“Just a couple of gifts for the two of you.”
“Oh, dear,” Pam said, sounding embarrassed. “I’m afraid I didn’t get anything for you.”
“Me, either,” Bill said.
Again, Judi felt her cheeks redden. “That’s okay. It’s no big deal,” she said, and passed around the gifts and the containers of cookies.
“Hey, my favorite,” Bill said after unwrapping the scotch.
“Oh, this scarf is lovely,” Pam said. It’ll go perfect with the coat Larry’s giving me for Christmas.”
“How do you know he’s giving you a coat?” Judi asked.
Pam giggled. “I peeked.”
“Thanks for the cookies. We’ve got a party to go to tonight. We’re supposed to bring something—this will be great.”
“But I made them just for you. I didn’t want you to have to share.”
“That’s okay. It’ll save Jean from fussing. You know how she gets.”
Judi and Pam shared a knowing look; they sure did.
The waiter arrived and asked for their orders. Since they’d neglected to tell him they had a third person joining them, there was no menu at Judi’s spot. Bill ordered for himself and passed his along to Judi. She glanced at it, but all too soon the waiter turned to her for her order. “I’ll have the chef’s salad with ranch dressing on the side.”
“Very good, madam,” said the waiter, and took the menu from her.
Bill had ordered the seared tuna, and Pam had ordered lobster—two of the most expensive items on the menu. “What the heck,” Pam had said. “It’s Christmastime.” She and Bill had a ordered a second round of drinks, but knowing she had to work late, Judi passed on ordering a glass of wine for herself.
All too soon, lunch was over and the check arrived. “Why don’t we just make it easy on ourselves and split it three ways,” Bill said.
“That sounds reasonable to me,” Pam agreed.
“Wait a minute. I didn’t have any drinks. And I only ordered a small salad.”
“Come on, Judi. It’s Christmas. Don’t be such a skinflint,” Pam said with a laugh.
Judi fought tears as she dug into her wallet to come up with her one-third share. She and Pam handed money to Bill, who promptly took out his credit card. “Since I told you a little about what I’m working on, I can put this on my expense account.”
“But that’s dishonest, Bill,” Judi pointed out.
“Get a life, kid,” he said, handing the waiter the leather folder with the check.
Judi looked at her watch. “I have to get going.” She shrugged into the sleeves of her coat, but this time didn’t offer her brother and sister a kiss. “Merry Christmas,” she said, and for the first time in her life did not mean the sentiment.
“Have a good Christmas,” Bill called to her back. Judi didn’t hear if Pam wished her a happy holiday.
Holiday Surprise
Judi got in her car, put the key in the ignition, and sat there for a long moment fighting tears. Who were those people she’d just spent ninety minutes with? They weren’t the siblings she’d known years ago. Bill had been her protector from the bullies at school. Pam had shared her lipsticks and given her tips on how to fix her hair and choose clothes. Now they were strangers who had their own lives to live and no time to share with her.
“Never again,” she declared. “Never again.”
The Barnett contract showed up much later than anyone anticipated. Judi kept busy, trying to clear off the work that had accumulated on her desk while she’d been out for lunch. She was yawning by the time the contract showed up by courier at nine o’clock, and her stomach growled with hunger. She’d assumed that Ted would order in some food for her and the other three people who’d been coerced into staying late, but while Ted had gone out for a bite, he hadn’t brought back a thing for his employees. Vending machine coffee and stale granola bars made a poor substitute for an evening meal.
Judi finally staggered into her apartment at midnight. By then she was so tired, she could barely keep her eyes open long enough to undress and climb under the covers and neglected to set her alarm for the next morning.
It was already light when she awoke, just forty-five minutes before she was expected at work. One quick shower later, she snatched her grab-bag gift and ran down the stairs and out of the building to her car with her hair still dripping. Luckily, it hadn’t snowed overnight, so she jumped right in her car and headed straight for work.
There was no way she could sneak in without being seen; all workers had to swipe their identification cards to enter the building, so Ted would know exactly what time she’d arrived.
No sooner had she hung up her coat, when Ted arrived at the opening to her cubicle. “You’re late,” he said.
“And after the hours I put in for you yesterday—without pay, I might add—I should think you could cut me some slack.”
“I’m only kidding,” Ted said, but she could tell that he wasn’t. “Don’t let it happen again.”
Judi fumed in silence.
The morning passed quickly, and all too soon, Carol stuck her head over the cubicle’s wall. “Time for the company Christmas party!” she called brightly. “Are you coming?”
“Yes. Just give me a minute to finish this.”
“Okay, but you don’t want to miss the food for the secret Santa.”
“Yeah, I sure don’t want that to happen,” Judi said without enthusiasm.
The company Christmas party was always the same. Management ordered cold cuts, several cold salads, a tray of cookies, and bottles of soda for the staff. Of course, they always seemed to underestimate the number of employees who were to show up. As Carol had predicted, most of the rolls and cold cuts had disappeared, leaving a few slices of cheese and half a bowl of coleslaw. Bah, humbug, Judi groused to herself.
She was about to leave the conference room when Carol tugged at her sleeve. “Did you bring your Secret Santa gift?”
“Yes. It’s already up there with the others.”
“Aren’t you going to wait to see what you get?”
“Last year’s gift was so exciting, I’m worried I might faint in anticipation.”
“Come on, Judi, don’t be such a spoilsport. I saved you a couple of cookies.” She handed Judi a napkin wrapped package.
Judi opened it to find two cut-out cookies. She took a bite from the top of a Christmas tree. Not as good as those she’d made for Bill and Pam, but not bad, either. “Thanks, Carol.”
“Now come on over and sit with me. This will be fun. You’ll see.”
Yeah. Fun.
They grabbed a couple of seats along the side of the conference room. The table was cleared of food, soiled napkins, dirty paper plates and cups, and the wrapped Secret Santa gifts were moved to take their place. Everyone reached into a hat and pulled out a number.
“The rules of the game are this: I’ll call a number and you’ll take your gift from the pile. But you can’t open it. Once everyone has their gift, we’ll collect the numbers and everyone will take another one from the hat. They can either keep their gift, or take one from someone else. We’ll have three rounds. Everybody got that?”
“Yes, Ted,” they all called out. Only Carol seemed to be particularly enthused about the game. Since the dollar amount of each gift was not to exceed a ten-dollar maximum, there wasn’t much to get excited about.
When Judi’s number was called, she was chagrined to find she’d received her own gift, which was certainly better than winning a Chia pet.
Soon all the numbers had been called. “And now the real fun begins,” Ted said.
The numbers were turned in and everyone got a different one. Surprisingly, Judi’s bottle of wine was the most coveted gift. It was swapped back and forth during that second round, and by the time the third round had begun, it was the most sought after gift.
“Last call,” Ted hollered over the boisterous chatter. “Number fourteen.”
Mike Fellows grabbed the pre
tty box—what Judi assumed to be filled with chocolates—and handed her an envelope. Great, she thought with ill humor, a ten-dollar gift certificate. She hoped it would at least be redeemable at the grocery store or gas station.
“Okay, everyone,” Ted called, “Open your gifts.”
Carol ripped the paper off her gift and groaned. “Oh, no. The Chia pet!”
“Hey, you thought it was a terrific gift when I got one last year,” Judi reminded her.
“At least I can re-gift it to one of the hooligans for Christmas. Open yours.”
“It’s just a card and a gift certificate. No big deal.”
“Come on, don’t be such a spoilsport.”
That made twice in one hour that Carol had accused Judi of being a spoilsport. It was becoming annoying.
“Oh, all right.” Judi slipped her finger under the end flap, ripping the envelope. She pulled out the card, which had a blue Christmas tree on the front. How apropos, she thought. She was sure to have a blue Christmas. A gift card fell from the card, landing on her lap. She opened the wrapping, read the card, and gasped.
“What is it,” Carol demanded.
“It’s—it’s—”
“Who got the all-expenses paid trip to Puerto Rico?” Ted asked.
“Judi got it—Judi got it!” Carol screamed hysterically. She couldn’t have been more excited if she’d won the prize herself.
“Good for you, Judi. There’s just one catch. You have to redeem the trip before the end of the year.”
“I—I—” Judi stammered.
“Don’t worry about taking vacation without scheduling it months in advance. Carol can take on your work while you’re gone.”
“Hey,” Carol protested, but Judi wasn’t listening. She was still in shock at winning such a wonderful prize. Meanwhile, all Judi’s colleagues glared at her, especially the ones who had passed on the envelope for something they figured had greater value.
“Is it a trip for two?” Carol demanded. “You could take me with you.”
“Would you really want to leave Larry and the hooligans at Christmastime?”
“In a heartbeat,” Carol said, but then reality seemed to sink in. “They’d hate me if I did.”
Ted clapped his hands. “Back to work everyone.”
Those already on their feet shuffled through the conference room door, heading for their cubicles. Carol grabbed the last cookie from the tray and followed the rest.
Judi looked up to see Ted towering above her. “I’m glad you won, Judi. I know I come off like a beast at times, but that’s my job—to keep everyone working hard and motivated. You’re our hardest worker and never complain.”
Judi said nothing, wishing they would have rewarded her with a raise, not just an impractical trip. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Get on the phone to our travel department and have Irma get you on a flight after Christmas.”
“Do I have to wait that long?”
“You want to be in Puerto Rico on Christmas Day?” Ted asked, sounding confused.
“Why not? I was only going to spend the day alone at home, anyway.”
“That’s even better, since we’ll be shut down for a few days for the holiday. It’s a win-win situation.”
Judi looked down at the gift card and allowed herself a smile. Being in Puerto Rico alone had to be better than being snubbed by her own family.
“Thanks, Ted. I think I’ll talk to Irma now.”
Holiday Adventure For One
It can’t be real, Judi said to herself as she headed for Irma’s office. She took care of the travel arrangements whenever any of the lawyers required a flight out of Cleveland, or even when they were traveling for non-work destinations, which seemed to happen all too often. Of course, Irma hadn’t been at the Christmas party. No one from the upper floors mixed with the worker bees below.
Irma sat at her desk with a spreadsheet plastered across her twenty-seven inch monitor. She looked up. “Can I help you?” she asked politely, but rather coldly.
Irma was not the most friendly person on staff, but neither was she feared or avoided.
“I’ve just come from the Christmas party.”
“You won the trip to Puerto Rico?”
“Yes. I don’t remember anyone ever winning a prize like that in the Secret Santa.”
“And you probably won’t ever again. Mr. Rogers found he couldn’t take the trip after all, and if the tickets weren’t used, they wouldn’t be refunded.”
“That’s okay with me,” Judi said, trying not to feel like an afterthought. She’d spent most of her life feeling that way. “How can they be used by anyone other than Mr. Rogers?”
“They were bought in the firm’s name. You’ll have to show your company ID when you get to the airport on Saturday. “
“But Ted said the tickets had be used by the end of the year.”
“They do. And they’re for the ten o’clock flight on Saturday morning. Is there a problem with that?”
“Not at all.”
“Swing by my office tomorrow before you leave work, and I’ll give you the tickets and have the other vouchers ready for you.”
“Thanks.”
Saturday morning rolled around and Judi drove to the airport in plenty of time to get through security. Carol had offered to drive her, but she’d declined the invitation. Every time she’d spoken to her the previous day, Carol had delivered one nasty zinger after another. Of course she was jealous, but did she have to take it out on Judi? There was no way she could have used the trip, so why be so snarky?
Judi left her car in the long-term parking lot and headed for the terminal. The whole idea of the trip seemed unreal, and she felt excitement building within her.
The flight was bumpy, and a toddler two rows ahead of her whined or cried the entire way. Judi pushed the earbuds further into her ears and tried to ignore it, fixing her attention on the novel on her e-reader.
When the plane finally landed, Judi was one of the last people off. She walked through the terminal, found her luggage, and stepped outside to hail a cab. The sun beat down on everything, but the breeze was balmy, so unlike Cleveland in December.
The cab driver was a chatterbox, telling Judi all the places she ought to see while on the island. She might … but more likely she’d sit on the beach and read, read, read for relaxation.
The first disappointment arrived at the hotel. The suite that was referenced on the paperwork Irma had given her had been downgraded to a single room. That was okay, she thought, until she got to the room. The window overlooked the high rise next door, and the full-sized mattress was lumpy. It’s free, it’s all free, she kept telling herself. But it wasn’t all-expenses paid after all. She’d still have to pay for her food. Unlike the big boss, she wasn’t a partner in the firm traveling on business. No deductions for her. Still, she changed into her swimsuit and her coverall and headed for the beach.
The hotel was situated right on the shore with a large pool available for its guests, complete with piles of towels and lounge chairs, all of which seemed to be taken. Judi grabbed a couple of towels and continued on her way.
The white sands of Puerto Rico were certainly inviting and the beach was packed full of sunburned tourists. Children splashed and dodged the waves, squealing with delight. Judi walked down the beach until she found a less popular spot.
She continued reading the delicious romance novel she’d started on the plane, finishing it as the sun began to sink into the ocean. The beach had emptied and she brushed the sand from her legs before heading back to the hotel for dinner. After changing, she headed down to the hotel’s restaurant, but the prices were way out of her league. She visited the front desk.
“Are there any modestly priced restaurants within walking distance?”
There weren’t.
So, back to the restaurant she went, ordering an appetizer and a glass of water. It would have to do. And what was she going to do for breakfast and lunch on Christm
as day? She sat all alone at her table, trying not to feel jealous of the well-dressed women accompanied by handsome men who occupied the nearby tables. It was then she realized she was truly alone on Christmas Eve. If she’d been home, she might have gone to church. If she were home, she might have gone to the movies. If she were home, she’d have gone to visit her parents’ graves.
After finishing her dinner, she took out her e-reader and sat in the lobby. A beautiful tree had been erected, covered with tiny white lights and green and gold ribbons, but somehow the sight made her feel lonelier still. Why had she ever agreed to take this vacation alone? She’d never traveled by herself. It was supposed to be an adventure, but adventures, she discovered, were more enjoyable when you had someone to share them with.
A Holiday Wish Comes True
Judi slept in on Christmas morning. After all, she had nothing planned. A continental breakfast spread filled the lobby bar, and Judi chose a muffin and coffee, and was shocked to pay over $10 for the pleasure. She looked on the bright side: perhaps she’d lose weight while on vacation.
Although the sky was overcast, she donned her bathing suit and passed the pool, already filled with screaming children, and headed for the beach. Merry Christmas, she told herself, finding the beach nearly empty. She settled down on the sand, switched on her e-reader only to find the battery was spent. Was that an omen of things to come?
Judi pulled her knees to her chest and fought the urge to cry. Never had she felt so alone. Even the crystal blue water brought her no pleasure.
It must be your own fault you’re alone, she berated herself. While taking care of her parents’ needs for so long, she’d totally neglected taking care of herself. Most of her friends were married with children and too busy to worry about a forty-year old single woman. She considered herself attractive, but her dating skills were terribly rusty. Would she even know how to talk to a man? What did that say about her as a person? That she was totally unlovable? So unlovable even her own family would abandon her during the holidays?
Judi picked up a handful of sand and let it trickle through her fingers. Like sands in an hourglass … her time on the planet was trickling away. She dusted her hands off, hugged her knees and looked out over the ocean once again.
A Very Romantic Christmas Page 2
