Cupid's Christmas

by Bette Lee Crosby

  Lindsay looked down at the paper in her hand then turned it over. On the other side were a few words printed in such a small size that it was barely readable. She brought the paper closer to her face and stumbled through the words… “Look… on the tree.”

  “Look on the tree?” she said.

  He gave her a mischievous grin, and nodded.

  “I’m supposed to find something that’s on the tree?”

  He nodded again.

  Everyone’s eyes were on Lindsay as she moved toward the big tree standing in the corner of the room. At one time she’d known every ornament on the tree, but now Eleanor had added several and there seemed to be more shiny balls than she remembered. First she found a white porcelain dog that seemed unfamiliar. “Is this it?”

  Matthew shook his head.

  Eleanor and John were squeezed together in the oversized chair and Traci made no move to finish unwrapping the present she’d been holding. Even Ray’s eyes were fixed on whatever Lindsay might pull from the tree. “This one?” Lindsay dangled a tiny silver oval with the picture of a baby inside.

  “No,” Eleanor laughed. “That’s Ray when he was just a month old.”

  “Me?” Ray walked over to check out the picture.

  Lindsay fingered a porcelain dollhouse that looked suspicious, but then she remembered her mother giving it to her when she was five years old. She stepped closer to the tree and circled around one side and then the other. She nosed her way into a clump of pine branches then backed out and scanned the tree. “I can’t really see anything—” That’s when she spotted it hanging on a branch a third of the way down from the top—a ball different from the others, smaller and not glass. She reached up and plucked it from the branch. “This?”

  Matthew smiled and nodded.

  A lacquered wooden ball? What was special about… Lindsay noticed the seam where two halves joined together. Handling it gingerly, she twisted the top half in one direction and the lower half in the other. The pieces moved. She did it again and they moved a bit more. When Lindsay twisted the ball open a diamond engagement ring dropped into her hand.

  Cupid…And now, the End of this Story

  Now that I’ve done what I came to do, it’s time to be moving on. Harriet Hornsby has been waiting for over three months, but this very afternoon she’ll meet the plumber who lives two doors down and they’ll fall madly in love. And there’s Willie Jenkins, since his wife passed on some five years ago he’s been raising three girls all by himself—but today he’ll meet Mariah, a lovely woman with a daughter of her own. Before summer they’ll be a blended family living in a restored house over on Chestnut Street. Yeah, I know I said I was going to take today off, but I figured why waste a love-filled day like Christmas.

  Since you’ve been with me throughout this whole affair, I’m going to give you a peek into the future so you’ll know how things turn out—which, believe me, is something I rarely do. In March, Eleanor and John get married. It’s a relatively small affair, with Lindsay serving as the Maid of Honor and Ray as the Best Man. The week before their marriage, Eleanor will speak directly to The Boss several times a day and ask if he can arrange it so that no one is in an argumentative mood on that day. I guess the lady’s got pull because from what I see, he came through for her. Before Eleanor and John celebrate their first anniversary, Traci and Ray will present them with their first grandchild—a girl named Ellie, because according to Ray Eleanor was too long a name for a baby. Ray, although he will never be Mister Sunshine, is a far better man than he once was which, needless to say, makes everyone happy.

  Lindsay and Matthew are married in the first week of September and yes, they’ll honeymoon in Paris. In fact, they’ll rent a tiny studio apartment two blocks from the Sorbonne and spend an entire month there. Although they won’t realize it until six weeks later that’s where they’ll start their family. As for Lindsay’s job at Genius Advertising, it never materializes. At the last moment the dog food client backs out and when Morrissey calls to say she’ll be working on a building supply account instead, Lindsay decides against taking the job. By then she was certain she had a calling for veterinary work. Not long after their honeymoon, she’ll enroll at the Manor College to study veterinary medicine.

  The dog…well they named her Holly, in honor of Christmas—what else! I was hoping for something like Valentine, but it never happened. From what I can see, that pup has already had two litters of puppies and is still going strong.

  Now for the most interesting news…remember the 684 unhappy couples? Well, in every single case their love has been re-ignited and passion abounds. I’m not one to go around tooting my own horn, but in this case it’s warranted. I know I told you working with Lindsay was a true test of my patience, but I also learned something. For nearly a decade I’d been complaining to The Boss about people using a computer to find love, but He refused to listen. “Get used to it,” he said, “it’s the future.” When I pursued the argument, He said not to expect any sympathy from Him because the humans have even converted His biography into an e-book.

  That’s when I got smart. Instead of fighting technology, I started using it. Lindsay’s dog was the first instance, but it worked so well I tried it again. Although no one could account for exactly how it happened, every major cruise line sent out a flood of e-mails offering a seven-day getaway to the Caribbean for $100. Those e-mails went to exactly 684 households, and every one of the recipients took advantage of the offer.

  Maggie Grossman was the first to click on the notice and after she’d read it through five times, she banged on the bathroom door and told Sidney to hurry up so he could start packing.

  “Packing?”

  “Yeah, we’re going on a cruise.” Maggie yelled.

  “We can’t afford—”

  “This one’s a hundred dollars,” Maggie said. “We can’t afford NOT to go!”

  It took Sidney less than three minutes to fold up the newspaper he’d been reading, flush the toilet and pull two suitcases from the top shelf of the bedroom closet. The next day they were on a cruise ship headed for Nassau. And when they arrived home a week later, they were as starry-eyed as newlyweds. Although Sidney had been calling his wife Mag for well over ten years, he came home addressing her as Sweetie-Pie.

  The same thing happened with the Becker’s, in fact Emily Becker reached into the bottom drawer of her dresser and pulled out a black lace trousseau nightgown that she’d never worn and packed into the suitcase. She wore it on their first night at sea and …well, I don’t need to tell you what that led to. Sam Becker, who was somewhat of a skinflint, promised Emily that they’d be going on cruises twice a year from now on.

  Cassidy and Jack Taylor were younger than most of the other couples, but they were both workaholics who had little time for each other. Because of the schedule they kept, I questioned whether or not they’d be able to stay with the passion they had on the cruise, but Life Management took care of that. Cassidy had twin boys nine months later and she quit working. They settled into a life of dinner at six and evenings with the boys. In fact they even bought a German Shepherd and when they went for evening walks, he held the leash and she pushed a double stroller.

  Not one of those couples proceeded on to divorce court, which was where they were previously headed.

  I expected The Boss to give me a gigantic attaboy for my handing of this project, but when I told Him how I’d done it, He rolled his eyes and asked if I’d ever heard of a little thing called fraud.

  “It was a next day sailing,” I explained, “and those cabins were gonna be empty anyway.”

  “Not acceptable,” He said, but I noticed a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

  “What about Lindsay Gray?” I asked. “She was headed down the road of unhappiness and look at where she is now.”

  He smiled. “Yes,” he said. “You did a good job with Lindsay.”

  When He turned and walked away, I noticed the stork headed toward Lindsay and Matthew
Mead’s house.

  That’s it for this story, but don’t think I’m leaving. I’ll be around. Just wait until next Valentine’s Day and see what I’ve got in store for you.

  If you enjoyed reading Cupid’s Christmas, please share your thoughts in a review on Amazon.com

  A Special Note About the Dog

  The dog featured on the front cover is Katie, a rescued Bichon who has been with us for over nine years. We adopted her when she was just under a year old and at that time, she was terribly underweight, her hair tangled and knotted and her skin covered with fleas and ticks. The day we picked her up, she was trembling like a frightened rabbit.

  All that changed. Over the years she learned the joy of tummy rubs and treats. She became my constant companion and spent most of her afternoons sitting in my lap as I worked at the computer. At times, she was also my muse. In the novel Spare Change, the name Scooter Cobb was taken from Katie’s boyfriend, another Bichon who visited Katie often and spent a fair bit of time at our house.

  Katie was the inspiration for this book and the picture used on the inside pages was taken by Heavenly Acres Rescue on the day they picked her up. It’s hard to understand why anyone would neglect a sweet little dog like this, but the sad truth is it happens.

  As this book goes to press, my heart is heavy because our sweet angel has been diagnosed with an inoperable carcinoma on the underside of her tongue. I know our days with her are numbered and it is breaking my heart. This book is my final tribute to the sweet little girl who has been such an important part of our life. I will love her always.

  In an effort to help other rescue dogs find their forever people, a percentage of the proceeds of this book will go to the Treasure Coast Humane Society to support their no-kill shelter.

  Acknowledgements

  I am eternally grateful to the many people who contributed to the inspiration and success of this book. I must first thank my early readers who believed in the story even when I faltered. A special thank you to Alle Wells, for providing insight, critique and lots of commas. Although we have never met face to face, I consider Alle so much more than a colleague, she has become a true friend. A heartfelt thank you also goes to Lucille Schiavone—my eagle-eyed reader who can spot a typo at fifty paces and always makes time to read my work. I also owe a debt of gratitude to my sister Geri Conway for listening to my quandaries and coaching me over the stumbling blocks.

  Regardless of how wonderful a story may be, it is the painful process of marketing that ultimately puts a book into the readers hands. A special thank you goes to Naomi Blackburn for the expert marketing advice she shared so willingly. She is a true asset to authors.

  I am also indebted to the members of Destiny Makers, a group of friends and colleagues who together have waded into the waters of publishing and set sail valiantly. I am truly honored to be part of this group of dedicated authors.

  There are no words adequate enough to thank my husband Dick for always believing in me, and for putting many of his own interests aside so that he could help me to grow and spread my wings. But most of all, I thank our Glorious God for sending my Perfect Match and giving us all these wonderful years of happiness.

  Introducing

  SPARE CHANGE

  Winner of…

  2011 Reviewer's Choice Award for Fiction

  2010 Royal Palm Literary Award

  2011 Reviewer's Choice Best of the South

  2011Jack Eadon Contemporary Fiction Award

  Voted #1 Goodreads Best Unknown Book

  A BookBundlz Finalist

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  AMAZON REVIEWS

  A Good Read Full of Emotion...The Kindle Book Review

  A heartwarming book which is simultaneously intriguing and just plain fun.Seattle Post Intelligence

  Characters that touch you ...the kind of book you want to share with others. The Caffeinated Book Review

  Fantastic characters and story flow... Even though this was a murder mystery, it was an emotional story filled with romance and friendship. Looking for more books by this author. Hollis Bookshelf

  Like a moth to a flame...Crosby deftly brings out Southern culture through the narrative voice and her use of language and imagery...reminiscent of John Grisham's The Client, with boy who is the only witness to his parent's murder. The Uncustomary Book Review

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  GOODREADS REVIEWS

  This book was a delightful read. Crosby built a world inhabited by characters that are quirky, funny, flawed, and very real. Kerry, Goodreads Reviewer

  Awesome! Amazing! So glad I read the book! Just a great story of strength and courage in many different ways! This so worth the read! Lisa, Goodreads Reviewer

  I have to say that this was one of the best, if not the best book I have read this year! It really struck a nerve with me and I enjoyed it immensely. It is a special kind of story. Donna, Goodreads Reviewer

  I was pulled into this story from the very beginning. The main character, Olivia, was so believable and warm spirited that I alternately cheered for her and mourned for her.

  When the author changed tracks to showcase Ethan Allen's story, I was riveted. Elena Aitken, Author of Sugar Crash

  Five stars to a book I enjoyed so much. An older lady, Olivia, leaning toward very superstitious, an 11 year old boy, Ethan Allen Doyle, who witnesses a murder and runs for his life and how these two came together make for a great story. Babs, Goodreads Reviewer

  Read on…and enjoy a sample of Spare Change

  Olivia Ann Westerly

  I don’t suppose there’s a person walking the earth who doesn’t now and again think if I had the chance to live my life over, I’d sure as hell do it differently. When you get to a certain age and realize how much time you’ve wasted on pure foolishness, you’re bound to smack yourself in the head and ask, what in the world was I thinking? Everybody’s got regrets; myself included.

  Some people go to their grave without ever getting a chance to climb out of that ditch they’ve dug for themselves, others get lucky. Of course, the thing about luck is that you’ve got to recognize it, when it walks up and says hello, the way Charlie Doyle did. But, that’s a long story and to understand it, you’ve got to start at the beginning.

  Coming of Age

  At an age when most of her friends had settled into routines of knitting sweaters and booties for grandchildren, Olivia Ann Westerly got married for the first time—and, to a man ten years her senior. “Are you out of your mind?” Maggie Spence shouted when she heard the news, “You’re fifty-eight years old!”

  Of course, doing the unexpected was something which could be expected of Olivia. In 1923, when she was barely twenty-five years old, she went off on her own, even though her father insisted it was scandalous for a single woman to be living alone. “What will people think?” he’d moaned as she tossed her clothes into a cardboard suitcase; but that didn’t stop Olivia. She got herself a two-room flat in the heart of downtown Richmond and a job working at the switchboard of the Southern Atlantic Telephone Company. “That’s shift work!” her father said, “Some of those girls come and go in the dark of night!”

  “So what,” Olivia answered, then she volunteered for the night shift because it paid an extra sixty-cents per day. Long after any respectable woman would have been snuggled beneath a down comforter, she’d paint her mouth with red lipstick, pull on a cloche hat and trot off to the Telephone Company.

  “Have you never heard of Jack-the-Ripper?” her friend Francine Burnam asked. “Have you never heard stories of women alone being accosted?” Francine, a girl who married before her sixteenth birthday, already had three children who clung to her like bananas on a stalk and a husband insistent about supper being served at six-thirty on the dot.

  “That girl will be the ruination of our family!” Mister Westerly told his wife; but Olivia still stuck her nose in the air and went about her business. One year later when she was given a three dollar raise and appointed Supervisor of the night shift, her father dis
owned her altogether. The last thing he said was, “I want nothing to do with a girl who carries on as you do; a respectable daughter would be settling down with a husband and babies!”

  “I’ve plenty of time for that,” Olivia answered, but by then her father had turned away and refused to look back.

  “How much time do you think you have, dear?” her mother asked. “You’re twenty-six years old. What man would want to marry a woman of such an age?”

  Olivia knew better. With her green eyes and a swirl of honey blond hair curled around her face, she had no shortage of boyfriends. Herbert Flannery, District Manager for Southern Atlantic Telephone had on three different occasions proposed marriage; the last time being in the spring of 1929. That particular proposal followed on the heels of the worst winter Richmond had ever seen—months and months of ice crusted to windowpanes and milk frozen before you could fetch it from the doorstep. In late December, Olivia crocheted herself a wool scarf, so oversized she could circle it around her throat three times and tuck her nose inside. Although she’d bundle herself in layers of sweaters, boots and that scarf, she’d come in from the cold with her nose glowing like a stoplight and her feet near frozen. That winter there were few parties and people did very little socializing; so Olivia spent most of her evenings at home, swaddled in a chenille bathrobe as she tried to stay warm.

  In March, a month when she expected the crocuses to pop up from the ground, there was a six inch snowfall and the wind rattled the windowpanes so loudly that sleep became impossible. When it seemed that spring would never arrive, Olivia began to question the emptiness of her life. Three weeks later Herbert went down on one knee and offered out a small velvet box, she nodded and allowed him to slip the diamond ring on her finger.

  Olivia was genuinely fond of Herbert and when she promised to marry him it was with the utmost sincerity; but, that was before they started to discuss the aspects of their forthcoming life together. “Won’t it be wonderful,” she said, “we can walk to work together every day.”