Merry and Bright

by Debbie Macomber

  Speed-walking toward his condo building, Jayson stopped off at the Corner Deli, where he collected a pastrami sandwich for his dinner along with a mixed green salad. He was a regular patron and was greeted by name by the owner.

  “Hey, Jayson.”

  “Cyrus,” Jayson responded, but he had no time for small talk.

  Jayson walked past the woman ringing the bell for the red bucket, collecting for charity. He gave at the office. As he neared his condo, he noticed a homeless man had set up his bed for the night against the side of the building where Jayson lived. Much more of this and property values would be affected. Not good.

  He pointed out the homeless guy to the doorman. “See what you can do about that,” he instructed.

  “Will do.”

  Peter, the evening doorman, was looking for a Christmas bonus. Jayson was one who appreciated excellent service and rewarded it generously. He was heading for the elevator that would take him to his condo when his phone pinged, indicating he had gotten a text.

  While he waited, he reached for his phone. For one wild moment, he thought it might be Merry, then realized that would be impossible, as she didn’t have his personal number. Only a select few did.

  The text was from his father.

  In town.

  Jayson groaned. That meant Alex Bright was going to want to see him. Jayson had no desire to connect with him. He ignored the text and shoved his phone back into his suit jacket as the elevator arrived.

  As he entered his condo, his phone rang. Irritated by now, he grabbed it and saw his father’s face appear on the screen. Tightening his jaw, he was inclined to let the call go to voice mail. It would do no good, though. Knowing how persistent Alex could be, delaying the inevitable would serve no useful purpose.

  “Yes,” Jayson answered, revealing no warmth or welcome.

  “Is that any way to speak to your father?”

  “How long are you going to be in town?” he asked Alex, avoiding his father’s remark. If it was up to him he would gladly cut off all ties with both parents. Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option, because his uncle was his mother’s brother, as well as his father’s best friend. All he could do was maintain a safe distance from their toxic lives.

  “I came to see you,” his father insisted.

  “I’m busy.” Jayson made sure he was always busy when either parent was in town.

  “How about dinner tonight?”

  “I have a date.” A slight exaggeration, as his date consisted of messaging Merry. He was determined not to give up this one small pleasure because his father just happened to be in town.

  “A date,” his father repeated slowly. “That’s wonderful. Bring her along.”

  “No thanks.” If he did have an actual dinner date, no doubt his father would spend the entire evening flirting with her. No way. Not happening. The thought of Merry meeting his father made him cringe.

  “You serious about this girl?”

  Jayson hated these conversations. “Maybe.” He was elusive, as that worked best with his father. The less either parent knew of his personal life, the better.

  “It’s time you thought about marriage,” his father advised, as if Jayson would listen to any marital advice from the man who had sported four wives and an equal number of stepchildren, although Jayson was his only son.

  “Perhaps,” he replied, hoping that would satisfy his father.

  “This girl you’re seeing. Is she the one?”

  It seemed Alex wasn’t going to willingly drop the subject. “It’s too early to tell.”

  “But you like her.”

  “I wouldn’t be dating her if I didn’t.” He did like Merry. She interested him more than any woman he’d known to this point. The anonymity between them suited him and his purposes for now. One day they would meet, and most likely it’d be relatively soon. At this point, however, he was content with their messaging. Which reminded him…

  Jayson glanced at his wrist. “I need to go.”

  “Not before we set a time to get together.”

  “Tomorrow.” He would agree to just about anything if it meant he could get off the phone.

  “Good. Dinner tomorrow. Don’t disappoint me the way you have the last two times I’ve been in town.”

  Jayson had used several convenient excuses to get out of seeing his father. Meals with Alex could drag on for hours. Besides, it was highly probable that his father was romantically involved with some poor, unsuspecting woman who had no clue what she was getting herself into, and his dad usually brought her along. Jayson wanted no part of that.

  This was a pattern. His father, showing his age now, would use younger women to boost his ego. In a sad attempt to prove what a fine catch he was, he would involve Jayson. Having a successful, handsome son was a credit to him.

  “Make it lunch,” Jayson suggested. “I have a date tomorrow night as well.”

  “Same girl?”

  “Don’t know yet.”

  He heard his father’s sigh. “It’s time to stop playing the field, Jayson. Find the right woman and settle down.”

  This was an interesting tip, coming from his father.

  “Yes. You’re getting to the age when the right marriage to the right woman can be an asset to your career. Take my advice, find a woman who will look good on your arm and provide the right kind of business connections.”

  “I’ll do that,” he said, trying his best to hide his sarcasm. Then, unable to resist, he added, “Especially since marrying for money and connection has made you so happy and successful.”

  His father ignored the slight. “See you tomorrow.”

  Eager to get off the phone, he quickly agreed to a time and restaurant. Jayson ended the call without bidding his father farewell. Good riddance. He didn’t know how long Alex Bright intended to stay in town. Hopefully it wouldn’t be for long. Here today. Gone tomorrow. That was what he remembered about his father from his childhood.

  Anxious now to get online with Merry, he went into his home office and logged on to the Mix & Mingle website and waited for Merry to do the same. In his rush, he’d left his dinner downstairs. He returned to the lobby to retrieve it, collecting a plate and fork in his kitchen along the way. He took everything into his home office with him.

  As he began eating, he remembered seeing the data-entry temp eating her lunch at her desk and how it had annoyed him. He’d frowned upon the practice, and yet here he was doing the same thing. In retrospect, he should have commended her for being committed to her work. Too late now. The memo had already been issued. No eating at one’s desk.

  His computer dinged, indicating that Merry was online. Right away he started typing.

  Wonder what it means that we’re both home on a Friday night? he wrote.

  Jayson thought about his dad in a downtown motel. Likely he was living it up, drinking too much and working hard to impress his latest conquest.

  It says a lot, doesn’t it? Merry typed.

  Thing is, I wouldn’t want to be anyplace else than right here, right now, chatting with you.

  Are you sweet-talking me?

  And if I was?

  Then keep talking.

  Jayson leaned back in his chair and smiled. He’d smiled more in the last week than he had in the last year, and it was all due to Merry. Involved as he was in this current work project, he hadn’t realized how lonely he’d become.

  Hope your day was good, Jay.

  Kept looking at the clock, wondering how long it would be before we could chat. He wasn’t sure he should admit this, but he did it anyway.

  I did the same thing. My life is busy. I assumed there wasn’t room for anything or anyone else, and then I connected with you, and, well…

  Well what?

  I’m not sure I should admit this.

  Tell me.

  My life is full and yet it’s empty. I assumed all this time that I was content, but talking to you has proven that there’s a part of me that hungers for an emotional
connection. When I learned that Patrick and my mother had signed me up for Mix & Mingle, I brushed it off as something I didn’t need or want. Messaging with you has opened my eyes.

  Jayson read her note twice before he replied. Mine, too.

  My friends are skeptical.

  You mean because we haven’t set a time to meet?

  Yes.

  Is that what you want?

  He waited several moments for her reply as if she was mulling over her answer. It could be she was typing a lengthy reply, too.

  Yes but not yet. Would you mind if we waited awhile longer? I’m finding just talking to you online is enough for now. It gives us both a chance to feel comfortable with each other.

  Are you afraid meeting me will disappoint you?

  Not at all. But I’d feel more comfortable about setting a time once I got to know more about you. It’s more important to know who you are deep inside than what you look like. Besides, I have a small problem.

  What kind of problem?

  I’m working long hours now and have family obligations. And it’s getting close to Christmas and I have a zillion things I need to do.

  Like?

  Baking. Mom, Patrick, and I bake for friends and family. It’s our gift. Mom takes the baked goods to her friends whose MS is more advanced than her own. Then there’s all the wonderful people in our lives who help us. Giving them something we’ve baked ourselves is our way of letting them know how grateful we are for what they do.

  Service people?

  Yes, but they’re friends, too.

  Like who?

  There’s a visiting home health aide who comes in and helps Mom two days a week, the postman, the newspaper boy, the teacher at Patrick’s school. Those kinds of people.

  In all his life, Jayson had never thought to gift anyone other than his doorman, and he did that with cash. Totally impersonal. Easier for sure. Merry and her family gave of themselves. This was a completely foreign idea that left him wondering if this was something other families did.

  Without Mix & Mingle, he would never have had the chance to meet someone like Merry. To be fair, he might have met her, but he wouldn’t have given her a second thought. It made him aware of how narrow-minded he’d been when it came to his dating options, and what had been important to him in a woman.

  He wanted to tell her about his father’s visit and get her opinion.

  Don’t mind waiting to meet you. I’m busy with work, too. Plus, my father is in town. Not happy about that.

  You don’t get along with your father?

  Not particularly. He didn’t have much to do with me when I was younger and now he wants a relationship. Far as I’m concerned, I’m not interested.

  Better late than never.

  Thought you’d say that. From what he knew of Merry and her family, he wouldn’t have expected anything less.

  I love my dad.

  He grinned, not surprised. You’re lucky to have a decent father.

  I agree. You might want to give your own dad another shot. Perhaps he’s looking for a second chance with his son.

  Don’t think that will work.

  It won’t if you don’t try.

  I’ll think about it.

  From Merry’s profile, Jayson knew she was in her mid-twenties. He had to wonder how it was that a woman this young could be so wise.

  They typed back and forth for two hours. It was only when Merry had to leave to pick up her brother from his job at the Kroger grocery store that she needed to close. Otherwise, Jayson was convinced they could have continued into the wee hours of the morning.

  After they’d logged off, he thought about what Merry had written about her father, who sacrificed and supported her family. Jayson considered his own father to be a failure on every level. He’d been a cheating husband; a piss-poor father; a shrewd, heartless businessman; and, for the most part, a lousy friend.

  Jayson could count on his right hand the number of times his father had taken advantage of his visitation rights and spent time with Jayson. For all of Jayson’s life, Alex Bright had considered his son a nuisance who was best ignored in the hopes that he would go away.

  —

  The following afternoon, father and son met in the dining room of the best steakhouse in town. Alex came alone, which was a surprise. Jayson noticed that his father had added on a few pounds around his middle, which told him the older man’s lifestyle was catching up with him fast.

  Alex Bright grinned and slapped Jayson across the back. “I’m glad you could squeeze me into your tight dating schedule.”

  Jayson slid into the plush steakhouse booth. “Like father, like son.”

  His father laughed and took the seat across from him. “So tell me, how is it you found time to meet me for lunch? I figured you’d cancel again.”

  That was the million-dollar question. Jayson released a long, slow sigh as he considered his answer.

  “A friend said something that made me reconsider.”

  “A friend? What did he say?”

  “She.”

  His father arched his brows. “What did she say? Don’t suppose it happens to be that girl you’re dating.”

  Jayson preferred to leave the answer to speculation and ignored the question. “She said I should give you a chance. So, Dad, this is your chance.”

  Alex’s eyes widened and, flustered now, he reached for the menu and avoided eye contact. “Thank her for me,” he murmured.

  Jayson stared at his father for a long time, not knowing what to think.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Merry

  Merry spent the entire weekend decorating the house for Christmas. Shopping for the perfect Christmas tree had always been a family tradition. Patrick got so excited that once they reached the Christmas tree lot, he bounced from tree to tree like a jackrabbit, extolling the virtues of each one. Her brother simply loved the holiday season and was never happier than he was in the weeks leading up to Christmas morning.

  It took hours to get the chosen tree home, up, and decorated. Christmas music played in the background as they strung the lights and added their special ornaments, many of which Patrick had made over the years. There were more than a few of her own. It was truly a Charlie Brown tree except when it came to the ornaments, but Merry loved that her mother had kept them and insisted on using them year after year.

  On Sunday following church, Merry and her mother baked cookies, and Patrick decorated the eggnog cookies with frosting and sprinkles. While Merry was busy placing the cutouts on the cookie sheets, her thoughts drifted toward Jay.

  During last night’s chat, Jay shared that he’d gone to lunch with his father, and apparently their visit together had gone relatively well. Not great. But better than Jay had expected. It sounded like father and son would never be “buddy-buddy,” but they’d been able to have a decent conversation about each other’s lives.

  Merry had shared that she was going to spend Sunday afternoon baking cookies. Jay told her he couldn’t remember the last time he’d tasted homemade cookies. Merry wanted in the worst way to give him a box and decided that when they met for the first time, she’d bring him a batch.

  —

  Monday morning, Merry arrived at the office thirty minutes early. Once there, she set up a tiny flower pot–size Christmas tree on the corner of her desk. Then she looped a silver garland around three sides of each office desk and hung glass ornaments strategically on each garland. When she finished, she stepped back to examine her work and felt good about what she’d accomplished. These few decorations added a bit of holiday cheer to their small department and brightened the area. They’d all been working extra-hard, putting in countless hours of overtime. This was her way of adding a little fun to their day and acknowledging the season.

  Lauren was the first to arrive, and when she saw Merry’s handiwork, her eyes lit up. “Cool.”

  “You like it?”

  “Love it. I’ve been feeling down lately. It seems like I can’
t keep up with everything. This mandatory overtime is killing me.”

  Kylie added her voice to Lauren’s once she arrived. “Me, too.” When she saw the decorations Merry had arranged around each of their desks, she clapped her hands. “This is great.”

  “I downloaded a few Christmas songs, too. Thought we could softly play those while we work.”

  “Super.”

  Kylie grinned. “I adore Christmas music.”

  “Just don’t be tempted to sing along,” Merry advised. “Someone might hear.” By someone, she meant their annoying boss. Even a hint that they might be enjoying themselves was sure to upset him. It was all work, work, work for Bright. The man was a real Grinch.

  “Mr. Bright,” Kylie said, ending with a moan of displeasure.

  “He doesn’t know the meaning of the word fun.” Merry struggled with negative feelings when it came to her boss. He looked like he was in a perpetual bad mood. His entire focus was on the business, as if this job was the meaning of life.

  Merry knew this current project was important to the company and the reports had to be in before Christmas. She also understood that Mr. Bright held hope that if the report proved useful, the aircraft company would become a major client. Then Matterson Consulting would be able to expand and add more offices, and thus accumulate a higher profit. To Merry’s way of thinking, bigger wasn’t always better, but no one had sought out her opinion, least of all her boss.

  They started work, typing in the data, listening to the Christmas carols as their fingers tapped against the computer keys. It was the best Monday Merry could remember having in weeks. Even knowing her workday would last for a long ten hours, her mood was good.

  She thought about Jay and was eager to chat with him that evening. They hadn’t been online nearly as long Sunday night as they had been earlier in the weekend because both had to be at work early on Monday. For her part Merry was tired from all the decorating and baking. Her weekend had been full of family activities.