Merry's Christmas: A Love Story Read Online Free PDF Page A

stopped what he was
doing. He hazarded a glance in Merry’s general direction, fighting to maintain
his resolve. He pointed out to the floor of his establishment. In an instant,
he felt his ears turn scarlet, the way they always did whenever he got worked
up over anything.
    “Ever see them rich people in this
diner?” he spat out. “No. They’re uptown in cafés and fancy schmancy
restaurants charging more than you and me make all day.”
    “Artie, this is my time,” Merry implored.
“I know it. This is my Christmas. So, would you please just roll with me on
this?”
    Arthur mulled it over, hesitantly. He ran
a tired hand through his thinning hair as Kiki stepped into the fray. He saw
Kiki plant herself, put her hands on her hips, and burn him with the kind of
look that only Kiki could give.
    “You don’t let Merry do this, then I
quit,” Kiki vowed. “Either way you’re way up a holiday creek.”
    Arthur knew when he was outgunned. Merry
had always been a good waitress, but Kiki was a great one. She’d been serving
the Downtown Diner’s customers since the very beginning. He couldn’t afford to
lose Kiki, not in this economy, and certainly not during the upcoming holiday
rush. “All right, I give. Fine,” Arthur conceded. “So, get out there and get
cracking!”
    Merry gave Arthur an exuberant kiss on
the cheek and scurried back out toward the restaurant’s service floor.
    Arthur sighed dejectedly as she left.
Everything in him wanted to read something more than the flush of excitement
into Merry’s burst of affection, though he knew deep down that he shouldn’t.
    Kiki softened. “Can’t lose what you don’t
have.”
    Arthur watched Merry from the kitchen.
She was already back wiping the counter, charming his customers, obviously
elated about the possibilities. “She don’t have that job yet,” he insisted to
Kiki. “Think I want to see her crushed? Best she face up and get on with it.”
    Kiki shook her head with a grin. She
could reach him like no one else could.
    “Artie, you’re something,” she teased.
“You think you’re some kind of Oprah, don’t you? Well, maybe folks’ll start
listening to all them pearls when you start listening to yourself.”
    ♥    ♥    ♥
     
    Catherine
searched her purse as she exited Strong Bank & Trust with Daniel. She
enjoyed having him back on her arm. It wasn’t that she’d felt threatened in any
way when she’d seen him step out for coffee with Merry. From her vantage point
at the top of the mezzanine stairs, Merry had seemed waifish at best. Her
uniform and worn sensible shoes had done absolutely nothing for her appearance.
    Just as soon as he’d returned, Daniel had
been careful to explain to her that Merry had just wanted to talk to him about
the Christmas Coordinator position, and that qualifications hadn’t so much been
her strong suit.
    It was a mercy interview, Catherine
intuited. Even if it hadn’t been, she couldn’t imagine that there would be a
problem. Still, something inside her hoped Daniel would go another way.
    Catherine fished a ticket stub out of her
bag. She handed it to the valet, then turned to Daniel. “If you’re looking for
someone more seasoned to coordinate, I have a great service I’ve used. They’re
very professional,” she promised. “They’d take care of everything, first class
all the way.”
    “Thanks, but...I’m still mulling it
over,” Daniel replied. “She’s a little green, but...it might work out with the
kids. I don’t know.”
    Catherine was pleased to have come
prepared. She went back into her designer clutch and found a business card. She
extended it to Daniel as offhandedly as she could. “Well, here’s the service,
in case. Ask for Philippe. Tell him you’re with me and he’ll clear his
calendar.”
    Daniel accepted the card with a smile. “I
like the sound of that—saying I’m with you.” He put his arm around her waist,
making her glad she’d worked so hard on it with her