I'll Be Home for Christmas

by Fern Michaels

  Angus rubbed at his jaw. By the stubborn set of Eva’s chin, he knew she had said the last word on the subject. “I didn’t know. Something like that never occurred to me.”

  Eva picked up her cane and waved it around. “I didn’t know, I didn’t know. That’s all you’ve been saying for several days now. What did you know, if anything?” she asked sourly. “Look at the mess you’re in, and now I’m in the same mess because my daughter is going to be out of a job, and I’ll be losing my share of the profits. ‘I didn’t know’ is not good enough, Angus.”

  Angus felt his shoulders start to shake. He choked up and turned to Eva. “It’s my only defense. I was so obsessed with the store, keeping it going, trying to stay ahead of all the upstarts coming into town. I didn’t want to fail my father. I see now where I was wrong. I’ll be honest with you, Eva. I don’t know what to do. ‘I’m sorry’ more or less falls into the same category as ‘I didn’t know.’ Can you help me?”

  Eva leaned her cane against the sofa. “Was that so hard, Angus? Asking for help? This is the same position your son finds himself in right now. With a slight difference. He had the good sense to ask you for help, but you stomped on him. He’s the one you have to talk to, not me. If you don’t, you’re going to lose him. Open your heart and your mind, and if he calls you an old fart again, suck it up. We’re supposed to be older and wiser, the ones our children come to in need. I think that little ditty just reversed itself.”

  Angus forced a laugh. Eva thought it the saddest sound she’d ever heard.

  “How’d you get so smart, Eva?”

  “By trying not to do the things you did. I had to think about my family. We weren’t well-off like you were. We struggled for everything. More than once Angie had to wait weeks when she needed new shoes. There were a lot of things she couldn’t have when she was younger because they cost too much money. My husband worked on an assembly line. We had a mortgage payment, car payments, appliance payments. Then we had to save for college. Until you leased me the gift wrap department, we barely made ends meet. I don’t want to talk about this anymore, Angus. I want your word that you are not going to interfere with the kids when they do whatever it is they’re going to do. Your word, Angus, or I’m leaving and will walk home, at which point I will collapse and my condition will be on your conscience.”

  “You drive a hard bargain, Eva. You have my word. I’m not going to like what they’re going to do, am I?”

  “Not one little bit!”

  “Can you give me a clue, a hint?”

  “Try this one on. They’re going to close the store and get rid of all that stuff that came over with the ark.”

  “The merchandise? That represents money. What…What are they going to do with it?”

  “My guess is there’s going to be one heck of a supersale followed by a bonfire somewhere real soon. Like I said, Angus, get over it.”

  “What the hell, okay. Want to stay for dinner? Dolores is still with me, so you know there’s something delicious waiting.”

  “I’d love to stay for dinner.”

  “Do we have a date, then?”

  “We do indeed have a date. Speaking of dates, Angie and Josh are going out for Chinese this evening. I rather imagine the two of them will be venting to one another about the two of us,” Eva said.

  “Imagine that!”

  “I think the two of them think you and I had an affair years ago,” Eva said, her face taking on a rosy hue.

  Eyes twinkling, Angus said, “Imagine that!”

  Eva laughed. “Yes, imagine that!”

  Chapter Four

  The Jade Pagoda was bustling when Josh held the door for Angie. They were shown to a table into the back section of the room that was separated from the other diners by strings of silver beads—beads that tinkled as the servers walked in and out. It was a pleasant sound, as was the fountain that trickled over lava rocks in the middle of the room. A smiling Buddha holding a fortune cookie sat atop the fountain, welcoming all guests.

  “I come here sometimes just to relax,” Josh said, waving his arm about. “Win Lee told me if you rub the Buddha’s belly he’ll bring you good luck. For some reason, that little fat guy never worked for me.”

  Angie smiled. “Maybe it’s because you aren’t Chinese.”

  “Do you think?”

  “No! I just said that to have something to say.”

  “Do you come here often?”

  “After my father died, Mom and I used to come every Friday night. When she went to Florida to help my aunt I stopped coming, mainly because I don’t like to eat alone. When Mom finally came back we just never picked up where we left off. I agree with you, though, it is soothing and peaceful in here. People seem to whisper when they’re here. Then again, they might have some top-of-the-line acoustics.”

  Josh held a chair for Angie before he took his own seat. “My mother wasn’t one of those warm, fuzzy mothers. I used to hang out at friends’ houses because I liked the way they interacted with their mothers. It sounds like you and your mother had a good relationship.”

  “We did. Sort of. Kind of. I hated you and your family for a long time,” Angie blurted. “That…That probably colored my determination to fight you on the lease.”

  Josh looked so shocked at her words, Angie hastened to explain. “My mother spent more time at your house than she did at her own. Every time I needed her, she was at your house. Back then I didn’t understand my family’s need for money. I also didn’t like it that my mother cleaned your house and cooked for you. Our dinners were always late. Then my mother would go back to your house to clean up after your dinner while I was the one who cleaned up ours. I wasn’t always as kind as I could have been to my mother. Of course I regret that now. My dad did his best.”

  Josh blinked. He struggled to find something to say. “I guess I would have felt the same way. As a kid you just more or less take things for granted. I’m ashamed to admit I never thought about Eva in terms of having a family to take care of. She was just there sometimes. I’m sorry if that hurts your feelings, Angie.”

  “Well, that was then, this is now. We were both kids back then. You know what they say, you can’t unring the bell. Isn’t it ironic that we’ve come together like this? Your father with his hip operation, Mom with her knee replacement. If it weren’t for that, you and I would still be battling one another. I guess everything happens for a reason.”

  “So we have a truce. At least for now.”

  “Yes. We have to make it all work. I think we can. Did you look over the suggestions I put in the box?”

  “I did. Most of them are really good. I particularly like your idea to turn the gift wrap department into a Christmas wonderland. But the retail side of me can’t quite accept the idea that for a fee you’re willing to gift wrap merchandise from other stores.”

  “The idea, Josh, is, those customers will browse the store and buy point-of-purchase merchandise with the money going into Eagle’s coffers. The gift wrapping is not going to be cheap, I can tell you that. Most of that money will now go into your coffers, too.”

  Josh nodded as he motioned to the waitress. He told her that they were ready for some green tea. “I sent out memos today. We’ll close the store this weekend for two days. Three if we need an extra day. I also made arrangements for everything on both floors that has been marked down twice to go to Goodwill. Everything else will be sold below cut-rate to two different discount stores. This will get underway Friday night after the store closes. You might want to walk through the store to see if you think there’s anything we can salvage.”

  “Get rid of it all. We’re starting fresh. No holdovers. You also need to get an electrician to install some better lighting. A nice new, shiny tile floor will work wonders.”

  “I’m not a miracle worker, Angie. Two days, even three, it’s a monumental task.”

  “Offer a bonus. Tap into your workforce. The salespeople have spouses who might like to make some extra money. Your
new motto from here on in is, ‘The Eagle Soars.’ Start running ads in the local newspaper. Get some flyers made up. Hire some kid to put them on the windshields of the cars in the parking lot. Have a raffle every day. All entries have to have a sales receipt attached. That kind of thing. In order to make money, you have to spend money. You might need to close for two weeks.”

  Josh brought the little cup of tea to his lips. His gaze locked with Angie’s. “Two weeks! Young lady, you’re scary!”

  “I’m going to take that as a compliment. A scary compliment. What did you do about laying off your staff?”

  Josh leaned back in his chair. “It was hard, but I did it. I think a lot of the staff were more or less relieved. I laid everyone off for three weeks except for a few I knew we would need. I don’t know why, but I thought some, if not most of them, welcomed the decision. Some of the staff are my father’s age. Past retirement age, but Dad wouldn’t let me lay them off. I checked all their files, and none of them are in dire need of money. They work to have something to do. I can’t fault them for that.”

  “You might be able to use the grandmothers to man the day care I want to put in on the second floor. Think about it, Josh. Mothers dropping off their children so they can shop! At thirty dollars a day with lunch and snacks, it would be a bargain. Of course you’d have some moms who just might want a few hours at a time. We’d work out a reasonable fee. I can see you taking in a couple of thousand bucks a day. The more activities you have for the kids, the more demand for the service. The kids would get a day with a real grandma who will read them stories, sing songs with them, rock the babies. Your dad and my mom will be perfect if we can get them to agree and at the same time still be in the loop. I already earmarked all the things on the floor that could go into the day care. I have a lot of friends whose kids have outgrown many of their things. I can ask to borrow them. Next year, if this all works, we could really do a bang-up job, but for now, I think this will work.”

  “My father is going to go nuclear!” Josh laughed. “Day care! Never in a million years would I have come up with that idea. You’re right, you are an idea person!”

  “Thank you, sir!”

  The waitress showed up to take their order. Angie ordered a dish called Volcano Shrimp, while Josh ordered a sizzling seafood platter. Both now crunched down on hard noodles, a bit more relaxed with one another.

  As Angie munched, she asked, “What did you think about my idea of having a really huge live Christmas tree in the middle of the floor? And the Santa with his sack of toys?”

  “Great idea, but it will seriously deplete floor space. I’m still waiting to see what kind of merchandise we’re going to be selling. Not to mention where we’re going to get that merchandise. Vendors are notoriously cranky and in no hurry to get the deliveries to you during the year. They’re worse over the holidays. I hesitate to ask this, but is there a Plan B lurking anywhere?”

  “Plan B? More or less. Incentives. Cash on delivery. If the merchandise angle falls short of my expectations, I think we could more than make up for the revenues with services, like cooking lessons, knitting lessons, all kinds of hourly lessons. Kind of like the YMCA. I think I’d like some Chinese beer now.”

  “You like Chinese beer! Imagine that! I like it myself.” Josh signaled the waitress and placed the order. When it arrived, he held up his bottle to clink it against Angie’s. “What should we drink to?”

  “To success, what else?”

  Angie drank from the bottle, ignoring the glass sitting on the table. Josh seemed mesmerized by his dinner companion as she kept upending the bottle. He’d never dated a girl who really liked beer, much less drank it from the bottle. He grinned from ear to ear. He took a moment to wonder what it would be like to kiss those full red lips. He just knew in his gut he’d soar like an eagle.

  Angie and Josh were the last to leave the Jade Pagoda. With way too much Chinese beer under their belts, Josh called for a taxi. “We can pick our cars up in the morning.”

  “What time is it?” Angie mumbled as she looked at the array of beer bottles on the table.

  Josh peered at his watch. He knew he was snookered when he couldn’t read the numbers. “Late,” he said triumphantly. “Do you have to be home before…before…the moon comes out?” Damn, he was witty tonight. And charming.

  “I was…I think I was supposed to…Maybe I wasn’t…Where is my mother, do you know?”

  Angie was looking at him like he had the answer at his fingertips. He didn’t want to disappoint his new friend. “I’m not sure. I’ll help you look for her.”

  “That’s wonderful. Thank you. I think she might be…you know, pissed that I forgot about her.”

  Josh pulled himself up to his full six-foot-two-inch height and said, “We were busy.”

  “Yes, we were. Why don’t we walk home, Josh? We might see them on the way. Oh, I remember now, my mother is keeping your father company. That’s not good. Oh, shit! My cell phone is off.”

  Josh burst out laughing and couldn’t stop. Suddenly this peppery young woman he’d dined with, drunk with, was all too human. “How many times did she call?”

  “Well, guess what, Josh? I can’t really see those itsy-bitsy little numbers. A lot. And who’s paying for this taxi?” Angie asked as it pulled up.

  Josh stepped up to the plate. “Eagle’s,” he said smartly.

  “Tell him to take us to your house. Then he can take me and my mother home. She is going to be so…so…”

  “Pissed?” Josh asked, howling with laughter. “My old man is going to go through the roof. I need to move out and get my own place. I think he needs me, and that’s why he likes me living with him. I bet your mother feels the same way. They’re old. Old people think like that.”

  They got into the cab and Josh gave the driver his address.

  “Nah, it’s all a game to keep us in line. Those two are more independent than either one of us. If you had your own place, I could visit you.”

  Whoa. Josh leaned over and kissed her ruby-red lips. At least he thought they were ruby red. He didn’t care if they were ruby red or purple.

  “You’re a good kisser,” Angie said a long time later. “I think the driver wants you to pay him. Are we at your house? Time does fly when you’re having fun, doesn’t it? Yesireee, you are a good kisser.”

  “Damn straight I am. A good kisser. Not because I had…have a lot of practice,” Josh said, handing the driver a twenty-dollar bill for the five-minute ride. “Keep the change,” he said magnanimously.

  “Wait for me, mister, I have to pick up my mother.”

  Walking up the driveway, Josh stopped and reached for Angie’s arm. “Should we have a story? You know, why we’re so uncaring, so negligent, so…”

  “Drunk?”

  “Egg-zactly,” Josh said, roaring with laughter.

  “No defense is the best defense. I don’t really care. Do you care, Josh?”

  “I don’t think I do. Tomorrow I might.”

  Josh was about to open the kitchen door when it swung open. He looked up to see Eva Bradford glaring at him. His father’s face defied description. A sappy expression on his face, Josh said, “Good evening, everybody.” He made a low, sweeping bow. Not to be outdone, Angie did the same thing and almost fell on her face.

  “They’re both drunk,” Angus said.

  Josh straightened his jacket and looked over at Angie. “They’re worried about us while they’ve been here…noodling…canoodling…Oh, shit, messing around. Hrumph!” he sniffed. “Your chariot awaits, Mrs. Bradford. It’s a taxi.”

  “Mom!” Angie looked properly horrified. “I knew it! I knew it! You two…You lied to me. You were doing what he said…noodling around,” she said, pointing to Josh.

  “We were not. You’re inebriated, Angie. Shame on you!”

  “Joshua, go to your room.”

  “Why should I? No! I’m moving out and Angie is going to come and visit me. When I move to England, she’s coming to visit m
e there, too. So, Pop, what do you have to say to that?”

  “Talk to me when you’re sober, and I will have plenty to say. These ladies need to go home right now. You need to go to bed, Joshua.”

  Josh looked over at Angie and said, “He only calls me Joshua when he’s really mad. Come along, fair lady, I always see my dates home. Do you want me to stay with you until I find an apartment?”

  “Sure,” Angie said agreeably. “Mom can stay here. Win-win. Works for everybody. I think I’m going to be sick.”

  Eva fixed her angry gaze on Josh, and said, “Young man, I am holding you personally responsible for my daughter’s condition. Do something!”

  Josh stepped up to the plate for the second time that evening. “And I and I alone accept that responsibility.” He offered up a second sweeping bow and fell over, toppling one of the kitchen chairs. “The meter is running,” he said as Angie bolted for the kitchen door.

  “Do something, Angus!” Eva hissed.

  “It’s your daughter who’s…Well, she’s…”

  “Your son got my daughter drunk. Don’t deny it.”

  From his position on the floor Josh said, “No, no, she got that way all by herself. She had so many ideas.” A moment later he was sound asleep on the kitchen floor.

  Angus shrugged. Eva did her best not to laugh.

  Angie came back and looked down at Josh. “He’s not…dead, is he?”

  “I’m thinking tomorrow morning he might wish he was,” Angus said.

  Angie sat down on the floor next to Josh. “Oh, I had so many ideas. Josh liked all my ideas.” She untangled herself and laid her head on Josh’s stomach.

  “I say we just leave them here,” Eva said. “I’ll let the taxi driver go. You get some blankets and pillows.”

  “Then what?” Angus asked.

  “Do you want me to draw you a map, Angus? Do you want to make your son out to be a liar? We’re going to canoodle.”

  “Oh!” Angus wondered if Eva picked up on the anxiety in his voice.

  And then she was back in the kitchen, a wicked gleam in her eyes.