My Only Christmas Wish

by J. M. Jeffries

  “All right, you’ve been writing in that notebook for hours. Do you care to share some of it?”

  He gave a short nod. “A number of things. First, I want to change the housewares department around a little bit.”

  Darcy bit her tongue. Please, God, don’t let me have one of those maniacal cartoon-character laughs. She’d been waiting to drop this bomb all morning. “You can’t,” she said as calmly as she could.

  His eyebrows rose in surprise. “If I remember correctly, I own this store. My signature is on the dotted line.”

  “My stepfather was supposed to pass the information on to your lawyers. I was in negotiations at the time with the producers when you made your bid. And they said I should finish the negotiations and send them the final contract, which I did.”

  She saw him frowning and wondered what he was thinking. She had the oddest feeling that her stepfather hadn’t sent the final contract to Eli’s people.

  The sound of hyena laughter sounded in her head. “We are contractually obligated to maintain the store’s visual integrity, with the exception of seasonal decor changes, for the next six months.”

  “Contractually obligated to whom?” he asked, his voice taking on a dangerous tone.

  “WNTV—Women’s Network Television.”

  “What does a TV station have to do with Bennett’s?”

  “You’ve heard of the Personal Shopper Mystery books, you know, Homicide in Housewares, Larceny in Lingerie. WNTV is filming the TV show at Bennett’s. I signed the contract two weeks ago.”

  His frown increased. “Two weeks ago I was trying to find a new nanny for Sophia.”

  “I should think you would have had your people to do that.”

  “Where Sophia is concerned, I do everything myself.”

  She had to give him points for being a hands-on father.

  “My stepfather should have informed you we were in negotiations. It’s not my fault.” She blinked her eyelashes at him. “How was I to know he didn’t carry out his responsibilities?” Surprise, surprise, she thought.

  He sat back in his chair, his mouth half open. “That information did not make it to me or my lawyers. Tell me more.”

  “The author of the mystery books, Amanda Montgomery, was not only a former employee, but my college roommate. I helped her get her career off the ground.”

  She slanted a look at him, trying to read him. He had a blank expression on his face.

  “And Zora Davis,” she continued, “who is the producer, was also my college roommate. And we just got together, worked out the idea and the Personal Shopper Mysteries were born. This is going to bring in an extra fifty thousand dollars a month and the employees are going to have a chance to make some extra money as bit players. The city of Atlanta is excited about this, too. And if the series takes off, who knows what could happen. Filming starts at the end of January.”

  He could only stare at her.

  “I apologize for putting a crimp in your redecoration plans.” She was so proud of herself, she almost burst. Darcy realized this was the first day and the first battle, but she believed she carried the win.

  “Any more surprises up your sleeve?” he asked caustically.

  “If I told you, they wouldn’t be surprises.”

  He tapped his pen hard against the top of his spiral notebook. Darcy couldn’t help a thrill of pride. She loved irritating him. She knew she was being mean, but didn’t care. Despite his anger, he was still incredibly handsome and she felt a little tingle against her skin as she sat back, trying not to look too smug.

  “You’re a very smart woman, Ms. Bennett.”

  “I’m going to take that as a compliment.” Even though she thought his tone was condescending. “I love this store. These people are my family, and I will do anything short of committing a major felony to save Bennett’s—unless it’s something glamorous and nonviolent. That’s always been a fantasy of mine. Darcy Bennett, art thief.” She sat back in her chair feeling incredibly pleased with herself.

  His lips quirked and she could tell he was trying not to laugh.

  “Go ahead and laugh,” she continued. “I won’t tell anybody that you’re not the big, bad ogre trying to steal Bennett’s from my poor, fragile little hands.”

  He laughed out loud. “And that’s exactly what I’m trying to do. As I said before, I’m releasing the dogs of war.” He stood up and reached for the doorknob. “You said my office is next door.”

  “To the left,” she replied. “It’s a corner office and it even has a window.”

  * * *

  His office was a couple dozen square feet larger than Darcy’s and she was right about the tiny window overlooking the loading docks. At least he didn’t feel so cramped as he did in her office.

  The window was open, making the room icy cold, and when he looked out he couldn’t keep a chuckle from escaping. Darcy Bennett thought of everything. He could hear the sound of trucks pulling into the docks and the shouts of men on the dock guiding the trucks into their berths.

  He closed the window and sat at the desk. The chair creaked as he sat before the computer on the desk near a file cabinet. This bare office was not what he was used to. Eli placed his spiral notebook on the desktop and contemplated his next move. He started to turn toward the nearest file cabinet when a knock sounded on the door.

  The door opened to reveal one of the women from the day care center. She wore a blue apron over dark blue pants and white T-shirt. The apron was smeared with what looked like finger paint while a smudge of chalk decorated her nose. Her name tag said Ms. Jill.

  “Mr. Austin,” Ms. Jill said, “I thought I’d stop by and tell you we’re getting ready to head down to the first floor to watch Santa’s arrival. The children then get the first chance to have their photos taken with Santa. Do you want me to inform you when Sophia is ready for her photo?”

  “Ms. Jill—” he sat back to regard her “—how did you come to be the head of the day care center?”

  She grinned. “At least one member of my family at one time or another has worked at Bennett’s. I graduated last spring with a degree in early childhood education and Ms. Darcy felt I would be perfect to get the center started, and run it.”

  “Do you really like working here?”

  Ms. Jill studied him with a tilt of her head. “I love working at Bennett’s. They have a scholarship fund that went partially toward my tuition and the rest I earned working part-time here like a lot of other people.”

  “Is it mandatory for all the children to see Santa Claus?”

  “No, it’s just that one of the perks is getting to see him first.” She paused. “Do you have a problem with her seeing Santa Claus?”

  “She’s at the age where she shouldn’t believe in these kinds of social white lies.”

  Ms. Jill looked at him steadily and said, “Mr. Austin, children need to have active imaginations, and believing in Santa Claus is part of that.”

  He leaned forward. “I’ve already told her Santa Claus doesn’t exist.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “Really, well, she’s been jumping up and down with excitement since she arrived, and I told her she would get to visit with Santa. I don’t think she believes you.”

  “My daughter is a very practical child.”

  “No, she’s a child.”

  He gave a sigh and wondered if this was worth the argument. “If she wants to visit Santa, let her.”

  Ms. Jill looked impatient. “And do you want to be in the photo? It would mean a lot to Sophia.”

  “You’ve only been with Sophia for an hour, how do you already know all this about her?”

  “Partly because of my fancy education, and as you will find out eventually, Bennett’s is magical.” And with that she turned and left.

  Eli knew
his mouth was hanging open at her reply. Nobody had ever spoken to him that way before. He jumped to his feet and stalked after her, throwing open the door to Darcy’s office and entering.

  She was speaking on the phone, but at the frown on his face, she told the caller she would call back, said goodbye and hung up.

  “Do people not understand that I am the ‘Boss’ with a capital B? And that entitles me to a modicum of respect.”

  Darcy stood, quietly facing him, her shoulders squared. “You don’t want respect. You want them to fear you. They treat me with respect.” She paused and covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, must be because I earned it.” She took a deep breath and crossed her arms over her chest. “There isn’t one person here who doesn’t know how much I love getting into the trenches. They don’t know that about you.”

  “I will do what it takes to make this store succeed.”

  “Respect is one thing, but if you want these people to work for you, to give blood, then you make them love you they way they love me and I love them. If you can’t do that, then pack up your seven-thousand-dollar briefcase and leave now. That’s how Bennett’s works.”

  He thought a moment about what she’d said. Making people love him was not on his agenda. He was the boss. “As I said, I will do what it takes to succeed.”

  “Sure you will, Mr. Austin. Have a nice day. Why don’t you start by making your daughter happy and have your picture taken with her and Santa?”

  Eli stalked out. He’d give her this battle. But the war was far from over and Eli Austin never lost.

  Chapter 4

  Eli took the elevator down to the toy floor. When the door opened, a line of children extended around the whole department.

  “Daddy,” Roo called from where she stood in line.

  Eli recognized the children from the center. Some stood with adults who appeared to be their parents and others stood alone looking anxious.

  “You came,” Roo said with one of the happiest smiles Eli had ever seen on her face.

  “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He bent down to kiss her, and she straightened his tie.

  “You have to look perfect for Santa,” she said, giving his tie another tug.

  I have to look perfect for a guy who doesn’t exist, he thought. “Of course, Sophia.”

  She jumped up and down as the line progressed forward. This was the most excited he’d seen her since before her mother passed away. He would do anything to keep that look on her face. He bent over and fixed the hem of her jumper.

  The line moved slowly. Eli tried to stay patient, but he kept looking around. The line was bordered by tables heavily laden with all the latest toys. Smart marketing, he thought as he saw children stretch out hands to point at their choices. Moms and dads would be back later. An employee handed out drinks and cookies. She chatted with the little girl behind them.

  “Excuse me,” the woman in front of him said. She held two children by the hands and the third, a toddler, was attached to her by what looked like a dog leash to Eli. “Could you hold my place? The kids have to use the bathroom.”

  “Of course we will,” Roo said grandly. “Don’t you worry, we’ll make Santa wait for you if we get there fast.”

  Fast? Eli thought. Glaciers in Alaska moved faster than this.

  The woman eased out of line and headed toward the restrooms. A little boy ahead of them had started to cry just as an employee dressed up like a reindeer came over. “Cookie?” she said and handed one to the crying boy. He stopped to eat the cookie.

  Sugar high, Eli thought as the employee turned to him. “Cookie, Mr. Austin?”

  “Yes, thank you,” Roo answered for him, and took two.

  “Why,” Eli asked the woman, “are you handing out cookies and milk to children standing in a line?” He glanced at the line now forming at the bathrooms. He mentally calculated the cost.

  “These cookies are part of our Project Atlanta charity.”

  “Project Atlanta?” He remembered reading about the charity Bennett’s supported.

  “We only sell them between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. If people sample a lot, we sell a lot.” the employee continued. “And the proceeds go to the charities we help fund.”

  “I’ve seen six kids go to the bathroom.”

  “People will hold their place. It’s a tradition.” She leaned close to him and whispered. “And they have to walk the toy gauntlet. What better way for the kids to pick out what they want from Santa? We give them a list of the toys, they mark off what they want and we, as a courtesy, print out a simple list for parents. That was Ms. Darcy’s idea.”

  That woman didn’t miss an angle. The subtlety of her strategy was really good. He had to admire that even though he didn’t want to.

  The elevator door opened and Darcy walked out. He watched her as she grinned and hugged customers and kissed little children. She seemed to know everybody and they all knew her.

  “Daddy, there’s Ms. Darcy.” Roo stood on tiptoes and waved frantically. “Ms. Darcy, we’re over here.”

  When Darcy smiled at them, her face lit up in a way that made Eli’s heart skip a beat. As she eased her way toward them, Eli forgot for a moment that she wasn’t his enemy, but a highly desirable, very attractive woman.

  “Ms. Darcy,” Sophia said again. “Will you have a photo taken with me and Santa? Please?”

  Darcy gave Eli a sidelong glance. “Don’t you think your dad wants that privilege?”

  “We’ll have our own. I want one with you, too, because you’re so pretty.”

  Eli admonished her, “Roo, Ms. Darcy is busy, don’t you think…”

  “I’d be happy to make time for you,” Darcy said.

  “It’s okay, Daddy, you’ll always be special in my heart.”

  His daughter sounded so serious and grown-up, Eli didn’t know what to say. He opened his mouth twice before he decided no answer was best.

  Darcy grinned at him disarmingly. “You have a little diplomat on your hands.”

  “More like a manipulator,” Eli mumbled, though his heart swelled with pride. Roo was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

  “The best diplomats are manipulators,” Darcy said. She bent down to Roo. “When you get two people away, have your dad call me on my cell and I’ll come for our photo.”

  Roo dug into her pocket and held up her crystal-encrusted bright pink phone. “I have my own.”

  “I see,” Darcy said. She pulled out her phone and Eli watched the two of them exchange information. He wanted to tell Darcy she had a phone that dialed only a couple of phone numbers. He didn’t really approve of children having cell phones, but Sophia was responsible enough he’d relaxed his rule.

  Darcy slipped away. She walked down the aisles greeting people and children alike. She looked so in control, so slim and elegant, so incredibly beautiful. Eli felt a strange mixture of desire and irritation inside him.

  They waited another twenty minutes. Eli did everything he could to contain his impatience. He had things to do, people to see. But a part of him knew he hadn’t spent enough time with his daughter and standing in line waiting to reach Santa was making her happy.

  She talked nonstop pointing out toys that caught her interest. She marked her toy list with those toys she thought she might like. He glanced at the list; it was long and included dolls, games and even a Nintendo. She already had a game system. Eli started to question her, but Sophia was talking on her phone. A few seconds later, Darcy returned.

  “Santa,” Darcy said with a smile. “This is Mr. Austin, the new owner of the store, and his daughter, Sophia.”

  “Mr. Austin,” Santa said with a twinkle in his eyes.

  Roo sighed as she looked at Santa. “My daddy said there is no Santa, but you’re right here. Daddy says h
e’s never wrong.”

  Santa gave Eli a quick, penetrating look. Eli had to remember this man was a retired police officer and could read people without even thinking.

  Santa leaned close to Roo. “Even daddies can make mistakes, Ms. Sophia.”

  Sophia smiled in delight. “You and me first, Daddy,” Sophia said as she leaned against Santa’s knee.

  Santa grinned at Sophia and did the obligatory, “Ho, ho, ho.” Eli sat on the bench with Sophia in the middle. The camera flash went off twice. Sophia smiled up at Santa. Eli’s heart twisted. She was so pretty and trusting in her own way. Yet from the look in her eyes, she totally believed this man was Santa. How had she managed to so thoroughly ignore the conversation about Santa not existing?

  Eli stood and Darcy took his place. She slid an arm around Roo, the camera flashed and her photos were over.

  She patted Roo on the tip of her nose. “I have to go. I have an interview about the wreath.”

  “Wreath?” Eli asked.

  “The wreath in the rotunda. All the jewelry on it is donated by various designers and auctioned off for charity. Atlanta Today is interviewing me about it and I have to go.” Darcy grinned at Roo.

  Eli had seen the wreath, but assumed from the jewelry decorations, it was for sale, not auction. How come he hadn’t known this piece of information? What the hell was wrong with his lawyer? “Sophia,” Darcy said, “I will see you at four o’clock. Don’t forget.”

  “I won’t,” Sophia said. “Four o’clock. Thank you for inviting me. Ms. Beverley said she would bring me to your office.”

  “What’s happening at four?” Eli demanded.

  “We’re having tea with Mrs. Hansen and her daughters.”

  “They’re important customers, Daddy,” Sophia said, “We have to be nice to them.”

  Eli felt as though his head would spin. What was going on? His daughter had been in the store for only a few hours and already she acted as though it was her home.

  “So tell me, Sophia,” Santa said after Darcy left, “What do you want for Christmas?”