by Regina Duke
Needless to say, by Monday morning, she couldn’t wait to get to the Angel Temps office.
“Good morning.” She entered with a smile for Daniela.
Daniela was putting her purse in a drawer. She seemed worried. “Oh, hello.” She glanced toward the back, where Jed’s office was. In a half-whisper, she said, “He wants to see you right away.”
Laura shrugged. “Okay. Is something wrong?”
“I don’t know. He made it sound urgent.”
Laura felt a flicker of worry. Had he changed his mind about hiring her? Was he about to tell her she was unemployed? Or worse, had something happened to Austin?
She went straight back to his office door and knocked.
When Jed opened the door, all her worries disappeared. His smile was warm and reassuring. “Come in.”
She sat on the chair by his desk. “Is everything okay? Did you have a good weekend?”
“It was fine, although,” he gave her a sheepish grin, “I spent the whole two days thinking about you.”
“Oh.” Laura blushed. Should she admit she’d been thinking about him, too? “Well, hopefully in a good way.”
“In a very good way. And while I was doing that, a few things occurred to me. I think you should do this work for me as a consultant. That way you can charge me what you’re worth. If I hired you as an employee, you’d be making about the same as Daniela, and if you’re going to be our tech person, that’s not a fair salary. Also, you can use this work as an item on your resume for consulting elsewhere. That way, when you get things straightened out here, you can still do occasional jobs for me, but also work for others. Sound good?”
Laura chewed her bottom lip. “Consulting? Do you think I can do it?”
“Well, let’s see how the week goes. If you can do what we need you for here, you can definitely consult. You have no idea how many businesses call me and ask for someone who can help their staff with computer issues.”
“Okay,” said Laura. “I’ll give it a try. I’d better go get started. Daniela looks worried.”
“She’s tired of trying to do everything on paper, waiting to make the programming work on the new system. It’s her idea of a backlog.”
Laura tilted her head to one side and gazed at him through narrowed lids. “Something’s different.”
Jed raised his brows in a question.
“Your wedding ring is gone,” she said softly.
“Ah. Well, Austin and I talked about it, and we decided his mom would understand if we remembered her in other ways. We made a frame for it and it’s hanging on his bedroom wall with her photograph.”
Laura was touched. “That’s really sweet.”
“Okay, let’s get to work.”
“Isn’t Austin here? School’s out for Christmas.”
“I enrolled him in a half-day indoor Christmas camp. Daniela told me about it. She’ll go pick them up every day at one. Oh, one more thing.” He got up and came around the desk to plant a soft kiss on her mouth. “That should get me through the day.”
Laura beamed.
CHAPTER 6
At one o’clock Daniela reluctantly left her computer to go fetch the kids.
Jed was in the classroom with three young people who had been inspired to get a temp job so they could buy Christmas presents.
Laura scooted closer to the computer screen and scrolled through the inputting program, testing line after line, making sure she could explain it all to Daniela when she returned. The morning had flown by. She’d always enjoyed fooling around with computers, and she had a knack for it. Her former office mates had made that very clear when they kept showing up at her desk for help with little chores that seemed ridiculously easy to her. After an hour of watching Daniela try to navigate her new software, Laura was able to figure out why it wasn’t working. She also had a very good estimate of Daniela’s ability to cope with technology, and she used that to formulate a teaching plan for the rest of the morning. By the time Daniela had to leave to get the kids, she was feeling so good about her computer, she couldn’t wait to get back and keep working.
That was gratifying.
Laura realized that Jed was right. She could definitely do this as a consultant.
The mailman came in, said hello, and left a stack of mail. One of the envelopes was trimmed with candy canes. It was the letter from Santa that Laura had written for Austin.
Jed emerged from the classroom. Two of the young people looked happy and one looked disappointed but grateful. Jed bade them farewell.
“How did it go?” asked Laura. “They really thought they could come in this morning and be making money this afternoon?”
“Not impossible,” said Jed, “when an applicant has skills. The one that looked disappointed really wants to work, and she’s coming back tomorrow. The other two were thrilled to hear that they wouldn’t get paid until a week after Christmas. That was their excuse to say, why bother? But they’re young. They’ve got time.”
“That’s one of the great gifts of youth,” said Laura. “Thinking you have all the time in the world.”
“Where did that come from?” asked Jed.
Laura shrugged. “Watching you with Austin has kicked my biological clock into overdrive.”
Jed chuckled. “Well, who knows? There may be a family in your future.”
Once again, several long seconds passed while they gazed into each other’s eyes.
They were interrupted by the arrival of Daniela and the kids.
Jed drew back, winked at Laura, and opened his arms to greet his son.
Laura pulled the candy cane letter out of the stack. “My goodness. Look at this. A letter for Austin.”
“For me?” His blond curls were damp from wearing his stocking cap in front of the car heater. His cheeks were flushed. He looked like a cherub.
Laura handed him the letter. “Look who it’s from.”
Jed pointed at the return address. “Austin, dude! You got a letter from the North Pole.”
“No way! Open it, Dad.”
Jed glanced up at Laura, his eyes twinkling, as he opened the letter. “You want to read it?” He added as an aside to Laura, “We’ve been learning to read at home.”
“You read it first,” said Austin. “Sometimes I can’t get the big words.”
Jed read aloud:
Dear Austin,
Merry Christmas from the North Pole!
I’m very happy to see that you wrote your own letter. Your handwriting is very good for a five-year-old.
You have asked for a new mommy this year.
I’m sorry to tell you that my workshops cannot produce new mommies. They are very complicated. Your daddy can talk to you about this.
I hope you will be happy for now with other surprises I’ll be putting under your tree.
Love,
Santa
P.S. The reindeer loved your drawing.
“Cool!” Austin took the letter and ran toward the classroom. “I’m going to write him a thank you card.”
Laura turned her hands over. “That was easy.”
Jed nodded. “I think deep down he knows you can’t ask someone to give you a new mommy for a present. He’s just expressing how much he misses his mother.”
Daniela sent Bridget off to color with Austin, then settled into her chair again. “I’m ready, Laura. I think I’m getting the hang of it now.”
“I think you are, too.”
Jed looked pleased. “Terrific.” He leaned in close. “Dinner tonight?”
Laura nodded, smiled, and got back to work.
CHAPTER 7
Tuesday was busy but fun. It was the day parents picked up the gifts that were purchased for their children. Laura was surprised by how many people came. Jed had hidden the packages in the empty office. He trotted them out and stacked them under the Christmas tree, including the wrapped baby doll that Laura had bought for Tina. By the time Daniela went to pick up the kids, only a couple remained.
; Jed frowned at his list. “I must have miscounted,” he said. “That should be all of them.”
“Not exactly,” said Laura. “I picked up a couple of little things for Austin and Bridget. You know, something to entertain them while they’re waiting for Santa.”
“You really are the best auntie in the world,” said Jed.
The kids were thrilled to find gifts waiting. They played happily while their parents were busy. Laura worked on a second computer.
Wednesday was also busy. Several stores called early, asking for sales help. Jed and Daniela worked frantically for three hours, calling clients and sending them out to jobs. The young woman who’d filled out an application on Monday was thrilled to get a call for a job.
Laura said, “This is really satisfying work you do here.”
Jed smiled. “It has its moments.”
Daniela got up with her purse. “Mr. Angel? Time for me to pick up the kids.”
By four p.m. things were very quiet.
Jed gave Daniela her Christmas gift and told her to take off early.
Daniela closed down her program and her computer in record time. Laura pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. By four oh five, Laura, Jed and Austin were alone. Austin was watching a movie in the empty office.
Laura felt the need to talk, since not talking invited the use of one’s lips for other activities. And Austin was in the other room. “When does your other employee come back?”
Jed looked confused. “Who?”
“You’re second office is empty. I just assumed someone was on vacation.”
Jed shook his head. “Nope. But it might make a great home base for someone starting up a consulting business.”
Laura’s eyes grew wide. “You really are an angel, aren’t you?”
“Born and bred.” He slipped his arms around her and leaned in for a kiss.
Austin’s voice stopped him. “Dad! The movie ended.”
“I’ll be right there.” His whole face was an apology.
Laura smiled. She followed him into the empty office and watched him select another movie for Austin. The phones began ringing again, and Laura settled in at the desk and started answering. After another hour of frantic activity, she leaned back in her chair and noticed that Austin had fallen asleep in front of the TV.
When Jed stuck his head in, she put a finger to her lips. He kept his voice down. “Let’s go. I’ll collect him at the last moment.” They started shutting down the rest of the computers and tidying work spaces, including crayons in the classroom.
At last, Jed lifted Austin in his arms, and they walked out to the dark parking lot. Ice crystals hung in the air.
“I think Christmas camp is wearing him out,” said Jed, settling Austin into his car seat.
Laura knew she should leave, but she didn’t want to. “I guess I should be going,” she said regretfully.
“All right,” said Jed absent-mindedly.
Laura felt a pang of disappointment. She really wanted to spend another fun evening with Jed. But of course he must have a life and obligations outside of his job, his son, and her. She nodded dejectedly and headed for her car.
A moment later, she heard footsteps behind her. Jed turned her around and planted a warm kiss on her mouth. “You can only leave if you promise to go straight home and put on a party dress. I got a babysitter.”
Laura’s mood changed in a nanosecond. “Excellent!”
“I’ll come by for you at seven, okay?”
“Great. See you then.” As she got into her car, she wondered if the human face could smile so hard it cracked open.
CHAPTER 8
Laura’s heart soared as she showered and changed. She put her favorite rock band on the stereo, but after two minutes, she decided the radio was better. It had Christmas music, and she was definitely in the holiday mood today. She waltzed around the living room and moved her poinsettia to the coffee table. It needed more attention. She pulled off a dead leaf and gave it water, but her mind was on Jed.
She wondered where they would go, what they would do. She was as giddy as a seventh grader going to her first school dance. She couldn’t believe how good she felt.
She was in love.
Seven o’clock came, and she stood at the living room window, looking into the apartment parking lot, waiting for Jed’s SUV.
Seven oh five. No worries. Five minutes was nothing.
Seven fifteen. Laura paced back and forth. She couldn’t help but worry. She finally decided she had to call and see where he was. She picked up her phone and nearly dropped it again, because he was calling her.
“Hello?”
Jed’s glum tone sent her hopes plummeting. “Why do I always end up apologizing to you? I just sent the babysitter home.”
“Oh, no. What’s going on?”
“Remember how Austin fell asleep in front of the TV? It’s because he has a fever. These things can go bad in a heartbeat. I don’t dare leave him with a sitter tonight.”
Laura’s momentary disappointment was replaced with worry for little Austin. “Did you call the pediatrician?”
“They all close at five. Don’t worry, I’ve dealt with fevers before. He’s hovering around 102, and I just talked him into a chewable aspirin. I’m really sorry.”
“No apology necessary. Austin is more important than going out to dinner.”
“Thanks for understanding. With a little one, you never know if your plans will work out or not.”
“Of course, if I drive by your house and see another woman’s car in your driveway, you will be in big trouble, mister.”
After a moment of shocked silence, Jed said, “You’re kidding, right?”
Laura laughed. “Yes, I’m kidding. I’m not going to drive by your house or anything crazy like that.” She mentally cancelled her plan to drive by his house.
“Oh.” Jed’s voice relaxed. “Too bad. If you drove by, you could stop in for coffee and a piece of Daniela’s fudge.”
“Is that an invitation?”
Jed’s voice softened. “Do you still need one?”
“Is there anything I can bring the little guy?”
Five minutes later Laura was in her car, headed for Jed’s place. Her dating life had certainly taken a chaste turn. They’d spent every waking moment together since meeting each other, except for Saturday and Sunday, and they were still holding hands and sneaking kisses when Austin fell asleep.
Laura was loving every minute of it.
The evening flew by. She read Austin a story and made him a cup of cocoa. He barely touched it. Jed sang him a song. They finally coaxed him to sleep at nine.
And there were never enough words. It seemed she and Jed could talk nonstop, about anything and everything, for hours on end.
At midnight, Laura knew she should go. Staying past the witching hour made not touching each other extremely difficult.
Jed’s chin dropped to his chest.
“Is that disappointment, or are you falling asleep?” she asked.
“Both, to be honest. But you’re right. I’ll walk you to your car.” He opened the front door and they stood staring at the blanket of snow outside. “Did you hear this on the forecast earlier?”
“Not me,” said Laura, dumbfounded. “Rats. I don’t even have snow tires yet.”
Jed closed the door. “It’s still coming down. You’re not driving home in that. I’ll get you a pair of my pajamas. The couch is very comfy.”
“It’ll be fine.”
“I meant I can sleep on the couch and you can have my bed.”
“No. You need to be close to Austin’s room. The couch is my domain.”
Jed surrendered. “Okay. You’re right.” He moved to the front window and pulled the drapes open. “It’s really coming down.” He started to turn the tree off.
Laura stopped him. “Please, don’t. I’ll turn it off later, but I’d love to lie here a while and watch it blinking. My tree at home is a poinsettia and I haven’t
found any lights that small. Besides, give the neighbors a treat. Look how it reflects off the snow.”
Jed smiled. “You’re a romantic, aren’t you?”
That caught Laura by surprise. She’d never considered herself a romantic person. All business all the time. That was Laura Snow. “Maybe I am. You must bring it out in me.”
Jed gave her a brotherly hug and a peck on the cheek. “I’ll get you a comforter.” He returned a moment later with a fluffy rose-colored down comforter and a pillow. “See you in the morning.”
Laura changed into the pajamas he’d given her. She had to roll up the legs and the sleeves, but they were soft and carried the same subtle scent that all Jed’s clothes carried. She wondered if it was a special brand of fabric softener or just him.
She turned out all the room lights and left the tree on. She snuggled under the comforter and watched the Christmas tree. When she was a little girl, it was her favorite thing to do. Then she had an idea that might make little Austin feel better. She’d tell Jed about it in the morning. She fell asleep with a smile on her lips.
CHAPTER 9
Christmas Eve
Laura woke at first light because the drapes were still open. She tiptoed through the house, made coffee, washed her face, and put yesterday’s clothes back on. When the coffee was ready, she poured herself a cup and turned off the tree lights. Then she stood for a while, watching the snow fall.
This weather wasn’t unheard of at Christmas but the snowy months were usually January and February. She hadn’t heard anything about an expected storm. But then, she hadn’t turned on a TV in over a week. She used to check news on her computer at her old office. In her new office, she had much more entertaining things to watch.
Jed and Austin.
She thought she heard someone stirring in the other room. She listened carefully. Yes, Jed was moving around. Probably checking on Austin. She went to the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee for him.
When Jed appeared, he was still in his pajamas. Laura handed him his mug.
“Thank you. What a treat, having someone else make the coffee.”
