Patrick seemed to realize how important Jay had become to his sister in this short amount of time. Her brother wanted to leave Jay a message, so she’d let him type a few lines to him on Sunday. It made her nervous wondering how Jay would respond to him. It pleased her with how patient he’d been with her brother to this point. He’d treated Patrick like he would anyone, and had been thoughtful and kind.
This alone comforted Merry in their growing relationship. Once, in high school, a date had made a joke about her brother, which had infuriated Merry. She never went out with him again, although he’d insisted it had all been in fun. Clearly, she couldn’t take a joke, her date had told her. Jay had been wonderful, though, and that endeared him to her even more. After their Sunday night chat, she toyed with the idea of meeting Jay sooner rather than later. This evening when they went online, she was willing to approach him with the suggestion and see how he felt.
The afternoon was progressing smoothly until Mr. Bright happened to walk through their department. He paused when his gaze landed on the holiday decorations.
Merry looked up from her computer screen and glared at him, daring him to comment.
He regarded the three of them steadily before he asked, “Who did this?”
Merry stood ready to face him head-on. “Me.”
“It’s nice, but unfortunately, I have to ask you to take all this down.”
“But why?” she asked, doing her best to hide her irritation. “It isn’t disrupting our work. Ask Lauren and Kylie if you don’t believe me. In fact, the music relaxes us so we work faster and more efficiently.”
“I don’t mean to—”
“What could you possibly have against Christmas?”
“I don’t dislike Christmas,” he insisted. “The employee manual clearly states—”
“The employee manual?” she repeated.
“It’s required reading for all employees, Miss…” He paused and glanced at the nameplate on her desk. “Knight.”
“I’m a temp and no one gave me an employee manual,” she told him.
“Which explains why you were unaware of the rules. I can’t let you keep these decorations up because that would encourage others to ignore company policy.”
“I see,” she said, biting into her lower lip. Far be it for anyone to enhance their work area or show a bit of cheer for the season.
As if reading her mind, Mr. Bright added, “The handbook specifically states there are to be no decorations for holidays. No displays on desks or floors. I apologize that HR didn’t give you a handbook. I’ll see to it that you receive one. Please read it.”
“I will,” she murmured, although it was a little late, seeing that her last day working as a temp would be right before Christmas. Finding the time to read the manual, especially now, would be difficult.
“I suggest you start with page twenty, third paragraph from the bottom,” Bright told her, as if knowing her intentions.
Naturally, he would know the handbook by chapter and verse.
“This has long been the company policy,” he said defensively. “I didn’t make the rules, Ms. Knight, but it is what it is. Can I count on you to remove these decorations?”
Merry expelled her breath and slowly nodded. “Yes.”
“Thank you.” He looked over her desk, and for one moment she was convinced he showed regret, but then she was probably mistaken.
“I’ll make sure not to do it on company time,” she assured him. “You should know I came in early and arranged all this before starting work.”
“That’s appreciated. Thank you.”
He left then. The entire time they’d been talking, both Lauren and Kylie continued to work, doing their best to pretend not to notice their conversation.
Once he was out of sight, they stopped work and turned to Merry.
“You okay?” Lauren asked.
“Of course. I didn’t know holiday decorations were against company policy,” Merry said, biting the inside of her cheek. Her other team members apparently didn’t, either, or they would have said something earlier.
“We’ll help you take everything down,” Kylie offered.
“No. It’s fine,” she assured her friends. “I was the one who put them up and I’ll be the one to take them down.” It took Merry several minutes to settle her nerves. She didn’t know what it was about their boss. It went without saying that he was under pressure. They all were. At times, it seemed he went out of his way to find fault with her. The truth was Merry thought Bright and the employee manual were all a bit ridiculous, yet she had the impression he hadn’t been happy about asking her to remove the decorations. He’d simply been doing his job.
Thankfully, this was a temporary situation, and in a short time she’d have completed her contract with Matterson Consulting.
—
Once home, Merry’s mother noticed her slumped shoulders. Or she may have noticed the way Merry closed the microwave door with more force than was necessary.
“Hard day, sweetie?”
“The worst,” Merry said, whirling around to face her mother. “Mr. Bright made me take down the holiday decorations and then at lunch I spilled tomato soup on my white blouse and if that wasn’t bad enough I made a mistake and entered data in the wrong file and had to redo it all, wasting time when we’re already on such a tight schedule.”
Her mother, who was a salt-of-the-earth kind of person, frowned. “I’m sorry.”
“Mom, you have nothing to be sorry about. This is all on me.”
“Why would your boss make you remove the Christmas decorations?”
“Company policy,” she reported, holding back a smile. “Page twenty of the employee handbook. Third paragraph from the bottom.”
“Did your boss tell you that?”
“He did.”
“It sounds like he wrote the handbook.”
“I don’t think so, although he must have the entire thing memorized.” She wanted to blame Bright for her bad mood. It was easy to lay the fault on him, but she was the one who’d spilled her soup and the one who’d entered the data incorrectly. Still, it had all started with him.
Later that night, once she’d settled her nerves, Merry went online with Jay. Within only a few minutes he sensed something had upset her, and asked what was wrong.
I had a truly terrible, awful, no good Monday. Hope yours was better than mine.
Want to talk about it? I’m a good listener.
No, but thanks. If I reiterate everything that went wrong, that will only upset me again, and I don’t want to waste another minute dwelling on the negative. Bottom line, I had a run-in with my boss. I’m over it and want to move on.
I hate the thought of you being upset.
Talking to you helps. And it did. Already Merry could feel her spirits rising. Chatting with Jay was exactly what she needed to help her deal with her horrible Monday.
I’d give anything to comfort you with a hug right now.
Merry hesitated. She’d give anything to get a hug from him. They’d decided to wait to meet, but maybe they were overthinking this. If they waited too long it could become an issue.
Are you thinking what I’m thinking? she asked.
What keeps going through my mind is seeing you in person, talking face-to-face instead of through a computer, having coffee together, laughing together, reaching over to hold your hand…What do you say?
Although this was what she wanted, Merry hesitated. What made you change your mind?
I’m not entirely sure. Think it might be what happened this last weekend. Things changed between us.
She felt it, too. There had been a slight shift in their relationship, a deeper understanding. Jay had chatted with Patrick, and afterward it was as if she’d lowered a wall she didn’t even know was there. He had, too. Their discussion, although shorter than usual, had grown deeper, more intimate.
I appreciated the advice you gave me regarding my dad. What you said made a difference. You helped m
e to see him in a different light. He seems to regret much of what’s taken place in his life, the kind of father he’s been. I had the feeling he’s looking to make up for lost time. We’ll never be bosom buddies, but I could talk to him without resentment and I thank you for that. After the lunch with my dad, I had the strongest desire to meet you. Are you ready for that?
You’re serious? You want to meet?
I do, and the sooner the better.
It’ll have to be next Sunday. I’m working late every night this week, and Saturday I promised to go with Patrick and a group of his friends over to Leavenworth on the Christmas train. I won’t be back until late.
Then Sunday it is. What time?
You’re sure about this?
Positive. More so every minute.
How about three? I like the idea of us having coffee together.
After trading several messages back and forth, they decided on a meeting location: Starbucks in Pacific Place, a downtown mall. It was convenient to them both, although she’d need to take the bus. To be able to recognize each other, they agreed that he would wear a blue dress shirt and she would have on a beige coat with a brown-and-black plaid scarf.
—
Lauren and Kylie noticed Merry’s upbeat mood first thing the following morning.
“Hey, what’s up with you?” Lauren asked. “Did you win the lottery or something?”
Merry could hardly contain her excitement. “Jay and I decided to meet this Sunday.”
“Jay, that guy you met over the Internet?” Lauren asked, picking up on the conversation. “You do realize he could be a serial killer, right?”
“Would you stop?” Kylie teased. “This is the way women meet men these days. And who else could Merry mean? She’s been loopy ever since she started messaging with this guy.”
“Don’t do it,” Lauren advised. “Trust me, no good will come of this.”
Merry suspected that was what her friend would say. “Don’t worry, we’re only having coffee.”
“In a public place?”
“Yes, of course.”
“This is so romantic,” Kylie murmured dreamily. “You know I’m living vicariously through you.”
Lauren didn’t agree. “You’ll be disappointed. Mark my words.”
“Lauren,” Kylie chastised. “Don’t say that. You need to let this play out.”
Their coworker was having none of it. “Bet he’s as ugly as sin and that’s the reason he’s waited this long to suggest you meet.”
“Will you stop,” Kylie said, and wagged her index finger at her coworker.
At this point, Jay’s looks didn’t matter to Merry. She enjoyed chatting with him, getting to know him. Over the last couple weeks, she’d discovered how much they had in common. While there was a lot about him that she didn’t know, he’d opened a whole new world to her. They were kindred spirits, lonely souls, caught up in duty and commitment. It wasn’t until they started talking that Merry realized how isolated she’d become. Her life consisted of home and work, with few social outlets.
That evening, when Merry logged on, Jay was waiting for her.
Well, did your coworkers talk you out of meeting me?
No. How did you know they would even try? His question was uncanny. It was almost as if he knew what Lauren had said. Did your friends try to talk you out of meeting me?
My friends are few and far between, Merry. My best friends live in other parts of the country. It’s been all work and little play for me until I met you.
My dearest friend married a guy in the Navy and moved away. It’s a lot of work and little play for me as well, which is why Mom and Patrick signed me up.
I’m grateful they did.
Me, too.
Patrick came into her room and sat down on the corner of her bed. “You talking to Jay?”
She sat crisscross style with her laptop balanced on her knees. “Yeah.”
“Can I talk to him again, too?”
Seeing how patient Jay had been earlier, she let him.
Hi Jay. It’s me. I’m Patrick. Sissy said I could type.
Did she tell you we’re going on our first date?
Yes, and she said she was going to bring you cookies we baked as a surprise. I frosted them and put on the sprinkles, but there are more than eggnog cookies. You like cookies? I do.
I love cookies.
I like baking and eating. Sissy says she wants you back now.
K. Nice talking to you.
Merry rotated the laptop so she was in control of the keyboard. Patrick had no idea he had ruined her small surprise and she wasn’t about to tell him.
I’m back.
Cookies? Did someone mention cookies?
Well, you know what they say, don’t you? The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.
The thing is, Merry, you won’t need cookies to find your way there.
Merry read that line twice. It was too soon. He shouldn’t be saying things like this. Too soon or not, she felt like she was walking two feet off the ground, happier than she could remember being in a long time.
Sunday couldn’t come fast enough for Merry.
CHAPTER SIX
Jayson
Sunday couldn’t come fast enough for Jayson.
He was excited to finally have the chance to meet Merry. He didn’t know the details of what had upset her at work this past week. She’d briefly mentioned her boss; the two apparently had a run-in earlier. Merry hadn’t wanted to talk about it. He wished she would. Unfamiliar emotion rocked him and he was ready to punch whoever had upset her. He wasn’t violent by any stretch of the imagination, and this overwhelming protective urge was foreign to him. Merry was a beautiful soul. Anyone who mistreated her should be made to regret it. His reaction told him how strong his attraction for her was.
The fact that Merry had been unwilling to discuss the negative gave him insight into her character. Merry wasn’t one to linger on adversity. She wasn’t looking for sympathy or reassurance. Whatever had happened, she’d handled it herself and didn’t want to burden him or anyone else with her troubles. She did mention that she was tempted to not renew her contract with the company if they asked, but that was the extent of what she’d said. His admiration for her grew each day.
They’d chatted until almost midnight nearly every night. It was hard for them to stop talking. He’d had no idea he would have that much to say to anyone, let alone a woman he had yet to meet. She’d written about the Christmases of her youth and how her parents had worked hard to make them special, even with their limited finances.
The Christmases of Jayson’s childhood had been hellish. There were always gifts—plenty of those for sure—but gifts meant little when only strife existed between the two most important people in his world: his parents. The one tradition his family had was heated battles, leaving him feeling unloved and unwanted.
The contrast between Merry’s home life and his own was striking. Afterward he had a hard time sleeping, as his mind wandered and he imagined what Christmas would be like with Merry.
Naturally, there’d be a tall Christmas tree with handmade ornaments made by Patrick and their own children.
Wait.
Children?
Him with a family? No way.
The thought shook him to the point he sat up in bed. What am I thinking?
A couple weeks of chatting online with this girl and all at once he was walking through a field of daisies with a rainbow overhead and unicorns prancing close by. This wasn’t like him.
Lying back down, he closed his eyes and tried to ease the tension from his limbs. As soon as he was half asleep once more, the same picturesque scene returned. The eight-foot Christmas tree filled the living room and the scent of freshly baked eggnog cookies stirred his senses to the point he could almost taste the frosting. Oddly, no gifts were under the tree in his daydream. Presents weren’t the point, after all; besides, Santa had yet to arrive.
Santa?
; Even as a young boy, Jayson had never believed in Santa. How could he? As far as he was concerned, he’d never had a childhood. It wasn’t that he was filled with self-pity. Other children had it far worse than he ever did. He’d always had a place to sleep and food to fill his stomach. What he’d craved was love, and that had been in shockingly short supply.
—
The following morning, Jayson made a point of walking past Mary Knight’s desk. He’d felt bad about needing to ask her to remove the decorations. It was a role he disliked, but unfortunately it was necessary. He’d done his best to explain, and he hoped she hadn’t taken it personally.
As Jayson strolled past the data-entry area, he noticed that the miniature Christmas tree was gone as well as the silver garlands around the cubicles. He’d run into Mary before, he remembered, when he’d found her eating at her desk. The company had a perfectly decent lunchroom, and he didn’t like the idea of Mary working through her lunch hour. He thought that perhaps she’d been in a rush to finish for the day because she had a date that night. That didn’t set right with him, which was completely unreasonable. It made no sense that he should care. Mary was young and attractive, so there was every likelihood that she was romantically involved. Not that it was any of his business.
The fact was he liked Mary. She had a lot of spirit and wasn’t afraid to share her opinions. He found himself thinking about her and instantly was filled with guilt. He was set to meet Merry soon and she was the one who held his interest.
He noticed Mary wasn’t at her desk. Surprised, he checked his watch. He’d never known her to be late, and it was four minutes past eight. As the thought flittered through his mind, Mary came rushing toward her desk, carting a tray with three take-out cups. Apparently, this was some fancy coffee drink for her team, neither of whom had arrived yet, either.
Smiling and in a good mood, she placed the cups on each of their desks and hummed a Christmas carol as she agilely moved from desk to desk. When she glanced up, she must have caught sight of him, because she paused, frozen in place for several seconds, as if awaiting his reprimand.