Taming Scrooge

by Summers, Sophia

  His heart pinched with guilt like it used to when doing his Dad’s business. Could he spend so much time with these people, with Star, and still make as many promises he would not be around to keep? Promises of continued holiday festivities, new traditions, cherishing the old. When he thought of his father’s conversation from just that morning, he knew he had to.

  Chapter 6

  The next day Star pulled up in front of the local Heart and Stone location. She had been surprised to learn that Ezra slept in an apartment above the offices. When she texted, he didn’t answer for several minutes, so she got out of her car and went to knock on his door. The air was biting cold; a wind had picked up, piercing her jacket as if it were nothing. She hurried to the building, the happy expectation of warmth inside almost enough to warm her.

  But when she opened the door to the main public show room, she was surprised to note that it wasn’t warm at all. In fact, she worried that perhaps Ezra’s furnace had gone out and he was upstairs shivering. Their nights were cold, and it wasn’t always safe if their heat went out. She hurried through the show room to the stairs she assumed would take her up to his apartment.

  At the door, she knocked. When he didn’t answer right away, she knocked again, louder. “Ezra.” When ten seconds went by with silence, she pounded. “Ezra! Can you hear me? Ezra!”

  “Star, are you all right?” That voice behind her, it was his voice. Her face heated immediately. Then she turned.

  “Oh, hi, Ezra. When you didn’t answer I thought—” She didn’t know how to explain. It sounded silly now. “Why is the building so cold?”

  “I keep the thermostat down on weekends and after hours when no one is here. No need to waste the fuel.”

  She felt her mouth drop. Her picture of him did not mesh with this over the top effort to save a few bucks. “It gets dangerously cold at night.” The hint of scruff along his jaw, an Angels baseball cap on his head, the warm looking sweatshirt made her almost forget his dangerous developer status. Why couldn’t this guy really be the boy next door who took her to a movie on Saturday night?

  “I know. I won’t freeze to death, I promise. Is that what you thought? Your co-chair had turned into an ice cube? Or maybe you thought I’d skipped town and abandoned you to run the whole festival by yourself?” His eyes sparkled, their icy blue suddenly seeming warm to her. He held up a bag and two cups for hot liquid in a cup carrier. “Breakfast? I got one of all the usual flavors.”

  “Bernadette’s makes the best bagels.”

  “I got one you might find strange for breakfast, but otherwise I think I got you covered.”

  She reached for the bag and peeked in. “It smells like the bagel store. MMMM.” When her gaze found his again, she smiled, enjoying his hopeful expectation that he had pleased her.

  “Just what I wanted this morning.” She peered in again and tipped it this way and that so get a look at all the flavors. “Dill? You got dill?”

  Sheepish, adorable, if she were to admit such a thing. “I like dill,” he said. “I hope it’s not rubbing off on the others.”

  “You like dill? I love dill. It’s my favorite flavor with…” she jostled the bag again. “…fire roasted tomato cream cheese.” She couldn’t believe it. Something else in common. That was crazy. The same truck and now this? It was great, actually. She could work with that, if she was going to have to get close to him, have any sort of influence.

  “Hey now, I got dill for me.”

  “What? Oh, well, ok.” She grabbed a plain one next to the dill.

  “I’m kidding! There are actually two of them in there.”

  Too much of a coincidence now. “How did you know?”

  “Just had a hunch.”

  She narrowed her eyes.

  “Alright, Bernadette herself told me.” He smiled.

  Her heart warmed toward him. He had asked what she might like, he being thoughtful. “Great. Thank you.” She paused. “Do you have plans for all the others in the bag?”

  He shrugged. “Thought I might drop them off at the office. Why?”

  She hesitated.

  “Tell me. What is the mysterious idea behind the dilemma of too many bagels?”

  She searched his face, looking so kind at the moment, and she decided to take a small risk. “Let’s go. I’ll show you.”

  * * *

  They climbed into her truck and she drove about five minutes through town to the very edge of Main Street. They stopped in front of a colorful townhome. A sign out in front named it, ‘Mary’s Home.’ She held her hand out. “This is where we should leave the bagels.”

  “Okay. What is this? It looks kind of like my grandma’s art closet sneezed on it.” She always had a million crafts and things bursting out of it. If she were to paint a house, he imagined it would be somewhat like this one, with yellow gables, lavender siding, bright green porch rails. He smiled at the royal blue stairs up to the front door.

  “Then your grandma has impeccable taste. I love the color.”

  She knocked on the door and a plump and cheery woman answered, wiping her hands on an apron. “Star!” She stepped forward and enveloped Star in what Ezra would have thought was a smothering hug. But Star smiled like her whole world lit up in that moment. And then this new woman pulled Ezra into the same kind of hug. Something clicked into place inside. Like his own world aligned just right for a moment. It clicked out of alignment again she she let go.

  “What can I do for you two?”

  Ezra held up the bag. “We had a few extra.”

  “Oh, bless you both. Thank you. They’re gonna love these.”

  She invited them in and led them to a quaint sitting room off to the side of the front door. Two teenage boys sat in the corner playing chess. At first glance there was nothing remarkable about them and Ezra would not have looked twice but one of the boys started rocking. He was deep in concentration and didn’t appear disturbed, but then he moaned. No one paid him any attention. The other boy moved and then held his hand up against his face in an awkward bent wrist position.

  Star placed a hand on Ezra’s arm to get his attention. “I want you to meet one of the stellar members of our Sanders Corners community. This is Mary Worthing.”

  Ezra reached across the coffee table to shake her hand. “Happy to meet you. You have quite the place here. It’s charming.”

  “It’s been described as such, on the outside. The inside too, I’d imagine if you are just talking about décor. But so much more happens between these walls that charming often falls short.”

  “I meant no offense.”

  She held up her hands, her eyes twinkling. “None taken.”

  Star smiled, her face warming. “Miracles happen here, Ezra, plain and simple. These teens come to her in the greatest need, and find comfort, love, some healing, but most of all, what you find here is acceptance.”

  The way she said the word acceptance, seemed powerful to Ezra. Acceptance, not just in the endurance sort of meaning, but it seemed to encompass more. Just like Mary’s hug, a safe feeling to come as you are and we’ll work with that, we’ll embrace you, showered over him and he felt free. Just the thought that such a home existed changed something inside of Ezra.

  One of the boys in the corner stood up, stepping from foot to foot. Then he sat.

  “So, this is a home of sorts for teens?”

  “Shall we give him a tour?”

  Ezra leaned forward, interested, intrigued. With an opening like they’d given him, he wanted to know how their desires to help the teens played out.

  They exited to the hallway, leading back into the townhome. “The bedrooms are all upstairs. We have a great room for boys and a separate space for girls.”

  “So I assume the children had become wards of the state?”

  Star nodded. “The children here have all been abandoned.”

  Her word choice confused him. “Put up for adoption?”

  “No, abandoned. Left.” Her face pinched as she said i
t. “The parents, for whatever reason could no longer care for their children and left them. For some, it was in a hospital lobby, for some on doorsteps of relatives who also refused care. For others they were found in deserted homes. And..” Tears welled in her eyes. “Other unspeakable situations you’d never want to see any child have to endure.”

  Mary put her arm around Star just as Ezra wished to. “But they’re loved and comfortable now.”

  Star nodded, wiping her eyes. “I’m sorry, their stories touch me every time I hear a new one. What these kids overcome is incredible.”

  An uncomfortable itch began at the back of Ezra’s heart. He pushed thoughts of his own mother away. His heart as a child had so desperately needed the feeling of acceptance he sensed was here in this home. “So, you take them in, they live here with you and then what?”

  Both women turned their eyes to him. “Pardon me?”

  “Then what happens to them? Life is expensive. College costs. Finding a job, living. At what point do you cut them off?”

  Mary led them to a set of double doors. “We don’t cut them off, as you say.” She opened the door to what looked like a great school room. Rows of desks filled the room with all ages of children. Older teens worked with younger ones, and a pair of adults wandered through the room, helping. “We have ten more minutes and then we will take a break.” A teacher looked up at them as she approached and smiled.

  Mary explained, “Most of our kids have some form of developmental delay, some more serious than others. And here is where we work through their education.” She led them back out the doors. “We have several more spaces to see.” As they walked down the narrow hallway, Star walked beside him. Her shoulder brushed his and her eyes searched his. “Thank you for this. It’s important to see what this town will miss if your resort builds where you plan to.”

  Mary bristled in front of them but said nothing.

  And then a portion of the acceptance he’d felt fizzled. He should have known this would be some kind of emotional manipulative ploy. In his line of work, he was used to such tactics, but for some reason he hadn’t expected to see them in Star.

  Mary pushed open the next set of double doors. Ezra was immediately intrigued. The room was filled with equipment, with computers, with what looked to be courses, mazes.

  “Our physical education classes here are so important. Because of the developmental delays, we do all kinds of cognitive growth and mental exercises in here. We see progress in their school work and function almost immediately.”

  A young boy entered and approached Ezra. “Who this?”

  Mary tried to direct him back to the staff member waiting. “A few of our residents are younger. He needed an immediate place to stay. This is Tim.” The boy looked to be about ten and eyed him with a deep intelligence.

  “I’m Ezra.”

  “Wanna play?”

  “Mr. Stone isn’t here to play, Tim.”

  Ezra held up a hand. “No, sure, I’ll play. I’m making a new friend.” He followed Tim over to the ball section of the room and Tim immediately threw one at his head.

  “Woah there.” Ezra caught it and tossed it back. They threw the ball back and forth a few times. Then Tim said, “My mom used to do this. Do you have a Mom?”

  His heart shuddered. “I did, once. She never played catch, though.”

  Tim looked confused then said, “Well, at least mine played catch.” Then he put the ball down and went back to the staff member.

  Ezra needed about an hour to recover. But he hid his distress while they watched Tim run through what looked to be physical therapy activities. He worked hard; Ezra was impressed. The adult with him pushed him and praised him. Then took him through the course, asking questions at pivotal moments, questions like, “What are the colors of the rainbow?” or “Calculate the sum of five plus seven.”

  Ezra was equal parts fascinated and impressed. “This is remarkable.”

  “We have hired a state of the art research center to help us. We want to give these children every chance to be contributing and successful adults.”

  He nodded. And a part of him began to think through options of how to move the home, rebuild, so that they wouldn’t have to lose this resource. He surprised himself. He was getting soft, but maybe it was Star’s manipulation, perhaps it was the look on that young boy’s face, whatever the reason, he saw good here and hoped they would find a way to rebuild.

  The doors at the back opened and children poured in from both sides. They all separated into different stations, chattering happily. He counted fifteen.

  The woman from the other room clapped her hands. “Can I have your attention? Children?”

  They stopped what they were doing and looked at her, some with half an eye on Ezra.

  “We have guests.”

  Every eye turned to them and Ezra waved.

  Mary smiled. “Children, remember Star?”

  Some smiled and waved, others nodded. “She’s brought us a new friend and a whole bag full of bagels.”

  Star said, “This is my friend Ezra Stone. He’s the man bringing the fun new ski resort into town.”

  A couple gasps followed her announcement. One of the boys stepped out from behind a set of weights. “Isn’t he the guy that’s going to kick us out of our home?”

  “What?” A girl on the opposite side of the room held a hand over her mouth, eyes narrowing.

  Apparently, their acceptance only stretched so far. Expressions turned from open curiosity to distrust and fear. Young Tim wouldn’t even look in Ezra’s direction. He’d had it. “Why would you say that, Star?” He turned to the children. “Truth is, I’m not kicking anybody out of anything. I’m bringing an exciting new resort to your town.”

  “Yeah and building it right on top of our house.”

  “It’s way more complicated than that. I don’t expect you to understand—”

  The girl continued, “You’re going to build a resort right in the center of Main Street, forcing every store on this side of town to shut down.”

  He nodded. The kid was more aware and smarter than he gave him credit. “Or relocate, which is an option here of course, one I hope you take.” He turned to Mary, studied her impassive face and then looked away. “Well, it’s been a … an experience.” He nodded to them all and left the room.

  How could she? Why would he want to face those children, stand accused? He felt betrayed and manipulated.

  Footsteps picked up behind him and before Star could say anything, he shook his head, “That was cold, Star, I’m heading back to work.”

  “She was just trying to help.” Mary’s voice still held the same honey quality, but it had gained a firmness he recognized probably kept order in a house full of children.

  No idea where Star went, he turned on Mary. “Look, we all have different jobs. Mine is to build an amazing resort that will bring millions of dollars in revenue to this town. Yours is to help these kids. We have compensation plans in place, a relocation offer. The town is easing the burden. I don’t know why I need to be the bad guy here.”

  Her eyes held compassion, but a hint of stubbornness. “I know you just want to do your job. But it’s helpful to have all the information, isn’t it?”

  He turned. “Not always.”

  Then he walked out the door, leaving Star to figure out her own ride.

  Chapter 7

  Star stomped her way back down Main Street. She refused to feel guilty. She hadn’t meant for their tour of the children’s home to turn out the way it had; she never would have thought the kids to recognize his name or call him out, but she couldn’t regret that they had. No need for Ezra to get all offended. If the truth hurt, that he was displacing children from their home, how was that her fault?

  She hurried faster. The city council’s request for her to be nice to him rankled. Why her? And then they made him her co-chair. Ugh. Somehow, she had to find a way to be on good working terms with the man, even if he drove her crazy, even i
f he was handsomer every time she saw him. Even if, watching him play catch with Tim had melted her heart.

  It was time to spend the afternoon in her store. She loved that space, loved the location. She was right in the center of town. The road wrapped around a circle of land right in front of her store, around a huge sycamore tree. It towered above in majestic splendor, older than every person there—she liked to pretend, wiser—that it presided in some sort of arboreal royalty; and the best part about the tree, it was covered in lights. Every night, no matter the season, the city turned them on. During November and December they placed huge, lit sculptures beneath it, a manger scene, wrapped gifts, snowmen, reindeer. It was beautiful and festive and highlighted her store to perfection.

  She entered, enjoying six notes of “Joy to the World” as a welcome and continued humming the rest of the song as she waved to her shop manager. “I’ll be in the back.”

  She pulled down her bucket of greenery, her wreath frames, and began working on a new one. She would put it on the door to Ezra’s office. She snorted, in spite of herself. Then shook her head. No, even if she meant to torment him, he didn’t deserve it. She started making one for the children’s home instead. Or to sell. Either way she needed to create, to make something beautiful.

  Her fingers moved over the materials, tying and gluing, and her heart began to calm. How could they save the town? If the resort came in and brought in so much revenue, they might become a wealthier place; they surely would attract more visitors; but the core of the town would be destroyed. They might have a whole new town at the sacrifice of the original one. All these people who survived off their own store’s income would suffer.

  What if the tourists brought in money for the store? She was sure they would. But could they recreate Main Street? That was the problem—the resort was huge. Main Street would never be the same. If located on a different street, the resort would have to be four blocks further from the mountain. It just wouldn’t hold the same appeal. The town wouldn’t gather at Main Street any longer. They’d move up by the resort.