I’m acting like such an amateur. I should know better.
Me: What day?
Maggie: How about the weekend after New Year’s? We’ll celebrate a new year and a new family.
Me: I’m checking.
“Just after the New Year,” I report to Gillian.
I hear a few clicks on the computer. “We’ll see the tech high rollers on this, right?”
“Yes, I assume most of them will be invited.”
“Then we want the Paradise Room with views of the fountains. I can make that work. Have someone call me, and I’ll work on getting it taken care of.”
Excitement zings through me. That’s still a few weeks away, though. Now that I know there’s no danger, I have to see her.
“Thanks, Gillian. I’ll let her know.”
Me: The first weekend after New Year’s works. You need to come out and meet with Gillian. She can help you party plan and get blocks of rooms reserved, and we can have dinner.
I reread what I sent, and it doesn’t say anything I want it to.
Maggie: Outstanding. Thanks. I hope you’ll be able to at least stop by.
I plan to be attached to her arm that night. Why is she so distant?
Me: I miss you. Come spend the holidays with me. Please?
She doesn’t respond. I want so much to be with her and help her through everything she’s dealing with, but she has to at least talk to me first. I’m not even sure where she is right now.
I rest my head against the back of my chair and close my eyes a moment. I’m not sure if I feel better or worse than I did before I spoke to Christopher. The idea that Maggie’s mother tried to put a hit out on her blows my mind. I feel like I grew up with her family, yet I’m realizing once again that her parents are so different from mine. It must be really difficult for Maggie to trust people and to make room for things in her life besides work. I think that makes what we had together all the more special. I just have to get her to see that.
I try to go back to work, but it’s really hard to concentrate.
Chapter 37
Maggie
The weeks have flown by since I made the arrangements with the Shangri-la for the baby showers, and we’re now in the crunch period for the Foundation’s work with Operation Happy Holiday. I’m finding a new normal—living part-time in San Francisco and part-time in Minneapolis, spending time with my brothers, visiting the PR agency in New York, running back and forth all over the place to meet with lawyers as we try to resolve the rest of this scandal and get Reinhardt Corporation back on solid footing, and then immersing myself in the Foundation.
Once we’re out of the woods, I can tell Murphy won’t need me for much more than to attend quarterly company meetings. He has called a few times asking for my advice, but his instincts are spot on, so I’m not too worried about him. In fact, I’ve found a place to live in San Francisco full time. I want to be out of my brother’s guest house before the baby comes, and I need my own space. In a lot of ways I feel like my own person for the first time in my life. Alex has reached out to me from jail, but I’ve ignored his calls. Maybe one day I’ll be able to forgive him, but not right now.
All that’s truly missing is Jonnie. His text message about spending the holidays with him is tempting, but this is the first time my siblings and I will all be together as a family. I’m torn. I want to be in both places. Maybe he’d come to me?
I spend my entire flight from New York to San Francisco thinking about Jonnie. Now that I’m free from Alex and the constraints of the will, I can see a possible future for us. That is, if I can apologize. I need to just try. I need to get it out there. If I can’t spend the holidays with him, maybe he can come celebrate with us, or maybe I can go out early before the shower, and spend some time with him, and see where this goes—see if what we had works when I’m not hiding in his apartment. But I need to stop avoiding the hard conversation.
I’m going to call him from the car on my way into San Francisco.
The driver is waiting for me and Brian, my current security guard, when we arrive. I hand off my luggage, slip into the back seat, and pull out my phone. Jonnie’s line rings four times, and I’m disappointed. My mind scrambles. Do I leave a message? What do I say? I need to be honest.
When the voice mail beeps, I just start talking. “Jonnie, it’s me. I have so much to say to you. First of all, I’m really sorry for just cutting out in the middle of the night. I really thought staying any longer would put you in danger, and I had a plan. Turns out it wasn’t a perfect plan, but thankfully Jim and his team were there to help, and we got the job done. I know you were worried about me, and I’m sorry I put you through that. Thank you for caring. Things are starting to be somewhat normal again, and we’re celebrating Christmas together as a family for the first time in Minnie. You’re welcome to join us. I’d love it if you could. Will you please call me back?”
I disconnect the call and breathe a moment. The ball is in his court.
It’s time to focus on my next meeting.
Lately I’ve been working with Kate to finalize this season’s partnership with Brighter Future for Operation Happy Holiday. We were going to run with sixty inner-city school launches for the coming holiday season, but her team got ambitious and reached out to sixty inner-city school districts, which now means we’re active at over two hundred schools. But her business plan is solid, and the request for mentors is going out later this week with a press junket. With the Bullseye name behind it and the PR company helping with our image, we should be fine.
We hope.
Anyway, right now I’m excited to be living in San Francisco—a new city and my own apartment, though I’m having some work done on it, so I’m not quite living there yet. But this will be the first time I’m standing on my own. I walk down the sidewalk with my wool coat wide open. It isn’t anywhere near the sixteen degrees it was at home in Minneapolis when I left. And it’s still November.
I wave as I enter the restaurant and sit down at the table across from Kate. “Sorry, I’m late. The traffic from the airport was worse today.”
“You just flew in?”
I pull my arms out of my coat and try to center and calm myself before I get so caught up in the rush of things that I get our meeting off on the wrong foot. “I did. I left this morning from New York.”
“We didn’t have to meet so early. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t even worry about it. I’m here all week, and we’ll probably need to meet a few times. You’ve been so ambitious with your plans. I hear things are going super well.”
“I think so. The kids are working hard. Our reports show a significant uptick in kids going to school consistently.”
“That’s fantastic!” I beam. “You should be so proud of this.”
“Well, it’s a group effort.” She leans in. “And thank you for keeping Jim so busy. He didn’t notice I wasn’t around much.”
I smile. “I’m sorry about that. He’s so proud of you. That man is over the moon whenever I bring up your work.”
She blushes. There’s a glow about her I just love. It’s a draw for everyone around her.
“How many mentors are we aiming for?” I ask.
“We need more than thirty thousand,” she says without skipping a beat. “Right now most of the stores are reaching out to people, so we’re already making progress and the number is much smaller than that, really.”
“Are the bag inserts helping?” We put flyers in each bag and educated the cashiers on how to pitch the program in specific stores—mostly higher-income neighborhoods.
“Yes,” she says. “Those are working great. My team has also reached out to various professional sports teams, and in several cities we have some local celebrities on board.”
“Sounds like you’ve got this under control,” I tell her.
“You know, the first time we did this, I was short forty mentors so one of our board members put us in touch with Jim. Now look at me a year later! I’m
weeks away from getting married.”
“Jim is a great guy.”
A question has been in the back of my mind, and I can’t help but ask. “I’m not sure if you know anything, but does he have any news about Cecelia Lancaster?”
Kate shakes her head. “That’s been really tough. They thought they’d have a request for ransom a long time ago, but there’s been nothing. The trail is completely cold.”
I nod, my stomach sinking. “This is awful. She was so kind to me when everything started to shake out with my recent family troubles.”
Kate nods. “Nate and Jim are best friends. Cecelia was amazing to me—always kind, open, and welcoming. Her poor family.”
“I’ve been told I was the last person who saw her before she left the hotel.” I sigh and look out the window of the restaurant. A guy is playing the guitar on the corner for donations. Where could she be? She talked about her kids all the time.
“I didn’t realize that,” Kate says. “I just knew she left the hotel on foot, and the cameras lost her when she left the grounds.”
“She left without her security detail?” I’ve been so caught up in my own crap, I haven’t thought much about it. I should reach out to Nate or at least send him a note conveying my support. I’ll do anything I can to help.
“Yep. It was strange.”
After a moment, we get ourselves back on track and spend the remainder of the morning going through the updates on this season, as well as plans for future phases of our partnership. We decide I’ll stand with her as we do a national call-out in the final push for mentors.
“We’ve set up a phone bank to take calls and send questionnaires and do some background checks,” she says.
“It doesn’t sound like you need much from me.”
“Just wait until the press conference on Thursday morning.”
“I’ll be there,” I promise.
We begin stacking the piles of papers we’ve spread all over the table, and I send a message to let the car service know I’m ready for my ride.
She smiles at me. “I know Jim is in your employ, but would you like to join us for dinner one night while you’re here? We’d love to have you over to the loft, but I don’t want you to feel like you’re doing too much with your employees.”
“I don’t think of Jim like an employee. He’s a trusted friend who has my best interests at heart. I would love to join you for dinner,” I tell her. “You let me know which night and what I can bring.”
“How about tomorrow night and bring a bottle of your favorite wine,” she says. “My specialty is linguine and clams. Are you okay with that? I can make something else if you can’t eat shellfish or don’t like clams.”
“Nope, that sounds amazing. What time should I be there?” I ask.
“How about seven?”
“Sounds great. See you then.”
On the ride back to Christopher’s, I listen to my messages. None of them are from Jonnie. I’m beyond disappointed.
Chapter 38
Jonathan
Walking up to the sign-in table, I smooth out my khaki pants, take a deep breath, and put a smile on my face. I’m at the East Las Vegas Bullseye. They did a call for volunteers to help with the Reinhardt Foundation/Bullseye and Brighter Future’s Operation Happy Holiday. I know this is Maggie’s baby, and there’s no way I could have said no—regardless of whatever is, or isn’t, going on between us. Plus, what a great way to make an impact. I recruited my entire management team and a few others from the Shangri-la to join me. I don’t see them anywhere, but there are two Bullseyes in town hosting shoppers today. The two hundred dollars I spend will help a child from a disadvantaged school have a Christmas.
I spot the sign-in table and walk over.
“Welcome to the Operation Happy Holiday Shopping Day at Bullseye. What is your name?” the woman at the table asks.
“Jonathan Best,” I say in a low voice, hoping it doesn’t cause a ruckus. I spot Queen Diva dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. She told me she was volunteering under her given name. I’m also starting to see several other entertainers and the GM of the The Gates Resort and Casino.
The woman smiles, checks my name off a list, and hands me a packet, which includes a gift card. “Welcome, Mr. Best. You should have received a bio for your match, Arnold.”
I nod. He’s a bright kid who’s doing well in school.
“Jennifer here will take you over and introduce you.”
I follow Jennifer while she searches for Arnold.
“Do you live here in Las Vegas?” I ask.
“Yes, I do.” I’m quickly realizing Jennifer doesn’t recognize me. It’s very refreshing. “What do you do for a living?” she politely asks.
I shrug. “Like everyone else, I work down on the Strip.”
She spots Arnold. “Oh, here we go. Mr. Jonathan Best, this is Arnold Miller.”
He doesn’t look me in the eye, but I extend my hand. “Hey, Arnold—or should I call you Arnie?”
He tentatively shakes with me. “Arnie is fine.”
“Do you have a list?” I ask.
“I do.” He shows me a half-sheet of paper that has several names with lists of requests and sizes and departments next to them. He seems to have mapped out his plan. I like a planner.
There’s a woman up front dressed in white jeans and a white T-shirt, accented with a red handkerchief headband and red chucks.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” she calls over the crowd.
It takes a few moments for everyone to quiet down.
“Thank you all so much for joining us this bright and early morning. For some of you, I know mornings just aren’t your thing, and we can’t tell you how much it means that you made it anyway. Your contribution, just by being here, is so appreciated. My name is Nora Reynolds, and I’m the store manager for Bullseye East Las Vegas. When we learned we were a host store for Operation Happy Holiday’s first foray into Las Vegas, we were beyond thrilled. We are even more excited to see so many winners. Congratulations. Your mentor has two hundred dollars for you to spend. And that fancy green bracelet we attached to your arm entitles you to a fifty-percent discount on your purchases, including sale and clearance items.”
The kids are so excited; they just doubled their money.
“And, if you look in your packet, you’ll see a gift card. That’s an additional two hundred dollars from the Reinhardt Foundation. Students, you’ve all worked hard, so spend it well.”
The crowd goes crazy.
“I hope you have eight hundred dollars of things on your list,” I tease Arnie.
“They did the same thing last year out in San Francisco. We heard rumors they might do it again,” Arnie says smugly.
“That’s awesome. Where should we start?”
We go inside, and I follow Arnie around the store for two hours. He came armed with his parents’ and three younger siblings’ clothing sizes, and he’s smart. He buys things off the sale racks first and makes careful decisions. When we check out, he fills four tubs, and they’re labeled with his name. A volunteer explains that he’ll get the gifts on Christmas Eve when Santa brings them to a party.
“This is going to be quite the Christmas at the Miller home,” I say with a smile.
He nods. “I can’t wait.” He looks around and in a low voice adds, “I’m not supposed to tell you, but my mom works for you. If you can make sure she doesn’t have to work and can come to the party on Christmas Eve, I’ll happily give you the money you gave me back.”
I’m shocked by his sacrifice. “Arnie, your secret is safe with me. What is your mom’s name? I’ll make sure she has Christmas Eve off for the party.”
“Thank you,” he says. “Her name is Sue Miller. I can’t wait for her to see the necklace I got her.”
“I’m sure she’ll love it.”
He smiles and finally looks at me. “My brother and sister don’t know Santa doesn’t exist, so hopefully no one will let it out of the bag that I did this.”
“Excellent point. I’ll pass the word. Do you need a ride home?”
“Nope. My buddy Josh and I are taking the bus—with a detour by the arcade.”
“Sounds like a fun afternoon. Here’s my contact information, if you need anything.” I pass him my card, which has my personal cell phone number on it. “I promise to make sure your mom has Christmas Eve off for the party.”
“Thanks.” I watch as he disappears into a crowd.
“Makes you feel good, doesn’t it?” I look over and see Queen Diva standing next to me. Without her makeup and wigs, she seems tiny and years younger.
“Yes, it does. I grew up with the Reinhardt kids—Christopher is my best friend. Nothing would have stopped me from participating today. Thank you for coming. I appreciate it.”
“I keep saying this, but you’re too good for this town.” She grins up at me.
“Says the woman who’s here despite her life being splashed across the tabloids,” I snark.
“He’s getting what he deserves.”
“Agreed.” We high five and hug goodbye.
Chapter 39
Maggie
I’m still living in my brother’s guest house while they renovate my new apartment, but at least I’ve set the Foundation up with a San Francisco office. I’m at my desk, in the bright, cheery space with a fantastic view when I open up an email from Kate on Wednesday afternoon. She’s sent a link to a private gallery on the Brighter Future website that features pictures taken across the country on Operation Happy Holidays shopping day. There are hundreds for every location. I attended the event here in San Francisco, and it was fantastic to be with so many of my new friends. Caroline and Emerson have included me in so many of their activities that I’ve met quite a few people I really like. Amazingly, they also seem to like me—and that has nothing to do with my mother or my family name. I have to remind myself of that sometimes.
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