Wrapped Up for Christmas

by Katlyn Duncan

  Angie was on the first shift, and he figured she wouldn’t be in the best mood from the party the night before even though he burst at the seams to talk to her.

  If she knew it had been his father who’d created this mess and not him, they could start over again like they did the first time. Nick wasn’t sure if his plan would work, but he had to put everything on the table. Angie knowing the truth about him and Ivy was the only thing between them right now.

  When he arrived at the information booth, he spotted Angie carrying several rolls of wrapping paper in her arms. She stopped a few times, adjusting her grip on the supplies. No one had shown up for the volunteer slot yet, so he had a few minutes alone with her.

  Nick rushed over to help her right before one wrapping paper roll fell to the ground.

  ‘Thanks, I’m all over the place today,’ she said laughing, then their eyes met. Her smile flattened, and a guarded look hid her normally sparkling eyes. Angie dropped the rolls on the table and brushed by him into the booth.

  Nick placed the roll on the table and waited for her. He wasn’t going to corner her inside the small booth but backing down from talking to her would only make him look guilty.

  ‘I don’t want to get into this today, Nick,’ Angie said when she came out with the tape dispenser in her hands. ‘I’m not interested in repeating history.’

  ‘Angie, I didn’t lie.’

  ‘You did about your job. How can you expect me to trust you? Did you give me this job because you felt bad for me? Is this all some game to you?’

  Nick had known from the start that she would think that, which was why he didn’t tell her about it right away. ‘I had nothing to do with hiring you.’

  Angie shook her head. ‘I don’t know what to believe, Nick.’

  ‘Believe me,’ he said, standing in front of her. ‘My dad set Ivy and me up on a date a few weeks ago.’

  Angie frowned, but he had to get it out.

  ‘By the end of the dinner, I had made it clear that we were only ever going to be friends. You are the person I want to be with.’

  ‘What about the park where Reese saw you?’

  ‘She brought me there to talk about a real estate deal her firm is interested in.’

  ‘And the kiss?’

  Nick sighed. ‘She kissed my cheek. Platonically.’

  ‘This is all so complicated. I didn’t even want to get in a relationship with someone so soon after coming home.’

  ‘I know that, Angie. But it all changed after we decorated the tree. I thought we were in this together. I thought it all changed.’

  She hesitated. Longer than he wanted. But if this was ending, he had to hear it from her. ‘Listen, I want to finish this station because I think it’s important. But I don’t want to see you anymore outside of work. After the New Year, I’m not going to be here anymore. I’m moving on.’

  ‘Everything else I told you was the truth,’ he said, not caring about the desperation in his voice. It couldn’t end like this.

  ‘Nick, coming home was temporary for me. Even if I believed you, this – whatever this was – isn’t meant to last. We should leave it alone.’

  Nick’s hands fell to his side as a weight settled on his shoulders. Angie’s anger rolled off her in waves. ‘I came here to apologize to you. I hope someday you will forgive me.’

  Angie stared into his eyes but said nothing.

  Nick took the hint and left. He thought she would have forgiven him after he explained himself. But she was right. She had no reason to trust him. The betrayal stung, just as much as his father’s.

  ***

  When he got back to work, Nick headed for his office with his shoulders forward and hands hidden in his pockets.

  ‘Nick,’ Maya said, standing up from her chair.

  Nick stopped, but he wasn’t going to talk about the night before. No doubt she had seen the confrontation with Angie and wanted to get all the juicy details.

  ‘I’m sorry about last night.’ Maya twisted her fingers together. A tic he had only seen once or twice when she was about to fire someone. She was nervous.

  ‘You didn’t do anything,’ he said.

  ‘I could have told them about Ivy,’ she said. ‘I’ve seen you two together. I know your father. I didn’t—’

  Nick raised a hand to cut her off. No one needed to blame themselves for his father’s mistakes.

  Maya leaned her arm on the edge of the cubicle. ‘What are you going to do?’

  ‘Honestly, I have no idea.’

  ‘You told Angie about Ivy, right?’

  ‘She doesn’t believe me.’

  Maya traced a finger over the top of the divider, avoiding his eyes. ‘From what I heard, some guy broke it off with her in California. What your father said probably didn’t help.’

  ‘I know,’ Nick repeated as a crawling sensation moved up his neck.

  ‘Give her time,’ Maya said. ‘If you like each other and are meant to be, it will work out.’

  Nick wasn’t so sure about that, but he appreciated the thought. He glanced at his father’s closed door down the hallway.

  ‘He’s with Mr Kent right now,’ Maya said.

  ‘Thanks for letting me know.’ Nick wasn’t ready to see Jared again. No doubt Quinn would talk about Nick and Ivy’s non-existent relationship and Nick didn’t have the energy to protest.

  For the rest of the day, Nick buried himself in work, dodging memories of him and Angie together. He didn’t even want to go home and see the shadow of her in every inch of his decorated apartment. He wished he could prove to her that he was the same person she had fallen for. The Nick she knew had been there all along, yet she still didn’t want him.

  It wasn’t until later that afternoon that Quinn and Jared left the confines of his office.

  ‘This is all going to work out perfectly,’ Jared said as they walked down the hallway together. ‘Once Ivy secures all the permits, we will be well on our way.’

  ‘It’s what we planned all along,’ Quinn said. ‘Well, a little different but we’re all ending up in the same place. Now if I could get Nick on board with Ivy, we can marry more than just our plans.’

  The mention of Nick’s name and the word ‘marry’ sent a blow to his chest, forcing him out of his chair.

  Quinn spotted him, and his smile faltered. But he knew how to mask his emotions. He said goodbye to Jared and walked into Nick’s office before closing the door behind him.

  ‘What was that about?’ Nick asked.

  ‘Can’t I spend time with an old friend?’ Quinn asked, crossing his arms.

  Nick wasn’t a fool. Quinn wanted to know how much Nick had heard. He wasn’t going to give up his hand, and neither was Nick.

  ‘You’re planning something with him.’

  ‘I thought you weren’t interested in the Kent family.’

  ‘Don’t play games with me. You were expecting me and Ivy to get married? That’s not happening. There isn’t a me and Ivy, Dad. There never was.’

  ‘What are you talking about? You two are getting closer by the day.’

  What reality did he live in? ‘No, we’re not.’

  Quinn shoved his hands in his pockets. ‘I can talk to her if you want.’

  ‘Absolutely not. I’m done with you interfering in my personal life. I don’t know what business deal you and Jared are cooking up, but I don’t want any part of it.’

  ‘Jared said you and Ivy discussed the development at the park,’ Quinn said.

  ‘Dad, we’ve been over this. She wanted to talk about business. It wasn’t a date.’ Though Reese had convinced Angie of the opposite.

  ‘Well, maybe she wanted to wait until you called her back on a date. She probably saw you and Angela at the lighting ceremony and thought you were with her. That’s over now, right?’

  Thanks to him. ‘This discussion is over. It’s not going to happen.’

  ‘If you give it a chance,’ Quinn almost pleaded with him. It was as if everythin
g he said about Ivy didn’t sink in. When it came to business, his father wore horse blinders.

  Nick wanted to prove to his father that he could be the man he wanted at work, but the rest of his life was off-limits. ‘I’m heading to lunch.’

  ‘Don’t screw this up for us.’

  Nick whirled around. ‘I’m not doing anything, Dad. I wish you would let me fall in love with whoever I wanted. You don’t want to lose two sons, do you?’

  Quinn’s frown pierced through him. Nick needed some time to think about his life, and he wasn’t going to get that in the office. He was done arguing for the day and pushed past his father as he left the room. ‘You can close the door on your way out.’

  Chapter 21

  Angie should have been sick of the limited options at the food court since she was there practically every day, but with a looming time limit on her employment at the mall she wanted to enjoy as much as she could of her hometown before she left again.

  With Nick showing up to her shift unannounced the day before, her mood suffered. She found herself searching the crowd for him. Today, she had the urge to dig into a plate of greasy comfort food. Angie stared at the pile of chicken tenders over a mountain of French fries. Usually, she ordered two meals for herself in case she saw Hazel.

  Angie was only a few bites into her meal when she spotted Hazel walking from the bathrooms. Edward was nowhere in sight, so she waved her over. Angie wasn’t sure if Hazel knew that the wrapping station was to raise money for the shelter, but she wanted to share the news. Throughout the event, there weren’t many times where people didn’t show up to get their presents wrapped. They raised enough money to reach their goal and Angie wanted to tell Hazel all about it.

  ‘I’ve been looking for you,’ Angie said. ‘How are you?’

  Hazel carried a ripped backpack and a heavy winter coat. Both items had seen better days, but at least Edward wouldn’t have an excuse to tell Hazel to leave if they shared lunch.

  ‘I’m doing good,’ Hazel said. ‘This is my favorite season. I love all the lights and the feeling of warmth around this time of year.’

  Angie raised an eyebrow.

  Hazel laughed a low, raspy chuckle. ‘Well, it’s not so warm outside. But you know what I mean.’

  ‘I do. Have you seen the flyers for the wrapping station?’

  ‘I’m afraid I don’t have any family to wrap presents for.’

  Angie reached across the table to touch her hand. ‘It’s for charity. I set it up.’

  ‘That’s lovely dear.’

  Angie smiled. ‘The money is for your shelter.’

  Hazel blinked. For a moment, Angie’s world slowed as if time stopped altogether.

  ‘All the money will go toward supplies and programs for the people staying there.’

  Hazel’s chin dropped to her chest, and her shoulders shook.

  ‘Are you all right?’ Angie had no idea if she had said something wrong.

  Hazel looked at Angie with tears in her eyes. ‘That is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.’

  ‘I wanted to help somehow.’

  ‘You have truly made a lot of people’s Christmas, Angela.’

  Angie wasn’t sure what to say, so she slid her tray between them. ‘I’m not sure I can eat all of this.’

  ‘Oh, I’m not sure,’ Hazel said, rubbing her midsection. ‘I’m on a diet.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Just kidding,’ Hazel said, grinning. She reached for a fry and popped it in her mouth.

  Angie sat back in her chair, letting Hazel take a few more pieces before she urged Angie to join in too.

  As they talked, a swell of pride moved through her. The station was going to help Hazel and the others using the shelter. Angie couldn’t have been prouder of taking a chance on a new venture. She didn’t want Christmas to end.

  ‘Tell me all about your holiday festivities. Did you see the tree lighting?’ Hazel asked.

  Angie told Hazel about the parties and events she went to, but left Nick completely out of it. Walls were already in place in her heart and she wasn’t ready to break them down yet.

  When there were only crumbs left on the plate, Angie sat back in her chair, wishing she could stay there for the rest of the day. She had work to do, though. Work that would get Hazel and others the resources they needed.

  Hazel sat up straighter and waved across the space.

  Angie turned around and locked eyes with Nick. He was in line at the Chinese food restaurant. He waggled his fingers at Hazel before stiffening at Angie’s gaze. Her insides twisted while at the same time, fluttering. Her body was as confused as her mind.

  ‘You know him?’ Angie asked.

  ‘Of course. That’s Nick. He’s the manager who allows me to use the facilities here. He’s so kind. He’s even bought me lunch a few times. That smile is hard to turn down.’

  Angie knew all about his disarming smile and his charm. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t put them together. Of course Nick was the manager who allowed Hazel to stay at the mall during the day. The idea made it harder for her to stay mad at him.

  Hazel gave her a knowing look. ‘You two know each other?’

  ‘We do.’ If Nick was allowing homeless people to come into the mall for warmth and a place to wash up, how could he be the same man who lied to her about a fiancée? Angie had been so wrapped up in her own life that she’d missed all the signs once again. Angie briefly explained what had happened with Nick; she felt Hazel might be able to help offer some perspective.

  ‘Well, I find around this time of year it’s easier not to hold a grudge. He’s a fine man, but everyone makes mistakes, am I right?’

  She was more than right, but Angie didn’t feel ready to admit it just yet. ‘I need to get back to work.’

  Hazel stood and hugged Angie. She had the same strong embrace as her mother. At that moment, it was what Angie needed. Her life had taken an unexpected turn in the last two days. All she wanted was to feel the warmth of someone.

  ‘Do you feel better?’ Hazel asked.

  ‘A little.’

  ‘It’s the least I can give for everything you’re doing for the shelter. I hope I will see you soon.’

  ‘You will,’ Angie promised before lifting her bag from the table.

  ‘I’ll take care of this,’ Hazel said, indicating the tray. ‘At least it will keep Edward off my back for a little while.’

  ‘I’ll tell him there are a group of kids on the other side of the mall causing trouble,’ Angie said with a smile. ‘That will keep him busy.’

  Hazel let out another one of her cackles.

  As Angie headed back to work, she looked for Nick in the food court, but he was gone.

  The conversation with Hazel rolled over in Angie’s mind as she fell into the soothing movement of wrapping presents. It was the last official day of the booth since Ginger planned to get the money to the shelter before Christmas so everyone could enjoy their holiday.

  Angie helped make the mall patron’s lives easier around Christmas, and it was for a good cause, but she couldn’t muster the holiday cheer she had a few days ago. It was easier to close herself off from Nick than dig into her feelings about him. Their fledgling relationship had ended at a point where they could have flourished.

  While she could have had one of the security guards or Stuart bring the money to the corporate office, Angie wanted to do it herself. As much as she told Nick she didn’t want to talk to him, after the conversation with Hazel, she was willing to give him another chance to explain himself. The outcome was as ominous as the gray clouds outside, but Hazel’s words about forgiveness around the holidays hit home with her.

  After her last customer, Angie stacked the supplies into the corner of the information booth and closed the front window. The other stores were locking up for the night, so she wasn’t going to bother with returning the supplies tonight. There were only a few rolls of wrapping paper left, but otherwise, they had used all the donated
supplies. A rush of pride surged through her as she counted the money and shoved it into a plain white envelope before sealing it with extra tape.

  At least as her personal life plummeted down a steep ravine, she was able to do some good.

  On the way to the corporate offices, Angie checked her phone. A slew of emails came through, and she spotted one from Emma. The subject line was in all capital letters, and the words stopped Angie in her tracks.

  JOB OFFER – READ ASAP – YOU GO, GIRL!

  Angie hadn’t set up any interviews with the potential hotels she’d applied to earlier in the month. But Emma had come through for her with a job which would use her skills. Her hands broke out in a sweat as she pressed the elevator button.

  Responding to the email would have to wait. Distractions would only prevent her from saying what she wanted to Nick. At the very least, she wanted to remain friends with him. They had shared a lot over the last month. Even though it was a whirlwind friendship-almost-relationship, she couldn’t let that go easily without getting all the information.

  Angie crossed her fingers as she ascended to the offices. If Nick was there, would he have time to talk to her? She could have texted him, but surprising him as he had her might give her the best chance to know if he was lying or not. At some point in her life, she was a good judge of character. Now, she wasn’t so sure.

  The elevator doors opened, and Angie’s heart pounded like twelve drummers drumming. It wasn’t the same fluttering feeling she’d had before the confrontation with Mr Bower, but it proved Nick still meant a lot to her. She wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or not. At this point, could they even make a friendship work?

  Angie took a deep breath to clear her mind and calm her nerves. She rounded the corner to Ginger’s office and knocked on the door. The older woman looked at her over her glasses. ‘Angela, come in.’

  ‘I have the final amount for you,’ Angie said, handing over the envelope.

  ‘Everyone in the office is so proud of this event,’ Ginger said. ‘The higher ups want us to revisit it next year. We have big plans for bringing in members of the community to volunteer. It’s all because of you. I hope you will be able to return and teach them your amazing wrapping methods.’