Sleigh Bells

by Fern Michaels

  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 calming 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, ‘TO EAGLE’S DEPARTMENT STORE: THE MOST INNOVATIVE STORE 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.”

  “Y
ou 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.

  The food vendors worked at breakneck speed to prepare food to be given to the drivers of the wagon trains. The coffee shop was almost out of coffee they were brewing by the gallon. And, one reporter put it, everything was free.

  The primary channels ran with the story on the six o’clock news, referring to the event—the wagon train, the freebies the mall was giving out, along with the camaraderie of the shoppers—as Marketing 101 at it’s best. By the time the eleven o’clock news came on, they were calling the wagon train a phenomenon. Within seconds the story flashed around the world via the Internet.

  It was midnight when Josh walked to the front door to relieve his father. When he saw Angus being interviewed by CBS News he stepped back to listen. He knew he was eavesdropping, but he didn’t care. The interview would play out in real time instantaneously.

  “Now, you listen to me, young fella. What you’re seeing out there is not about money or the bottom line. This is about people coming together to help each other. Those farmers and their wagons aren’t getting a penny for all their hard work. They’ve been out there bringing shoppers back and forth since early this morning. It’s Christmas, son, a time when people help each other. Every merchant in this mall is my friend and my competitor. I want to help them as much as I want to help myself. But more important, we don’t want to disappoint anyone and we want everyone to have a wonderful Christmas, especially the children.

  “Mother Nature served us a hard blow today, but we all pitched in and did whatever we could to save the holiday. There aren’t any shining stars here today. Everything is a group effort as you can see. You want a candy cane or a voucher for hot chocolate, young fella? It’s time for my break now, so I’ll be seeing you tomorrow. I don’t want to be interviewed anymore.”

  And that was the end of that.

  Josh grinned. “Guess you set them straight, huh?”

  “Son, I didn’t say anything but the truth. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m heading upstairs to that rocking chair that has my name on it.”

  “Dad…I…I need…”

  “No, you don’t need to say anything. We need to talk more, son. Here!” Angus said, shoving a candy cane into his son’s hand.

  Eva wrapped an afghan around Angus’s shoulders as he lowered himself gently into the padded rocking chair. A cup of hot chocolate found its way to his hand. “It’s been a heck of a day, Big Popper. I just saw your interview on TV. You were wonderful.” When he didn’t answer Eva realized Angus was already sound asleep, so she removed the cup of hot chocolate and drank it herself. As she rocked silently, she realized she had never felt more peaceful, more happy than she was feeling at that precise moment. She reached over to pat the Big Popper’s shoulder.

  Life was wonderful.

  Curled together with Josh in sleep in the gift wrap department, Angie stirred and bolted upright. “Josh, wake up! What about the horses?”

  “What? What about the horses? What time is it?”

  “They’ve been out there all day and night. That’s cruel. It’s six o’clock.”

  “No, no, no!” Josh said, sitting up. “Dad got the armory to donate the space. They’ve been rotating the horses. It’s warm in there. This is no Mickey Mouse operation, you know. My old man covered all the bases. Relax. Damn, my mouth feels like Dad’s pipe smells. Turn on the radio, Angie. I want to know how much snow is out there.” He knew he was babbling but couldn’t seem to stop.

  “Eighteen inches,” Angie said as she filled the coffeepot. “And it’s still snowing.”

  “I’m going out to the main floor to check on things, and I want to see how my father’s doing. I won’t be long. Do you want me to get you anything from the food court?”

  “A sticky bun would be nice, and a toothbrush.”

  Josh laughed as he unfolded his tired bones. Satisfied that his father and Eva were sound asleep in the rockers, he made his way to his office, where he went online to check out the headline news. He was astounded to see that the mall had made the front page of just about every newspaper in the country.

  The tiredness that seemed to have invaded Josh’s body suddenly washed away. His step was light, his mood upbeat as he made his way out to the mall. He picked up two toothbrushes, some toothpaste, four oven-hot sticky buns and four cups of coffee.

  Christmas Eve.

  Josh realized he no longer cared if the bottom line at closing was red or black. All that mattered were his neighbors, his business associates, all the volunteers, and, of course his family. He thanked God for all the people who had come to his aid.

  Singing “Jingle Bells” at the top of his lungs, Josh made his way to the second floor, where he handed out sticky buns and coffee to his father and Eva. He didn’t miss a beat as he turned around and headed back downstairs to see the love of his life.

  No doubt about it, Angie was the wind beneath his wings.

  His mouth full of toothpaste in the small lavatory off the gift wrap department, Josh bellowed, “Angie, the cottage people came through. We have to unpack the merchandise. I guarantee we’re going to be sold out before six tonight. We’ve been sending customers to other stores. All in the spirit of Christmas.”

  “I’ve been wrapping gifts for free. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Not one little bit,” Josh said, biting into the still-warm sticky bun. “We better get our tails in gear, there are people waiting in line for their packages to be gift wrapped. It’s just all so glorious. By the way, we made the front page of every newspaper in the country. We’re even on the pop-up when you turn on the computer.”

  “That’s great! Did they plow the parking lot?”

  “They tried but gave up. It’s still snowing, too. I have this suspicion we are going to be celebrating Christmas right here in the store.”

  Josh’s suspicions turned out to be on the money.

  The crowds at the mall started to thin out around four o’clock. By five there were just a few stragglers waiting to be picked up by one of the wagons.

  At five thirty the loud speaker in the mall exploded into sound. “Promptly at six thirty, cocktails, compliments of Stephens’ Liquors, will be served in the food court, followed by dinner, compliments of the vendors in the food court. One and all are invited to go caroling up and down the halls of the mall at eight o’clock. A silent midnight service will be held promptly at midnight. Sorry, folks,” the tinny baritone said, “there will be no gift exchange because there’s nothing left in the stores to exchange. Merry Christmas to one and all.”

  Holding hands, Josh and Angie walked to the front door of Eagle’s, where Angus was operating the mechanism that would secure the store for the night. Josh thought he had never seen his father so happy.

&nb
sp; “No more candy canes. Merry Christmas, son.”

  The pesky lump in his throat Josh thought was becoming permanent found its way to block his vocal cords once again. He wrapped his arms around his father and whispered. “Thanks for being my father. Merry Christmas, Dad.”

  Standing in front of the huge Christmas tree that dominated the middle of the floor was Eva, who held her arms out to her little family. “Merry Christmas!”

  Together, the Eagles and Bradfords walked out to the food court to a chorus of “Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!”

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  Copyright © 2020 by Kensington Publishing Corp.

  Comfort and Joy copyright © 2020 by Fern Michaels

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  ISBN: 978-1-4201-5291-3