Truly Yours Contemporary Collection December 2014 Read online

  “Do I look all right?” she asked him, glancing at her reflection in one of the store’s nearby full-length mirrors.

  He gave her a quick once-over. “You look beautiful!” And she did. Her beauty never ceased to amaze him.

  “I’m so glad you’ve all come.” Eleanor’s smile radiated warmth and grace as she moved into the brightly lit area in front of a bank of red poinsettia plants that had been positioned especially for the press conference and took her place next to a distinguished gentleman who, no doubt, represented the children’s hospital. Eleanor shook the man’s hand, spoke a few words with him, and then turned her smiling face toward the cameras again.

  “Several years ago,” she began in a clear and deliberate voice, “I launched Scrooge’s Web site, and it has been moderately successful, despite the lack of time I was able to give to it. For some time it has been my desire to revamp and make Scrooge’s one of the most convenient, high-quality shopping experiences on the World Wide Web, offering our customers a vast selection of quality and tastefully fashionable merchandise. October the first, that dream became a reality as Scrooge’s newly renovated and expanded Web site was launched. Due to my planning, foresight, and countless hours of hard work, customers have flocked to Scrooge’s dot com to do their Christmas shopping. Because of that, Scrooge’s has had the most successful Christmas season ever, with our sales reaching record numbers, exceeding our wildest expectations. Because of our customers’ enthusiastic response to my dream and my vision for Scrooge’s, I am able to present this sizable check to the children’s hospital.”

  Bob’s brows rose. Your hard work? What about mine?

  “Hopefully,” Eleanor went on, “next year’s check will be even larger, and more precious little children can be helped. Now,” she said, gesturing toward an area along the wall where a highly decorated table had been set up, complete with more pots of gorgeous red poinsettia plants and greenery, a punch bowl and cups, and trays of little Christmas cookies. “I’d like all of you to join us for refreshments, and thank you for coming.”

  Bob watched with amazement as Eleanor circulated among the reporters, shaking hands and giving each her most radiant smile.

  “Did I do all right?” she asked him when the final reporter moved out the door and onto the street in front of the store.

  “You did fine, El. You always do fine, but it would have been nice if you’d given some of the rest of us a little credit. I hardly think you single-handedly caused the increase in sales. What about the phone clerks who wrote up those sales? The people who pulled the merchandise out of the stockroom shelves? The shipping department who put them together and made sure they got to the right place? And the clerks who did the gift wrapping, and the many others who helped?” He leaned toward her, his expression serious. “And what about me? Who worked day and night to get that Web site up and running properly? And who has kept it that way since you convinced me to come back?”

  Eleanor bristled. “I didn’t have to convince you to come back. You came of your own free will.”

  “Only after you begged me!”

  A sad expression came over her face. “I can’t believe you’re talking to me this way, Bob. You, of all people. I always thought you were on my side.”

  He rolled his eyes. “I am on your side, El. I’ve always been on your side, but a guy likes to be appreciated for what he’s done. At that press conference you acted like you’d done it all.”

  She lowered her head, avoiding his eyes. “I didn’t mean it to come off that way. You’re not angry with me, are you?”

  Feeling like a heel, he stepped forward and awkwardly placed his hand on her shoulder. “No, I’m not angry with you. Just disappointed, that’s all. Not so much for me, but for all those other people who worked so hard to make this your best season. They deserved a little thanks, too.”

  “I’m going to give them each a Christmas bonus. Isn’t that enough?”

  “Money is nice, and I’m sure they’ll appreciate it but, sometimes, a verbal thank-you and a bit of praise is what they really need. I know I need it.”

  His words seemed to surprise her. “You don’t know how much I appreciate you and what you’ve done?”

  He shook his head. “No, in all honesty, I don’t. You’re not very free with your thank-yous, El.”

  Standing on tiptoes, she latched onto his hand and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Consider yourself thanked. You’re my rock, Bob, my anchor. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

  A strange feeling came over him, a feeling much like the one he’d had the day Eleanor said she wanted him to take her to the prom. Her words of praise almost made him feel as if he truly was an important part of her life. “I’m glad I was able to help.”

  Still holding on to his hand and gazing up at him, she gave him a demure smile. “That’s my Bobby.”

  Though Bob managed to get away from Scrooge’s for a few hours that afternoon to do a little Christmas shopping for his family, he couldn’t get Eleanor out of his mind. The woman was brilliant, beautiful, and so talented. She had everything, yet nothing. He almost felt sorry for her. She possessed more worldly goods than she’d ever be able to use. What good is wealth when you don’t have a family? he asked himself as he picked up a pale blue sweater he was considering buying for Ginny. I wouldn’t trade my children for all the wealth in the world. Suddenly, he felt like a rich man.

  December 24 dawned bright and clear and cold but, despite the wintry weather, last-minute shoppers filled the aisles at Scrooge’s. Bob spent the morning at his desk in the accounting office—trying to catch up on the many mundane things he’d had to put aside to work on the Web site—with plans to get out of the store no later than five o’clock and spend a pleasant Christmas Eve with his children, attending the candlelight service at their church. He’d cleared his desk of everything but one folder and was holding it, ready to slip it into the file cabinet, when Eleanor came bursting into his office, her arms loaded with papers and magazines, her eyes flashing with excitement.

  “Oh, Bob, I’m so glad I caught you. I have this wonderful idea and—”

  Quickly inserting the folder into the proper place, he closed the file cabinet and locked it. “Sorry. Whatever it is will have to wait. I’m about to go home.”

  After peering at the diamond watch on her dainty wrist—an expensive present Bob knew had been a gift from her late husband—she frowned up at him. “It’s not even five o’clock! You can’t leave yet.”

  Using both hands, he grasped her by the shoulders and leaned his face toward hers. “El! It’s Christmas Eve!”

  ❧

  So?”

  “You may not have anyone to go home to, but I do. In case you haven’t noticed, the store is closed and your employees have all gone home, where I should be going.” Reaching toward his desk, he picked up a gift-wrapped package and handed it to her. “But first I have something for you.”

  She took the crudely wrapped package and scanned it carefully. “What’s this?”

  A broad smile erupted across his face. “It’s your Christmas present, from me and my children. They made the wrapping paper,” he said proudly.

  Eleanor gazed at the simple paintings on the white tissue paper—paintings of candy canes, poinsettias, and Christmas trees. “You didn’t tell me they were so artistic.”

  “Open it.”

  Slowly, she pulled off the red ribbon, then the paper. “You got me a—a Bible?”

  “Yes, a red leather one,” he said, proudly pointing to the description on the box. “I know you like red, and I wasn’t sure if you still had the Bible my parents gave you for Christmas when we were kids.”

  “I think I left it in New York,” she confessed, a bit stunned by his gift. “I don’t read the Bible anymore.”

  “Well, I hope you’ll read this one.” He moved quickly around her, gave her a friendly smile, and headed for the door. “I’ll see you bright and early on December 26. Merry Christmas, El.” />
  She rushed past him and spread her arms open wide, blocking his exit. “You can’t leave yet. I haven’t told you my idea.”

  Bob moved back into the room and settled himself in a chair. “Okay, I’m listening, but you’d better make it fast. You’ve got five minutes.”

  Eleanor beamed, barely able to contain her enthusiasm. “Do you realize Valentine’s Day is just seven weeks away?”

  Bob gave her a puzzled stare. “That’s what you wanted to tell me?”

  “I’ve been thinking. We need to do a Valentine’s Day promotion. You know, with red hearts, lace, and cherubs, and—”

  He tried to stand, but she placed her hands on his chest and pushed him back into the chair.

  “El! Who cares? We don’t even have Christmas and New Year’s over with yet!”

  “True, but with the kind of promotion I have in mind, we’ll need to have it placed on the Web site at least one month early. That means we only have three weeks to get it posted. We need to get busy on it now.”

  “Now? You mean right now? This minute?” He tried to stand again, but she prevented it.

  “Of course, I mean now. But I guess you have plans. Didn’t you say something about attending a candlelight service tonight?”

  “Yes, I did, El. It’s something we do as a family every year.”

  “Well, then. We can start tomorrow!” she explained, her enthusiasm for her idea still bubbling over. “I’ll meet you here about eight, and we can get on it. I’ve already got a head start. I’ve gone through dozens of old January and February magazines and clipped out pictures, and I’ve—”

  Pushing her hands aside, Bob rose. “El, no! I’m sorry, but Christmas is a very special time for our family. It’s the celebration of our Lord’s birth. I’ll be spending Christmas Day with my children, not working at Scrooge’s on a Valentine promotion.”

  Used to having things her way, she winced at his words. Things were not going the way she’d planned them, and she didn’t like it one bit. “But I’ve already reserved space in a number of newspapers, and I want to do another television campaign. If we get started on it now and do it right, it could double our—”

  Bob stared at her in obvious amazement. “Look, El, I’d do most anything for you, but leaving my family on the most important day of the year to work on a Valentine project is not one of them.” He glanced at the big clock on the wall. “If my family is going to have a little supper and make it to the candlelight service on time, I’ve got to get out of here.” He paused, giving her hand a squeeze. “You could go with us.”

  Laughing aloud at such a ridiculous idea, she gave her head a hearty shake. “No thanks. I can’t. I have—plans. Are you sure we can’t get together tomorrow? Maybe in the afternoon?”

  As if trying to keep his own frustration at bay, Bob sucked in a deep breath then took her hands and enfolded them in his. “Sorry, El, but my answer is still no. I promise I’ll be in bright and early the day after Christmas, and we can get started then, but I will not work on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.”

  Convinced she was losing the battle and was well on the way toward irritating him to the point of quitting if she kept pushing, she reluctantly backed off.

  He smiled at her in a kindly way. “If you loved the Lord like you did when you were a kid and hadn’t turned your back on Him, you’d understand why celebrating the birth of Christ is so important to us. Why don’t you take a few minutes during these special days and turn to the second chapter of Luke in that Bible we gave you and read the Christmas story?”

  “I already know the Christmas story,” she countered with a scowl.

  “You may know the Christmas story, but I’m not sure you know the Christ of Christmas. Wouldn’t you like to reacquaint yourself with Him? His arms are open wide and He’s always ready to listen, El. I know He’d like to hear from you.”

  “I’ve made it on my own so far and have done a pretty good job of it,” she told him with an indignant tilt of her chin. “I don’t need Him, Bob. What did God ever do for me? I remember begging Him to help me get a good job when I moved to New York. Did He do it? No!”

  “Perhaps it wasn’t His will that you stay in New York.”

  “Okay then. Where was He when my dad beat my mom? When he beat me and my sister?”

  Bob swallowed hard. “How can I, a mere mortal, begin to explain why God does what He does? I don’t know, El. All I know is He could have intervened if He’d seen fit to do so. We don’t know why God does what He does. We have to take Him and His will on faith. I don’t know why my precious daughter was born with a port-wine stain on her cheek. Or why He took Lydia from our family at such an early age. All I know is that He is God and He loves us. And, if we confess our sins, ask His forgiveness, and accept Christ as our Savior, we’ll spend eternity in heaven with Him.”

  “God has certainly asked us to accept a lot on faith,” she murmured, thoughtfully mulling over Bob’s words.

  “Yes, He has. We either accept God’s Word as He’s given it to us, or reject it. It’s our decision. There’s no other way and no shortcuts.” He bent and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Merry Christmas, El.”

  “The same to you, Bob.” She watched as he moved through the door, closing it behind him, and once again, she was alone. All alone.

  Still disappointed that Bob hadn’t shared her enthusiasm about the Valentine campaign, Eleanor halfheartedly moved through the empty store. Determined not to let his refusal to work over the holiday get her down, she wandered through each department, flipping on lights and making notes of items she wanted to feature on the Valentine’s Day Web page. Before she knew it, it was seven o’clock. She not only hadn’t had supper, she’d been so busy all day she hadn’t taken time for lunch either.

  After exchanging a brief holiday greeting with the night watchman, she locked up her office and headed for her expensive new sports car in the store’s parking lot.

  With the exception of the night watchman’s car, hers was the only one left on the icy lot. After placing her designer attaché case on the seat, methodically she slid beneath the steering wheel, closed the door, and fastened her seat belt, her mind still filled with ideas for her promotion. Almost by rote, she turned the key in the ignition and moved out onto the deserted street, barely bothering to look right or left as she left the lot.

  Too late, she saw it.

  A huge SUV—speeding toward her, aimed directly at her door.

  Seven

  “Lady! Lady! Are you all right?”

  Eleanor could hear a man’s voice but, try as she may, she couldn’t answer or even turn her head.

  “That crazy woman wasn’t even looking! She pulled out of Scrooge’s parking lot right in front of me,” a woman screamed out frantically, pointing her finger toward Eleanor. “I tried to stop, but I couldn’t! There wasn’t time.”

  “Better call an ambulance quick,” another voice said excitedly. “She’s losing a lot of blood!”

  Are they talking about me? Eleanor struggled to keep her eyes open, but they wouldn’t cooperate. My head. Oh, it hurts.

  “Hold on, lady. The ambulance is on its way.”

  I—I can’t hold on. Sleepy. I’m so—sleepy.

  ❧

  Eleanor. El–ean–or.”

  Eleanor slowly opened her eyes and stared up into the face of the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen. Her complexion boasted the smooth peaches and cream texture all women longed to achieve, her blond tresses resembled spun gold, and her eyes were as blue as the perfect sapphire in the ring Everett Scrooge had given Eleanor on their first wedding anniversary. “Who are you?”

  “My name is Faith. I’m the reminder of your childhood and Christmases past.”

  Eleanor backed away as the woman reached out her hand. “I—I don’t know you. Why are you here? Why am I here?” For the first time since opening her eyes, she glanced around at her surroundings. In the semidarkness, nothing looked familiar. “What is this place?” />
  “Let’s just call it the Place of Memories.”

  “Place of Memories? That title sounds like the name of a funeral home. But I don’t understand. Why are you dressed like that—in that flowing white gown? You look—like an angel. Is this some kind of joke? Are you dressed for a holiday performance of some sort?”

  The woman gave her a gentle smile. “Dressed for a holiday performance? No, this is my normal attire.”

  Eleanor let out a gasp, her eyes widening as her hand moved to cup her mouth. “You are an angel! Is that why I’m here? I’m—dead?”

  “You’ve been in an accident. You were injured.”

  “But I am still alive, aren’t I?”

  Faith smiled and reached out her hand again. “Yes, you’re very much alive. Now come with me.”

  Again, Eleanor backed away, more confused and frightened than ever. “If I’ve been in an accident, why don’t I hurt? I feel fine.” She eyed the woman suspiciously. “What do you mean—you’re the reminder of Christmases past?”

  A calming smile formed on the woman’s saintly face. “You needn’t worry yourself about such things now. Come. We must hurry. We have much to do, and the time is short.”

  Eleanor pulled away. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t go with you, even if I wanted to. I’m planning this big Valentine promotion for Scrooge’s—that’s the department store I inherited from my late husband—and I have to get ready for it. It’s very important. Bob Rachette and I are meeting the day after Christmas to get started on it.” Eleanor frantically searched the area around her. “Where’s my purse? Is my car drivable? I must get home.”

  Faith extended her hand again, this time grasping Eleanor’s wrist with her long, slender fingers. “Everything in its time, Eleanor. You won’t need your purse where we’re going. Come with me.”

  As if she had no will of her own her feet began to move. “You’re not going to hurt me, are you?”

  “No,” the lovely woman answered with a laugh that sounded like tinkling bells. She cupped Eleanor’s elbow, and they began to move along the dimly lit street. “I’d never hurt you. I’m here to help you.”