A Christmas Worth Billions (Countdown to Christmas Book 4) (5 page)

At the end, she looked at David. “Sir, is there anything else you’d like to add?”

“I think you covered everything. Well done, Erin."  David turned to the client. "If you go along with these proofs she set out, you’ll have a successful advertising campaign. People will be lining up to wear the new clothes line. Now, if no one else has anything, we can be adjourned.” He turned to Mr. Carpenter, who shook his head.

“We love it. I’d like to start immediately.” He wrote something in the notebook in front of him.

“Perfect. We’ll have you work out those details with Debra and Erin, then.” David shook everyone’s hand and walked to his office. He quickly checked his messages and returned a few phone calls.

Peter knocked on his office door and came in. “Hey, I didn’t think you’d make it to work today. How was the meeting?”

“It went well. They loved the ideas.” David stood and put his coat on. “I’m heading out now. I wanted to look over a few things for the party before heading home.”

Peter cleared his throat. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Our PR people cornered me this morning and wanted me to have a talk with you. They seem to think that you need a date for this party. After the drop in stock back in August, people are worried, and they want to know you’re doing well.”

David grumbled. “That was four months ago. We’ve more than made up for it since then. How is seeing me with a date going to help with anything?”

“I don’t know, but they wouldn’t let me go until I agreed to say something. I know it’s too soon, so we can tell them to drop it, but at least I’m doing what they asked.”

“Thank you.” David glanced at the photo on his desk. “I’ll think about it.”

Peter looked at him in surprise. “What?”

“It was no secret that I had a rough time after I lost Sarah. It’s just a date, and then I can move on.” That was easier said than done. The thought of Lily’s smile told him that it wouldn’t be just a fleeting thing. He just hoped she’d go out with him.

“
Are you sure? Three months ago, I couldn’t get you out of bed. Last month, the only thing you’d do is exercise or sit on your couch. What changed?” His eyes widened. “You met someone, didn’t you?”

David sighed and leaned against his desk. “Yes, but she’s a tough one. Someone hurt her, and she’s got a wall between herself and the world. She’s struggling financially and won’t let anyone help.”

Peter laughed. “A woman who doesn’t want your money? Snag her, man. Most of the women who have been sending you emails and letters want you for one thing.”

“I know. She’s refreshing in so many ways. She has two kids. Beautiful little girl and boy who look just like her.” With sad eyes. David wanted to do anything he could to make them happy again.

“Whoa. She has kids? You
are
serious if you haven’t run the other way.” Peter opened the door. “I have a meeting, but I’ll let PR know you have things under control.”

David followed Peter out and locked his office door before heading down to his truck. Yes, he was serious. He just hoped she would let him into her life.

Chapter 4

Lily lay in bed, enjoying the heat from the space heaters David had placed throughout the house. She’d been in and out of sleep for a few days while people from her congregation watched over her house. She’d been vaguely aware that David had been there, playing with the kids, but she was too weak to get out of bed.

Meals had been brought, and the women made sure she got food to eat, then fed the children. Ann had stopped by once or twice to bring bills or let her know how the diner was doing.

This was the first morning Lily felt like getting out of bed. She went into the bathroom to take a hot shower, something she’d been craving for days. She put on some old gray sweats and socks before leaving her room. Patrick and Mary were playing with an old train set Lily had found at a thrift store.

Mary jumped up and hugged her mom. “You’re awake! I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too. Have you been behaving?”

Patrick nodded and looked up from the trains. “Reverend Smith wanted you to call when you feel better. And there are lots of notes on our door. They wanted to talk to you, but Mrs. Franklin made them leave.”

“Okay. Thank you, sweetie.” Lily pulled the notes off the door and closed her eyes.
Fi
nal notices for collections weren’t the best things to find after being sick for days, but at least she could get it over with.

She called Ann to let her know she was alive, then wandered into the kitchen. She opened a cupboard to get a cup so she could take some medicine, but she stopped.

Her eyes widened, and tears poured down her cheeks. The shelves were filled with food. Granted, they were filled with things like ramen and soup, but they looked heavenly. She had food to give her children. She located the medicine above the stove and called the kids into the kitchen.

“Do you know where all of this came from? Did the church ladies bring it?” She pointed at the cupboards.

Patrick shook his head. “It was David. He’s filled it a little bit every ti—”

Mary quickly shushed him. “We weren’t supposed to tell.”

“I’m glad Patrick told me. Now let’s get some breakfast in you.” Lily couldn’t help the small flare of annoyance that David gave them so much, but she pushed it down as she watched her children talking and laughing while they ate marshmallow cereal.

Lily pulled out the accounting books for the diner that Ann brought by and set them out on the table. She had to figure out where she’d get the money for food and other supplies.

"Here, Mom. I made this for you." Mary set a bowl of cereal on the table next to the books.

"Thank you." She ate while she looked over the numbers.

Mary and Patrick helped wash the dishes before running off to their rooms, leaving their mom at the table.

The numbers weren’t looking good, but she knew that from the notes sitting next to her. Lily ran her fingers through her hair. Cutting down the menu items was an option. She could get rid of the steaks and other more expensive cuts of meat, and buy the cheaper napkins.  But that would only help for so long. In the meantime, the collectors would begin repossessing inventory until she could pay the debts.

Mary came into the kitchen with her coat and gloves. “Hey, Mom? Can we play in the snow? We’ll keep warm.”

Lily nodded. “Of course. I’ll have hot chocolate ready for you when you get done.”

Patrick cheered and followed Mary outside. Lily could hear them shouting back and forth to each other. She walked through the house and stood at the window to watch them play. A few of the neighbor kids came by with their sleds, and they took turns riding behind a snowmobile.

Lily pulled her sweater tighter and went into the kitchen to start the water. She went back through the numbers, hoping to come up with a different solution, but it was looking more and more hopeless. If things didn’t pick up soon, they were in big trouble.

A knock at the door made Lily jump. She stood and opened it to find David standing there, covered in snow.

“What happened to you?” she asked, moving out of the way so he could come in.

“Snowball fight. I lost.” David laughed and wiped himself off before coming inside. “Your boy knows how to throw. He should play football.”

Lily smiled.
“That’s his dream.”

“I was worried when I didn’t see you at the diner again this morning. I thought I’d check in on you.”

“I’m feeling much better, thank you. I just don’t want anyone to get sick, so I decided to stay home for one more day. What are you doing here? Don’t you have work?” Lily poured some hot water into a mug and added the chocolate mix before handing it to David.

“Snowed in. Everything is shut down, so I’m working from home today. I just wanted to get out of the house for some breakfast.” David stirred his drink and took a sip. “That’s really good.”

Lily nodded. “That’s my grandma’s recipe. I make sure to keep a jar of it at all times.”

“I like that rule.” David took another sip and watched out the window. “Your kids look like they’re doing better.”

“Thanks to you.” She wiped down the counters, self-conscious. “You saved our lives.”

David stared at her for a moment. “You scared me. I thought you were gone when I picked you up out of the snow. It’s freezing out there. Don’t you have a coat?”

Lily could feel her face burn as she turned away. “No. Everything I get goes toward the diner or the kids. I’ll get a coat when we have the money.”

“Don’t you realize that without you, there would be no kids and no diner? You have to take care of yourself.” David stood. “I can get you a coat.”

“No!” She stopped and took a breath. No need to lose her temper. He was just trying to help. “Thank you for the offer, but you’ve already given me enough. With groceries and my kids’ coats taken care of, I can get myself something with the next paycheck.” Never mind that would be months from now. If ever.

David’s frustration was evident as he watched the kids outside the window. “Okay. I’m sorry. I probably overstepped my bounds. I just don’t want to see you get sick again.”

Lily’s heart softened when he looked at her with his dark brown eyes. How she’d managed to end up with someone so handsome in her kitchen was beyond her. She leaned against the counter. “No, I should be sorry. I was rude. I just can’t accept anything else.”

David smiled at her, but she could still see the hurt in his eyes. “It’s fine. I’d better get going. With a day off, I should probably stock up my own pantry.” He stopped with his hand on the door. “I was thinking of putting up a Christmas tree tonight. Would you and the kids like to help out? Doing it myself would be a little depressing.”

“We’d love that. Thank you. What time were you thinking?” Lily hadn’t had a Christmas tree in the house for years. This would be perfect for her kids.

“I’ll come and pick you up around six o’clock. That is, if I can get out of the driveway.”

Lily laughed and looked outside. “It doesn’t look like it’s going to let up any time soon.”

“No, it doesn’t. I guess we’ll have to chance it.” David stepped outside and picked up a handful of snow, packing it into a ball. “But now, I have to plot my revenge.”

Patrick ran around the corner just then, and his eyes widened when he saw David standing there. He turned back around and screamed at Mary to run away.

David tossed the snowball and it hit Patrick in the back, knocking him to the ground. With a look of horror, he ran and rolled Patrick over, resulting in a face full of snow. Patrick laughed and took off running again.

Lily leaned her head against the cool doorway and coughed into her arm. When it didn’t stop, she went inside to get a drink of water. The coughing spell finally passed, so Lily went in search of a blanket to wrap around herself. The kids had been outside long enough that she had to heat the water back up again. She found a few more sweaters to slip on over the one she was wearing, and put on a hat, hoping it would be enough to keep the air from chilling her again.

She walked outside to silence. Where had they gone? She’d only been inside for a couple of minutes. Panic settled in her stomach, and she ran out to find them. They were her life, and they were gone.

The streets were clear of cars because of the snow, and she couldn’t see Mary or Patrick anywhere. “Patrick? Mary?”

The screen door to the side of the house slammed, and Lily whipped around to see Patrick standing there.

“Why are you going through that door?” Lily knew she sounded shrill, but her heart was still beating rapidly.

Patrick held up a carrot. “We’re building a snowman, and I needed the nose.”

Relief flowed through her. “Why aren’t you out here in front? That’s where I left you.”

“We needed more snow.” He pointed toward a trail in the snow that led to the side of the house. Lily followed him around to find Mary and David waiting for them.

They had built a huge snowman on the side of the house. Patrick carefully inserted the nose in the face, and David added arms.

Mary pushed the buttons in, and then set her stocking cap on its head. “There. We’re done.”

“It’s great. And huge. How’d you get it so big?” Lily coughed and pulled her blanket closer.

Patrick hit his gloves together to get the snow off. “Each of us took a ball until they got too big. Then we all helped.”

“Okay, kids. Let’s get you back inside. I have it on good authority that your mom made some hot chocolate. Then you can come help me pick out a Christmas tree.” David looked up at Lily with a questioning glance. The plan had been to go over later that night, not to pick out the tree.

But how could she say no with his eyes dancing like that? She smiled, put her arms around her cheering children, and guided them into the house. “You coming?”

“Of course.” He pulled Patrick up onto his shoulders and walked next to Lily. “You’re sure you’re okay with helping to pick out the tree? I should have asked first.”

“It’s fine. They’ve never been able to do that before.” She stopped at the door and opened it, letting Mary in before looking up at him. “Thank you.”