All I Want For Christmas (10 page)

Hearing it for the second time felt as good—and as heart-wrenching—as before. Tina held her tight. “I love you, too.” For Maggie's sake and her own, she added, “It'll be sad when I leave next Sunday, won't it?”

Maggie nodded solemnly and Tina squeezed her shoulder.

Though she never could be more than a friend to the girl, she couldn't help pretending, just for the rest of the party, that Maggie was hers and that she, Maggie and Ryan were a family. A far-fetched fantasy, but as long as no one but she knew, where was the harm?

By the time Ryan walked into the house to pick them up and wish Sam a happy birthday, Tina felt hollow inside. She managed to laugh and act as if she were having a terrific time, but the truth was, she'd never felt so lonely.

She understood, then, that her dream of Ryan and Maggie as her ready-made family wasn't harmless, at all. She had the empty heart to prove it.

A
s Tina tucked G. G. in Monday night, she frowned at the new lines etched into the woman's colorless face. “Maybe we should call off our Thanksgiving dinner this year.”

“And let those lovely people down? Nonsense. Besides, it's not for another three days. By then, I'll be fine.”

Tina had her doubts. “You need rest,” she said. “They'll understand if we cancel.”

They
being Jefferson Jeffries, Ryan and Maggie. The rest of the neighbors celebrated the holiday with their own relatives.

“Tina Morrell, you know perfectly well that I always host Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.” G. G.' s lips compressed into a stubborn line. “I'm not about to let this stupid hip get in my way. Besides, you're doing all the work. My only job will be to make out the grocery list. The stuffing, pie making and everything else is up to you.”

Which was a lot of work. “All right.” Tina sighed. “But I don't know if the meal will turn out as well as yours always does.”

“Of course it will. All the recipes are in the box I keep with the cookbooks.”

Suddenly, Tina's cell phone rang.

“Is it Mr. Sperling?” G. G. asked, looking hopeful.

“I doubt it.” For G. G.' s sake, Tina made sure she looked cheerful and sounded upbeat. “He wouldn't call this late in the day,” she said, fairly certain he wouldn't call at all. The offices were closed now, and she assumed she and everyone else would find out who'd been named creative director next Monday.

She slid her phone from her sweater pocket and looked at the LED. “It's Kate. Hey, you,” she said in greeting.

“Hi, Tina. I need a favor.” Kate's voice was so weak and scratchy, Tina could barely understand her.

“You sound awful. What happened to your voice?”

“Laryngitis and a bad cold. I sure hope you and everyone else who came to the party stay well. Hold on a sec.” Though Kate covered the phone, Tina heard her hacking cough. “I'm back,” she croaked. “Listen, I'm supposed to help Sam's class with a field trip tomorrow. Is there any chance you could go in my place?”

“Me?”

“It was Sam's idea. She had such fun with you at her party. If you say yes, I'll let Mrs. Jenkins know. All you have to do is show up in the classroom at nine forty-five and drive four of the kids in your car. You'll be home by noon.”

“Give me a minute to think.”

“Okay. I'll use the time to blow my nose.”

Tina knew she could ask someone from the neighborhood to stay with G. G. She thought about Maggie, who was in Sam's class. Spending a few hours on a field trip in her company appealed to Tina. Plus, she was tired of working every spare minute—especially now that she knew the promotion would go to someone else.

“What's wrong, dear?” G. G. asked.

Tina placed her hand over the mouthpiece of the phone. “I'm listening to Kate sniffle and cough. She's really sick. Would you mind if I helped her out in the morning and went with Sam's class on a field trip? It's only for a few hours, and I'm sure one of the neighbors will be happy to come over.”

“Go right ahead.”

“I'm back,” Kate rasped.

“It's okay with G. G., so yes, I'm happy to help out.” G. G. gave a feeble smile, and Tina returned it. “It'll be fun.”

“Find out more about the field trip,” G. G. said.

“Just where are we going?”

“Well, um, Halo Island Bank.”

“The bank?” G. G.' s eyes glinted. “You'll get to see Ryan at work.”

Tina scoffed. “Oh, that'll be fun.”

Yet her spirits lifted with anticipation. Not a good thing. She thought about backing out, but she'd already agreed to go.

Besides, with twenty kindergartners to watch over, she'd be way too busy to moon over Ryan.

S
ITTING AT HIS DESK
, Ryan scrubbed his hands over his face. Of all the days for a kindergarten field trip. Today marked the end of the first week of the bank's promotion, and though he was pleased with the efforts of his staff, the numbers weren't as good as Bernard Beale, chairman of the Island Banking Corporation, wanted. Without so much as a nod to everyone's hard work, Beale had sent out a belittling company-wide e-mail, threatening pay cuts and possible dismissals for those he described as “employees who didn't carry their weight.”

Ryan was outraged, and if the kindergartners weren't due any minute, he would have phoned Beale with a few nasty comments of his own. After the kids left, he'd contact Beale and let him know just how far off the mark he was. Not that that'd change anything. His staff knew it, too, and they all were demoralized. Man, did he hate his job today.

But now was no time for a bad mood. In a few minutes his daughter and her class would troop through the door, and his first priority was to make their field trip fun. Danielle had the day off. Ryan headed for Serena's teller window and gestured Jason over. Both employees looked glum.

“I know this morning started badly, but Maggie's class will be here soon,” Ryan said. “Let's give them a fun experience.”

“This place, fun?” Serena's lip curled. “Ha!”

“It's not the kids' fault that Corporate treats us like crap,” Jason said. “I guess we can try.”

“I'd appreciate that.” Ryan scrutinized the lollipop bowl, which was half-empty. He wanted each of the kids to leave with one. “Do you need to run to the store and pick up more lollipops?”

Serena shook her head. “I've got plenty more back here. I'll fill the bowl.” She did, shaking her head. “With all those kindergartners, it's going to be noisy and crazy in here.”

This morning Ryan wanted that. A bank full of energetic kids might lighten the gloomy atmosphere. He shared his ideas for showing the kids around, with Serena and Jason each taking half of the group to the vault and behind the teller windows. Ryan would show them his office and explain a few basics about bank accounts.

At ten-fifteen they marched in, twenty kids, Mrs. Jenkins and several parents Ryan recognized. Maggie was one of the first through the door, flanked by Sam and Gina, her two best friends.

When she spotted Ryan, she shrieked. “Daddy!” She flew at him for a quick hug. “Look who came with us—Tina!”

She was right behind his daughter, and the last person Ryan had expected to see. He didn't like the sudden lift of his spirits or the extra warmth he felt in his chest. Yet, despite the curious stares of Jason, Danielle and the rest of the adults in the lobby, he couldn't tear his gaze from her or stop himself from moving closer.

The cold had put roses in her cheeks and the wind had whipped her hair, making it spikier than usual. She looked beautiful. Her eyes held his and flashed with pleasure, as if she was equally pleased to see him. That made him feel good, until he realized how crazy this was.
She's leaving Sunday, remember?

“What are you doing here?” he asked, aware that he sounded brusque, but not caring.

Startled, she stepped back, her expression instantly closing off. “Kate Burrows was supposed to help, but she's sick. Sam asked if I could go in her place, and here I am.”

Without the light in her eyes, she looked drawn and tired. Ryan figured G. G. must not be any better. He would ask about that later. Everyone was busy taking off coats and piling them on the lobby chairs.

“It's not the best day for a field trip,” he told Tina in a low voice. “Corporate's giving us crap for…Never mind. This isn't the time or place. Any word on your job?”

“Not yet.” She sighed. “The offices are closed this week, and I should've heard by now. I don't think I got it.” She dug into her purse and pulled out a bottle of antacids. Ate one. “G. G. and the others will be so upset. Please don't say anything.”

“I won't. But hey, it ain't over yet. No news could be good news. What about you? Will you be upset if you don't get the job?” he asked, pretending he didn't care.

She looked at him as if he'd grown six ears. “What kind of question is that?”

Ryan had to agree. And wondered why he'd asked.

The coatless kids and adults gathered around, and he started his spiel. “Welcome to Halo Island Bank. I'm Ryan Chase, the branch manager.”

“That's my daddy,” Maggie said, clearly proud.

If she only knew how angry he was—and how unhappy.

“This is a small bank, with just myself and three employees,” he said. “One of the tellers, Danielle, has the day off. But Jason and Serena—” he nodded at them “—will show you around.”

“Tina, you come with Sam and Gina and the rest of my group,” Maggie said.

She nodded and headed off.

Ryan watched her. She was a natural with kids, treating them with warmth and affection. She'd make some kid a great mom. Now, that was a joke. Tina wanted a big career, not marriage and motherhood.

Later, as the teacher and parents lined up the class and herded them toward the door, Ryan fell into step beside Tina. “What about Thanksgiving? Is G. G. well enough?”

“No, but she won't let me cancel.”

Fool that he was, he was glad. “What should we bring?”

“A sweet potato dish. We're eating at three.”

“We'll be there.”

A
S
T
INA SLID
two pumpkin pies into the oven Wednesday evening, her cell phone rang.

Hastily wiping her hands on a towel, she slipped it from her pocket and glanced at the LED.
Jim Sperling.

Heart in her mouth, she answered. “This is Tina,” she said in a voice she hoped sounded cool, yet professional.

“Jim Sperling here.”

“Who are you talking to, Tina?” G. G. called from the den. After her nap she'd stayed in bed, which was worrisome.

“Would you excuse me a moment?” Tina covered the mouthpiece with her hand. “It's Jim Sperling.”

“Oh, my goodness.”

Thankful she wasn't in the den, where G. G. would scrutinize her every expression, Tina dropped into a kitchen chair. “Okay, I'm back.”

“All ready for Thanksgiving?”

“Almost.”
Get to the point, get to the point.
“How about you?”

“Marian has been slaving away for days. How's G. G.?”

“Not great, but she's seeing a doctor on Friday.” Tina fervently hoped that Dr. Lomax, the doctor in Anacortes, could figure out how to fix G. G.' s hip troubles. Otherwise…

“I assume you have a caregiver lined up for next week and that you'll be back Monday?”

Tina hadn't even considered bringing in an outsider. But G. G. was too ill to be looked after by her neighbors, and with Tina's “vacation” over, she probably
should
find someone. The very idea went against the grain—
she
should care for G. G. “I'm working on that,” she said.

“Good. Now, the reason for my call. I have wonderful news, Tina. It was a tough decision, but I've made up my mind. The creative director position is yours.”

“Really? That's wonderful news!”

She knew she sounded excited and pleased enough. If she
felt
nothing, that was most likely because she was in shock. Not because she wanted what no job could provide—a family of her own—but because she'd truly believed that someone else would get the promotion.

For several moments she just listened to her boss, trying to remember to comment when expected.

“The job starts Monday,” he said. “I want to make the announcement first thing that morning, and I expect you to be there.”

“I'll be in by eight,” she promised.

“Congratulations, Tina,” her boss said. “Please give G. G. my regards.”

“I will. Thank you so much, Jim.”

Her mind in a whir, she headed for the den.

G. G. took one look at her and smiled. “You got the promotion, didn't you?”

Tina nodded.

“I knew you would. Congratulations, honey. Oh, this is so exciting.”

She held out her arms. Tina leaned down and hugged her, blinking back sudden tears she didn't completely understand.

“Heavens, Tina. What in the world?”

“I didn't think I'd get the job,” she said. Which didn't really explain the tears, but sounded plausible.

“Well, I did.” G. G. gestured at a chair and Tina sat down. “Now, I want details.”

“Well, my new job starts Monday. I'll be parceling out some of my work to others.” Kendra, for one, and Tina did not look forward to that. She felt for the woman, who was sure to be sorely disappointed. “Oh, Jim says hello and Happy Thanksgiving.”