad the sleeves are long. When a woman gets to be my age we need to hide as much as we can,”
Franklin moved toward Grace. “You don’t need to hide anything. A woman like you who is lovely inside and out will outshine all the young chicks.” He held out his hand. “I’m sorry I didn’t have time to wrap this.”
Everyone gasped and Grace sat down heavily. The narrow gold bracelet had two teardrop-shaped Aquamarines on either side of a blue diamond. A delicate gold chain was a safety device against losing the bracelet.
“Franklin, this is too valuable for me. I appreciate the thought with my whole heart, but I can’t take this.”
“You’ll break my heart if you refuse it. I made it for my wife whom I loved as much as one can love anyone else, but she died before I could give it to her. The cancer took her quicker than I imagined. You are a dear friend and I would be honored if you’d accept it.”
Grace looked at Jason. He nodded at her. She accepted Franklin’s gift with more tears and hugs. “I shall treasure it always. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Franklin.”
“If we don’t hurry and eat this, the ice cream will be melted all over the place,” Greg sang out as he went behind the table. “Who wants Pistachio and who wants Butter Pecan?”
“Give a scoop of each to everyone,” Jason suggested. Grace get back there, make a wish and blow out your candles. Then you can cut the cake.”
“Thank you for everything, my precious friends. And thank you for only having ten candles on the cake. It keeps me from feeling so old,” she laughed.
“We didn’t want the fire department to be rushing in here on such a cold day and this close to Christmas,” Greg joked.
“Greg gore ee,” Beth admonished him.
With a mighty breath Grace blew out the candles and pretended to be faint. “I don’t know whether to kiss you or kick you, Jason. “I’m already plump enough and now I’ll be roly-poly after cake and ice cream.”
“No, my dear lady, you’re just right,” Franklin placed an arm across her shoulders and then, looking slightly ashamed, dropped his arm and came around to the front of the table.
Greg lifted his eyebrows and looked at Beth. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
After they had eaten and cleaned up, Jason told them to go home and enjoy an early day. Franklin left declaring that it had been many a moon since he had enjoyed himself so much.
Greg leaned over and whispered to Beth. “How long has Franklin’s wife been dead? I think he has an interest in our Grace.”
“I don’t know,” she answered, “and he couldn’t find a sweeter lady than Grace. I don’t know her age, and I didn’t want to ask Jason, but she is still very pretty. She has such a sparkling personality and is very loyal.”
“I would guess her to be middle sixties,” Greg told her. “Wouldn’t it be great if the two of them found a lasting relationship?”
Grace made everyone take a piece of cake home for later. The rest was wrapped and left in the refrigerator. The ice cream was returned to the freezer for another day.
“Brrr. Why do we enjoy such cold food in bitter cold weather?” Grace shivered as she prepared to leave.
“I don’t know who invented ice cream, but it gets better and better. I, for one, can eat it any time. All of you, get out of here. Have a wonderful weekend.”
Jason locked up and bid everyone a cheerful goodbye.
Chapter Eight
The weekend was quiet because everything was shut down due to the blizzard that swept through the Village of Fayette. Business people, police and other citizens, who talked to each other, agreed that it had been many years since they ha
d such a severe winter.
By Monday the road crews had cleared the main roads and opened a few of the side streets. Jason called his three employees and told them to wait until the next day to come to work.
On Tuesday Jason took his time fixing blueberry pancakes, sausage and scrambled eggs. He drank two cups of coffee and poured the rest in a thermos to take to work with him. With Grace preparing to leave, he wasn’t sure there would be coffee at the office.
As he locked his door, Betty Dixon stuck her head out of her door and called to him. “Good morning, Jason. You work too hard. We never get to see you except in a passing blur. Please say you’ll come for dinner tonight. We would love so much to have you join us.”
“Oh, Mrs. Dixon, I don’t want to be any trouble. I usually pick up a take out to bring home with me or just have a sandwich.”
“Absolutely no trouble. I already cook for us and what’s one more.”
Jason recognized that she and Tony were lonely and missed their children.. He really didn’t want to get involved or feel obligated, but he was too kind to keep turning her down. “Okay. It’ll be my pleasure to join you. What can I bring?”
“Just yourself at seven. I’m so happy. Tony,” she yelled as she stepped back into her apartment. Jason heard her saying. “Jason’s going to join us for dinner. Yippeee!”
He walked to the elevator feeling ashamed that he had not given them more attention. He should have been more thoughtful knowing how they had lost two sons and now a daughter and grandchildren. I don’t want them to begin to feel that I’ll take the place of their children. I don’t dislike them, but I don’t have anything in common with them.
Jason smiled when he passed the Head Above The Rest Beauty Salon and Barber Shop. The music was turned on so that it could be heard on the street. “I’m Dreaming Of A White Christmas” played joyfully. “Yeah, sure,” he said, looking around at the pristine snow banks. Whistling, he walked on.