by Claire Woods
“I can’t miss another meeting. I know he’s probably going to find a way to fire me, regardless of what I do or how well I perform. It’s my pride that doesn’t want to give him an inch. I want to go out with my head held high.”
He sighs, stroking my cheek with his finger, “It’s not worth it baby. You are. I’ll pick up the boys from school and take them home with me. Move your meeting up to lunch if you can. Somewhere close to my house.”
“You’re brilliant. That’s an excellent idea.”
I cup his face bringing him down for a kiss. Where Tony would’ve put his foot down and just left, Gianni offered me a solution.
I could love this man.
Maybe a part of me already does.
“I’ll see you later baby,” he says kissing me breathless; leaving me in a heaping puddle of mush.
My fingers reach out, finding my bag and I take my phone out. “Chet, it’s Kate. My afternoon appointment canceled. Meet me for lunch instead.”
I hang up, slowly standing; feeling the hum good sex leaves behind. It runs through me like a current. I feel vibrant. Confident. I got my groove back and Chet—there’s no way he’s going to bring me down.
Chet’s acting weird. He’s oddly quiet. Usually, he wastes no time asking to see the files on my laptop and what not. For some reason, I still feel compelled to be kind to him.
“How are the kids? Are they begging for Hatchimals again this year? I couldn’t get one for Luca anywhere, but I just heard Target has some in stock.”
He looks up from his computer screen with a frown. “Isn’t that toy a little babyish for a boy Luca’s age?”
Before I can think of a smart reply, one that won’t get me fired—he picks up his phone and taps the screen a few times, “Nancy…get over to Target and buy the kids Hatchimals. No, I can’t do it on the way home. Get your ass in the van. What? I don’t care if it’s snowing like a friggin’ blizzard. You have snow tires. Get down there before they sell out again. Buy them all…put them on your charge. We can sell them on eBay later for some quick cash.”
My mouth drops open. I knew he was a real prick, but this is a low I can’t ignore. He ends the call to his wife with a disgusted sigh and glues his eyes right back to the screen of his laptop.
“Chet, that’s ridiculous and unfair. Don’t be the Grinch. Think of all the kids you are stealing toys from. Not to mention the families who can’t afford whatever jacked up price is online. But maybe, just maybe—they could afford it at Target.”
He ignores me and straightens his silk tie.
“Chet?”
“Let me see your laptop.” He flicks a wrist out, gesturing for me to hand it to him.
“Why?”
“Do you have something to hide?”
“No. Of course not.”
“I want to check your routing and make sure you’ve been entering in your calls.”
I frown, entering in my password and slide the laptop across the table.
Every day, I’m supposed to enter into the software program which hospitals I visit and with whom I spoke with. I always enter those notes—I’m religious about it. Why am I still putting up with this shit? I could quit if I started looking for another job right away. But I can’t let this prick get the better of me.
While he’s snooping in my files, I pick up my phone texting Tony:
Me: Get Luca a Hatchimal before they sell out again.
Tony: Can’t. Swamped with closing year-end deals.
Me: Have your barely legal girlfriend do it.
Tony: Can’t. I dumped her. Want u back.
Me: That’s never gonna happen.
Tony: I can give you what you want.
Me: No. You’re not what I want anymore.
Tony: A baby.
I cough, choking on my salad and take a huge sip of water, typing back.
Me: Yeah, because you’ve been father of the year.
Tony: I could be again. You know I was… I’m sorry. I’ll do better. Come back to me for Christmas.
Me: Too late. I’ve moved on.
Tony: I’ll do anything. I never stopped loving you.
“Kate?”
I look up, momentarily forgetting I was at a business lunch with Chet.
“You haven’t made much progress on hitting your sales goal for this month. Things aren’t looking good for you.”
“Actually, things are looking great for me.” I pull out his printed 30-day plan and place it on the table, “I have until December 31st to hit these goals and not a day sooner.” My finger taps the date he scribbled out in ink. I grab my computer back from him and stand up. “I need to run. I have an appointment I can’t be late for.”
His mouth hangs open, and he sputters, “I-I end the meetings, not you.”
“Toodles.” I blow him a kiss and gather my bag. The heels of my boots click across the floor as I push open the heavy glass doors walking into the falling snow.
“Kate! Get back here!”
I’m going to quit. But I won’t give him the satisfaction of firing me. I just need to find a way to meet, or at least come close to achieving my goals—so when I do tell him to “go fuck himself” I can do so from a position of power.
I pull out onto the road behind a plow clearing snow while leaving a trail of sand and salt for me to follow.
Target is only five minutes away.
I’m going to beat Nancy to the store and buy every last Hatchimal, only keeping a handful before donating the rest. There’s too many Grinch’s like Chet and not enough people spreading cheer. I’m going to do my part to cancel him out and bring tidings of joy to as many kids as I can. I connect my Bluetooth and Call Dr. Spencer’s office. He’s the friendliest doctor out of the bunch I stood-up when I ended up at school, meeting Gianni for the first time.
“Dr. Spencer’s office. How may I help you?”
“Judy, It’s Kate. Can you squeeze in a five-minute meeting with Dr. Spencer? I’m bringing Hatchimals for the pediatric ward.”
“Honey, if you bring Hatchimals, I’ll get you ten-minutes—and not just with him, but all the top-dogs.”
“I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”
“You’re a real Christmas Angel.”
“Hardly, but I do wish I could change the world sometimes.”
“It all starts with people like you.”
“Thanks, Judy. See you in a bit.”
With an armful of toys and a bag of wrapping paper, I waddle into Dr. Spencer’s office.
“Here let me give you a hand.” Judy races around the reception desk taking the bag from my hands. “I’ll be back. I need to make about three more trips to my car to get the rest.”
“Nonsense. I’ll get Patrick, our new Physician’s Assistant to help.”
“Thank you.” I smile warmly.
“No—thank you.”
“Kate this is Margie. Margie, Kate. Margie was in the office and heard what you were doing. She wanted to pitch in, so I recruited her to help us wrap.”
“Great. It’s nice to meet you, Margie.”
After I finish getting everything from the car, we get busy wrapping and chatting. Turns out, all Margie’s kids went to King’s Cross Elementary. She tells me all her boys are in college and that she misses their younger days. I tell her how hard I am finding being a working mother in addition to being divorced.
She has a kind smile and warm eyes. They remind me of my grandmother who passed. I find myself confiding in her about Luca and Chet and the position I find myself in.
She pats my hand and tells me, “It’ll all work out dear. You’ll see.”
When all the gifts are wrapped, we gather them together. All of us eager to see a smile replace the sad, anxious faces of the children down the hall.
“Is this for me? For real?”
“Yes, sweetie. Merry Christmas.”
She gingerly takes the brightly wrapped gift from my hands but rips paper apart in an instant. The smile lighting her face replace
s the pale, ashen look she wore a minute before.
“A Hatchimal!” She thumps the bed with glee as her parents smile, mouthing, “Thank you.”
I was worried when I checked out at Target that people thought I was doing what Chet had planned. So, I told the cashier I was buying them all to surprise the children at the hospital. Before I knew what was happening—customers, bought gift cards, while others helped me pay. I wanted to refuse, but I could tell they wanted to play a part in what I had planned. I bought every damn over-priced toy, for these sick children. I saw a frazzled Nancy as I was leaving. I waved and told her to tell Chet, “hi” from me as I pushed two carts full of the coveted toy to my car.
“Come up to the cafeteria for a few minutes. I need a coffee.”
“Absolutely,” I tell Dr. Spencer.
“Merry Christmas,” I say with a final wave to the girl and her family. Her blood levels are off, and the poor thing has IV’s and band-aids covering her arms where she was poked and prodded for the past few days. “Feel better sweetheart.”
I walk out with Dr. Spencer explaining what’s been going on with Luca and why I missed our meeting last week. We order two coffees to go when we reach the cafeteria.
“That’s understandable, kids handle divorce differently. We were ready to sign with you last week. We just wanted to see the final numbers again, but that guy Chet was so annoying. Dr. Palmer couldn’t sit another minute.”
“You know Chet’s my boss, right?”
“I can’t figure out why, when you’re so much better than him.”
“Thanks, Dr. Spencer. Is there really still a chance this hospital will sign with my company?”
“Yes. Would you call me John already? I’ve known you for a year now. You don’t need to be so formal.”
“Okay, will do John.”
“Merry Christmas—Kate. I told the other doctors what you just did. They made time to give you another chance.”
He ushers me into a conference room where they all sit, beaming up at me. I smile back and open up my laptop. “I didn’t bring my projector, but my presentation is right here. Thank you for giving me another chance. I truly believe in the software I represent, not only will it help you be more organized and get medications approved faster, but it will cut down on admittance times and help transition patients faster out of the Emergency Room. Opening up those much-needed beds for patients in the waiting room.”
As I explain to them how it works, I forget Chet, Tony, and everything else. I lose myself in the passion for what I do and how I can help them.
“That was excellent. Thank you, Kate. I think I speak for all of us when I say, ‘Let’s do this.’ ”
“Are you ready to sign today?”
“Yes.”
“Great. I just need to connect wirelessly to your printer, and we can sign the contracts now. I also need to bill twenty percent so I can schedule our IT team to come in and install all the software onto the hospital’s system.”
“No problem.” My head turns hearing Margie’s soft, but firm voice.
“Oh, hi—I didn’t even see you here.”
“No worries. I’ll get you the wireless pin.”
My cell rings and my heart pounds when I see who it is. Thomas Findlay, the Regional Vice President, and Chet’s boss.
“I’m sorry. I need to take this.” I tell the doctors in the room.
“H-hello? This is Kate.”
“Kate. This is Tom. I just had a disturbing phone call with Chet. He says you walked out on a meeting, acting erratic and unprofessional. I’m going to need you to report for a meeting at the corporate office. Tomorrow.”
“I’m not sure what he’s talking about Mr. Findlay. I’m actually in the middle of signing a contract with Cedar Point.”
“I don’t see why Chet would lie. I’m sorry, Kate. I find that hard to believe, especially when he told me you missed your meeting with them.”
“Yes, but I’m here right now. Surely, a meeting at corporate won’t be necessary?”
Before he can reply, John takes my phone, “Hello. This is Dr. Spencer head of pediatrics at Cedars. We were very impressed with all the work Kate has done here over the past year… we’re putting the ink on the contract as we speak.”
“Yes. Kate is very professional so much more than that Chet guy she always comes here with. Yes—here she is.”
“Kate. I don’t know what’s going on. Be in my office at ten tomorrow with that contract in your hand.”
“I’ll be there,” I answer with a lump in my throat. Even when things go my way—they don’t.
“Here.” Margie hands me a piece of paper with the pin number, “And print three contracts.”
“Three?”
“Why yes. Didn’t they tell you?”
I shake my head.
“I’m the CEO of the sister hospitals in Manhattan—Mount Sinai and Lenox Hill. I’m signing. Isn’t it funny how I just happened to be here today and was able to see your presentation? I was very impressed.”
She pats my arm, “I told you it would all work out.”
“Are you sure you’re a CEO and not a Christmas Angel?”
She hands me her business card, and I read it in stunned belief. Margie Clark is the largest fish I’ve ever caught, and I didn’t even cast a net.
“Thank you,” I whisper swiping a tear.
“No. Thank you, for showing us how this product will improve our hospitals. Now hurry up and print those contracts. The snow is getting worse, and you have a son to get home to—don’t forget to take these. I wrapped one for your Luca and one for that other sweet boy, Tommy.”
I don’t even try to hide my tears as I take the two Hatchimals from her. She signs the contracts with a flourish, and I tuck them safely into my satchel. Whatever happens at the meeting tomorrow—I can walk in with my head held high.
I’m still dazed as I pull into Gianni’s driveway putting my car in park. Unbuckling my seatbelt, I reach across and grab the handles of my tote bag. My door rips open, and I’m literally hauled out of the car, into his arms.
His huge body trembles as he buries his face in my hair.
“Gianni?”
He doesn’t speak. His arms tighten, and he breathes me in like I haven’t seen him for days.
“What is it?”
He finally pulls back, eyes laced with lust and anger, “Have you checked your phone? I’ve been calling and texting for over two hours. I thought maybe your car ran off the road… or you were hurt. Jesus, Kate.”
“I’m sorry. I turned my ringer off. You’ll never believe what happened… I was able to present to Cedars after all. They signed.”
I smile, but he doesn’t.
“There is six inches of snow on the ground—with more coming. I don’t like you being out in these conditions.” He takes my bag walking me to the front door with an arm wrapped protectively around my waist.
“Where are the boys?”
“Playing in Tommy’s room.”
He takes my coat and hugs me from behind. “Congrats baby. I’m proud of you. I was just worried as hell.”
“I’m sorry. I guess I’m still dazed. I met my goal, Gianni. It was a total fluke, but I signed three contracts.”
“It wasn’t a fluke. You need to give yourself more credit.” I turn in his embrace, and he wastes no time, taking my lips with his. But he pulls back before we lose control. “Come on, I made my girlfriend dinner.” He tugs my hand, but I can’t move.
“Are we moving too fast?”
“What? You don’t want to be my girl?” He steps closer tucking a piece of hair behind my ear, “I hear you. But I’ve been through enough to know what I want. You. If we were both ten years younger and never been married… yeah maybe it’d be fast. But we’re not, and this feels perfect. So, let’s just take things as they come—together.”
“Okay,” I whisper, taking his hand.
He leads me to his kitchen and pours me a glass of wine. The table’s be
en set, and a fresh salad sits in the center. He moves to the stove, stirring a pot. “Smells delicious. What did you make?”
“The boys requested spaghetti and meatballs. I made everything from scratch myself, including the sauce.” He moves to the oven and takes out a tray of garlic bread.
“I might have to marry you.”
He cocks an eyebrow, “You wouldn’t be my girlfriend five minutes ago.”
I shrug my shoulders, “Women’s prerogative and all that…”
“Oh really?” He smirks. “Come here.”
“No.”
I put my wine glass down with just enough time to dodge to the other side of the center island. He chases me, and I fall giggling into his arms. He dips me, before hauling me up for a deep kiss. His hands cup my ass, and I wrap my legs around his waist as he sets me down on the counter.
“M-mom?”
I freeze in embarrassment. Luca’s never seen me with anyone but his dad.
“Hey, sweetie. How was your day?” I ask pretending this is normal.
He doesn’t answer but runs out of the kitchen, down the hall slamming the bathroom door.
“He’ll be fine. Give him a minute.” Gianni goes back to prepping dinner, and I walk slowly to the bathroom door.
“Luca?” The door’s locked and I sigh, “Come on honey, let me in.”
The door slowly opens, he stands red-faced with eyes shooting sparks. “I thought you and Mr. DeLuca were just friends like I’m friends with girls at school.”
“We are friends, but sometimes friendship turns into something else.”
“Gross.”
“I know it’s hard for you to understand. But Mr. DeLuca and I are dating now.”
“No. You can’t. You have to break-up with him, Mom.”
“Why?”
“Daddy told me he wants us to be a family again.”
“I’m sorry sweetie. That’s not going to happen.”
“Luca?”
Tommy shyly peeks around my leg at his friend.
“Go away booger breath. I don’t like you anymore.” Before I can grab him, Luca throws himself at Tommy, shoves him to the floor and takes off.