Eireen reached into her pocket. “I brought rain ponchos, perhaps good to sit on?”
“Brilliant!” They both spread them out and then made themselves as comfortable as possible on the flattest part of the rooftop.
The mountains spread out before them were stunning. The snow was falling around in quiet flakes. Eireen reached an arm around Star. “So why has it been confusing?”
“Oh, it’s been the worst. So, Ezra is about to send a wrecking ball through my store. He’s destroyed my town, sent all my friends packing, and everyone’s happy about it.”
“Except you.”
“Yes, except me. But I can’t stop myself from falling for him. We have such a connection. It’s powerful, and even knowing that he is doing all of this to my town, I think I love him.”
Eireen shook her head. “Is he a good man, my Ezra?”
Star thought about it. “The best of men. You should see what he did for the children’s home, for my father, the packages he gave each of the other owners. He’s the best.”
She nodded, seeming satisfied. “I didn’t get to raise him, you know. Left in the hands of his father. I wasn’t sure how he would turn out.”
“He’s not an angel, don’t get me wrong. The papers call him Scrooge for a reason. But he’s changed since I met him. I think he’s starting to like Christmas.”
“It’s my fault he hates it.”
“No, it isn’t. You did what you had to do, from what I understand.”
She nodded but stayed silent.
They sat together, watching the town wake up.
At last people started to arrive. Cars parked in the parking lot. Families arrived, with children bundled up. Hot chocolate stands, warm nuts, pretzels, all opened their windows for selling, and soon puffs of white air blew across hot liquids in gloved hands. Herald ran back and forth on his phone, calling orders to everyone he saw. “He’s in a tizzy.” Star pointed him out. “The mayor.”
Eireen nodded. “So much nervous activity.”
“This whole thing is a huge deal for him. He has a larger vision for this town than many of us realize. Or want.” She sighed.
“They can save your store.” Eireen snorted. “They’re gonna have to do something. You and I are sitting here until they do.”
Star grinned. “You are an angel from heaven. Thank you for helping me be strong.”
“It took me years to learn to stand up for what I want. And now that I’m doing it, I’m happy to share a little bit of the gumption I’ve learned.”
“I don’t even know what the planned new location is for my store. I’ve received no information. It’s only fair I know what I’m choosing between.”
“It’s not like the Heart and Stone to neglect to cross its t’s and dot its i’s. They are nothing if not thorough.”
“Hmm. Maybe Ezra forgot to tell me?” She groaned, remembering. “No, it’s because he probably hates me.”
“What?”
“Yes. When he first moved here, we spent some time together. And we felt that first connection of wow, this could go someplace. But then when I saw his aversion to Christmas, his plans to ruin my Main Street, I gave him the worst time.” She hugged herself. “The others noticed the original connection and told me to keep charming him, that maybe I could convince him to either save the street or give us better packages because of it.”
“And did you?”
“I don’t know when my purposeful charming ended and my sincere desire to be with him began, but yeah, I agreed to it. The mayor mentioned it the other day to him. Ezra left soon after and I’ve heard nothing from him since.”
“So, he’s hurt.”
“Yeah. It wasn’t like that. Well, it was, for a time, but not for long. I fell hard for him while trying not to. Mayor or not, I couldn’t have stayed away.”
“And he doesn’t know that?”
She shook her head. “I’m waiting for a chance to tell him to his face. I’ve left messages of course, but it’s not the same.”
“He’ll be fine. That misunderstanding can be fixed with a conversation.”
“If we ever get to have one. He may not like my current stance on things.” She laughed. “Sitting on the roof like I am. We are doomed from the start. How can two people have a relationship in the situation we’re in?”
“I’ve seen worse.”
“You have?”
Eireen thought for a moment. “Actually, no. But if the connection is as strong as you say, then that has to count for something.”
Star’s phone dinged. “It’s the mayor.” She laughed. “He asks, “Where are you?
She texted back, Look up.
He turned to face them and then his mouth fell open. “Star, what are you doing?”
Everyone on the street turned to face her. She waved. “I’m just enjoying the snow. You know, preventing a wrecking ball from destroying my store.” She brushed off some snow from her arms. “You?”
“Star, don’t be ridiculous. This isn’t going to solve anything.”
“Oh, I don’t know. It just might. Herald, I don’t even know where my store will end up. I’ve received no letter. I’m not moving. I like the Christmas store right where it is.”
A few people standing nearby moved to stand on her front porch. Then others saw the movement and came to join them. Eireen suddenly raised her fist in the air and chanted, “Save the store! Save the store!” The others joined in and then Star as well.
Herald threw his own hands in the air and walked away. Everyone cheered. Star called down to everyone. “Thank you, friends. Let’s see what we can accomplish this morning, shall we?”
“We’re with you, Star.” A man, sounded like from the fire station, called up to her.
“Thank you. That means more than I can express.”
“And now we wait.” Eireen had such a serenity on her face. Star wondered how she’d come by it.
Then the serenity turned to panic and she stiffened. “He’s here.” Her face crumpled and then Star watched as Eireen sat taller and schooled her features.
Star grabbed her hand. “I’m here. You can do this.”
“Eireen!” A man’s voice bellowed across the parking lot.
“Just ignore him.” Star gripped her hand, her own heart pounding in fear of a man she didn’t know.
“No one ignores Porter Stone.”
Star thought that was probably true. He stood tall, broad, and emanated power. It practically sizzled in the snow, his boot kicking up the powder as he trudged over to them.
When he finally stood below them, he frowned. “Star? Is that you up there?”
“Yes sir.”
“We’ve bent over backwards to keep you happy. Your package is the best I’ve ever seen in a situation like this! Don’t let Eireen’s venom spread to you. My son does well with you.”
His charm surprised Star. “I haven’t seen anything yet, no package nor offer, nothing, just the threat of a wrecking ball on Christmas.”
“What!” He thundered. “Where’s Ezra?” He pounded on his phone, texting with force, Star guessed. A man came running with a suitcase. He opened it and handed Porter a manila folder. He flipped through the paperwork and read, “The Christmas Shoppe, heretofore referred to as ‘the store’ will be moved to a location of the owner’s choice and the hotel will agree to a non-compete clause. Heart and Stone may sell items that are holiday themed but will not carry the same items nor utilize the same buyers.”
“That’s generous.”
He held up his finger. “And, we will cover the costs of moving, all costs of reconstruction and damages from lost sales during the construction time period.” He lowered the paper. “So you see, you are not being treated unfairly.”
Star felt confused. The offer was better than she had anticipated. Being able to choose her location made a huge difference, covering the lost revenue, paying for the rebuild. It was a fair deal when it came down to it.
“Do you like what he off
ers?” Eireen’s voice murmured, close to her ear.
“I think so.” Louder, she called, “What about the tree?”
“What tree?” His eyes flashed. She could tell there would be an end to his conciliatory tone.
“The one behind you. It’s hundreds of years old. I want the tree saved. Build around it.”
“We can discuss it, come to terms.”
“The tree stays.”
The wrecking ball showed up. Followed by the dump truck and another tractor. The sight of it made Star ill all over again.
“You don’t have to do this,” Eireen reminded.
“No,” Star said. “It’s ok. It’s fair, more than fair.”
“But you lose your store.”
“Choosing my location is better than I hoped for.” She held her breath. “And they might save the tree.”
They started to scoot closer to the ladder to get down off the roof.
“And Ezra can have his resort.”
She found that more and more, Ezra’s happiness mattered to her. If she could only work out their differences, somehow perhaps there was a way they could both be happy?
Eireen stopped moving. “I can’t get off this roof.”
“Why not?” A nervous cloud grew in her stomach.
“It’s Porter. He’s waiting there for me. Like a snake. With his legal team.”
“Then I’ll stay with you.” She cleared her throat. “Thank you, Mr. Stone. I’ll give it some thought, and we’ll be down when I’m ready.”
“What!” His voice thundered down the street, attracting more attention. A press crew started heading in their direction.
She tried a placating tone of her own. “We aren’t scheduled to go for another five minutes. Just give me some time with my store.”
“Of all the sentimental crap—”
Cameras started clicking pictures. Star and Eireen smiled and Porter, who looked like he might start spewing fire.
He held up a finger. “You will not hold up the ceremony. This is a celebration of progress! Of a beautiful resort for your town. Herald!”
“Yes, I’m here.” The mayor stepped forward.
“You don’t want us to back away.”
“No, certainly not. Star knows that, too.” He stared her down. “Don’t you Star?”
“Just give us a minute.”
Porter looked at his watch. “You have three.”
Chapter 15
Ezra flew into the parking lot as fast as he dared, his tires skidding in the snow, and ran across town to the store. He felt terrible he had left Star in the dark about her contract. He was childishly upset about her pretending to want to date him just to protect her store, and he was hurt by that, but he was also adult enough to put it aside when it came to business and finish the deal.
He might regret missed opportunities with her for the rest of his life, but at least he would treat her fairly. And there was that text she sent. A tiny pinch of hope urged him on, hope that perhaps they could salvage something together out of all this.
As he got closer, a sight made him want to cheer. His mom! She sat with Star on the roof of the store. The wrecking ball was in place, the team ready, but Star and Eireen were up there calling down to the people below.
Then his eyes found his father, reading, negotiating with her. Probably letting her know the terms of her store placement. They were good, but last night he had decided upon something better, and he had to tell Star, his father and the town.
His father’s sharp shout rang across the crowd and Ezra picked up his pace.
He had an idea that made him smile, so he threw his backpack over one shoulder and hopped on top of the wrecking ball and signaled the man should move closer.
Everyone on the street made way, except his father who was busy shouting something at Star or his mother. He felt it was time to shut the man down.
“Excuse me Porter, Dad!”
He turned around, shock filling his face.
“I need to get through, if you don’t mind.”
“That’s my boy, you show them, son.”
Ezra rode on top of the wrecking ball. He had always wanted to do this as a kid. The driver carried him over to the house and he indicated the driver raise him up and stop when he was eye level with the ladies.
“Fancy you two meeting.”
“Hello, Ezra.” His mom smiled, her face so full of pride in him. He drank it in for a moment. Then he turned to Star. Her face was filled with insecurity and distrust.
“Star.”
“I’m sorry, Ezra. I was not playing you like you think. I agreed to spend time with you, to try to convince you to save our stores, but anything beyond that was just my heart speaking, plain and simple.”
He nodded. “I kept telling myself that; hoped it was true. So,” He looked at his mom. “This is awkward with my mother right here.”
Her eyes twinkled back at him. “I’m not even sorry. If I had to miss most moments in your life, I can at least hear the moment when you tell her you love her.”
Star gasped quietly and then widened her eyes in a search of his face.
He shook his head. “Mother.” Then he held out a hand to Star. “Do you dare?”
“What? Come out there with you?”
“Sure, mom will hold down the store guarding.”
“You can bet I will!”
“Ok.” Star held out her hand to him, and he filled with a sense of wonder at her trust. He grabbed her hand and brought her over to the chain. “Hold tightly.”
He saluted his mom and then told the driver to wait. “I’d like to make an announcement.”
Everyone moved closer.
“The wrecking of the Christmas Shoppe will not be happening this morning.”
A huge cheer rose around them.
“You’ve gone soft!” Porter sneered. “What’s the matter with you, son?”
“Under new leadership, Ezra’s Heart and Stone has included plans to preserve Main Street in Sanders Corners!”
The cheers continued.
Porter held up his finger. “There is not new leadership to Heart and Stone. Everything goes through me, and I haven’t approved these changes.”
“If you remember, we put the holdings in my name. I sent copies of our new professional relationship to your secretary in the local office here in Sanders Corners. We can meet next week to discuss terms.”
“We can meet this afternoon, you mean.”
“No, I think this year, I’d like to enjoy Christmas with my mother.” He turned to her and winked, and his father’s face drained of color. He felt a pang of guilt. He loved the man. He called down to him in a quieter voice. “I suspect you’ll love the profit margin I’ve set up for us.”
A small light lit his face. And he nodded. “Well played, Stone. You’ve played your old man at his own tricks and won. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Ezra nodded to him and watched as he left the crowd to climb back into his limo.
The ball lowered to the ground. “But we aren’t finished yet.” He waved the other vehicle over. It drove one of those boxes that rises and lowers people, a cherry picker. He climbed inside and she stepped in beside him. Their bodies were pressed together, his backpack hanging out over the edge.
“What are we doing now?”
“I have more to show you.” He signaled the driver lift them up and they headed for the tree.
“What? Not the tree.”
“No, I have something.” As the truck moved them to the top of the tree, he pulled a large star out of his backpack. “I’ve been waiting for this to arrive.”
“What is it?”
He unwrapped it and her smile grew. The largest star he could find, with her name on it, in big letters across the front. “For years, the people of Sanders Corners are going to ask, “Why does that star have Star written on it? And only the special ones will know it’s named after the brightest light in the sky.”
He turned to her. “I love you,
Star. You are the light in my life, my guiding beacon. Because of you, I have changed and seen my past in a whole different way. Because of you, I changed the present, my thoughts, my actions. I loved helping to find those children a new place—loved the designs, loved being a part of their smiles. And now, in true Scrooge form, the only thing left is to make some important decisions about my or I’m hoping our future.” He handed her the star. “Would you place it on the tree?”
She reached across to the tree while he held tightly to her waist, then placed the star at the top. He reached around her and plugged it in to the nearest light plug and it lit, with a beaming brightness that made them shield their eyes. The people below cheered.
“Does this mean we are saving the tree?”
“It does. Saving the tree, saving your store, saving Main Street.”
“What? How can that be? I just heard—”
“The terms for your store’s displacement? They were fair, I thought.”
“Yes, very fair. I was going to agree to them.”
“And that’s where you are a terrible negotiator, because I am willing to offer something much, much better.”
She waited. He could tell she was dying to ask him a million questions, but she waited for him.
“Last night, it came to me. Once I decided that I had no room to be upset with you, not when I had put you in the position I had by threatening your store, the idea came. I imagined Main Street with a whole new face, all the stores, the cobblestone, the huge sycamore tree, all as a part of the resort. What if we build the resort around this quaint row of shops and the tree as the centerpiece?”
The tears in her eyes both broke his heart and gratified him. “Would that make you happy?”
She nodded.
“I don’t want you to just accept the best terms you think you’re gonna get. I want you to love them. Would this make you really, truly happy?”
“More than you possibly can know.”
“Then we’ll do it. If the other shops want to join us, then great, if not, we will of course create new ones. But the famous Christmas Shoppe stays and the sycamore tree stays with it.”
Taming Scrooge Page 8