Daddy Dearest: A Christmas Story

by Rachel Burns

  I showered and washed my hair, so I didn’t smell like food anymore. I packed and went back to the restaurant by car. I had hoped that my parents would magically show up while I packed, but they didn’t.

  I remembered that my mother always had coffee at a friend’s house on Tuesdays. I wracked my brain, trying to remember which friend it was this week. I was pretty sure that it was Milly.

  I went into the restaurant through the employee’s entrance in the back. People were looking at me oddly. I had my winter coat on and a duffel bag with me. I looked odd, and I knew it.

  I went to the phone and grabbed the phone book. I looked up my mother’s friend’s number and dialed it quickly. “Hello, Milly, here is Sarah. Is my mother there?”

  She quickly got my mother. I could hear the ladies worrying about why I’d be calling like this.

  “Sarah, what’s wrong?” My mom was on the phone now.

  “I’m fine, Mom. I’m just calling to let you know that I have to work the next two weeks, not at the restaurant. The boss needed someone to work at his house, so I volunteered. The others have families with kids, you understand.”

  She was so disappointed that I wouldn’t be home for Christmas. I was too ashamed to tell her what I had been accused of. After lots of take care of yourselves and saying I love you, we hung up.

  “So you’re a liar too.” It was that deep voice again.

  I jumped sky high. The boss was standing directly behind me.

  “Who hired you?” He looked at me curiously, as if he were shocked that someone actually would hire me.

  I was so surprised that I was speechless. I just stared at him.

  “Whatever.” He shook his head at me. “Come on, let’s go.”

  Mr. Sanders went out of the door, and I fell into step behind him. He went over to a very expensive-looking, red car. He held the trunk open. I went to him, and he reached for my bag and laid it in the trunk next to several of his own bags. He had expensive matching luggage. I had a cheap sports bag. My bag looked exactly as out-of-place in his sport car as I would.

  He closed the trunk and went to the passenger side of the car where he opened the door and waited.

  I was still surprised that he’d put my bag by his things. He thought I was a thief, why would he want me in his car?

  “Get in already. It’s cold out here,” he barked at me.

  I got in quickly and put on my seat belt. He stood there and stared at me for a minute before he closed the door and got in on his side. The car sank a little when he got in. Not because he was fat, or anything like that. No, he was all muscle. The weight came from that.

  He started the car and took off. I had to wonder how far away his house was. The restaurant was a chain one. He had lots, and they all belonged to him. I tried to remember everything I had read about him from the papers and pamphlets we had around the restaurant.

  He was a chef who opened up one restaurant after the other. All were very successful. He was taking over the rocky mountain area by storm. It was considered cool to go to one of his restaurants, that is, if you could afford it. The people who came in were usually older, around forty and up. Businessmen came in for lunch, and their wives came in for coffee with their friends.

  My parents had only been in the restaurant once. That had been on my first night so they could cheer me on, but his restaurant wasn’t the kind of place normal coupon clippers like my parents went to.

  A meal usually cost around two hundred dollars, for just one meal. That kind of money could feed a family for a couple of weeks. It was hard not to think that every day as I gave people the bill, which most people just glanced at and paid quickly.

  The tips were great. The pay was minimum wage. I went home with about a hundred dollars extra in my pockets, but we had to fill out cards saying exactly how much we made and got in tips for tax reasons.

  I knew that Mandy and Heather lied on those too. They laughed and giggled as they filled them out.

  I always told the truth.

  Look where it got me.

  ~

  We’d already driven for over an hour. Neither of us had said a word. We were on icy, snow covered roads. He was concentrating on keeping his expensive toy on the road, and I just looked out of the window.

  We were going up the mountain. The roads were narrow and close to the cliff.

  I didn’t really worry about falling off and dying. He lived up here, so this was normal for him. He probably knew exactly where he was going, and he probably had a really good feel for the road.

  Chapter 2 ~ Travis

  I couldn’t believe how quiet she was. Usually the car trip got them talking and confessing away. She just looked out the window and said nothing.

  It didn’t matter. I had my methods to get her to sing. She’d be confessing before the day was over, and repenting too.

  The thought of stealing from the person who was kind enough to give you a chance disgusted me. I may not have hired her personally, but I did sign her checks. That had to mean something, at least, it used to.

  But she wasn’t even the first one who had gotten caught. The men I fired right away. There was no turning them around, but a woman, especially young woman, could be taught. I’d make her regret it, really, really regret it.

  She’d proved on the phone that she wasn’t the nice girl she claimed to be, lying to her mother like that. What lie would she make up when she arrived home no richer than when she left?

  I dared to glance over at her. She had long hair. That had surprised me. It had been pinned up in a bun before. It was kind of wavy. It would have real curls if it were shorter. It was a light brown.

  She had green eyes. They would be nice, but she looked so shocked with them. It must have been hard for her that her friends hadn’t let her get away with it.

  She must have thought that they would. But with their jobs on the line, they sang like birds. That was always the case.

  This wasn’t even the first time I had to go through something like this. I had a responsibility and with that came the need to discipline, even the pretty ones like her.

  In fact, I’d even noticed that it was always the pretty ones. They seemed to think that because they were a little easier on the eyes that they could get away with anything.

  I had to keep my eyes on the icy road. It was already starting to get dark. That would make everything even harder to see.

  I was glad that she wasn’t watching the road along with me. I hated it when I felt that passengers put on extra stress because they worried about how I drove.

  I was doing my best. The roads were just so damn icy, and we still had a way to go, uphill the whole way.

  ~

  The heat was up a little too high. Should I turn it down? Would she get cold? I debated back and forth for a while until she opened up her coat a little at the top. I quickly reached for the knob and turned the heat down.

  I was a little pissed at myself for even worrying about her like that. She was a taker. She certainly didn’t worry about me, or the company, and what was best for it.

  I wouldn’t worry about her either. I’d teach her a lesson, and then we’d see where things went from there. I even felt I was doing her next boss a favor. I probably would still fire her.

  I sighed loudly. She didn’t even look over. I really hated the idea of having to do this over Christmastime.

  I needed this vacation. I honestly loved Christmas, all chefs do. The big family meals, the homemade cookies and breads were all things that meant a lot to me. This was how I regained energy to go back to work.

  Nowadays, I never got a chance to stand in the kitchen and just relax. I would now.

  Of course, she’d be standing there too. We’d be spending a lot of time together before I decided if she could keep her job.

  I had pretty much already decided that I was going to fire her. She’d lied especially well, and the shocked look on her face was Oscar quality.

  I was dealing with quite the ac
tress. I had to keep that in mind, but both of the other girls had said that she was guilty.

  I’d never punished the wrong one, and I wouldn’t be today either.

  Great, it was starting to snow, as if the roads weren’t bad enough. The snow was coming down in big flakes. I’d be glad when we got there, safe and sound. I looked over to see if she was getting nervous.

  She seemed to be watching the snow. I think she even sighed happily.

  Sure, she didn’t have the responsibility of driving in this stuff.

  I slowed down the speed by a lot. I was practically crawling up the mountain.

  We had to be close, but it was getting difficult to see anything anymore. She was even looking out of the front window now.

  I hoped she didn’t want to start talking. I could feel it, my nerves were stretched almost to breaking. I was about to panic. She stayed quiet, and I started to relax.

  The road was getting more and more familiar, and right up ahead I could see the lights from my house.

  I had to concentrate not to exhale with relief as I opened the garage door and parked the car. I practically jumped out and went to her side.

  I guess I was trying to show her that I had everything under control. I opened her door, and she also jumped out quickly. I think I gave her the feeling that I was glad to be rid of her, and that I was kicking her out of my car.

  I closed her door and opened the trunk.

  She stepped forward and grabbed her bag and also one of mine.

  I turned to stare at her. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “This way you don’t have to walk back and forth so much,” she replied.

  “Put my bag back,” I said a lot colder than I had intended to sound.

  She blushed red and put it back. “I really wasn’t trying to steal it,” she said quietly, almost in a whisper.

  I hadn’t thought that she was trying to steal anything. I thought that she was brown nosing.

  I closed the trunk and grabbed her elbow. I walked her into the house.

  My maids had shown up to greet me. One took my coat and disappeared with it.

  I noticed Sarah stepping back, off to the side. She was putting distance in between us, showing the maids that she wasn’t anyone important.

  I wondered about that. Why would she make it so terribly clear that she wasn’t with me?

  “This is Sarah. Is her room ready?” I started walking, and the other maid followed me. Sarah was trailing behind unsure. I had misled her about what she’d be doing here. Soon she’d know why.

  We went up the stairs and down the hall.

  “This is the room we prepared for her.” The maid, Kelly, opened the door, and then she stepped aside, so I could go in.

  I went in and looked around. The room was huge. It was a room for an invited and treasured guest. It certainly wasn’t a room for a naughty waitress. It had a big double bed and nice desk. One wall was covered with a floor to ceiling closet with many fitted drawers.

  “Sarah, come in here,” I called out to her because she was hiding in the hall. She slowly came in. Her eyes moved around taking in where she was, but her head stayed still.

  “Supper is in an hour. Get settled.” I walked past her and out of the room.

  U.S. Link:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H55K4VI

  U.K. Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00H55K4VI

  Don’t miss any exciting novellas, books or short stories by Rachel Burns!

  Other Books and Short Stories By Rachel Burns

  A Family For Christmas

  A Gypsy’s Secret

  Alien Daddy

  A Man To Guide Her

  A Man’s Due

  A Perfect Christmas

  A Sheikh’s Love

  A Sheikh’s Secret

  A Sick Thief

  A Spanking Good Cook

  A Wolf’s Bride

  Alien Daddy

  Blind Trust

  But I Don’t Want To Marry You

  Callie Part I, II, III, IV V & VI

  Callie The Complete Collection

  Chocolate Rewards

  Christmas Captive

  Christmas On The Farm

  Christmas Stories

  Class Trip

  Colorado Sister Wives Part I, II, III, IV & V

  Daddy’s Little Girls

  Daddy’s Little Princess

  Daddy’s Sweetheart Part I, II, III, IV &V

  Daddy’s Sweetheart The Complete Collection

  Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don’t

  Demon’s Bride

  Desire Island – Angie’s Desire

  Desire Island – The Niece

  End Of The World Part I, II, III, IV & V

  Facing The Music

  Father Figure

  Getting His Way

  Have A Heart Part I, II III & IV

  Have A Heart The Completion Collection

  Her Majesty

  Hidden In The Woods

  Hidden Secrets

  Home On The Farm

  Island Men

  Love Me

  Mafia Bride

  Mafia Princess

  Mafia Bride & Mafia Princess Collection

  Married to the Enemy

  Out Of My League

  Pain and Regret

  Santa’s Girl

  Seeing Stars

  Shelter Me

  Southern Discomfort

  Spank Me!

  Stranded On Christmas

  Sugar Daddy

  Sweet Daddy Part I, II, III &IV

  Sweet Daddy The Complete Collection

  Sweet Southern

  Talk To Me

  The Doctor’s Little Wife

  The Girl Without A Name

  The Lost Princess

  The Man of the House

  The Most Beautiful Woman In The World

  The Pack Is Loose I, II & III

  The Perfect Submissive

  The Playhouse

  The President’s Daughter

  Things Are Going To Be Different Now I, II & III

  Trading Slaves

  Trust In Me Parts I & II

  Two Worlds Collide

  Undercover Sister Wife Part I, II

  Where The Clouds Touch The Earth

  You Look Just Like Your Sister

  Short Stories

  Becky’s Birthday (a short story)

  Birthday Spanking (a short story)

  Daddy, I Don’t Feel Well (a short story)

  Friday Afternoon – Alicia (a short story)

  Friday Afternoon – Becca (a short story)

  Hold Still (a short story)

  Mafia Men Mean Business (a short story)

  Please Believe Me (a short story)

  Punishment And Patience (a short story)

  Saving His Marriage (a short story)

  She Only Listens When You Whisper (a short story)

  Strict St. Nick (a short story)

  The Dress Code (a short story)

  Trying Too Hard (a short story)

  Wait Until Father Gets Home (a short story)

  I also write Historical Romances under the name Rosalie Thornton:

  A Gypsy’s Secret: https://www.amazon.com/Gypsys-Secret-Rosalie-Thornton-ebook/dp/B07664YT4C

  Married To The Enemy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D3RR1BJ