BETTER WATCH OUT

by Christina Freeburn

  I trudged toward One More Page, spotting someone I hadn’t expected to see standing in front of the bookstore.

  Cassie’s long blonde hair swung back and forth as she cleaned the front display window of One More Page. The front window gleamed. The naughty and nice sign were on opposite sides of the display unit, between them was a pair of glasses, a computer, and a picture of Mrs. Claus, all things Santa would likely have on his desk. Back and forth, Cassie’s arm went. There wasn’t a trace of dirt or dust on the window.

  The high school senior should be in school, not on Main Avenue. At least she was helping Rachel rather than cruising the streets or causing mayhem. But, skipping school wouldn’t help her graduate at the end of May.

  Should I say something or not? She was eighteen and could opt not to go, but I hoped with all my might Cassie hadn’t decided to drop out of school. I knew school was hard for her. Learning didn’t come easy and she had to study for hours to get a passing grade. It was only a few months more. Her life would be so much easier if she graduated high school. Though, I was sure she didn’t think her world could get much worse after her father was murdered and learning her grandmother’s cancer had returned.

  Sensing my attention on her, Cassie gave me a wavering smile. A woman walked inside the store. “Customers are going in. I need to help them.”

  I followed her inside, gently taking hold of her hand before she escaped behind the counter. “Rachel can assist the customers. We have to talk.”

  Cassie blew out a breath, puffing up her blonde bangs. “I know what this is about. I know what I’m doing. Besides, Rachel’s not here yet. She had a slight emergency and is running late and asked me to open. Don’t worry. I’m not skipping. The principal gave me permission to work at One More Page today rather than attend classes.”

  I crossed my arms and gave her my best stern-momma stare. “You expect me to believe that.”

  “You can call the principal. I’m not sure he can give you information. I’m an adult.”

  She was right. I had divorced Samuel before he died so the school didn’t have to tell me anything. The girl was an adult in the eyes of the law and her life choices were up to her. And, I had stepped back from my relationship with Cassie. I had been so done with the man, I didn’t want to have to look, think, or even acknowledge his existence. Which meant ignoring Cassie. A choice I regretted. It had hurt Cassie so much and left her feeling alone and abandoned after her father died.

  Cassie blinked furiously, trying to starve off welling tears. “It’s hard this week. All the plans for the parade. Kids griping about being forced,” she air quoted the word, “to go with their parents and siblings. I just couldn’t hear any more of their complaints. It hurts.”

  I hugged Cassie. I hadn’t considered how difficult a time this was for her. I had been so wrapped up in my own angst and pain, I hadn’t taken a good look at hers. “I’m so sorry.”

  Drawing back, Cassie ran her index fingers under her eyes. “Rachel got some new craft books in. You can browse while I make you a cup of cinnamon spice coffee and see what you think. We’re planning on offering it tonight during the parade.”

  The bell jingled merrily. Nancy O’Neil, Jenna’s best friend and the mayor’s former secretary, walked into the store and scanned the area, a confused look blossoming on her face. The two women were so different it was hard to imagine they were friends. Jenna was put together. Fashionable. She dressed like an ad in a fashion magazine. Thirty-five. A private person who wanted to know all that was going on in Season’s Greetings. Which I guess made it not so unusual she was friends with Nancy, a sixty-one-year-old who dressed in themes and knew everything that went on in Season’s Greetings and loved to tell it.

  “Can I help you?” Cassie placed the carafe on the counter, abandoning the coffee making to help the distraught looking customer.

  “Jenna told me to meet her here this morning. Nine on the dot.”

  “No one is here but me and Merry. The store just opened at nine. Maybe, she meant a little later.”

  Nancy rummaged around in her purse. Tissues, slips of paper, and lip glosses tumbled out of her purse. She placed her phone on the counter and tapped it. “I have her text message right here. Said it was important. She sent the text fifteen minutes ago.”

  “You’re welcome to wait for her.” Cassie gestured toward a comfortable reading chair. “I was going to make some coffee and can bring you a cup.”

  Nancy moved her finger up and down on the cell’s screen. “I have a list of errands to run this morning. Can you tell Jenna I was here on time?”

  There was a fearful tremor in Nancy’s voice. Maybe the two weren’t such good friends.

  “Sure,” Cassie said.

  “Thank you.” Nancy rushed outside. A tall figure wearing a baseball cap, slammed into Nancy. Squealing, Nancy windmilled her arms to keep her balance. Her purse flew to the right, into the street, while she tumbled to the ground in the opposite direction. The man grabbed her purse and ran off.

  I ran outside and helped Nancy to her feet. “Are you all right?”

  “My medicine! My purse.” She shook off my grasp and limped down the sidewalk after the thief.

  “Thief!” I screamed and chased him.

  “Merry, don’t!” Nancy called out.

  The purse snatcher ran, hunched over, digging in Nancy’s purse. Where was everyone? I couldn’t believe no one was else was coming to help. I huffed and puffed, glasses bouncing on the bridge of my nose. My pace was slowing down. The guy was going to outrun me.

  He reached one of the small service roads. My spirits picked up. Half the time, there was a police car parked there, waiting for speeders who like to zoom down the road. The man started running across. A horn blared. A vehicle was shooting across the road. Another reason the police took up residence on the side street.

  The man lost his grip on the purse as he planted a hand on the hood of the car and slid across. The driver slammed on the brakes. The thief landed on his feet and kept running, leaving the purse behind.

  The shaken driver jumped out and pointed at the guy. “He came out of nowhere. You saw that. Right?”

  “He’s not going to call the cops. He stole a purse and was trying to get away.” I picked up Nancy’s purse and walked back to One More Page.

  “Oh my goodness.” Nancy’s hand was pressed against her heart. “That was scary.”

  Probably not the best idea to chase him, but the distress in Nancy’s voice caused me to react. I had wanted to right a wrong. And that one seemed simple enough. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  Nancy nodded. “You might want to check in with Cassie. She heard me yell for you.”

  I went back inside and saw a pile of items on the floor. The stuff Nancy dropped from her purse. I picked them up. Cassie was behind the counter, filling a to-go cup with coffee from a carafe.

  Receipts. Four bank slips with Jenna’s name on it. Wow, the woman sure did have Nancy hopping around for her. The slips were for four different banks. Cash deposits. Why so many different ones? Wasn’t it easier to keep your money all in one place?

  My eyes caught the sum. The travel business was booming this holiday season.

  “You shouldn’t have done that.” Cassie held out a cup of coffee in a to-go mug.

  The cinnamon wafted toward me. It smelled heavenly. Unfortunately, my hands were full. I crumbled the receipts and slips into a giant ball and shoved them into the garbage can behind the counter. I accepted the drink and took a small sip, nearly burning my tongue. “Delicious.”

  “Don’t change the subject.” Tears rushed into her eyes. “What you did was stupid. You could’ve gotten hurt. Killed.”

  “I wasn’t in any danger,” I said.

  “You don’t know that. That guy knocked into Nancy on purpose. What if had decided to turn around and hit you? Attack you.
He might’ve been on drugs or something.”

  I opened my mouth to argue then stopped. As much as I didn’t like getting a lecture from an eighteen-year-old, she was right. I made a dangerous choice. Whatever was in Nancy’s purse wasn’t worth my life. “You’re right.”

  Five

  Every ounce of sunlight had left, and the sky was a stretched canvas of black littered with twinkling stars. Flakes of snow drifted down. It was a perfect night for the parade. I just had to find a way to enjoy it. A melancholy had settled over me thinking of everyone’s reaction to Jenna’s float.

  I adjusted my scarf. There was something about that twinge of cold that brought memories of Christmas past. The hope. The excitement. The childhood longing for Santa Claus and the wonders a young mind dreamed during this time of year. My children loved the Christmas parade. Even when they were teenagers, it was one of the events of the season that we always attended together. It was a nostalgic childhood tradition for them and I was thrilled they never felt too old to enjoy it. This was my first year without one of my children watching the parade with me.

  Half the floats had arrived, ignoring the time-slots I had given them, and the drivers were in the process of getting into the proper que order. They were used to arriving an hour before the parade started. The biggest surprise was Jenna still hadn’t arrived. I wasn’t sure if that went on the naughty or nice side. Rachel was also tardy along with Paul McCormick and the fire truck.

  The Harmony Baptist float was parked at the end of the parking lot. Pastor Benjamin was adjusting the cardboard star above Baby Jesus. The savior being represented by an American Girl Bitty baby doll. The pastor had wanted a real baby, but there wasn’t a mother who was comfortable having their infant on a float during December. I couldn’t blame them. The weather was unpredictable.

  In the distance, I heard the siren of the fire truck blip. At least one more of my floats was almost here. Paul took up residence in my mind before I closed the door on those thoughts. He was my friend’s son. A friend of mine. A man, thirteen years my junior, who wanted to be more than friends. At times the thought appealed to me and other times I wanted to hide from what seemed like a threat of romance. My track record of picking a mate was dismal. Two divorces.

  A husband? Why not just a guy to hang out with? Have fun? That was something to consider. Who says I needed a commitment? Why not just have a friendship, with the possibility of a romantic entanglement every now and then? I was an adult. I didn’t have children at home to worry about. Just have fun and not worry about the future of a relationship.

  A loud ruckus drew my attention. A horde of boys in blue uniforms were running around. A frazzled looking man and woman tried to gather them up as the Boy Scouts darted off in different directions, trying to see if anyone needed help.

  I tapped the book light I had attached to my clipboard and checked off the Boy Scouts. Now all my walkers had checked in: Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the high school band. I was waiting for the high school dance troop, the competition cheerleaders, and dance team.

  “Troop 113, checking in.” The leader said, counting the boys in blue scattered around the parking lot.

  “Got them.” Fortunately, the church had installed massive security lights all around the church’s parking lot, making it easier to track the troop who didn’t seem able to stay in one place longer than fifteen seconds. Watching the darting bodies was exhausting. Where did the boys get so much energy this late in the evening?

  “Shouldn’t everyone be getting into place?” Pastor Benjamin Heath pushed up the beige sleeve of his Joseph costume and tapped his watch. “The parade begins in five minutes.”

  Where had the time gone? And where were the rest of the floats? “I’ll get everyone in place soon. Waiting on a few more floats.”

  “We’re ready.” Pastor Benjamin waved his hand and a group of church members dressed as the figures in the nativity circled him. “I’ve had my float here ready for days.”

  It was easy for them to be on time as the stage area was the parking lot of Harmony Baptist Church, which was a block from the beginning of Main Avenue. Though I noticed he was short a wise man.

  “I’m still missing a lot of the floats.”

  “How is Santa’s sleigh?” Sarah adjusted the drape of her husband’s robe then smoothed down the area of hers over her stomach. “Norman wanted authentic presents rather than fake ones like our previous Santa used. The church had already collected a lot and wrapped them ourselves, so we donated those gifts. It doesn’t matter if the church gives the children presents or Santa.”

  I was glad to hear it though it was a change of attitude for Sarah. Usually she wanted Santa wiped right out of Christmas.

  “I hope the sleigh isn’t too full,” the pastor said. “We don’t want the gifts tumbling out as the sleigh makes its way down the street.”

  “I’ll check on it,” I said.

  Santa’s sleigh was in hiding behind the church underneath a tarp. No one wanted a child seeing it before Santa was suited up and in place. Frowning, I glanced around. Where was Norman? Norman Bail was seventy-two years old, the oldest city council member, and the most rule-abiding person I knew, besides my son Scotland. Norman loved Christmas almost as much as I did. He and his wife Angela built the most awesome Christmas display every year, it was like the North Pole was transported to their yard. Lighted sleigh. Eight lighted reindeer arranged around the yard, waiting for Christmas Eve when Norman moved them to the places in front of the sleigh. He usually was the second one who showed up, Pastor Benjamin always being first, including before the event’s organizer.

  Where were my missing floats? I pulled out my cell and called one of my stragglers.

  A harried voice answered the call. “On the way. Traffic is stopped. A large plastic snowman is blocking the road.”

  That explained why so many of the floats were missing and the blipping of the siren.

  “The fire department is helping the owner clear it. Good thing it was a bounceable plastic and the fire truck was behind it. It bounced off the road and hit the grill of the truck. Traffic is moving again. You’ll have a slew of floats pulling in soon.”

  Panic welled up in me. How was I going to handle a bunch of floats arriving at the same time? There wasn’t enough space in the parking lot to have them pull in and wait while I was lining up another float. I was a one-woman show.

  “What’s going on?” Norman said from behind me.

  I spun around, never so happy to see someone in my life. Norman’s flannel shirt was tight across his stomach. The man had taken his Santa role seriously and bulked up a few pounds.

  “You can help me line everyone up. Half the floats are here, and the other ones will all be arriving shortly.”

  Norman’s face scrunched up in confusion.

  Taking in a few deep breaths, I centered myself and reexplained that I needed his help.

  “The parade is starting?” Norman scratched his chin, fingers disappearing into his white beard.

  I wasn’t sure if he was asking me a question or stating the obvious. Either way, I was worried. “In five minutes. Starts the same time every year.”

  “Of course. I just—” Norman stopped talking and gazed around the area, seeming a little lost and confused.

  A knot formed in my stomach. His mannerisms reminded me of my mom right before she was diagnosed with her illness. Confusion. Forgetfulness. And trying to cover it up by having someone repeat what was said or asking a question in a manner where it sounded like a statement.

  Red lights flashed on and off. The fire truck, along with Paul McCormick and Chief Vandermore, had arrived. Hopefully, I could wrangle some help from them.

  Paul parked the fire truck where it blocked anyone else from entering. Before I could tell him to move it, he jumped out and jogged over to me.

  “Chief said to check in with you an
d find out if you want us to move the fire truck into position or pull it up a bit where only one float will be able to pull in at time from this entrance to the parking lot. He thought you might want some help controlling the flow of traffic.”

  There went the fantastic line-up I designed, though since everyone but Jenna had showed up, she’d be last. Once Santa arrived, no one would pay attention to her float. Her naughty sign wouldn’t matter. “Sounds like a great plan. I’ll get the ones in the staging area to pull up to the next one.”

  Norman wandered off toward the back of the church. Had he remembered he needed to get ready for the parade? Santa had to be suited up.

  “Merry, are you okay?” Paul touched my elbow.

  I blew out a breath. “I’m worried about Norman. He forgot about the parade. He asked me what was going on and I thought he meant about there not being a lot of floats here yet, but then I realized he meant why were there floats in the church’s parking lot. It reminds me of my mom.” My voice turned raspy as tears brewed. I handed Paul my clipboard. “Can you tell everyone the change of plans?”

  “I’ll go check on him and see if he wants assistance loading Santa’s sleigh.”

  “I’ll feel better if I talk with him.” As I rounded the corner, I heard Norman cursing. He was sitting in the sleigh, leaning over so his head wasn’t visible. Presents were tumbling from the sleigh to the ground. Santa’s bag was overflowing. A few had toppled from the back and were almost underneath a new twelve-passenger van parked behind the sleigh. The white vehicle gleamed under the light. Harmony Baptist Church was expertly painted on the side.

  “Everything all right?” I called out to him, not wanting to startle him.

  “I had all these presents in Santa’s bag last night. Someone was messing with my stuff. I had a tarp over the sleigh and it was off. A child could’ve seen it. Some of these presents are ruined. They were Secret Elves presents. Who would’ve done this?” He tugged on the hem of the Santa suit jacket.