I'll Be Home for Christmas (33 page)

“John is on it. He loves woodworking. He's made prototypes and is working off them. It will all be done in plenty of time. So tell me what's responsible for the sparks in your eyes. Is it Josh Eagle?
Wooeee,
you're blushing, Angie.”

“I am not. It's.. It's really warm in here. Now, let's make some coffee and hit these magazines.”

The morning passed quickly as the women consumed two pots of coffee while earmarking pages for further discussion. By noon, Angie's yellow legal pad was full of telephone numbers and notes on which merchandise she was interested in.

With one box of magazines to go, Angie washed her hands, fluffed up her hair, and checked her lipstick, ready to meet Josh for lunch. “Do you want me to bring you something for lunch, Bess?”

“No, I brought my lunch. You do remember how to flirt, don't you, Angie?”

Angie stuck out her tongue in Bess's general direction, but in the end she had to laugh. “Do I look okay?”

“You look good enough to go fishing. Remember what I told you about tossing your line in the pond. Play it cool, and he's all yours. That's assuming you want him. From where I'm sitting, the guy is one heck of a catch. Go already. It's not nice to keep the boss waiting.”

“Jeez, he is my boss, isn't he? That's going to take some getting used to. Are you sure I look okay, Bess?”

“You look fine, now go. Just remember to smile a lot. Pretend you're interested in what he has to say. You don't always have to be a know-it-all.”



On the way to the food court Angie wondered how many women were waiting in the wings for Josh Eagle. She just knew he went for the long-legged modeling types with their glossy smiles, sun-streaked hair and designer clothes. And, according to Bess, who was up on all things Josh Eagle, if any of them had a brain, they'd be dangerous. Angie sniffed. Bess didn't know everything even though she said she did.

Josh was waiting for her by the Philly Cheese Steak booth, which probably meant that's what he intended to eat for lunch. He was holding a twin to the legal pad she was carrying. Ah, a business lunch. She smiled.

Josh waved the yellow pad. “Guess this means we're going to work through our lunch. I had a pretty good morning. How about you?”

“Bess and I made some progress. I want to run it all by you before I make some calls this afternoon. I just want half a sandwich and a cup of coffee. And a brownie.” She smiled. And smiled.

“Are you happy about something? You keep smiling. Is it anything you want to share?”

Angie made a mental note to slap Bess upon her return to the gift wrap shop. “Actually, I am. Happy, that is. I can see light at the end of the tunnel, believe it or not. How about you?”

“You look pretty when you smile. You should do it more often. But to answer your question, I certainly feel a lot more positive than I did yesterday morning.”

Angie didn't know what else to do because her heart was beating so fast, so she smiled. And smiled. Then she smiled some more.
I'm still going to slap you, Bess
.

It was midafternoon when Angie pushed herself away from her tiny desk where she'd been making call after call in the hopes of saving Eagle's Department Store from closing its doors.

“How about a nice, cold soda pop?” Bess asked as she peered into the minifridge in the alcove where the coffeepot was located. Angie nodded.

Bess pulled over a stool and sat down next to Angie. She looked pointedly at the canvas bag at Angie's feet. Poking at the colorful bag with her foot, she asked, “You haven't told Eva, have you? Or Josh?”

Angie bit down on her lower lip. “I meant to tell Mom. I had it all planned, and then she up and decided to have her knee done. I didn't want to upset her. I don't…What I mean is, I don't think I owe Josh an explanation. As soon as Mom is in high gear again, I'll tell her. She knew this was not a forever job for me. I agreed to help out when my aunt died, then things went south. It's time for me to do what I do best, and this isn't it. Besides, she has you, Bess. It will all work out.” Her tone was so defensive, Bess winced.

“Did you sign the contract yet?” Bess asked.

The contract Bess was referring to was an employment contract between Angie and the Sunnyvale, California Board of Education for Angie to teach the third grade starting next year.

“I have three more weeks before I have to submit the contract. I can overnight it. I know, I know, I will tell my mother before the three weeks are up. Don't go getting your panties in a wad, Bess. I know what I'm doing.”

Bess pushed her granny glasses farther up on her nose. “I don't think it's so much that you'll be leaving as where you're going. Why couldn't you take a job around here? Why do you have to go all the way to California?”

Angie jumped off her chair. “See! See! You sound just like my mother. I'm thirty-five years old. It's time for me to do what I want. I stayed here after my dad died so Mom wouldn't be alone. I still live at home, for God's sake. What thirty-five-year-old do you know who still lives at home with their parents?”

“Josh Eagle,” Bess said smartly. “I think he's thirty-seven, though.”

“Well, he's leaving, too. I guess that makes us both late bloomers.”

Bess mumbled something that sounded like,
“You just tossed your line in the pond, now you're going to let it sink to the bottom.”
Angie ignored her and picked up the phone again to make another call.



Standing outside of both women's line of sight, Josh Eagle turned on his heel and left as silently as when he arrived. His shoulders were slumped, and he was dragging his feet.

Why should he care if Angie Bradford was leaving in January? He was leaving, too, so he wouldn't miss her. Would he?

The thought was so disturbing, Josh stopped in the middle of the main floor where all kinds of activity was going on. He felt like one of the mannequins as he watched the merchandise being wheeled out of the store on dollies.

The urge to throw his hands in the air and run as far and as fast as his sneakered feet would take him was so strong, Josh reached out to grasp the edge of one of the counters to hold himself in check.

Damn it to hell, he liked Angie Bradford.
Really
liked Angie Bradford. For some strange reason he suddenly felt like she'd betrayed him.

Josh made his way to his secret haven, the stairwell that led to the second floor. This was where he always went when things went sour with his father, or when he needed to get a handle on something. He sat down on the steps and looked at the hole in his sneaker over his big toe. He looked around at the gray stone walls that suddenly seemed as gloomy as his thoughts.

Josh knew what he should do, but did he have the guts to do it? For the first two years of his tenure at Eagle's, he'd spent a lot of time out here in the stairwell trying to decide if he should go toe to toe with his father. Out of respect, he'd never done that, and now here he was. He needed to go to Angie, tell her he'd overheard her conversation, and ask her point-blank what her intentions were. She'd probably tell him it was none of his business, and he'd have to agree with her. But…And there was always a but…He liked her,
really
liked her. That's exactly what he should do. No doubt about it. Oh, yeah. So what if she told him it was none of his business? He was a big boy, he could handle a put-down.

Before he could change his mind, Josh banged open the door leading to the main floor of the store, where he retraced his steps.



As soon as he hit the small entryway to the gift department, Josh called Angie's name. Bess took one look at his face and excused herself.

“What's up?” Angie looked up from the notes she was making on her pad.

“Why didn't you tell me you were planning on leaving?” His voice was so cold, so gruff-sounding, Angie felt her heart kick up a beat. She immediately swung into her defense mode, crossed her arms over her chest, and glared at the tall, good-looking man towering over her. “What?”

“You heard me. I came down here to talk to you, but you were talking to Bess and I didn't want to intrude so I waited…”

“And listened to a private conversation. That's pretty sneaky in my opinion. I don't think it's any of your business, Josh. Which brings me to my next question. Why do you care what I do or when I do it as long as it doesn't interfere with the store?”

Josh hated the stubborn look he was seeing. He was all too familiar with that look. He'd seen it every time they met in court. He advanced a step and sat down on the stool Bess had vacated. He hooked his feet in the rungs and rocked back and forth. “I shouldn't care, but I do. I'm not sure why that is. I really didn't mean to eavesdrop. I'm sorry about that. And, you're right, Angie, what you do come January is none of my business. I guess I thought…When I told you about leaving, I guess I thought you should have told me about your plans, too. You really should tell your mother. Don't do what I did with my old man.”

Somewhat mollified, Angie unfolded her arms and stared at the man sitting on the stool. She licked her lips. “I thought about telling you, but there was so much going on. I didn't want to add to your angst. I know I should have told my mother. If you were listening, then you know I didn't sign the contract yet. Maybe I'm dragging my feet. Maybe it's a mistake. Maybe a lot of things. For some reason I haven't been able to do that. I love the idea of going back to teaching. I love the kids. Working here was great, too, but Mom and I both knew it was temporary.

“You're leaving in January, so why should you care if I stay or go? For all either one of us knows, this little…plan we have might not work, and your father ends up having to close the store. It's all one big crapshoot, Josh.”

“I like you!” Josh blurted.
Shit, did he just say that?
“I was hoping we could get to know each other better.”

Angie's head bobbed up and down. She couldn't believe the words that popped out of her mouth. “I like you, too. I don't want to fight with you, Josh. I'm sick and tired of walking on eggshells. I do enough of that with my mother, and I'm sure you do the same thing with your father. Let's just get through the next few months and make decisions later on.”

“But you said you had to sign the contract in three weeks.”

Angie smiled and Josh's world tilted. “There will be other contracts, other jobs. I'm a good teacher. I've had other offers. The California one was just to get me on another coast. Truce?” she asked, holding out her hand.

Josh grinned as he grasped her hand. “Truce. How about dinner tonight?”

“Okay. You're going to come to my house, ring the bell with flowers in hand, a real date. Or is this business?”

“Nope, a real date. Flowers, eh? I think I can handle that. Does seven thirty work for you?”

“Yes, it works for me, but I was joking about the flowers.”

The conversation was over but Josh didn't want to leave. “You should see what's going on out there on the main floor. I'm glad my father isn't here to see this. He hasn't called me today. That's not like him.”

Angie started to laugh and couldn't stop. “My mother just called a little while ago. Seems your father hired a driver and, as we speak, the two of them are in the Amish country, where they are buying up all the quilts and whatever else the people are willing to sell. They rode from shop to shop in a buggy.”

Josh sucked in his breath and for the life of him couldn't think of anything to say other than, “Uh-huh.”



Eva settled herself in the town car, her legs extended. She flinched at how swollen and red her knee was. There was no doubt about it, she'd overdone it today. She could hardly wait to put the bag of crushed ice on her knee. They'd picked it up at a 7-Eleven store when they left the Amish country.

“How bad is the pain, Eva?” Angus asked, his voice full of concern.

“Probably as bad as yours. We're two old fools, Angus. At least I am. I didn't think this little trip through. I didn't realize we'd have to get in and out of the buggy so many times. I don't know what I thought. I'm sorry. Do you want some of my Advil?”

Angus held out his hand. He swallowed two of the tablets while Eva took three with the soda pop they'd also bought at the 7-Eleven.

“As soon as the ice and Advil kick in, we'll feel better. You have five weeks on me, Angus. I'm just eight days from surgery. Did you have trouble getting used to the pronged cane?” Eva asked, in the hopes that talking would take her mind off the pain in her knee.

Angus leaned back and closed his eyes. “Not at all. I had trouble with the walker. I felt like I was ninety years old. Tell me this damn trip was worth it, Eva. Just tell me that.”

“It was worth it. Five hundred quilts! And all those jams and jellies. Even with all that
horse-trading
you did with the elders, I suspect we might have overpaid a little. The kids will have to mark them up considerably. Everyone wants a homemade quilt.”

Angus opened his eyes, then reached for Eva's hand. “What's bothering you, Eva?”

Eva patted Angus's hand. “What makes you think something is bothering me?”

“Because I see something in your eyes. Sometimes if you talk about it, it helps a little. I'm a good listener, Eva.”

“It's Angie. She thinks I don't know, but she's planning on leaving in January just the way your son is leaving. I was looking for something, and for some reason I thought it might be in her book bag. I wasn't spying. There was a teaching contract that she hasn't signed as yet. For a school in Sunnyvale, California. If you want the whole ball of wax, I need to work. If the store closes, I don't know what I'll do. My Social Security isn't all that much. My house is paid off, but the taxes are now more than the mortgage payment was. Angie wasn't really taking a salary, just money as she needed it. We have to pay Bess a regular salary. I'm sure that by January, if the store closes, my knee will be okay. I'll just have to find a job where I can sit part of the time. I just wish I had known about the store's difficulties before I had the operation. I would have put it off. The worst-case scenario is I'll sell the house and move into one of those garden apartments. I don't think apartment living will be too bad. Most of those apartments come with a little terrace. I might even get a cat for my golden years.” Eva wound down like a pricked balloon.

Angus digested this information as his brain whirled and twirled. “You could move in with me, Eva.”

“No, Angus, I cannot move in with you. Now, are you sorry you asked me what's wrong?”

“No, not at all. Good friends always share their problems. If there's a way for my pigheaded folly where the store is concerned can be corrected, Josh will do it. I have so many regrets, Eva. I don't think Josh is ever going to forgive me.”

“You don't know that for sure, Angus. This is no time for negative thoughts. Parents are allowed to make mistakes. It's human and it's normal. You do your best at the time. However, once our children come of age, there's no more room for mistakes. At least that's how I look at it. In many ways we've both been lucky. Your son stayed with you the way Angie stayed with me. That has to mean something. We can't be selfish now. Do you agree?”

“Yes, I agree. Maybe our answer is to just close the store in January.” He watched as Eva nodded her head. For some reason he felt disappointed.

Eva's eyes opened wide. “So, what you're saying is we're quitters. You and I. You said if there was a way to turn things around, Josh would find it.”

“I did say that. I don't know if it can happen or not. I'm trying to convince myself that Eagle's won't be closing its doors.”

“Let's give them a chance, Angus. But only from the sidelines. All we'll do is offer encouragement and compliments. I think we can do that.”

Angus squeezed Eva's hand. “I think so, too. How's the pain?”

“It's easing up. How's your pain?”

“I feel wonderful,” Angus lied.



Bess covered her ears when Angie let out a shriek that almost split her eardrums. “What? What, Angie?”

But Angie was out the door calling Josh's name as she ran through the ground floor of the store. People turned to stare as they tried to figure out why the young woman was shrieking her lungs out. Josh appeared out of nowhere. Like Bess, he shouted, “What? What's wrong?”

“Wrong? Nothing's wrong. I have news. Good news! Wonderful news!”

“Come with me, my dear,” Josh said, leading Angie to his private sanctuary in the stairwell. “This,” he said, pointing to the steps as though they were His and Hers thrones, “is where I come to think and plan. Good place for good news, I'm thinking. What, what?” he all but shouted, his excitement palpable.