Holiday Magic (Second Chance)

by Matthews, Susanne

  Holiday Magic

  Second Chance: Book One

  by Susanne Matthews

  A Front Porch Romance Book

  Holiday Magic

  Second Chance: Book One

  Copyright © November 2013

  Edited by Debbie Rowe

  Cover Design: Niina Cord http://niinascoverdesign.weebly.com/

  Formatting: D&D Publishing

  First Copyright e-Publication November 2013

  ISBN-13: 978-1493698097

  ISBN-10: 1493698095

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any

  form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part,

  without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any

  resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  Dedication

  To all my Scribbler Sisters, may the magic of Christmas make your lives as wonderful as having your friendship has made mine. To my own Georgia and Eleni, you are the angels in my Christmas tree.

  Chapter One

  Georgia Baxter took a sip of her peppermint tea and looked around her. How many afternoons had she spent here, sipping tea and watching life pass her by? No more! Despite the doubts assailing her this morning, she would stand by the decision she had made. It wasn’t as if she could back out of it now anyway.

  Dressed in a new cherry-red coat and tam, she sat at a window table in the Boathouse Café overlooking the lake in Central Park. This was her favorite part of the city, the only place where she had ever felt comfortable since coming to New York.

  “Can I get you anything else, Georgia?” asked Gwen, one of the few friends she had made during her time in the city. The girl had left some tiny town in Kansas to try her luck on Broadway, but so far, all she had managed were a couple of off-Broadway parts. Georgia thought Gwen was talented and had a great voice, but she had learned not to trust her instincts. Gwen seemed excited today, and Georgia was anxious to know why. She hoped her own news wouldn’t distress her friend.

  “No. I’m good. Can you sit a minute? We need to talk.”

  “Yes, we do. I have some great news, well, I think it’s great news.” She looked around the almost empty restaurant. “Give me a sec.”

  She walked over to the other waitress who nodded, came back with a cup of coffee, and sat down in the chair across from her.

  “I wanted to tell you that this is my last week.” Gwen took a mouthful of coffee.

  Georgia looked up in surprise. “No! Really? How come? Did you get a part?”

  “Uh-uh. Remember last week when I told you that my old boyfriend was coming to New York? We were supposed to get married before I got the acting bug. He asked me to marry him again, and I’ve said yes.”

  Gwen’s eyes glowed with happiness. “He was willing to quit his job and come here, if that’s what it took. He said he’d do anything so we could be together. Georgia, I had no idea he loved me so much. I’m going home.”

  A sharp pang of envy pierced her. “Congratulations, but what about your dreams of headlining on Broadway? What’s happened to them?”

  Georgia knew how hard Gwen at worked at her goal, and how crushing the disappointments had been.

  “Reality, life—give it any name you want, but I’ve had it. I was thinking of going home in the spring anyway, and now I’m going home looking forward to the rest of my life. Let’s face it. I’m never going to be a star. I had one bit role off Broadway that barely covered my costs. I’ve realized that this isn’t the life I want. New York is a magical place, and for some, the dreams they have when they come here come true. For others, like me, you realize that it’s the dreams you had before that matter most. I’m glad I came and gave it a shot, but I’ve been here two years, and you’re the only friend I have. I want more. I want a husband and children more than I want bright lights. Life isn’t meant to be lived alone.” She sipped her coffee and smiled. “I will miss this place and you.”

  Georgia understood. She wanted someone in her life too—a husband and children—but the reasons that had brought her to New York in the first place and had kept her here all this time, the same reasons she now questioned her decision to leave, threatened to make that impossible.

  “I guess things don’t always turn out the way we want them to, but if this is what you want, then I’m happy for you, and I envy you. I wish I knew what life was waiting to throw at me next.” She sipped her tea and smiled ruefully.

  “You stole my thunder. I wanted to tell you I was leaving New York myself. It’s time for me to go home too.”

  Gwen reached out and took her hand. “I’m glad for you. It’s time you put all that behind you. Your sister must be happy. Twins should never be apart as long as you two have been. When are you leaving?”

  “Wednesday.”

  “So soon?” Gwen pointed to the pin on Georgia’s coat. “What are you going to do about Delicate Designs?”

  Delicate Designs was Georgia’s small custom design jewelry store located just down the street from the Museum of Natural History.

  “I’ve promoted Jane to manager. The shop does a steady business, and I can create and design from anywhere. If you weren’t leaving, I was going to offer you a job. Online sales have grown, and Eleni’s showroom has made a tidy profit for me as well. If things don’t work out, I suppose I can always come back. I’m only burning some of my bridges.” She laughed, but there was an underlying bitterness to it.

  She unpinned Autumn Leaves, the tricolor-gold elm-leaf broach she had created, and handed it to Gwen. “Take this as a remembrance gift. You helped me through some really dark times, and I will miss you.” She opened her purse and pulled out a business card.

  “This is Eleni’s address. I’ll be staying with her. Promise me that you’ll keep in touch. I’ll expect an invitation to that wedding.”

  Gwen ripped a page off her order book, scribbled a number on it, and handed it to Georgia.

  “This is my mother’s number. If you need anything, call.”

  They chatted a few minutes longer, but soon Gwen’s break was over, and she had to return to work. Georgia sat back in her chair and looked out the window. She was happy for her friend, truly she was, but she wished that she were the one going back home to marry the man she loved.

  Since she was leaving in two days, today had been her last day at the shop, as well as her last walk through the park, the inspiration for so many of her jewelry pieces. As she did each Monday, she had entered the park at West 79th Street, just down from the shop, and had walked along the paths from one landmark to another, but unlike those days where she sought inspiration in the beauty she saw, today she searched for confirmation that she had made the right decision.

  The phone conversation from two weeks ago, the one that had propelled her into action, echoed in her head. Right up until last Friday, the day her condo had sold, she had kept her final decision from her sister. From the beginning, Georgia had known that the call would be a life altering one.

  “Georgia, you’re never going to believe this,” shrilled Eleni, without bothering to say hello.

  “Calm down, and tell me why you are just a little bit more excited than normal.” Georgia, laughed at her sister’s obvious delight.

  “I got the contract! I’ve been retained as the exclusive holiday designer for Atlantic City’s Ocean Front Casino.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Georgia cried, but to her expert ears, she knew there was more to it from the tone of Eleni’s voice. “So what’s the bad news?”

  “Why do you always do that?” Eleni sounded exasperated, an
d laughed.

  “You know me too well. The downside—there is no bad news—is that I will have to spend a lot of my time in Atlantic City.”

  Eleni paused and Georgia waited for the rest of it, knowing that somehow she was going to be embroiled in something she might not like.

  “Since you’ve already decided to move back to Philadelphia after the holidays, I wondered if you might come early and manage the showroom?”

  The words rushed out of her sister as if saying them quickly would make them easier to refuse. The barely hidden plea in Eleni’s voice warned her that, unless she was willing to help, her big break might not happen.

  Georgia sighed. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for Eleni, but sometimes she had a habit of biting off more than she could chew. She thought this might be one of those times.

  “Okay,” she replied. “I need a few more details. When do you start, and how does it work?”

  “I’m going down this weekend to look over the casino, and then I start the week before Thanksgiving. I’m committed to them until the end of February, but Valentine’s Day is my last scheduled event. Here’s my problem. The contract arrived two days ago and stipulates that I have to be available to the casino twenty-four seven, in case any unexpected events arise.”

  “What do you mean twenty-four seven? Do you have to be there all the time?”

  “Of course not. Don’t be silly. That would be ridiculous; what would I do with myself? I think I just have to be able to drop what I’m doing in Philly and go there to do whatever they need. For example, if a couple wants to get married, I have to decorate for it. No one else can do any work there, and of course, I can’t work for any similar venue. In addition to the traditional holiday decorations, the casino has three weddings and three anniversaries booked. This is my big break.”

  Georgia had stared at her image in the window reflected by the blackness outside and had frowned.

  “Eleni, that’s a pretty major demand on your time. I think you had better read the contract very carefully before you sign it. I assume you’ll have someone to do the grunt work of putting the materials together and getting them to you? Don’t you have other events booked? What happens to those?”

  “Of course, I have seamstresses, laborers, and decorators, so you don’t have to worry about any of that stuff, and anything I design exclusively for the casino stays there. It’s really just a long term, all-inclusive gig. It’ll be fine.”

  Why was it that whenever Eleni said that, she always worried? Visions of past disasters from their teen years flashed through her mind.

  “I need you to manage the local business for me. I can finish the jobs I have, and take on others. I just can’t work for any other casinos. There are only four all-inclusive jobs that require your presence during the events. The rest of the bookings can be handled alone by the staff. They’ve managed similar themes before, and know how to put the scenes together. They’ll be fine on their own. I only book one event a day, so that I don’t run short of help.”

  “So while you’re having fun, exactly how many events will I have to supervise?”

  “It’s not that bad. I have the Christmas Eve Snow Ball, two office Christmas parties, three weddings, and three house parties. The Snow Ball, one office party and two of the weddings are your all-inclusive gigs. You’ll look after any new clients, of course,” Eleni answered with that duh sound in her voice, the one she used when she thought someone was asking a ridiculous question.

  “I booked off the month of January, because that’s when the accountants come in and do their thing, so it’s up to you if you want to take any work then, and I’ll be back at the end of February.”

  Frustrated that this was obviously a bigger job than she’d anticipated, Georgia paced the room, and counted to ten to control her temper. Eleni never seemed to fully understand the implications of her actions. Helping her would take far more time than Georgia had planned to take away from her own business. She had not intended to leave her shop before the holidays, but since her social life was nil, she had a lot of completed stock. She would have to limit the new commissions she could take.

  “So, genius sister of mine, how am I supposed to look after all that on my own? I thought you had a partner who helped out at these events. Will Mr. Mysterious be able to help me?”

  “Well…” Georgia could hear the reluctance in her voice. “He will, but I didn’t think you would want his help. Georgia, you do remember that Mark is my partner?”

  The bottom fell out of Georgia’s world. She had known going back to Philly would mean confronting the memories and heartache she had buried over the last three years, but she had not expected it to happen this way. How could Eleni even suggest such a thing?

  “You said he was a silent partner, providing money. You never said he attended these affairs with you,” she accused, her voice heavy with emotion.

  “It’s not as if I have to stay in Atlantic City for the duration. I’ll be back and forth, and once my displays there are done, I’ll race back to Philadelphia to help you. I mean, the man has to be kidding about the twenty-four seven. Even slaves got time off and a day of rest. Besides, Mark handles the church, while you manage the hotel. It’ll be fine, you’ll see.”

  Georgia saw nothing of the kind. Searing pain had pierced her heart at the mention of Mark, and it was all she could do to keep from falling to the floor and curling herself up in a ball. She had convinced herself that she could do this, walk the streets of the city she loved, renew friendships she had let lapse, maybe even see him, and be able to be polite, but distant. She had known that he had been involved in the business, but she had assumed his role was that of a silent partner, offering financial support and nothing more.

  “I really want to help you, Leni, but I don’t think I can work with Mark, and you know why! I’m not ready to face him. I can’t imagine why you thought I could.” Tears filled her eyes.

  “Georgia, just think about it, please?” Eleni begged. “If you can’t do this for me, I’ll understand, but it’s not as if he’ll be here every day. He comes in once a week, does the books and the taxes, and leaves. If I get a request for an event, I make a list of the items, project the man-hours involved, and run it by him, so that I can offer the best price, and still turn a profit. You can do that over the phone, or send him the information electronically. If you don’t want him to help with the events, I’m sure I can give my part-timers more hours. It’s just that having him on hand has generated quite a lot of business, especially from the single ladies.”

  She had hung up shortly afterward and nursed the ache in her heart the conversation had caused. Needless to say, Eleni had worn her down, as she always did, and she had acquiesced to her request.

  Chapter Two

  Georgia shook her head to clear the unhappy memories, and returned her thoughts to the present. She’d paused to stare at the stone base of Belvedere Castle on the Great Lawn. She’d crossed to the Turtle Pond, stopped again near the Delacorte Theater and its barren Shakespearean garden before coming here to see Gwen and have a final cup of tea.

  From where she sat, she could see the Angel of the Waters holding her lily, standing atop the now-drained fountain on the Bethesda Terrace. The four cherubs beneath her—Temperance, Purity, Health, and Peace—had been the inspiration for her Valentine’s Day Merry Cupids coat pin. The park and Gwen had helped her heal. Unlike the Biblical fountain at Bethesda, they had not cured her, but the pain was bearable, and time would ease it more. She felt confident enough to return to Philadelphia and face her unpleasant past.

  She paid her tab, and after a tearful good-bye to Gwen, continued her final walk through the park. The realtor was coming tomorrow with the couple who had purchased the apartment for more money than Georgia had expected. She had decided to make a clean break. If she did have to come back, she would find another place to live, just as she had three years ago.

  It wasn’t a particularly cold day, but dampness crept into her
bones and chilled her. She strolled past the Hans Christian Anderson statue and the Conservatory Pond. She stopped beside the Imagine Mosaic, the beautiful memorial to John Lennon in Strawberry Fields, and sat on one of the many benches that lined the sidewalk. In one of the old American elm trees, one leaf seemed to cling tenaciously to its branch. It had been that tree that had inspired Autumn Leaves, and it now gave her the final Central Park Collection design. She exited the park at East 72nd Street, and hurried along the last three blocks to her apartment.

  Georgia unlocked the door to her condo, removed her coat and hat, and pulled a large suitcase out of the closet. She didn’t have a lot of clothes since almost everything she had brought with her from Philadelphia no longer fit, and had been given away to the Salvation Army over time. She wasn’t a clothes horse like her twin, but she had acquired some classic designer clothes, and these would need to be carefully packed. She had fabricated pewter buttons and toggles for a new fashion designer on Houston Street, and had been paid in beautiful dresses and pant suits. She had several pairs of jeans and sweaters, her normal mode of dress, and other bits and pieces to take with her as well. Since she would be tied up with lawyers and realtors most of the day tomorrow, she would have to pack tonight. The movers she’d hired were coming in the morning to pack up her studio and ship it to Eleni’s.

  She left the suitcase in the hallway near her bedroom, went into the kitchen, opened the fridge, but nothing appealed to her. She had lost weight, possibly too much weight. Now that she had snapped out of her lethargic state, she would have to remedy that. She liked her new lithe form, but there really was such a thing as being too thin.

  She looked around the apartment and realized she had never really made it hers. Everything in it was as it had been when she had bought it, furnished, three years ago, and she had sold it the same way. There were few things in it that reflected her personality. Other than her design studio, photos of Eleni, their parents, and grandparents, and a poster celebrating her jewelry store opening, the place was impersonal. It was like a long-term hospital room in a rehab center, a stopping place where she healed and got her emotions in order, and it was time to depart. What was it they said? Stagnation was death. Well, she had stagnated long enough.