Love under the Christmas Tree
A Books to Go Now Publication
Copyright © Conner-Kleve-Hardwick-Hall 2015
Books to Go Now
Also published on Smashwords
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First eBook Edition –May 2015
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The Light of Christmas
Jennifer Conner
Chapter 1
Holli Segal opened the boardroom door and joined the monthly all-staff meeting. She placed her notepad and coffee cup on the table and took a seat. She couldn’t stop her foot from bobbing in a nervous rhythm as she crossed her legs.
“Every year our goal is to top last year’s Christmas displays,” Mr. Cartwright announced. “This holiday season is no different, except for the fact that people need this and are looking forward to our windows more than ever. With the economy the way it is, families are seeking out fun and inexpensive things to do. They come downtown for a fun evening of window shopping… but if they come inside to buy something, that’s even better.” He wiggled his bushy eyebrows and the room laughed.
“No pressure,” Holli’s co-worker, Randy, leaned over to whisper.
She gave him a strained smile. Holli had worked for Schroder Toys for four years. She started as a sales clerk to earn money to help pay her way through the New Horizon Design College, and then she moved to dressing the in-store displays. Now it was her big break, the city’s famous Christmas front window display.
She’d dreamed of doing this, so why did it feel like there were chipmunks running around under her ribcage? She was anxious, because she knew it had to be perfect.
Mr. Cartwright motioned for her to join him at the front of the large meeting room.
“I am very excited to have Holli in charge of Schroder Toys Christmas window. In a short time she has proven herself a creative and energetic employee, and she loves Christmas as much as the rest of us.”
“Yes, sir, I love Christmas.” It’s a good thing she wasn’t Pinocchio or her nose would have grown another inch. She loved having the responsibility for a major project, but did it have to be Christmas? She hated Christmas. “Yes indeed. Love Christmas…” she muttered under her breath. Maybe if she repeated it a few more times, she would begin to believe it.
She’d planned to be on the beaches of Maui with an umbrella drink in one hand and a blond beach bum at her other side. If she stayed in the cold, wet Pacific Northwest, she would melt. Either psychical or mentally. All this holiday hoopla gave her a headache.
The holidays were important to her mom. Her mom was the one who loved Christmas, and now it only stood to reminder her that her mom was gone. Holli liked the holiday as a kid, but she couldn’t force herself to believe it could ever be the same without her mom. She’d avoided the whole thing for the past few years and now, it seemed to her like the normal thing to do.
No palm trees for her, only evergreens. Washington was filled with Christmas trees, so why was it such a big deal to cut them down and put them in your living room?
Holli could force herself into believing she was having a happy holiday or at least until the lighting ceremony for the window. Then she was out of there. Mr. Cartwright said he only needed her there until then, so she would still have time to beat feet to sand and sun.
Holli worked all day on the schematics for the display design. When she showed them to Mr. Cartwright, he said, “Bigger! We need more.”
She worked for another five hours and he liked the second set of designs much better.
Thank goodness.
This meant that she could finally go home. Bleary-eyed, she shut down her computer and flipped off the light switch to her office. She was half-way through the parking lot before she realized she’d forgotten her coat on a hook in the lunchroom. Looking over her shoulder, she judged the distance back, and then decided against it. Steady droplets of rain coated her hair and wind whipped at her pencil skirt. A section of new construction at the mall meant her car was out even farther in the north forty of the lot, but if she walked faster, maybe she wouldn’t turn into be a popsicle.
Wrapping her arms across her chest for a little bit of warmth, she paused at the stoplight and waited for the walk signal to turn. A utility pickup truck careened around the corner causing a giant splash of muddy water to slosh up from the side of the road.
“Oh!” Holli cried and tried to jump back, but it was too late. The water hit her waist high. With hands clenched at her sides, water dripped from the tips of her fingers, as she tried to pull in a complete breath.
The truck drove another twenty feet, and then stopped. Its back up lights shone red on the wet pavement. A man got out and rushed towards her.
“Ah… geeze.” He pulled a stocking cap off his head, which made his thick, brown hair tumble free. “I saw you, but I didn’t see the water.”
“It wasn’t water, it was a lake!”
“It’s dark out here. The lot’s on a timer that turns off after a certain time. The mall’s been closed for hours.”
“I… know. I had to work… late.” It felt like the sheen of water was crystallizing to ice on her skin. She fought the urge to wipe her eyes for fear her eyelashes would break off in tiny shards. Her knees were shaking so badly if she’d had symbols attached to them she could be her own band. “I… need… to… go… car,” she said between the chatters of her teeth.
His dark eyes watched her with a worried expression. “You’re freezing, here.” The man took off his coat and pulled it over her shoulders. She expected it to smell badly, but it smelled spicy and was warm from the heat of his body. “Were you heading to your car? Where is it?” he asked.
Holli waved a hand. “It’s at the far end of the lot. You know, holiday shopping has begun.”
“Isn’t it great?”
“Great? The darkest, coldest time of the year that forces me to park the farthest away.”
“It’s the Christmas season. Everyone’s out having a good time.”
“I’m not.”
“I bet you are when you’re not drenched in muddy water.”
“I would be having fun if I was on a beach in Maui. That was my original plan for Christmas. There are very few mud puddles there.”
“You leave for Christmas?” he asked. “What about your family?”
Holli didn’t answer his question as she started to take off his coat. “I think I can make from here.”
“The least I can do is drive you to your car. Come on, my truck is warm.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“What I need to do is find a better way to meet women than douse them in mud.”
“Sure, you can drive me to my car.” Holli couldn’t help but laugh. He followed her to the passenger door of the truck and helped her step up into the cab.
He got in the driver’s side, slammed th
e door, and turned in his seat. “For future memory, so you can put a name to the man who gave you a mud bath, my name’s Joel. I’m working on the mall addition.”
“Nice to meet you,” she said. She rubbed her hands briskly together in front of the trucks dashboard heater to gain some feeling in her fingertips.
“I’m an electrician. The construction company called in extra help to get the final wiring finished for next week’s grand opening of Minden’s.”
“I’m looking forward to them being in the mall.” She pointed out the window. “My car’s that blue one. The last one left in this row.”
“Give me your keys and I’ll get your car started so it can warm up.” A blast of cold air hit her as he opened his door, and she was thankful for his thoughtful manners. In a few seconds, her car’s engine roared to life, and then he jumped back in beside her.
“It is cold out there,” Joel commented, as he turned to face her. “I still feel awful. Can I make it up to you by taking you to dinner?”
She laughed. “That’s a little better pick up line than the mud idea, but I’ll have to take a rain check. I’m going to be very busy for the next few weeks at Schroder’s Toys.”
“I love their Christmas windows. I grew up waiting to see what they would do year after year.”
“That’s what I’m in charge of, the front window design. This year, it’s all up to me.”
“No kidding. That has to be fun.”
“I love my job.”
“It’s important to like your job but it’s also important that I know your name.” His smile was warm and friendly.
“Holli. Holli Segal.”
He stuck out his hand. It was warm and his fingers wrapped easily around hers. “It’s been my pleasure. The meeting you part and not the splashing. I owe you, and again, I’m really sorry.”
“Apology accepted.” Holli shucked off his coat and slid out of the cab of the truck.
“Have a better night, Holli. I hope to see you around again sometime… soon.” He grinned and winked.
Before she closed the -door, she watched him for a second. Should she take him up on his dinner offer? Dark hair, brown eyes, and killer dimples in his cheeks. Joel was one handsome man, but she usually only dated blonds. Next week, maybe it was time for a change. For Joel she could make an exception.
Who was she kidding? For the next now-until-forever, she would only have time to nuke a frozen dinner, take a hot shower and then try to fit in sleep. Once she hit the sheets, it would be lights out.
Maybe dreams of cute electricians would light the way.
****
Joel watched Holli until the lights of her car disappeared around the corner. He was happy she wasn’t more upset. Even if it was an accident, he was embarrassed about ruining her dress and shoes. Then he’d asked her out? What had he expected her to say? That she would take him up on his offer after what he’d done to her?
There was something that drew him to her. Her sky-blue eyes twinkled making him wonder what she was thinking. Then there were her lips, which were lush, and a deep pink. Perfect for kissing. She usually wasn’t his type of woman, she was too perfect and he was a construction guy.
Carthartts vs. Lancôme. It would never work.
He needed to get out more. It was nice to be busy with work, but it would also be nice to come home to a warm, soft body to cuddle up with on the couch and watch a movie. Many of the guys his age spent afterhours at the bar. That wasn’t his scene either. A drink now and then was fun, but he wasn’t about to make it a nightly habit. He wanted more.
But that was the future, for the last few years, his evenings were spent with his dad.
He pulled out his cell phone and called ahead for his favorite late-night teriyaki stop.
Joel punched in the front door code at Fircrest Memory Care and waited until he heard click of the security locks open.
He strode toward the front desk and stopped leaning his elbows on the counter. “Hey, Betty. Don’t you look beautiful tonight? New Christmas sweater?”
“Joel.” The middle-aged night nurse with the neon cats nurse’s smock smiled. “Can you stay here and say those sweet things for the rest of the night? Then you can come back home with me and teach my husband a thing or two about what a girl likes to hear.”
He reached in the bag he’d set on the counter and pulled out a smaller foil wrapped packet. “I picked up a few lumpia for you. I know they’re your favorite.”
“Compliments and my favorite food? Did you say you’re single, cause boy if I was twenty… or so, years younger, and not married to Rudy, you wouldn’t be single any longer.” She threw back her head and laughed. Then she flipped open the file in front of her. “Your dad’s been about the same, but he’s been asking about you all afternoon.”
Joel nodded. He said goodnight and wound his way through the hall. He rapped his fingers on the door before opening it. “Hey. How are things going?” He stopped saying Dad when he first arrived. Sometimes, that was easier.
The older man looked up from his paper. “Joel! I was hoping you’d stop by.”
A weight lifted off Joel’s chest. His dad recognized him. This was good. “I brought us a late night snack.” He pulled a folding chair up the table and sat across from his father. “You’ll never guess who I met today. The woman who is designing the Christmas display for Schroder’s Toys.”
A smile lit the man’s eyes. “Maybe all of us can go the night it opens.”
“I’d like that, dad.” Joel dished out a plate for each of them and then placed a plastic fork on the white paper napkins.
“I read here in the paper that it opens next Friday. We can swing by and pick up your mom. What time do you get out of classes that night?”
His mother died when Joel was a Freshman at college. That was seven years ago. Joel stared at his food. Every night, he knew it would be different. Alzheimers was a difficult disease.
“Sure, we can do that.” He’d learned, it didn’t really matter what he said, he knew his father wouldn’t remember their conversation. Hell, he may not even remember him by the time he got back tomorrow night. “When I get out of class, I’ll get mom and then I’ll come and pick you up.”
“I’ll be looking for you.”
The only thing Joel knew for sure was that the window display at Schroder’s Toys would light up next Friday, as it had every year since he was a kid, and his dad would love it.
Chapter 2
Holli fussed and moved little things from here to there as she put the final touches on the Schroder’s Toys window display. In an hour, the red drape would part and the excited and anxious crowd milling outside would see all of her hard work at last.
There was a miniature village, animatronic children skiing down a mini mountain and a machine that blew frozen water droplets that turned into real snowflakes. The snow came out both sides and once activated it would drift down over the crowd outside.
The local miniature train club enthusiasts were more than happy to volunteer their time and energy to build the tracks and set up the tracks and trains. Painted along one of the car’s sides was the wording, Christmas Express. It sped through the village, disappeared behind the mountain and reappeared a few seconds later on the other side.
Holli stood back and admired her work. Seeing the holiday scene made something deep inside her remember how fun Christmas could be.
No. With those memories came the pain of missing her mom. Stay focused. Finish the job and then off to Pina Coladas, a bikini, and tanned man skin.
“Great job!” her boss exclaimed behind her.
She turned and smiled. “Thanks, Mr. Cartwright. Don’t you think it turned out great?”
“It’s everything that people wait for, and it keeps traditions going strong. Traditions are so important, don’t you agree?”
“Of course.” Holli thought of how she and her mom baked sugar cookie trees, decorated them with those little silver edible balls and then took them arou
nd to family and friends.
“Yes. It’s perfect. Good work. I am taking the wife and the grandkids out to dinner and then we will all be back outside at seven for the grand unveiling.” He patted her arm. “I knew you would come through for us.”
“Thanks for having faith in me, sir.”
As Mr. Cartwright left out the side door, Holli put a hand on her hip and tipped her head to see if there were any little last minute tweaks she could make.
Ralph, the head of the train club came towards her. “Holli, I think we might have a problem.”
“A problem?” She did not want those two words in her vocabulary tonight.
“Yeah. I’ve been doing this a long time and I think that we have too much plugged into the main panel.”
“Well, don’t worry about it, it’s all— ” Rhuuum…Pop. A loud noise filled the air and then darkness engulfed them. Panic filled her veins.
“Stand still,” she heard Ralph say. “I think I saw a flashlight over by the wall.” In a few seconds, a light beam lit the ceiling.
“Where’s the panel?” Holli asked, as she forced herself to sound calm. “We’ll just flip the switch and all will be fine.”
“It’s over this way,” Ralph shone the beam to guide her path. “But, as I said. There is too much off that one circuit, and I’m not sure it will work.”
“It will work. It has to work.”
Holli followed Ralph back to the panel. As they grew closer, the smell of burned plastic was strong.
“Oh oh,” Ralph said, shaking his head. “Looks like it blew out the whole breaker.”
“Just flip it back on.”
He pointed to the charred wires. “I would if I could, but they are burned through. I wish I knew more about wiring and I could help you.”
Holli turned and ran, almost falling over tiny train station at the edge of the window. Frantically she fished in her purse for her cell phone and headed towards the side door kicking it open with her foot.
She punched in a number and waited.
A voice answered.“Mall maintenance.”
“I’m here at Schroder’s Toys and we are having a problem with the electrical circuits. Can you send someone over right away to fix it?”
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