I'll Be Home for Christmas (35 page)

Josh struggled to his feet. “Angie, look, what you saw…It wasn't…It isn't what you think. Vickie is someone I used to know. And I didn't know her that well. I haven't seen or spoken to her since way back in April. She was looking for an escort to take her to the Harvest Ball. I have to assume I was a last resort because I never pretended to be anything other than a distant friend. She kisses everyone. I just found out that she bribed one of the workers with twenty bucks to let her into the store. If you hadn't turned tail and run, you would have heard me tell her I was seeing someone and had other plans for Saturday evening. So, are you okay with this? Please tell me you're okay with this so I don't have to do that singing thing under your window tonight.” Josh wondered if he looked as exhausted as he felt. Would Angie take pity on him? Childishly, he crossed his fingers.

He was seeing someone and had other plans. That almost makes us a couple. It sounds like we are a couple
. “I didn't know you could sing. Do you want a cup of tea or a beer? I can make some coffee.”

“I'll take a beer and I can't sing. My father…”

“Offered you advice. Yeah, my mother stepped in and offered some, too. Okay, you're off the hook.”

“Thank God! I'm going to have to guzzle that beer and get back to the store. Are you staying home?”

“No. I just got…miffed and came home. I did…I think I did something I might come to regret. I reacted and I…I signed that damn contract and it went off in the mail. The mailman came a little while ago, and Mom gave it to him.”

Josh looked at her as though she'd sprouted a second head. “You were that angry? Damn, now what are you going to do? Are you sorry you sent it off?”

“Yes. Yes, a hundred times yes. I was going to call tomorrow and explain that I wouldn't be accepting the position. I never did tell my mother.”

“Get your coat. Maybe we can catch the mailman. Do you know in which direction he goes when he finishes up your street? Never mind, you go one way and I'll go the other. It's still early so he won't be returning to the post office. If I find him first, he won't give it to me, so I'll call you on your cell. If you find him first, call me and I'll meet up with you.”

Thirty minutes later the couple sat down on Angie's front steps. “He said Mom never gave him any mail. That has to mean she knows and kept the envelope or hid it. Parents are so devious,” Angie groused.

“Oh, I don't know, sometimes they're pretty smart. Your mother saved your butt by not mailing that contract. My father gave me some shitty advice, but here we are with a better understanding of what's going on.” Josh reached for Angie's hand and squeezed it.

“I think your father and my mother are going to end up together. They get along so well. And, they're great company for one another. Tonight they're going out for Japanese food. I'm okay with it, are you?”

“Yeah, you bet. My father is a different man these days. He hasn't given me one moment of grief as the bills come in. I think it's all due to your mother.” This last was said so shyly, Angie smiled.

Angie held up her hand palm out and high-fived Josh. “To our parents!”

“To our parents and to
us
.”

A red ring of heat popped up on Angie's neck. Then it crept up to her cheeks. She didn't know what else to do, so she smiled.

On a cold, blustery November day, everything Eagle swung into high gear. Announcers on the local airwaves invited shoppers to soar with the Eagle and avail themselves of the hospitality that was being offered by the Eagle family to all the families the store had served in the last hundred years.

Flyers and giveaways were handed out at all the mall entrances and parking lot to entice people into the store. There were flyers for the day care unit, flyers for the knitting and cooking classes. Flyers for sale after sale on just about every item in the store.

When the doors opened at ten o'clock, Josh, attired in a power suit and tie, stood next to his father to welcome and greet old and new customers alike.

Standing on the sidelines, Eva and Angie sighed with relief as shoppers flooded the main floor. They watched for a while, amazed and delighted that all their hard work was paying off with cash register activity. “I think we did okay, Mom. Now, if the merchandise keeps flowing in, and no one screws up, we just might make it through the holiday season and, if we're lucky, pay the bills and maybe show a tiny profit. If we're lucky,” she repeated.

“Honey, we agreed, no negative thoughts. I have to get back to the second floor. We have a good crew to help with the kids. I'll see you later.”

Angie meandered over to the cosmetics counter. She was pleased to see the free Vera Wang samples going like hotcakes and being followed up by sales. She looked around and realized the salesgirl had been right. Too much variety and people can't decide, so they walk away. Her advice had been to go with three manufacturers, and it now looked like she was right.

Josh had taken the salesgirl's advice to heart and instructed the few new buyers he'd hired to do the same thing. It looked like the strategy was working throughout the store.

Angie was so pleased with the way things were going, she gave herself a mental pat on the back as she walked the floor, hoping to hear comments or criticisms she could relay to Josh. She moved over closer to the door to better observe Josh and his father. How tired they both looked. But it seemed to her like a happy kind of tiredness.

Angie crossed her fingers that things would continue through the end of the year. Her eyes were everywhere as she continued to meander around, then made her way back to the front door, where she leaned up to whisper in Josh's ear. “Your father needs to get off his feet. Tell him to go up to the day care so he can sit down in one of the rockers. I can take his place if you like.”

“I like. How's it going?”

“I think it's going very well. The big fishbowl for the nine o'clock drawing is almost filled. When school lets out, the kids will be here in droves in the hopes of winning the iPod. The safari department appears to be doing a brisk business. Cruise wear is beyond brisk. It's happening, Josh. How much longer are you going to do this meet and greet?”

“Not a minute longer. I want to check the stockroom. What's on your schedule?”

“I'm going to float around, check on Mom and your dad, that kind of thing. If Bess needs me in gift wrap, I'll help out. It's really working, Josh,” she whispered.

“Because of you,” Josh whispered in return. “When you're done, why don't you meet me in the stockroom?”

Angie wiggled her eyebrows. “That's one of the nicest invitations I've ever gotten. I'll be there. Wait for me.”

Angie thought her heart would leap right out of her chest when she heard him say, “Forever if I have to.”



Angie flew to the second floor. She skidded to a stop at the small desk to take in the scene in front of her. Angus and Eva rocking chubby babies, who were gurgling and cooing as Eva sang a lullaby. Angus looked so contented and peaceful, she felt a lump rise in her throat. Toddlers crawled through a maze of colored plastic tunnels, giggling and laughing. Infants in swings, their eyes following the mobiles overhead. Juice and cookies were being laid out on the play tables, after which it would be nap time. When she left the area her only thought was that the day care was going to net a profit. She couldn't wait to share her thoughts with Josh.

To the right and around the corner of the day care unit, a senior citizen was teaching six young mothers how to knit, her students paying rapt attention. The cooking class was all done via video and a large corkboard. The lesson today was how to bake a turkey for Thanksgiving. All was well there, too.

Now she could head for the stockroom. There was a bounce to her step that showed her excitement.

Angie opened a door that said
NO ADMITTANCE
and, underneath,
EMPLOYEES ONLY
. From far back in the room she could hear voices. Josh and a strange male voice. She didn't know why, but she tiptoed in the direction the voices were coming from. She peeked around a stack of sweater boxes. Bob McAllister, the general manager of Saks. What's he doing here in the stockroom? she wondered. As much as she wanted to spy and hear what was going on, she couldn't do it. “Josh!”

“Over here, Angie. Meet Bob McAllister.”

Angie held out her hand. “Hello. We've met before. What's up?”

Josh laughed. “I just convinced Bob to take my job at Harrods. For obvious reasons, he doesn't want anyone to know until he can give his notice. That's why we had this meeting here in the stockroom.”

Angie's head bobbed up and down. Josh wasn't leaving. He was staying.
Oh, thank you, God!

“You guys did a hell of a job,” Bob told her. “When Josh first told me his plan, I told him he could never pull it off. I'm happy to see I was wrong. If it means anything, you have the bulk of customers in the mall. Good prices, too. Great idea with only three choices per item. I've been trying to sell that idea to my people, but they won't buy in to it. See you around, guys. Let's have a drink before I leave, Josh.”

“You got it.”

And then they were alone. Josh reached for Angie and she stepped into his arms. “I love you, Angie Bradford. We're a team. This store is in my blood the way it was in Dad's blood. When I saw him writing out all those checks I knew he was investing in me, Josh Eagle, his son, not Eagle's Department Store. He finally moved beyond the store. These last few weeks he's turned into a real father.”

“You should sneak up to the day care to see him rocking the babies. He looks so peaceful, so happy. Mom, too. I suspect they'll both make wonderful grandparents. We did good, Josh.”

“We had a lot of help along the way. Eagle's is never going to be a Saks or a Neiman Marcus, and that's okay. We never aspired to be anything other than what we are—a family store where families come to buy merchandise because they trust us. Those families who shop at Eagle's grew up with us. We got off the track there for a little while, but we're back in business now. But, I can't do it without you, Angie. I'm not too proud to admit it, either. I want to marry you,” he blurted.

Whoa.
For the first time in her life, Angie was speechless. Because she couldn't make her tongue work, she simply nodded, her eyes glistening with happiness.

“If I kiss you, it's all over. You know that, right?”

Angie found her tongue. “Right.”

“So…Want to help me open these boxes?”

“Sure.”

The young couple worked in happy sync as salesperson after salesperson bounded into the store room to ask for more merchandise.

And before they knew it, the first announcement came over the loudspeaker that the drawing was about to be held for the winner of the iPod. They both ran out to the main floor just as Angus reached into the fishbowl to draw the winning number. “Annette Profit!” he said, holding up the winning entry. Annette Profit of Chez J's La Perfect Salon stepped up smartly and accepted the iPod. Angus hugged her and thanked her for shopping at Eagle's.



Five minutes later, when the last of the crowd disappeared, Josh locked the doors. The Eagles and the Bradfords walked back to the gift wrap department, where Angie handed out soft drinks.

“It was a hell of a day, son! I'm proud of you!” Angus beamed.

“No, Dad, you need to thank Angie and Eva and all those people who worked the floor. We aren't home free yet, but if we can keep up the kind of momentum we had today, I think we might coast right into the New Year in the black. By the way, I'm not going to England and I asked Angie to marry me.”

“Wise man,” Angus chuckled.

“Good choice,” Eva said.

“It's time for us to leave,” Angus said, getting to his feet. Eva followed him, leaving Josh and Angie alone. They looked at one another and then groaned because they knew they had three or four more hours of work before they could leave.

“I'm starved, Josh. Let's go out for a pizza and a beer and come back. We can both use a break. I haven't been outside all day. We can walk to the pizza parlor and clear the cobwebs.”



Outside in the brisk air, Josh reached for Angie's hand. “Are we officially engaged or are we ‘keeping company,' as Dad would say? I'm not really up on all the protocol on things like this. I never told anyone I loved her, and I sure never asked anyone to marry me before…Are you
ever
going to say something?”

“I'm thinking. I like being engaged. That pretty much makes it official. No one ever told me they loved me except my mom and dad. For sure no one ever asked me to marry him. I guess we're starting off even. I was a little disappointed in our parents' reaction.”

Josh laughed. “My father can be a sly old fox sometimes. He told me if I didn't act quickly, you were going to move on. He sounded so convincing I figured he and Eva planned it all out, and I had better pay attention. I was never the first guy out of the gate.”

Angie stepped aside as Josh opened the door of the pizza parlor. “At least you got out of the gate; I never did. Let's get the works on the pizza. I want one of those apple dumplings, too.”

“Whatever you want, it's yours.”

Angie could hardly wait to call Bess to tell her what she'd pulled in on her line. She laughed to herself as she imagined what Bess would say.
“You pulled in the Big Kahuna! Way to go, Angie.”

Two days before Christmas, Angie woke at four thirty
AM
, more tired than when she'd gone to bed.
Just let me get through today. And tomorrow,
she pleaded.
Don't let me fall asleep standing up
. If she could just sleep five more minutes. Just five. She'd settle for three, but she knew she had to get up even though it was still dark outside. It had been Josh's decision to open the store at seven and close at midnight. Then there were two hours of getting things ready for the next day, the trip home, and two hours' sleep. Still, she shouldn't complain, it was all working out perfectly.

Today was special, though. Bob McAllister had stopped by the gift wrap department late last night to whisper in her ear. It was her job to get to the store at six, open the doors and lead Josh to the food court, where all the general managers in the mall were holding their traditional private Christmas breakfast.

In the bathroom, bleary-eyed from lack of sleep, Angie looked out the window as she waited for the shower to start steaming. As she raised the window she screamed, and then screamed again. “Snow!” She stuck her neck out the window to see if she could see what kind of accumulation there was down below. Her heart fluttered. Snow was every merchant's nightmare. Especially during the last week of Christmas shopping.

It was the shortest shower in history. In less than ten minutes, Angie was showered, dressed, and tapping her foot impatiently as she waited for the coffee to run through the filter. “Snow!” The minute there was enough coffee in the pot, Angie poured, and then turned it off. She was out of the house a minute later and in her car. While it warmed up, she climbed back out to clear the snow off her windshield and back window. The little Honda was a marvel in snow and rain, so she had no worries about getting to the mall. She might even have a bit of an edge, traffic-wise, since it was just five o'clock. Another hour, and it would be a different story. As she made her way to Route 1, she listened to the local weather on the radio. Snow at Christmas was the kiss of death to every retailer. She wondered if Josh was up and had seen the snow. She wondered if she should call him, but she hated using a cell phone while she was driving. He would see it soon enough.



Twenty minutes later, when Angie blew into the mall on a strong gust of wind and swirling snow, Josh was waiting for her. The first words out of his mouth were, “This is going to kill us. The weatherman is saying six to eight inches. They're closing the schools. We need these last two shopping days like we need air to breathe. Damn! No one is here yet, so I made some coffee.”

Josh reached for her hand. “I need to tell you again how grateful I am. I could never in a million years have pulled this off without your help.”

“We'll find a way to make this work, Josh. It's the season of miracles. Come on, let's go get that coffee. Maybe we'll be able to think more clearly with some serious caffeine under our belts.”

“There was no snow in the forecast. How'd this happen?” Josh demanded.

“It just happened, and we have to deal with it. Did you go home last night?”

“I went to the Best Western, got an hour's sleep, and took a shower. I snatched a clean shirt off one of the sale tables, and here I am. I don't know when I've ever been this tired.” Josh reached for Angie's hand and squeezed it. “I wonder if the managers' breakfast is still on.”

“Trust me, it's still on. It's a tradition. We're low on merchandise, Josh.”

“I know. Your cottage people promised a delivery for early this morning. They were going to truck it in overnight. Then we have to unpack, log it all in. If it even gets here. I'm thinking I might have to blow off that breakfast.”

Angie reared up and spilled her coffee in the process. “Absolutely not! That breakfast is part of the way things are done around here. We're going to follow the rules and hope for the best. C'mon, let's go check the loading dock. For all we know, we could have merchandise piled to the rafters just waiting for us to unpack.”

There was no erasing the doom and gloom Josh felt. “My father is going to pitch a fit. Somehow he's going to find a way to blame me for this snow. He knows how important these two days are. I know it. I feel it in my gut.”

There was nothing for Angie to say, so she remained quiet. Somehow, though, she didn't think the elder Eagle would blame his only son for a snowstorm. At least she hoped not. And if he did, she knew she would have a few choice words for such an action.



Three miles away Angus Eagle was pacing back and forth in his old-fashioned kitchen, where Eva was calmly mixing pancake batter.

“Calm down, Angus, you can't control the weather. Something else is bothering you. Don't deny it, Angus. You're pulling on your ear, and you only do that when something is bothering you. Do you want to talk about it?”

“Yes, I guess I do want to talk about it. I'm almost broke, Eva. If I had stayed on top of things these past years I wouldn't be in this mess. It's all my fault for being so pigheaded. I didn't want Josh to start the year off in debt. So I've paid for everything as the bills came in. My personal funds are just about depleted. I wanted…It was…I can't ask you to marry me when I have nothing to offer. I thought…If I sell this old house and you sell yours, we could buy a smaller house or a condo. I think we could manage nicely and, if we're careful, we can live out our lives without…without depending on the kids. It was my intention to give the store to the kids if they got married.

“Now, with this snow, we're going to lose more revenue. I'll have to tap into the remains of my portfolio. I'm not complaining, Eva, I just want you to know where I stand. Can you see yourself roughing it with this old man?”

“Oh, Angus, is that why you've been so cranky these past few weeks? I'm all right with everything. How nice and yet how silly of you to be worried about me. It's the Christmas season, so let's get ready for a miracle, and if that was a proposal, I accept. Now, sit down before you wear out what's left of this horrible linoleum. How many pancakes?”

“Four!” Angus said smartly. “I have an idea.”

“Let's hear your idea, Big Popper,” Eva said as she slid a stack of pancakes on a plate.

Angus burst out laughing. “Promise me you will never call me that in front of the kids. I don't think they'd…uh…understand.”

Eva's eyes popped wide when Angus leaned across the table to share his idea. “Oh, Angus, can you make that happen? That will surely be the miracle we need.” She pointed to the seven-inch television on the counter and said, “Now they're saying twelve inches of snow. Never mind those pancakes, Angus, I'll eat yours. Get on the phone and work some magic.”



The traditional Managers' Holiday Breakfast was already in progress when Josh and Angie made their way to the food court. Croissants, coffee, and juice were being passed around as Bob McAllister, the president of the association, started to speak.

“We're going to make this short and sweet because we all have things to do to combat the weather none of us expected. As you all know, I'll be leaving the first of the year. I want to take a minute to thank all of you for your support over the years and to wish you all the best in the coming year. I'm turning the reins over to Josh Eagle, who I know will do the same fine job I've done in the past…. That was a joke, people.

“Moving right along here, all of us sitting here today want to congratulate Josh Eagle and Eagle's Department Store. We've been rooting for you every step of the way. You had us all chewing our nails wondering if you could turn the store around, and you did. Each and every one of us is proud of you and wish you and Eagle's every success. Did I also say we're all slightly jealous? We are. Utilizing the cottage industry was a stroke of genius and I for one applaud you.”

Josh flushed at the round of applause.

“Having said that, Abrams' Trophies in the west wing made this up for you,” Bob said, holding up a small bronze plaque. “It says, ‘T
O
E
AGLE'S
D
EPARTMENT
S
TORE
:
THE
M
OST
I
NNOVATIVE

S
TORE OF
2007.' There's a card to go with it that every store owner signed. Congratulations, Josh!”

Josh stood, walked to the front of the gathering, and reached for the plaque. “I don't know what to say other than thank you. Maybe someday I'll be able to tell all of you what this means to me. Not right now, though.”

He looked to the back of the room to see Angie waving her cell phone at him, an ear-to-ear grin splitting her features. She walked to the front of the room to hand the phone to Josh, who listened, his jaw dropping almost to his chest.

“People! People, wait a minute! That was my father. Maybe we aren't dead in the water after all. My dad called down to Edison and Piscataway and asked all his friends who have horse farms if they'd get their wagons out and hitch them up and bring them our way to transport shoppers. Eva Bradford called all the radio stations to announce our wagon train shopping solution. It's a plan, and it's under way. We're going to lose a few early-morning hours, but my suggestion is we all stay open around the clock. Good luck, everybody.”

Josh whirled around to hug Angie. “Now where in the hell do you think my old man came up with this idea? Oh, who cares! Let's just hope it works.”

“Oh, it's going to work. All people have to do is get to the central points and leave the rest up to us. Your dad saved the day, Josh.”

Josh's eyes misted over. “Yeah, he did, didn't he,” he said softly.

“Mr. Eagle! Mr. Eagle! Annette Profit here. I have the salon in the east wing.” She held out her hand and smiled. “I just want a minute to tell you my mother used to bring me to Eagle's when I was little. It was always such a special treat. Especially when it was time to go back to school. Your dad always stood at the door and gave each one of us kids a free box of crayons and a tablet. On the Fourth of July he'd give us a gift certificate for a free ice-cream cone. At Easter it was a chocolate egg, and at Christmas it was a silver bell to ring so Santa would know where we lived. They were wonderful memories. Eagle's was a tradition. I'm glad you were able to turn the store around. Good luck, Mr. Eagle.”

Josh was so choked up he couldn't get his tongue to work. He reached out to hug the young woman and smiled. He finally managed to choke out the words, “I'll bring that tradition back next year if you promise to bring your kids.”

“Count on it, Mr. Eagle.”

Angie linked her arm with Josh's as they turned to go back to the store. “That was so nice. I vaguely remember Mom talking about it, but the store was too expensive for us to shop. Mom did that discount thing. If it wasn't on sale, we didn't buy it. It's all about goodwill and family.”

“These last few months have certainly been an eye-opener,” Josh said. “I learned things about my father I never knew, I found the love of my life, and I now know I can run this store.”

Angie laughed. “I think I'm going to go back to the food court and find out if one of the vendors will be willing to honor hot chocolate vouchers for our customers. And those big fat sugar cookies for the kids. If Bess isn't busy, ask her to make up some vouchers and run them off. See if you can find someone to go over to the south wing where that huge candy store is. Buy up all the candy canes and hand them out at the door to the kids.”

“Super idea! Where
do
you come up with these ideas? I think I'm going to be marrying a genius.”

“I'm thinking you're right.” Angie laughed again and waved her hand as she headed back to the food court.



It was the noon hour when Josh flipped on the television in his office. As local television cameras caught the wagon train heading for the mall he watched the unfolding scene with his mouth hanging open. Even the anchor seemed to be beside himself, his words running together. Josh turned when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Dad! How'd you get here?”

“I came on the first wagon. Eva is down in gift wrap. What do you want me to do?”

The lump in Josh's throat was so big he thought he was going to choke to death. “What you do best, Dad. What you did for years and years. Stand by the door and hand out treats—we have candy canes and vouchers for hot chocolate and cookies at the food court. Bundle up, Dad.”

“You remembered I used to do that?”

Josh felt shame river through him. “No, Dad. Some lady came up to me and told me how you used to do that. She told me it was an event for her when she was a kid. I'm going to do that again. Want a job?”

Angus swung his scarf around his neck. “Depends on how much the job pays,” he said craftily.

“I was hoping you'd do it for free.”

“Sounds about right to me. You got yourself a new employee, son. See you later,” Angus said, picking up the stack of vouchers. “Where are the candy canes?”

“In a big barrel by the front door. The candy people just delivered them.”

Josh leaned against the door when it closed behind his father. His eyes were so wet he knew in a second that tears were going to roll down his cheeks.
It's not a bad thing
, he told himself. He knuckled his eyes before he opened the door, knowing in his heart that he was blessed. Maybe all this that was happening was the miracle everyone talked about during the Christmas season.



By four o'clock the mall was so busy that people were bumping into each other. Camera crews, photographers, and reporters from all the local news channels contributed to the gala that seemed to be going on. Everyone was being interviewed. Only smiles and camaraderie could be seen.