Faith, Love, and Fried Chicken: Seasons Boxed Set Bundle 1-4

by Laura J. Marshall

  Marcus let out a guffaw, which threatened to overflow in hilarity until Dash saw Mr. Hamilton give him a look. Marcus clamped a hand over his mouth then rolled his body across the rug as he tried to contain himself.

  "Well," Jaycee's momma began, "You are just precious as can…be."

  "I'm workin' at the mall, part-time." She cast her gaze down at her feet. Her bottom lip trembled, her small white teeth appearing then to bite down on it.

  Dash moved from the couch and walked toward Jaycee, who still stood in the doorway. Leaning forward, he cupped her elbow in his hand, his thumb caressing her through the fabric.

  "Velvet?"

  She nodded, her eyes now glued to his. A smile crept up and onto his lips; she was irresistible.

  "Most beautiful Christmas elf I've ever seen."

  He felt her breath release more than heard it. This must've been hard for her to do, this big reveal and the bigger picture, dress up in a mall full of people, many of whom she knew.

  Her fingers curved over one of the elf ears and she pulled it off. With one ear on, she grinned. Marcus stilled from his merriment and in fascination, sat up, "Can I try ‘em?"

  "Don't break them, okay?" He nodded as she tossed the plastic ears to him. He fit them to his own, running from the room to look in the hall mirror.

  “So, workin’ for Saint Nick, are ya?” Jaycee’s Dad asked. “What’s your schedule?”

  Jaycee padded across the carpet to stand near the tree, taking the hat from her head and nodding. “Tomorrow at noon. Not sure of my regular days yet. Expect I’ll find out then.”

  Dash took in the picture of her with the decorated tree behind her and the brilliant white star high above her head.

  Even to him, her skirt seemed tiny on her petite frame and when he thought of her going out in public in it, he wanted to yank it down by the puffy trim. If he hadn’t had a girl elf infatuation before, he expected he had one now.

  Back in her comfy black sweatshirt and yoga pants, Jaycee walked back into the living room. Dash had gotten a movie for the night. Having anticipated her family watching with them, she was surprised when it was just Dash on the couch waiting for her with a big bowl of popcorn before him and the remote in his hand.

  “Your folks went to bed.”

  “Was Daddy okay?” She settled herself beside him and into the crook of his arm.

  “Seemed so.”

  “He’s still unsteady. He’s better, just not…not the same.”

  “It might take more time or different meds. You just don’t know. We can just hope and pray.”

  “You’re right. You’re always right,” she grinned and pinched his gut playfully. “It gets annoying.”

  He went on the offensive and grabbed her hand, holding it firmly and pulling her closer to tickle her under her arm.

  She laughed and whispered loudly, “Okay, okay—truce!”

  He released her and Jaycee sat back, breathless. She hated to be tickled and he knew it. She wanted to be mad at him, but she couldn’t. Truth was, she was glad to see him so relaxed. Work had picked up for him and he had decided to hire another mechanic. She knew it wasn’t an easy decision for him; almost admitting he wouldn’t be back under a car anytime soon.

  She slid the remote from between his fingers as she leaned in and planted a kiss on his cheek. She placed the popcorn bowl into his hands. “Fair trade?”

  “Is this how you get yer way with me, woman? Plyin’ me with kisses and food?”

  “My elfen charms,” she said offhandedly, clicking through the menu screen to find the play button.

  “So….,” Dash began.

  She waited. She knew she looked foolish. An elf. She shouldn’t have reminded him. She held her breath and waited for his words. She looked from the TV into his face. He wiggled his eyebrows at her, a gleam coming into his eyes. “You get to keep the outfit?”

  Jaycee knew that look. Things were getting serious in that department. They had both agreed to wait, to stop and forgo the hormones. For the time being, they’d spend more time at her house than at his apartment alone.

  His eyes were on her lips and she felt drawn to him like red and white on a candy cane. Her finger hit the play button, but she slid the bowl from his hands and back onto the table then sat herself gently across his lap. Dash took her face in his hands and kissed her deeply.

  “Oh, Jaycee,” he whispered.

  She kissed him back and moved reluctantly from his lap. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.” He breathed out.

  They remained apart for almost half the movie…until reason returned and the fire had banked between them.

  CHAPTER TWO

  It was all fun and games until the reality of putting herself out there for public humiliation came home to roost. It being mid-day Thursday, the mall wasn’t overflowing with people yet. Jaycee walked through the brightly lit corridors, eyeing the bows and sparkles in one of her favorite store’s window. She checked her watch and walked more quickly through the food court to duck behind the canvas walls of the tent. She waved a greeting to an already dressed Santa.

  “Right on time. We open in ten minutes. All dressed?”

  “Yes…Santa,” she answered, allowing herself a small smile while she removed and hung up her black trench coat. She sat on a nearby stool and worked at the zipper on her boots. Pulling an extra pair of shoes from her purse once her feet were free, she put those on and the green elf coverings over them.

  “Names Jack, but stick with Santa. That way we won’t make any mistakes in front of the kiddos,” he said, winking.

  She nodded then looked around for a spot to place her purse.

  “There’s a locker under the table there. Here, put it in mine. Tomorrow, might want to bring your own lock.” He indicated the two other doors without locks while he twirled his combination. She tucked her purse in with what looked like a few watches and Jack’s street clothes. Reality. Santa was just a man. Let’s hope this boss didn’t turn out like the last one.

  “Grab your hours for the week then meet me out front.”

  He grabbed the camera and tripod and disappeared through a flap in the fabric.

  Jaycee stuck the plastic elf ears to her head by feel then went to the mirror to adjust the hat. She tugged at her sleeves and wiggled her shoes, bells tinkling quietly. She studied herself carefully. A circle of red at each cheek would really make this outfit. Nodding to herself with a sheepish grin. Go all in or go home. And the second wasn’t an appealing option. She was so bored of being around the house for days on end. This was just what the doctor, or God, or some strange force of nature had ordered.

  She snatched a piece of paper off the table and wrote her hours down for the next several days. Prime shopping time. She inwardly started to cringe. So much attention.

  Straightening, she gave herself a pep talk. She would further mask the real Jaycee. This was an adventure. Fun, even. Yeah, that’s what it was going to be. Julia Cozetta Hamilton, you quit two jobs in the span of a few short months. Time to suck it up and pay the fiddler. Maybe God could even use this itty bitty job for good and His glory and will.

  Stoic and with a prayer on her lips, she carried a stack of order forms along with several pens to the front of the makeshift room and out onto the stage of the cordoned off area of Santa’s workshop. A red throne for Santa sat center with a tree to the right lit with colored lights and big silver and gold bulbs. Surrounding the tree and on both sides of the chair were brightly wrapped packages with enormous bows.

  Jaycee descended the stage, bending down as she went to adjust the red carpet that led up the stairs and down the aisle. Jack had set the camera up and was fooling with the wires to the tiny TV-like screen. She plopped the forms on the table beside it.

  “We’re almost set. Remember how to run this?”

  She nodded mutely, though watched as he went through the steps again.

  “We take cash and credit cards. This machine here, you swipe the ca
rds and they can enter their pin. Got it?”

  And so the day began. Her first soiree into retail.

  Dash knew it was Jaycee’s first day on the job. He imagined she’d be flustered enough without getting a visit from him, so he circumspectly avoided the food court until last. He tucked the tiny box securely in his pocket then made a detour, peering out from a nearby clothing boutique to check on her.

  He had wanted to hold it in his hands and know it was real. Looking online was one thing, but was so removed from the reality of how he felt. He had found the perfect cut, just for her, at the mall jewelry store.

  “May I help you find something?” A saleswoman came up behind him and asked.

  He had a girl’s sweater in his hand. He looked down at it, his face flooding with heat. Fuzzy white and black fabric with rhinestones shined up at him.

  “Uh-no.” He placed it back on the rack by the store window, his attention on the woman. “Not for me…just, well. My girlfriend works over there. Her first day.”

  The saleswoman peered over his shoulder, her eyes widening. “With Santa?”

  “Yes, she’s the elf.”

  “Checking in on her, are you?”

  “I was shoppin’ and…”

  The woman glanced at his empty hands. “No success? Perhaps I can show you something.” Her voice trailed away.

  He consciously patted the breast pocket of his coat and smiled, turning to glance back towards Santa’s workshop, his eyes searching for Jaycee.

  “Ohhhh…I see,” the woman’s slight smile widened. “What’s her name? Your special elf.”

  “Jaycee.”

  “Well, I won’t tell a soul and I wish you the best with your Christmas surprise.”

  “Th-thank you…”

  “Nancy…Nancy Owens. I own this shop. Just opened a few months ago.”

  “Thanks, Nancy. I’m Dash Mattheson.” He made to leave the store then added, “If you’re a prayin’ woman, mind throwin’ me a few prayers for the big moment?”

  “I am and I will. You follow the Lord’s leading, you’ll do fine.”

  Jaycee dug her fingers into her hair, forcing the strands apart one by one. Her replacement, Lisa, had shown up a few minutes before the end of her shift and had gotten Jaycee some ice from one of the food vendors.

  She slid the frozen cube over the wad of gum at the side of her head, working it back and forth then picked at the sticky mound. Try as she might, she couldn’t rightly remember which sandy-haired, brunette, chubby-faced, bright-eyed child it had come from. Was it thrown, landing on her arm and working its way up? Maybe from bending over and lifting up one of the wiggly bodies into Santa’s lap?

  She shivered and dropped the melting sliver into the trash.

  Turning towards the coat tree, she glanced beside and behind it for her coat. It was gone!

  She stuck her head back out through the curtain, catching Lisa’s attention who came onto the platform.

  “My coat’s gone. Did you see it? Long black wool.”

  Lisa shook her head. “Can’t say as I have. Been some thefts in the mall though. That’s why we got the lockers.”

  Jaycee nodded her thanks and ducked back into the makeshift room. Looking down at her elf costume, she cringed thinking about the walk to the car. Not to mention getting something to eat. Her stomach responded with a low growl. Keeping her flats on, she tucked the shoe covers in her purse and carried her boots under her arm. She took a deep breath and exited into the busy foot traffic of the mall.

  The food court was packed. Jaycee made her way to stand in line at Hunan Fortune, stoically focusing her attention on the menu before her. Soon enough it was her turn. She took her food and drink atop a brown tray and slid into a nearby table. A little girl danced to the right of her as she opened her plastic-encased fork and knife.

  Sniffing the Chinese food appreciatively and with eyes open to the food and crowds, and the little girl dancing closer and closer to where she sat, Jaycee said a silent prayer of thanks. A lady who Jaycee assumed to be the little girl’s mother sat at a table in deep conversation with an older man with a long gray beard.

  Was he accosting her? He certainly looked homeless. Jaycee focused on the little girl with her long black hair in tight pigtails. Straight bangs hung low across her eyebrows. Brown eyes lit up and her cheeks flushed as she eyed Jaycee up and down.

  Glancing back at her mother, the little girl twirled closer and leaned in. “Are you an elf?”

  Jaycee leaned in just as conspiratorially, “I am, but just at Christmas time. Otherwise, I’m an ordinary woman.”

  The girl seemed to accept this information straightaway, grinning widely and hopping on one foot then the other.

  “And elves like Chinese food?” she asked loudly.

  Jaycee saw the little girl’s mother glance at her and then at Jaycee.

  “We do. You can’t get it up at the North Pole.”

  “You live in the North Pole?” Her eyes became round saucers.

  “Only this time of year. Otherwise, I live not too far from here.”

  Jaycee saw the old man get up and shuffle away. The little girl’s mother came to stand near her daughter.

  “We’re sorry to bother you.” Her arm drawing the girl close, who wiggled free and bounded off again, dancing on her tiptoes.

  “It’s fine. No bother. The outfit, I’m findin’, tends to fascinate the little ones.”

  “Yes, I can see that it would. You work with Santa?” The woman nodded her head towards Santa’s photo area.

  “Yes. Today was my first day.”

  The woman’s eyes seemed to light up and her mouth formed an “O”. Extending her hand, she introduced herself, “I’m Nancy Owens. I own Heaven Sent, the boutique at the corner. If you need anything while you’re here, let me know.”

  “I just love your store!”

  “Thank you so much. I’m not there as often as I’d like but it’s been doing well the short time it’s been open.”

  “Can I ask you a question, working here longer than I, you may know.”

  The woman nodded.

  “Heard tell of any thefts lately? My coat was stolen.”

  The woman nodded. “Mall security’s been working on it. Want to blame the homeless, but those poor souls aren’t the ones stealing from what I’ve gathered.” Her eyes slid towards the man she had been speaking to. She raised her hand to him as their eyes met. He was by the trash receptacle, buttoning his threadbare coat against the burgeoning cold that had descended on the area. “They roust them daily from the mall for loitering. For some, a quick jaunt through the mall, even if it’s from being run out by security, is all the warmth they feel most days.”

  Jaycee’s eyes followed the old man as he made his way to the quad doors of the mall entrance. She cast a glance at her overly full plate of food. The woman’s hand came to rest on Jaycee’s shoulder momentarily. “Never you mind. I’ve come up with a little plan to give them some comfort this Christmas. Maybe you’d want to help?”

  “I’d be happy to,” she replied, meeting the woman’s eyes, a warm feeling spreading into the pit of her stomach.

  “This is Rebecca, by the way. Tell her how old you are, Rebecca.” She said, addressing the little girl.

  Rebecca held up her hand, concentrating on the pudgy fingers displayed then counted them slowly, 1-2-3.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Dash gathered his wits about him as he drove to Jaycee’s parent’s home. It was 40 degrees and colder than usual for December. He flipped the truck’s ancient heater on, the whirring and instant heat causing his nerves to ease. He concentrated on the tiny winding road, flanked on both sides with dense trees which lead to the Hamilton’s small farm.

  Arriving, he parked in the driveway beside both of her parent’s vehicles. Marcus would still be in school this time of day. He exhaled and knocked at the front door. Mrs. Hamilton answered with a dishtowel in hand. “Well, hi there, Dash. Jaycee’s at work.”

/>   His mouth went dry as he willed it to open.

  She smiled at him and clasped his arm to draw him into the house. “I expect you know that though. Is there something we can help you with?”

  “I-I’m in the mind to have a talk with Mr. Hamilton.” He met her eyes with his own, the crinkles deepening as her smile widened.

  “With the way the cold’s pressin’ in, he should be in from the fields soon for coffee.” She led the way to the kitchen, glancing back to be sure he followed. “Would you like to take the thermos and mugs out there?”

  Dash nodded, steadying the swinging door with his hand and coming to stand near the kitchen table. Jaycee’s momma worked quickly with the already steaming coffee. She tightened the lid firmly then handed a thermos and two mugs to Dash.

  “You’re all set. I’ll have some hot blueberry muffins comin’ from the oven shortly. Ya’ll come on back for some when you’re through.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.”

  Dash nearly tripped over his feet as he went out the back and through the screened in porch. The thermos reassured him. The heat sank against his hand. He tried to still the clanging of the ceramic mugs, but the sound seemed to play in tune as the wind picked up and blew, entangling the branches of the nearby trees. He rounded their barn and headed for the fenced in corral. Two horses flicked their tails and neighed quietly as he passed.

  He followed the fence line to the end and kept moving forward. It was here the wire fencing started, where the Hamilton’s kept their cattle. Mr. Hamilton appeared from over a slope in the pasture, heading his way. Dash held up a hand in greeting and halted.

  “Dash. How are you son?” Mr. Hamilton called.

  “Fine, Sir. Came to have a talk.”

  Jaycee’s father nodded to the coffee as they both rounded and walked back towards the house. “And I expect the Mrs. sent us fortification.”