Another bag had shoes. A pair of barely worn brown loafers, ankle-height black leather boots with sensible rubber soles, and finally gorgeous scarlet pumps still in their box. Lena held the pumps up and stared at them in wonder. The soles were perfect, like they’d never been worn, and the heels were stacked and not too high. She set them on the bedside table and opened another bag to find that it contained a couple of nightgowns – the kind that are silky on the outside but flannel on the inside – and several pairs of what looked like never-worn granny panties. She held up a pair and giggled. At least this was better than washing her one pair out each night and hanging it over the heat register to dry. There were also a couple packages of panty hose, a pair of slippers, some trouser socks, several pretty silk scarves, a pair of brown leather gloves, and some simple but nice costume jewelry.
Lena continued to lay things out on her bed, arranging tops with skirts or pants, adding a scarf here or a necklace there. She marveled at the selections Moira and Gretchen had made. As if they were both professional wardrobe planners. Or perhaps just angels in disguise.
Finally she came to the last and biggest bag, a shopping bag from Harrington’s. On the top was a neatly folded plaid woolen scarf, and beneath it was a red woolen coat trimmed with white fur. This was the very coat that Moira had worn on the bus when they met the other day – the Santa coat! Lena laughed to remember how Moira hadn’t cared for the coat and how she’d explained it was from her sister. Of course she was eager to get rid of it.
Lena lifted the coat up and slipped it on. The heavy satin lining felt luxurious, and she could tell the coat would be much warmer than her purple parka. She was curious as to how it looked on her, but the only mirror in her room was a small wall mirror. She peered into it and realized that if she wanted to get a job tomorrow, she might need to do something about her hair and perhaps add a bit of color to her face. Her father had never approved of makeup, but Lena had always felt better with a bit of blush and lip color.
She had noticed a drug store on Main Street and now wondered if it might possibly be open. She grabbed her purse and parka and decided to find out. The wind was icy cold as she hurried along, trying to calculate in her head just how much, or how little, she would allow herself to spend. Although it was an investment in her future.
The drugstore felt warm and friendly, but she knew she didn’t have time to dawdle, since according to the sign on the door and the clock inside, they would be closing in about twenty minutes.
“Can I help you?” a woman in a white jacket asked.
“Oh, I’m just looking for some bargains,” Lena said. “You see, I arrived in town without a few things, like lipstick and blush, but I don’t want to spend much.”
The woman pointed to a nearby table. “Everything there is marked down with an additional fifty percent off.”
Lena moved to the cluttered table. It seemed to have a bit of everything on it. Before long she found a rosy-colored lip and blush compact for only $1.80, as well as a package of opened sponge rollers – with two rollers missing – for less than a dollar. And a small bottle of lavender lotion for a dollar as well. On her way to the cash register she noticed packages of plastic hangers for a dollar and decided her lovely new clothes deserved to be hung up properly. She fished out five dollars from the tip money Sally had given her and was pleased to get back a bit of change. Then she hurried back to Miller House and up to her room to put things away.
She knew her hair really needed a good cut, but that would have to come later – after she got her first paycheck. For now, she would wash it and dry it over the heating vent then roll it on the green sponge rollers and hope for the best. Her plan was to show up at Harrington’s when they opened at nine tomorrow. She would do everything possible to put her best foot forward.
If she had a bit more faith or some kind of assurance that God still cared about her – and she felt bad that she didn’t – she would’ve prayed before going to sleep. As it was, she was encouraged that she was slightly hopeful for her future. That in itself was just short of miraculous.
CHAPTER
9
Once again Lena woke before the sun. Thanks to the sponge rollers, she hadn’t had a particularly restful night. But that didn’t matter as she slipped into the bathroom to take a shower. As usual, the bathroom was less than tidy, so she gave the shower stall a quick cleanup before and after, again leaving it cleaner than she had found it. Now if only the other tenants would do likewise.
Her stomach rumbled as she dressed. She’d decided on the tweed skirt, the white shirt topped with the charcoal cardigan, and the red and black paisley scarf for an accent. It had looked attractive laid out on her bed. How it looked on her was a mystery. But at least the clothing fit – mostly. The waist of the skirt was a bit large, but she used a black leather belt to cinch it in a bit and covered it with the cardigan, hoping no one would notice.
What to wear on her feet was a challenge. Her old worn black pumps probably matched best except they looked cheap. If the black boots had been taller, they would’ve been perfect. The loafers looked too casual. And the red shoes, while very pretty, seemed a bit over the top. Still, she wanted to make an impression, so it would be the red shoes. She would just wear the boots to walk to the store and switch them out for the shoes in the restroom.
Next she removed the foam curlers from her hair. To her surprise, her hair was curlier than ever before. When she looked in the mirror, instead of her straight, shoulder-length sandy hair, her curls resembled those of Shirley Temple, which caused her round face to look even rounder. Perhaps the cold weather would straighten it out a bit as she walked to the store. Anyway, it was probably an improvement.
She applied a bit of lip color and blush, and although she wouldn’t call herself attractive, she looked a little healthier and possibly like someone who could work in a department store. At least she hoped so.
She pulled up the shade and peered out the window. Judging by the light outside, she suspected it was getting close to nine. And since it looked frosty and cold out, she decided to wear the Santa coat, which would certainly look better than that horrid purple parka with the broken zipper.
With her red pumps in her purse, she began her trek toward Main Street. The town was fairly quiet and the sidewalks a bit slippery, so she was careful to watch her step. Pausing by the drugstore, she saw that it was already open, so it must be after nine by now.
With a fluttering in her stomach – either nerves or hunger – she pushed open a heavy glass door and entered Harrington’s. She was met with warmth and Christmas music, and a tall tree decked out in silver and gold towered in the foyer. Everywhere she looked, the store was perfection. While the racks and shelves didn’t seem overly stocked, there appeared to be plenty of merchandise to choose from.
“May I help you?” asked a young woman in the accessories department.
“I’m just looking,” Lena said with a forced smile. Really, it wasn’t untrue. She was looking. She continued walking through the store, perusing the various departments until she came to the escalator and read the directory posted there. Both the restroom and the main office were located on the third floor, so she went up.
She made a quick shoe change in the restroom, which was impressively clean. She considered removing her coat and folding it over her arm, but it was rather bulky and seemed easier to simply wear until she found a place to hang it up. She checked her image in the mirror and almost didn’t recognize herself.
Holding her head high, she approached the office area.
“May I help you?” asked an older woman behind the counter.
“I’m here to see about a job.” Lena recited her carefully rehearsed line.
“I’m sorry, we’re not taking applications right now.” The woman gave her a sympathetic smile.
“But I was told that – ”
“It doesn’t really matter what you were told, Harrington’s is not hiring.”
“But I was pr
omised a job.”
“We’ve had to lay off employees.” The woman’s voice grew firmer. “Trust me, there are no jobs available.”
“But a friend set this up,” she persisted. “A Mrs. Stanfield. I believe she’s a friend of Mrs. Harrington’s.”
“That makes no difference.” The woman shook her head. “We are not hiring. Now if you’ll excuse me.”
Lena just stood there, watching as the woman picked up the phone. Hopefully she wasn’t calling security. Even so, Lena wasn’t ready to give up. Perhaps she should’ve asked for an appointment with Mrs. Harrington. A chance to explain her situation and plead for a job. Even a job with partial pay.
“Hurry up,” a woman’s voice said from behind her.
“I’m coming, Mom,” a younger voice said.
Lena turned to see a tall woman emerging from what seemed to be a private office. Her auburn hair was cut to perfection, and she wore a stylish, camel-colored suit with the jacket cinched in by a brown leather belt that matched her handbag and tall brown boots.
“Come on, Cassidy, we’re going to be late for your appointment. Hurry, sweetheart.”
A preteen girl came out. She was dressed more casually in khaki pants and a jean jacket. Her hair, the same color as the woman’s, was long and thick. It seemed obvious they were mother and daughter. But to Lena’s surprise, the girl stopped in her tracks when she saw her. She looked at Lena with large green eyes. “Who are you?” she asked.
Lena smiled. “I’m Lena Markham. Who are you?”
The girl smiled back. “Cassidy.”
“Come on, Cassidy.” Her mother was by the restrooms, looking a little flustered. “We need to go now.”
“Just a minute, Mom.” Cassidy turned back to Lena. “Why are you here?”
“I, uh, I was looking for a job.”
Cassidy’s eyes lit up. “Mom, she’s looking for a job,” she called out.
“Cassidy.” The mother’s voice sounded impatient.
“But, Mom.”
“We don’t have time for this.”
“But you have to talk to her, Mom.” Cassidy looked back at Lena then lowered her voice. “Come back here at 3:00, okay?”
Uncertain, Lena looked from Cassidy to her mother.
“I mean it,” the girl called as she hurried to join her mom. And just like that, they were gone. Lena noticed the woman behind the counter was staring at her.
“What just happened?” Lena asked her.
The woman shook her head. “I’m not sure.”
“The girl told me her name was Cassidy, but who is she?”
“Cassidy Harrington.”
Lena slowly nodded. “So that was Mrs. Harrington with her?”
“Ms. Harrington. She divorced her husband and went back to her maiden name.”
“Oh. Did you hear what Cassidy said to me? About being here at three?”
The woman chuckled. “I did, but I can’t imagine why.”
“Should I come?”
She shrugged. “That’s up to you.”
Despite the cold temperatures and freezing rain, Lena came back to Harrington’s a bit before three. She had a feeling she was on a fool’s errand, but her curiosity – and desperation – forced her to return. She was coming up the escalator when she heard a voice call out, “There she is, Mom. I told you she’d come back.”
Lena stepped off the elevator and smiled at the mother and daughter. “I’m not sure why I came back, because I heard you’re not hiring. But I was compelled.”
“I’m Ms. Harrington,” the woman told her in a slightly irritated voice.
“I’m Lena Markham and my friend Mrs. Stanfield told me – ”
“You seem to have met my daughter Cassidy already. And she is insistent that that I give you an interview, Ms. Markham.”
Cassidy winked at Lena.
“Thank you,” Lena told Ms. Harrington. “I really do appreciate you taking the – ”
“Right this way, please.” Ms. Harrington smiled at her daughter. “And you will kindly wait in the employees’ lounge for me. And start your homework. And make sure you have one of those protein drinks and not soda.”
Cassidy nodded, watching as her mother led Lena into her office.
“Please, have a seat.” Ms. Harrington gestured to a pair of black leather chairs across from her desk. “I’ll cut to the chase because I’m sure your time is as valuable as mine.”
Lena wasn’t so sure, but she nodded then sat down, folding her hands in her lap.
“Cassidy seems to think that you’ve been sent here by angels or God or maybe even Santa Claus.”
Lena blinked. “What?”
“She thinks you’d be perfect to play Mrs. Santa.”
“Mrs. Santa?”
“I suppose it’s that coat.” Ms. Harrington frowned. “And the curly hair. And I guess you have the right sort of face too.” Now she laughed. “But I’m also guessing that is not the sort of work you’re looking for.”
Lena was too dumbfounded to respond.
“Yes, I’m not surprised. It’s what I told Cassidy would happen – that you’d be insulted. Please accept my apologies. Unfortunately, I’m fully aware that most Santa jobs usually go to drunks and degenerates. In fact, that’s why we lost our last Santa.”
“And that was a woman?” Lena ventured. “Mrs. Santa?”
Ms. Harrington waved her hand. “No, no, we’ve never even had a Mrs. Santa. That was totally Cassidy’s idea. I don’t even know where she came up with it or why. But not only was her heart set on finding the perfect Mrs. Santa, she’s equally determined to play Mrs. Santa’s helper as an elf this year.” She sighed in a tired way. “Not that I’m encouraging her to do that.”
“I see.” Lena wasn’t sure what to do. Of course she had no desire to play Mrs. Santa, and yes, it was somewhat insulting. Did this mean Ms. Harrington thought that Lena was a drunk or degenerate too? Not that she’d expected to be hired as a bookkeeper or anything too impressive. But Mrs. Santa?
And yet, who was she to be choosy? She was desperate for a job. Even if it was only temporary.
“But you’re right, Ms. Markham, we’re not hiring. In fact, I’ve just had to lay off several employees. And that wasn’t easy to do right before Christmas.” She sighed. “I’m afraid this will be the last Christmas for Harrington’s.”
“I’m sorry.”
“So I won’t waste any more of your time.” She stood and smiled stiffly.
Lena stood too. “But what if I wanted to play Mrs. Santa?”
Ms. Harrington blinked. “Are you serious?”
Lena gave a nervous smile. “I actually am in need of a job.”
Ms. Harrington looked relieved. “Then you’ve got one.”
“Do you want me to fill out an – ”
“Talk to Dorothy in the office. She’ll give you some papers and things to sign, and then go down to alterations and talk to Brynn. She’s already started making a costume and she’ll want to do a fitting.”
Lena’s thoughts were racing. Was this a mistake? Should she mention her prison record? Or did it even matter, considering the way Ms. Harrington had described Santa employees as drunks and degenerates? Especially since Lena was neither.
“Hurry now,” she told Lena. “Dorothy will give you your schedule. If the costume is ready, I see no reason you can’t begin tomorrow.”
By the end of the day, Lena had filled out the proper paperwork and had been fitted in what was actually a rather attractive red velvet dress trimmed with white fur, not unlike her Santa coat. She also had a white, lace-trimmed apron, a little cap, and even a pair of granny-style wire-rimmed glasses. Everyone agreed that she should forgo the wig and stick with her own hair, which, although not white, had a grayish look in a dishwater blonde sort of way. “Just make sure you keep it curled like that,” Cassidy had told her.
Lena also had a schedule. She was expected to work from noon until eight, with two thirty-minute breaks, every day until
Christmas, which meant she’d get some overtime pay. Her hourly pay was only minimum wage and the first payday wasn’t until Saturday, but she had already done the math, figuring she would make around $250 a week after taxes. Not much, but plenty for now. What happened after Christmas was anyone’s guess.
Lena had also toured the “North Pole” situated in a corner of the basement. She’d even tried out the big Santa chair, which, despite looking plush, was actually rather hard. And Cassidy was getting someone to make adjustments to the various signs – changing them from Santa to Mrs. Santa.
As Lena walked home, she knew she’d have to keep her new job a secret from Jemima since she was still young enough to believe in Santa Claus and might even want to come visit Mrs. Santa at Harrington’s. And to keep it from Jemima meant she might as well keep it from everyone in the boardinghouse, since someone with loose lips, like TJ, would probably blow her cover anyway.
“Did you get a job?” Sally asked as they met in the hall-way between their rooms while Jemima was using the bathroom.
“I did.” Lena smiled.
Sally frowned. “Oh. I know it was selfish, but I was hoping you hadn’t.”
“Sorry. No luck with childcare?”
“When the daycare lady found out that Jemima was school age, she said she needed to be enrolled.”
“But maybe that’s for the best. That way Jemima can make friends.”
“I explained the situation with my husband and she seemed to understand. She gave me the name of a social worker I’m supposed to meet with tomorrow.”
“I can watch Jemima for you tonight,” Lena offered. “And any other time before noon or after eight . . . although that’s probably not much help.”
Sally smiled. “Thanks. And sorry I’m being so glum. Congratulations on the job. Working at Harrington’s must be nice.”
“It seems like a pleasant store. But I don’t get tips.”
Sally nodded. “Yeah. Getting tips and free food is a real perk. In fact, why don’t you bring Jemima for dinner tonight?” She handed Lena some bills. “My treat.”
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