A Heartfelt Christmas Promise

by Nancy Naigle

  “What did you do for a living, Buck?” Vanessa couldn’t figure him out.

  “Little bit of this. Little bit of that. You know, what really matters is what you make of it all. Don’t get too big for your britches. Be humble and grateful and share what works with others.”

  Anna practically swooned at everything he said. “I hear what you’re saying, Buck, but you know sometimes things are not so cut-and-dry.” She glanced over at Vanessa.

  Vanessa’s stomach lurched.

  “I mean sometimes business gets in the way of the right thing to do.”

  Buck swiveled his head toward Vanessa. “Well, hypothetically, if business were pushing me in a direction I didn’t agree with, I’d have to really consider if I was doing the right thing. There’s always a choice.”

  And hadn’t she just touted those same words lately? Vanessa almost choked on his advice. She recovered quickly, then set her coffee cup down.

  He patted his hands on the table and leaned forward. “All I’m saying is, people in this town don’t take to change very well. Their choice or not. It’s not always clear what the good solution is until you really look into things deeper. Not just the surface level. Folks might hold a grudge, but not for long. Eventually, they’ll even forget about those things. Don’t let that keep you from doing the right thing.”

  She looked into his eyes. This was no lecture. The sincerity in his blue eyes comforted her. “Thank you, Buck.” Her phone rang, moving across the table as it buzzed, breaking the moment. She picked it up and looked at the caller information. “I’m sorry. I’ve really got to take this.” She pulled on her coat and went outside where she could hear, away from the busy bustling kitchen.

  “Sally. How are you?” She tried to sound up, but in the pit of her stomach she feared it was bad news about the house being sold.

  “Great. I have some news.”

  Sally didn’t sound super-excited. Vanessa pressed her lips together, bracing herself.

  Sally continued, “The price on your dream home just dropped twenty-seven thousand, five hundred dollars. I know it’s still over the original budget, but this is a great deal. The seller is motivated to sell. Are you interested in making an offer?”

  “I’m interested,” Vanessa said, “but I really need to finish this project first. I’ll be done by Christmas.”

  “Entirely your call. I personally wouldn’t wait,” Sally said.

  “Put a bug in their ear that I’m interested.”

  A cold wind swirled around Vanessa. She pulled the collar up on her coat. As she turned her back on the chill, she saw Anna hanging on Buck’s every last word. At the end of this trip was it possible that Anna could have a better option than picking up and moving in with Vanessa on the outskirts of Chicago?

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  When Vanessa walked back into the diner, seeing Anna nearly glow sitting there talking to Buck, she had to wonder if her hope that Anna might want to move in with her was just her own crazy fantasy.

  “Sorry about that,” Vanessa said.

  “No worries.” Anna scooched over to let Vanessa in. “Buck said he’d take me to buy a Christmas tree one day. Isn’t that great?”

  “That’s very nice of you, Buck.” Vanessa studied the gentleman.

  “My pleasure,” Buck said.

  “I’m going to walk down to the office and work on a few things.”

  “I can take Anna back.” Buck insisted on putting the meal on his tab, and then the three of them walked outside. The snow had been cleared from the sidewalks, but all of the grass still glistened white.

  “You sure we can’t talk you into coming with us?” Buck asked.

  “No, thank you. I’ll see you tonight, Anna.”

  She watched as they pulled out of the parking space in Buck’s truck; then she turned and walked to Porter’s. She wanted to observe the retail outlet and meet the manager and the rest of the staff.

  She walked inside. Business was brisk. Misty, who had given her the card with the key to the apartment, was working the register again.

  “Hello, Misty. Remember me?”

  “I do.” The young girl’s eyes danced. “How are you enjoying your stay in Fraser Hills?”

  “It’s been very nice.”

  “I’ve always dreamed about how cool it would be stay in the city. New York City, maybe. Not live there, but, you know, visit for a while.”

  “Chicago is so much prettier than New York City. I’ve lived in both, but I prefer Chicago.”

  “I’ve never been to any big city. Do you travel lots of places for work?”

  “Yes.”

  “That is the coolest thing ever.”

  Vanessa let her gush. Business travel looked like all fun and games from the outside. The truth was, Vanessa rarely got to enjoy the places she visited, usually stuck in office buildings or huge windowless run-down factories that had seen better days. “I’ll tell you about it one day.”

  “I’d love that so much.” Misty’s eyes were wide in anticipation.

  “I’ll make you a deal. I’d like to understand how things are working here in the retail area, before I make any recommendations. Do you think you could walk me through the processes?”

  “Sure.”

  “Great. I’ll get Lilene to bring someone in to fill in for you.”

  “We actually have a couple of people extra working today. I think they can handle it without me. Should I punch out?”

  “No. You’ll get paid to do this. Who do I need to clear you leaving your shift with?”

  Misty introduced her to the store manager, who knew exactly who Vanessa was and why she was there. “You do whatever you need to do, Ms. Larkin. We can handle things here today.”

  “Excellent. Thank you.”

  Vanessa and Misty turned and walked toward the front of the store. “Let’s start at the beginning.”

  “Because profitability and customer satisfaction always start and ends with the voice of the customer,” Misty said.

  “Couldn’t have said it better myself.” Vanessa relaxed, enjoying this day already. “When we’re done, we’ll do dinner and not talk shop at all. You pick the place.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. I think it’ll be fun.”

  With a gleaming smile, Misty looked as if she might actually lift off the ground from excitement.

  “Let’s get started.” She motioned for Vanessa to follow her. “You know I have a lot of ideas for this place. Everyone here likes things just the way they are, but we’re missing opportunities to make Porter’s even better.”

  “Really?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  For an hour, Misty walked and talked Vanessa through the store, barely taking a breath between ideas. From there, Misty showed Vanessa the new warehouse and shipping process.

  “All of the cakes used to be baked in the building across the street, and then moved twice before getting stored or shipped out. I was able to streamline processes after convincing them we could increase production by relocating the factory line to a smaller space. Now the workers can shift to help out when there’s a bottleneck, while also reducing the number of times each box is handled. We reduced the steps people had to make between stations by enough to pay for another employee. You should have seen the spaghetti chart I made to show the before-and-after improvements. It went from a whirlpool with an undertow to a lazy river.”

  “You did a spaghetti chart to prove your process?”

  “For one. But that was definitely one of the most visually easy to understand. The bottom-line savings were pretty impressive. By shutting down those buildings and moving into this one, we were able to cut utility expenses in half.”

  “Very smart.”

  “A lot of people didn’t like the idea at first. They couldn’t understand why we’d consolidate while we have all these buildings. We moved all the warehousing of product, which used to go over there to where the corporate apartment is, to this area behind the store,
which also puts some control around how much extra product we produce. We can throttle staffing and production to meet demand, but we don’t overproduce, which resulted in a lot of waste in the past. When demand is high we’re ready, when it’s not we shift resources to other areas or encourage vacation time, which folks are usually happy to use.”

  “These are really good ideas,” Vanessa remarked. “Very well thought out.”

  “Thank you. I’ve got project plans and some sketches for some other ideas too. Not that anyone will ever do anything with them.”

  “Never say never.” This young lady was like a younger image of herself. “Do you mind if I ask how old you are?”

  “You’re going to think I’m too young for more responsibility, but I’m not. I grew up in this place. I’m a hard worker, and I have a work ethic like my dad’s, and he’s amazing.”

  “I promise I won’t think that.”

  “Sixteen.”

  Vanessa felt as if her eyes popped with an “ahooga” horn like a cartoon character in amazement. “Sixteen? Seriously. You are amazing. I think we’re about out of time for the day.”

  Misty looked at her watch. “Wow, this day has flown by. I’ve talked nonstop. I’m sorry.” Her cheeks pinkened. “My dad is always saying that I was born talking and I haven’t stopped yet.”

  “Not the worst problem to have. This has been so helpful. I’m really glad to have gotten to know you better too.”

  “Thank you. This place is so special to me. My mom used to work here. I’d sit at her feet behind the counter when I was little. As I got older, she’d let me help her stock shelves and stuff. She looked so beautiful in her Porter’s apron. I really miss her.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” She placed a hand on Misty’s arm. “She’d be very proud of you. You’re an amazing young lady.”

  Misty gulped for air, her eyes glistening. “Thank you. You don’t know what that means to me. Thank you so much.”

  “Come here.” Vanessa wrapped her arms around her shoulders. “It’s okay.”

  Misty swiped at her tears. “Not very professional. I never do this. I promise.”

  “Don’t be silly. I’m honored that you shared that with me.” Vanessa faced Misty straight on and placed her hands on her shoulders. “Okay?”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  “All right then. We’ll pick back up with the factory on Monday. I didn’t mean to hog your whole Saturday.”

  “Are you kidding? This has been the best day.” Her hands danced as she spoke. “What time on Monday?”

  “Why don’t you meet me at nine. I have a few things I need to do before we get to work, including clearing your schedule. You’ve been very helpful. You really do know how to bring this place into the twenty-first century.” It would be much less likely that people would balk at the changes if they’d been driven from the suggestions of one of their own. Much better than from me.

  “So, Misty, where would you like to go to dinner? My treat.”

  “Anywhere?”

  “Well, not Chicago, or New York City, but anywhere within driving distance. Oh, wait. I don’t have a car. Wait. I could borrow my cousin’s. So yes, anywhere we can drive.”

  “I can drive us.”

  “Perfect. I don’t know my way around anyway.”

  “There’s this tearoom on the edge of town. It’s only open on the weekends. I think you’d love it.”

  “That sounds delightful.”

  “Great.”

  Vanessa followed Misty through the parking lot, passing a compact car with a graduation tassel that she’d thought for sure would be hers, but ending up next to a huge Ford truck with dual rear wheels and running boards, which Vanessa quickly realized were necessary in order for her to hitch her hiney up into the passenger seat.

  “This is a whopper of a truck. How’d you ever learn to drive this?”

  Misty laughed, but her pride shone. “I’ve been driving this thing for years. Learned on the back of our property.” She fired up the engine and shifted the truck into reverse, then turned around and headed to the outskirts of town.

  She shifted gears like a pro. Most of the people Vanessa knew didn’t even know how to drive a manual transmission. She had to pass driver’s ed with both a manual and an automatic transmission, but that had been years ago. She wasn’t sure she could still pull it off today, and even if she could it probably would not go well in a truck this size. She imagined a line of tumbling mailboxes in her wake if she were driving this truck tonight.

  Misty was a lot like Vanessa in some ways, but the total opposite in others. Vanessa had been a tiara and pedicure kind of girl from the word go. Misty was clearly more athletic than Vanessa had ever been, but she had good business sense and she knew what she wanted. Vanessa liked her moxie.

  As they wound through the curving roads, Vanessa thought about herself at sixteen. She’d been teased for being too frilly by the other girls. It might have been nice to be the girl in blue jeans and lace who drove a pickup truck—carefree and fearless. But she’d never been fearless. She avoided the conflict and cut all ties with anyone who’d given her a hard time.

  Misty slowed and turned on her blinker in front of a big white farmhouse with twinkle lights in every tree on the property. When they pulled into the parking lot, she could see that the split rail fence had also been decorated with lighted garland and live wreaths with shiny red balls and bows.

  “It’s like a winter wonderland. This is going to be fun.”

  “I really hope you like it.” Misty hopped out of the truck and slammed the driver’s door.

  Vanessa stepped on the running board and hung on to the pillar grab bar as she stretched to get her foot on the ground.

  “Silent Night” poured through the speakers in the gardens as they walked along the path to the restaurant. The chilly air made her skin tingle. Inside, the old farmhouse had been decorated for the holidays too. Fires were flickering in all of the rooms, and a mixture of spicy and sweet filled the air. Poinsettias graced each double glass-panel door entryway, and smaller ones decorated each step of the grand stairway that led to the second level. Presumably the owner’s quarters.

  “Just two tonight?” The older woman with glasses hanging from a beaded silver chain around her neck lifted two menus. “Near the fireplace okay?”

  “That would be wonderful,” Misty jumped in. “If that’s okay with you,” she turned and said to Vanessa.

  “That sounds perfect.”

  “It’s my favorite table.” The hostess gestured to a table set with lovely bone china with winter birds perched amid a wreath motif of pinecone, holly, and mistletoe and glistening shiny gold accents.

  “I can see why.” Vanessa took a seat and Misty sat down across from her. “Thank you very much.”

  A waitress came out from the back carrying a silver tea service, and set it on the side table next to theirs. “Today’s flavor is Paris tea. May I pour?”

  Vanessa flipped over her teacup and nodded.

  Misty followed suit. “This is one of my favorite teas.”

  “Would you like to order off the dinner menu or do our popular North Carolina Tea Tray for two?” She leaned in. “I personally like the tea trays. It’s more than enough and you get to try a lot of the things on the menu. Plus, we do some specifically North Carolinian things like pork barbecue on the savory level, and a smack-your-momma banana pudding in a fine pastry added to the desserts. Mm-hmm.”

  “Thank you for the recommendation. That sounds really good to me. Misty, what would you like to do?”

  “The tea tray for sure.”

  “There will be no smacking mommas or anyone else, but we’ll do the North Carolina Tea Tray.” Vanessa handed her menu back with a smile. “I think we’re all set, then.”

  “Good choice.” The waitress collected the menus and went to the kitchen.

  Vanessa said, “I know I said we weren’t going to talk about work at all, but I have to say one more t
ime how impressed I am with you. I have college graduates working for me that don’t have the attention to detail and project-management skills that you display.”

  “Thank you. I do take some college classes. I qualified for this Career and College Promise program we have. I don’t know if it’s just a North Carolina thing or not, but I really love taking the classes. I get high school credit and transferable college credits too. I’m concentrating on business and project-management-type courses.”

  “A’s in all of them?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Vanessa lifted her teacup. “Here’s to you, Misty.”

  Misty lifted her cup and tapped it to Vanessa’s. “Thank you.” She sipped her tea. “Have you ever been to Paris? Like the tea?”

  “Yes. I have, but I’ll be honest: I didn’t get to experience it like a tourist. I’d love to go back.”

  “What’s stopping you?”

  “From going to Paris on vacation?” She lifted her teacup and saucer to take a sip, and to buy a moment to collect her thoughts before she answered. “I can’t say that I know why. I’ve got tons of vacation time saved up. I work all the time. I guess … I just haven’t … made the time.”

  The waitress came to the table carrying a lovely three-tiered tray filled with delectables.

  Vanessa sat wondering at the fact that she never extended any of her work trips to see the sights. She was always so eager to start the next project that it never occurred to her to stay on.

  Thankfully the waitress pulled her from her reflection. “If you haven’t been to tea before, you start at the bottom for the first course of savories and tea sandwiches, then move to the scones. Our jams are all made in-house. Then, to top it all off—dessert.”

  Misty clapped her hands together silently. “Thank you for letting me pick this place.”

  “You earned it.” She lifted a small sandwich and took a bite. “This one is good. It’s like a really spicy pimento cheese.”

  “That’s my favorite.” Misty took the other. “Yes. Just like I remember it.”

  “So, tell me about school. Clearly you’re an honor roll student.”

  “I am. I like the studies and everything, but I’d really rather be at work.”