“Makes you not want to get up and go to work.” Zack pointed the heat vent at me. “I didn’t see you in your car this morning. I was worried about you, so I checked, first thing.”
“You’re super sweet Zack. I slept somewhere else last night. It was way too cold.” I held my hands in front of the heat. “Thanks for the ride to the doors. When you go on break, come by and get a few candy canes for your kids.”
“By the way, I like the blonde wig today,” Zack called out.
I sprinted from the car and into the mall. I’d only been gone for fifteen minutes, so I still had time to get cleaned up. I made my way to the food court bathroom area. Since the mall was pretty empty in the morning, I felt sure I could lock myself into the family bathroom and get a sponge bath in the sink.
This stinks, but not as much as living in that last foster home or the women’s shelter. What I need is a steady job and a roommate.
“Morning, Karen,” I said to the lady that cleans the bathrooms. “I’m gonna be in the big one for about ten minutes.”
“Go on, darling. I won’t be over there ‘til well after that.” Karen walked over to her cleaning cart. “Here, baby girl. Take this towel for your bath.”
I stood in place, staring at her outreached hand. “How did you know?”
“Because you come in here every morning. You go in looking like you just woke up and come out all fixed up.” Karen pointed to the bathroom door. “All you gotta do is pay attention to the people around you. If you look enough, you’ll see everything.”
I took the full-sized towel from Karen and then grabbed her in a huge hug. I’d only been in this town a few months, but, so far, everyone around me was nicer than the people who’d been in my life for years. I turned and went into the bathroom with the biggest smile. I washed my face, put on fresh mascara and lipstick, and started shoving my stuff back in my bag. My watch showed I’d been in the bathroom ten minutes.
“Paige, I have some hot chocolate out here. Hurry up, now.” Karen tapped on the door.
“Karen, where did you get hot chocolate?” I opened the bathroom door. “It’s just what I need. I’m still cold from being outside.”
“I have lots of friends in the food court.” Karen winked at me, then handed me a small brown bag. “Now eat that breakfast and get back to making those little ones smile.”
“Thank you. Bring your grandkids to see Santa.” I hugged her again.
I peeked inside the bag while I walked back to the workshop. She’d given me a breakfast sandwich and hash browns. This was the most food I’d had for breakfast in at least a year.
“I’m back, Sherry. Give me five minutes to eat my breakfast.” I sat behind the counter. “Has it been busy?”
“Not at all. I don’t even know why they have this workshop open in the morning,” Sherry complained. “It’s so boring.”
“Hey, look, they’re putting up a big Christmas tree in the middle of the mall.” I stood to watch. “We should have a Christmas tree with Santa’s workshop.”
“Yeah, it might help people find us at least.” Sherry played with her hair. “Did you see that cute guy that works in the sunglass store?”
“No, I didn’t. Don’t you have a boyfriend?” I asked, still watching the tree being put up.
“Yeah, but I’m just looking.” Sherry munched on a candy cane. “Besides, I was telling you for you.”
“Hey, I’m gonna walk down there and check out the tree. Be right back.” I popped the last hash brown in my mouth. “Just wave if you need me. I’ll keep looking over here.”
I tossed my bag into Santa’s workshop when neither of them were looking, then slowly walked toward the giant tree. I could smell it from a good fifty feet away. It was a smell that brought back the feeling of family, even though I couldn’t actually remember too much about my family. The tree had been placed in the stand and I stood next to it, looking up at its twenty-foot stature.
I wonder what color bulbs they’re going to put on it.
I was so absorbed in memories and thoughts of how pretty it would be all decorated that I never heard them yelling for me to watch out until I was laying under the tree with only my elf slippers sticking out.
Chapter 8
Asher
Iwas up before the alarm clock, two cups of coffee downed while I made notes and phone calls, then I dropped in on August to pick up the plans. He’d had time to make a few notes that I’d look over on my way to the airport. My pilot had me on the ground in Connecticut within thirty minutes. My assistant had arranged a limo to be waiting to bring me where I needed to go. Upon arriving at the mall, I could see the machines positioning the tree I ordered, so I headed that way first. Unfortunately, as I approached, I watched two of the crew jump back at the same time as an elf walked behind them. The elf went flying while the crew stumbled but managed to stay upright.
“Should I assume there is a full body attached to these elf legs and slippers?” I asked when I got close enough to see the whole scene.
“No, it’s just legs,” the elf groaned. “Just a bit of holiday design. Merry Christmas.”