The Christmas List

by Dixie Jo Jarchow

  Mandy smiled and then frowned. Was there truth in what he said? Was she playing at being an accountant? He might be right. She spent so much time in the shop that getting her accounting business running was proving tough. The glow from being with Max dissipated as she walked through the store. He was weird, but it was nice that her first client besides Jennifer had money to pay. She put Max’s statements on hold and spent the rest of the day waiting on customers and getting ready for Jennifer’s end of the year inventory.

  Jennifer was busy, too, so they had no time to talk while all the customers came and went.

  After Jennifer closed the store, Mandy stayed late to research building a clientele. When she trudged home an hour later, Jennifer was in the hall coming back from the garbage chute.

  “Hey, long time no see. How did your client meeting go?” Jennifer asked.

  “Good, no great. He’s a keeper.”

  “It’s that smile, I knew it,” Jennifer nodded.

  “Not that way. He’s a good second client for me to branch out to, even if he is a little weird.”

  “What do you mean weird?” Jennifer followed Mandy into her apartment.

  “Like head-in-the-clouds artist weird. He had just two receipts for the year.”

  “We have more than that in a day. Want some coffee?”

  “No, it will keep me up all night.”

  “Live a little,” said Jennifer but she poured herself a glass of water. “Tell me about the weirdo.”

  “He’s an up-and-coming artist. He got paid for his first sculpture, some metal thingy in front of a building. It sounds as if he’s on the verge of taking off. I think I can help him, you know, set him up with some retirement accounts and age appropriate stocks.”

  “He’s a project? Like that guy you got through statistics?”

  “I’ll help him get set and take a modest 1.5 percent off the top.” She smiled.

  “And an empire is born.” Jennifer raised her glass of water in a toast.

  “A small empire, with quality customer service and a varied clientele.” Mandy raised a pretend glass.

  6

  The next morning, Mandy jumped every time the door opened, but Max never showed. She and Jennifer ate lunch in the tiny break room.

  “I can’t believe he didn’t show up,” Mandy cut up her chicken with more enthusiasm than required.

  “I’m not surprised. He seemed kind of flighty.”

  “Do you think I scared him? I can be kind of intimidating.”

  “You, intimidating? No, he probably just forgot.”

  “I’m holding this guy’s future in my hands and he just ‘forgot’?”

  “He’s an artist. Many are irresponsible by nature.”

  “My empire needs to be built on more responsible customers,” muttered Mandy. “I looked at some resources for building a business. I think I need a small media campaign.”

  “A media campaign? Let’s do one for the stores at the same time,” Jennifer opened a drawer, sliding back her chair. “Do we want to start with a budget or timeline?”

  “I think we should brainstorm first, and then research which ideas will give us the most customers for both the store and my business. They probably aren’t the same customer base.”

  “Oh, a Venn diagram, my favorite. This list is things to do for accounting, and this one is things for fashionistas. Then, we’ll see if any cross over so we can save some money.” Jennifer handed Mandy a piece of paper.

  Mandy set a timer on her watch for five minutes.

  Then they both wrote down ideas. When the tiny bell chimed, they compared lists.

  “TV? I hadn’t thought of that,” said Mandy.

  “Radio, too. I think a lot of businesses might have it on in the background during the day or driving around to customers.”

  “Good thought. Do we do our own commercials? I detest those ones where the kids sing.” Jennifer made a face.

  “Agreed. I think you have a pretty good voice. If you did them, we could save some money.”

  “I’d be willing to try. We have to write out the scripts though. How about postcards?” asked Jennifer.

  “Have you ever bought anything based on someone sending you a postcard?”

  “I see your point.”

  “Anyone here?” Max’s voice floated back to them.

  Mandy dropped her pencil on the desk.

  “Easy girl. Future client,” said Jennifer.

  Mandy took a deep calming breath and smiled.

  “Better. Go get him, kiddo.”

  Mandy went out to the main store. “Hey, I thought we were meeting this morning.”

  “It’s still morning, kind of.” At her look, he amended it. “OK, late morning. How’s my lovely Mandy today?”

  “I’m fine. Fortunately, I didn’t spend a lot of time waiting for you. Haven’t you ever heard time is money?”

  “Yes, I think I have, but time is just time. It’s an abstract. Time moves slowly when we look ahead and flies by when we reflect.”

  “I thought we were finalizing your taxes today, not talking philosophy.”

  “Let’s do that. Then I have another adventure for us, if you’d like to be involved.”

  “What’s that?” Mandy looked over her glasses at him.

  “Taxes first, then our next adventure.” Max turned her gently back towards her office and kept his arm around her shoulder.

  The heat came through her sweater. The man was always warm. Would his enthusiasm burn out one day?

  She pulled up the electronic paperwork she’d completed. There were a couple of forms to sign, and then she sent his tax return winging off into cyberspace. “Done. What’s our next adventure?”

  “It was that easy? You just pushed a couple of buttons, and it’s done?”

  “I could make it seem more complicated but then I would have to bill you more,” she told him.

  “No. I’m still impressed. I couldn’t have done that. We should go celebrate. How about dinner?”

  Mandy looked at her watch. “It’s only one o’clock. I just finished lunch.”

  “Ice cream! Yum. I haven’t had ice cream in ages. Hey, Jennifer, do you want to go for ice cream? My treat.”

  “No, I’ll stay here at the store.” Jennifer’s eyes twinkled.

  “We could bring you back something.”

  “Bowl of chocolate, two scoops.”

  “Well, now we have to go,” Max told Mandy as he pulled her up from her chair.

  “If I go, will you tell me what the big adventure is?”

  “Absolutely. You’re part of it, an integral part. I cannot do it without your help.”

  Mandy rolled her eyes at Jennifer. “We’ll be back soon.” She grabbed her coat. She struggled for the sleeve until she realized Max was holding it for her. She looked back. For once, his expression was serious. A woman could swim in those blue eyes forever.

  It was biting frigid but sunny and they walked two blocks over to a strip mall with an ice cream shop.

  “I’ll have the vanilla bean and orange sherbet.” Mandy chose her favorites.

  “And I’ll have the butter pecan and chocolate. And I’ll need two scoops of chocolate to go, please.” Max cast a sunny grin at Mandy. “I think a person’s choice of ice cream says a lot about their personalities. Take you for example, vanilla bean signifies a return to old fashioned values. The orange sherbet speaks to the hidden whimsical side.”

  “I’m pretty sure I don’t have a hidden whimsical side. I’m an accountant through and through. I used to set up lines of credit for my dolls. My most prized toy was my cash register. What does butter pecan and chocolate mean?”

  “The butter pecan is the variety of life, it has the caramel and the rich nuts blended into a buttery type of vanilla. Then the chocolate. The chocolate is the richness of life as well as acceptance of it in all its forms.”

  “Whew! You sure read a lot into a person’s ice cream.”

  “You just have to be op
en to the signs.”

  “Signs? That sounds spooky.”

  “Not at all. Signs from God come to us all the time. We just aren’t open to them.”

  “God is speaking to me through ice cream?”

  “Just as a metaphor. I don’t think the ice cream is really a sign of anything but a person’s cravings. On a serious note, I truly do believe that people place too much reliance in the things of the world and not enough in God providing. What do you think?” He smiled and waited, eating his ice cream.

  Mandy wasn’t sure she could do anything other than watch his mouth move. It was a good mouth, soft, with curves always tilted up in a smile. “Well, of course, I believe in God,” she managed to say after a telling pause.

  “Enough to let Him be in the driver’s seat? I let God drive, and I follow wherever He leads. You should try it; it’s occasionally terrifying, but it gives me contentment.”

  “Aren’t we supposed to get ice cream for Jennifer?” Why did talking about God bother her so much? She wasn’t a heathen. It was just so personal. Mandy prided herself on keeping to herself and working hard. Her church attendance wasn’t as good as it could be but she still believed.

  Max went back to the counter to pick up the carton of ice cream to go, and held the door for her as they walked back outdoors.

  The ice crystals sparkled like diamonds across the road.

  “Here, let me take your arm, I don’t want you to slip.” Max held out an elbow.

  Mandy walked back to the store on Max’s arm.

  He was uncharacteristically silent as they walked, but a sense of calm emanated from him. Was he the village idiot hoping everything turned out all right or was he the impoverished wise man who relied on his faith to get him through life? Was one better than the other?

  He delivered the dessert to Jennifer and said goodbye.

  “Wait. Aren’t we discussing our big adventure?”

  “I think tomorrow would be better. You seem very reflective, and that’s not the best time to take on a new project. I’ll stop by tomorrow or the next day. Take care, ladies.” He whipped his scarf dramatically across his neck and left.

  “He’s a live wire,” Jennifer stared out the window at his leave-taking.

  “I just don’t know what to think about that man. He’s very strange.”

  “But interesting?” Hope stirred Jennifer’s voice.

  “More like odd. He requires a lot of thought.”

  “Really? He seems kind of spur of the moment to me. Like any way the wind blows. It’s refreshing to have someone who doesn’t move in lock step with everyone else.”

  “He’s a lot like you, Jennifer, which is probably what fascinates me about him.”

  “Oh, so now we’re fascinated, are we?” Jennifer straightened a pile of tops on the counter.

  “So fascinated I need to reflect on it.”

  “Any idea what this new project is?”

  “No, and with Max, who knows? I’ll find out tomorrow when I’ve had time to reflect.”

  “But what do you think it is? Any hints?”

  “Not a one. I’m not even sure I want to know. Some things are best left undisturbed, like a cursed mummy. Hey, speaking of that, how about a mummy movie tonight?”

  “My place? I could go for that with popcorn.”

  “Black & white version? Deal. I have salad stuff in my fridge and then we can have popcorn.”

  “It’s a date.”

  7

  Mandy waited for Max the next day with more excitement than she wanted anyone to know. When he didn’t show, her heart sank, and tears threatened. She pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth to hold them back, a tip she’d read on one of those life hack lists.

  “So no Max today, huh?” Jennifer popped her head into the office.

  “No, probably for the best,” Mandy played another card in her Solitaire match on the computer.

  “We could distract you by making an action list for our media blitz.”

  “Yeah, I’m just kind of tired today. Maybe I’ll knock off early. I can’t even win at Solitaire today.” She picked up her purse and pulled on the heavy winter coat.

  “He’ll be by tomorrow.” Jennifer said wrapping her arm around Mandy’s shoulders.

  “That’s not the problem. I’m just tired,” Mandy protested.

  “You jump up and check the front every time the bell over the door dings,” Jennifer pointed out.

  Mandy chose not to respond to that, waving bye as she went out the door and headed for home.

  

  The next morning, Max was waiting at the store entrance with three fragrant coffees and a bag of pastries. “I almost froze my toes off waiting for you ladies,” He said with a gorgeous smile.

  Something in Mandy’s stomach flipped. She would forgive this man anything. His lips were tinged pink from the cold and she longed to kiss them warm.

  Jennifer unlocked the door and Mandy held the door open for him.

  “We’re only holding doors open for you because you brought us food and caffeine,” said Jennifer.

  “I thought you were going to come over yesterday.” Mandy hoped her tone was neutral.

  “Yesterday? Oh, I had to do other things.” He made a swishing movement with his hand in the air as if everything was inconsequential.

  “What things are more important than…us…uh…your new project?” Mandy stumbled over her words.

  “OK, you got me. I forgot our appointment. But look, I’m here now with sugar and more sugar.” He smiled and the dimples were deep parentheses in his face.

  “Forgiven,” Jennifer pronounced as she sipped the hot coffee and took her donut to the break room.

  “Shall we join her?”

  Mandy glared at him. “Are you avoiding the issue? We can get this done if you’ll settle down.”

  He put his hands on her upper arms, gently pulling her to him and gazing into her eyes. “Nothing is more important than you.”

  Mandy held her breath for a second, sure he was teasing. When his mouth quirked into a faint smile, she pulled away and stomped to her tiny office. If he was speaking, she didn’t hear it over the blood rushing to her ears. She motioned to the client chair. “So, what’s this project you’ve dreamed up?”

  “Eat first, then business,” he chewed on his blueberry wheat bagel.

  Mandy tried to avoid watching his mouth. Even the way he ate was attractive. She tried to take demure bites like a princess would, but the raisin cinnamon bagel was so warm and chewy. She wolfed it down, choking on the last nugget of bread.

  Max jumped up and smacked her in the middle of her back, dislodging the piece.

  Heat suffused her face, and she couldn’t meet his eyes.

  “You OK?”

  “Yes, sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry you choked. Just glad I was here to help. If you’re done with breakfast and choking, we can talk about our new thing.” He slid his chair closer so his knees were alternating with hers and hit her mid-thigh.

  She almost wished she could choke again so he would touch her. His strong hand on her back warmed her. What was wrong with her? Mooning over a man who totally didn’t meet the criteria on her list. She lowered her gaze and inhaled the rich coffee. How could any man be more infuriating…or perfect?

  When he was there, he was amazing and infinitely desirable. When he didn’t show, he was an affront to her precise world. She worked best on a timetable with everything scheduled out in advance so she could marshal her feelings and prepare for the occasion.

  “Hello? Did you hear me?” Max waved his hand in front of her face.

  “No, sorry I was daydreaming.” Gah, she never daydreamed. Was some of his craziness rubbing off on her? It couldn’t be. She took out her leather bound notebook and a pen. “OK, now I can listen.” She liked to finish one task before she undertook another. That was the way she worked best. Stick with the formula. He was just one of the clients she needed. While he didn’
t have a lot of money, it was a lot to him and she vowed to help him manage it so it would last as long as possible. She wrote “Budget” and “Investment plan” on the blank tablet in front of her so she wouldn’t forget to pitch them to him.

  “I think we should go into business together.” He smiled and reached out to capture one of her hands.

  Why did he always have to touch her? It was so hard to think when he looked at her with those dancing blue eyes and smiled. She held her breath, waiting for those dimples to appear. Boink! There they were, first the right dimple and then the slightly deeper left one. He was like a secret weapon against women.

  “Wait, what did you say?” There had been words just before those dimples, she was sure of it.

  “I think we should go into business together. I need someone like you who understands numbers. I had a positive response to another one of my pieces, and they asked me to submit a proposal. Can you believe it? They not only want my art, I have to write an essay about it, what materials I need, and a timeline. I can’t do that stuff.” He shook his head. “But you’d be perfect at it. I’ll create, and you can budget and type it all up.” He made vague typing motions with his fingers that made her think he had never typed in his life.

  “No.” She thrust her hand out in a stop motion. He tried to grab it but she firmly shook him off, just as she’d been taught in college. “I’m a trained accountant. I work with mathematics and numbers. You can find an assistant online or in the newspaper.” She gestured for the door and simultaneously blocked him out of the small room.

  Max had no choice but to precede her out of the space.

  She guided him out of the office and into the store.

  He gave her a confused look.

  She pivoted and went back to her office, closing the door with a smack. Her open notebook had hearts doodled over the whole page. She closed it with a snap. Her head bounced on the desk and hot tears dripped through her hair. Why did both Jennifer and Max seem to think she needed to move away from the career she’d spent long years in college learning so she’d have a decent lifestyle? She expected it of Jennifer. After all, Mandy did share space and help in the boutique while waiting for her business to flourish. But she didn’t want to be a store manager or someone’s assistant.