Christmas With Hover Hill (4 page)

In the corner, Hover made a soft whining groan as he
imagined the painful experience.

“
Please don't do that. He cost a small fortune.
I thought you would like the robot. He can't be that bad. He
followed me around my house for a week and was very helpful,” Scott
excused.

“
If you like him so much, why didn't you just
keep him? What you liked about him is a problem to me. He doesn't
just follows me around. He hovers over me. I'm not used to having
anyone in my apartment, watching and lurking about in my way. That
robot has to go before he drives me crazy,” Elizabeth
pleaded.

“
You will get used to Hover Hill if you give
him a chance,” Scott insisted.

“
Not in this lifetime. Besides, what will the
other tenants think if they see that robot in here. He looks so
real they will think I've moved a man in with me.”

Scott shrugged. “What's wrong with that? Women and
men live together all the time?”

“
Well, that's them and not me!” Elizabeth
huffed.

“
I am sorry about this, Sis. I hate to drop
anything else on you when you're in such a bad mood, but the reason
I stopped by is to tell you that something unexpected came up. I
have another business trip I can't get out of so I can't spend
Christmas with you,” Scott explained.

Elizabeth teared up as she sagged back against the
couch. “You won't be here for Christmas? That means I have to spend
the holidays by myself. Since we grew up, I've never been alone on
Christmas.”

“
I know. Remember, I've not been alone until
this time, either. Hopefully, this won't happen again, but I can't
help it,” Scott said, giving her a hug. “Technically, you won't be
alone at least. Hover Hill will be here with you.”

“
That's just fine and dandy for you to say.
That's not a comfort to me one little bit. Just go off and leave me
alone at Christmas with that thing lurking in the corner of my
living room. I won't be responsible for the condition that
creature's in when you come back. What are you going to do about
that bucket of bolts?”

“
Now, now. You keep him all in one piece until
I get back, and I'll get rid of him for you,” Scott said. “Now
would you have anything to eat? I'm starved.”

“
There's some left over meatloaf and potatoes
in the fridge and a plate of chocolate chip cookies on the
counter,” Elizabeth said as she stood up.

“
Fresh baked cookies. Yum.” Scott looked
baffled. “I didn't know you were a baker.”

Elizabeth sighed. “I'm not. The robot baked the
cookies.”

Hover droned to life. “Let me warm up the leftovers.
That is programmed to be my job.”

“
Thank you, Hover Hill. Can you make me a pot
of coffee while you're at it?” Scott asked. “Now see how helpful he
is, Sis?”

“
Next time you feel the need to program a robot
and leave him here to bother me, put in more of my likes instead of
yours, will you? While you're at it, get rid of his attitude
problems,” Elizabeth ordered. “The least you could have done was
get my name programmed right. That robot is driving me up a wall
calling me Beth all the time.”

“
I'll work on that when I come back,” Scott
said, smiling at her.

After he'd eaten, they took a second cup of coffee
back to the living room. For the first time, Scott looked around.
“Hey, this is new. You've put up the Christmas decorations this
year. Was that for me?”

“
I didn't do it. Your friend in there did it
without asking me,” Elizabeth complained, thrusting her thumb over
her shoulder at Hover Hill in the kitchen. “He nosed around in my
closet and found them.”

“
Will there be anything else I can do?” Hover
asked, from behind them.

“
Not for me. How about you, Elizabeth?” Scott
wanted to know.

“
Go to your corner.” She ordered Hover and
turned back to Scott. “You sit down and talk to me for the short
time we have left together.”

“
For Pete's sake, I'm not dying, Elizabeth.
Just going on a trip. I'll spend some time with you when I get
back. I promise,” Scott declared.

She ran a finger around the rim of her cup. “Fine! If
you say so. Oh, by the way, why did you program the robot to call
me Beth?”

“
I didn't do that. I know how you hate
nicknames,” Scott said.

“
Right,” she said sarcastically. “Hover, what
is my name?”

The robot's head came up in his corner. “Your name is
Beth.”

“
You see,” she spit at Scott.

Scott's face turned red. “I am so sorry about that.”
His eyes wavered around as he searched his mind for a reason.
“There must be a large percentage of Elizabeths that go by the
nickname Beth. Must be a computer glitch.”

“
If it is, he has a lot of glitches beside that
one. You should have done a better job of programming him,” she
scolded.

“
Well, hang in there. When I take the robot
back, he will be deprogrammed and reprogrammed for the next person
who might just enjoy having him around,” Scott rubbed
in.

After her brother left, Elizabeth wondered why she
couldn't get him to tell her where he was going on his trip. She
was very curious about this sudden departure that took him away
from her at Christmas time. She'd probed, but Scott remained
evasive.

She accused him of meeting a woman for Christmas. He
swore he wasn't involved with anyone at the moment. Still, his
behavior worried Elizabeth. She wasn’t used to Scott acting
secretive, and that was exactly what he was doing.

More pressing than her worries at the moment was her
aggravation at that irritating robot. For the time being, she'd
have to keep him until Scott's return. The eternal optimist, her
brother, said he was hopeful that she'd get used to the robot and
want to keep him before she had to give him up. What was Scott
thinking? That line of reasoning might work with her if he'd given
her a puppy, but a mechanical man was a different story.

Elizabeth darted a glance at the robot with his head
bowed. She was very doubtful that she'd ever like him or get
comfortable with him being around. She didn't have a choice. He had
been expensive for Scott to buy. She'd keep the robot until her
brother had time to get rid of him and make the money back.

All her plans for Christmas had gone down the drain.
Now she'd hide out in her apartment, feeling sorry for herself
during her holiday vacation. What fun was that? To make matters
worse, she'd have Hover Hill droning beside her every waking minute
to insist she live her life the way he was programmed.

In the front yard, the sound of childish laughter
made her curious. Elizabeth walked over to the window to check it
out. On the sidewalk in front of her apartment were the neighbor
children. Nancy pulled the sled over the snow mound next to the
sidewalk to give her little brother, Andy, a ride. Nancy spotted
Elizabeth and waved. She said something to Andy, and he waved, too.
Elizabeth waved back at them and wondered if she had ever enjoyed
playing with Scott like that. Her memories of their childhood
together were so fleeting.

The next day was the last day at school until after
the first of the year. When Elizabeth left work and headed home,
she wasn't sure if she was happy or sad about the time off.

She found a very good meal waiting for her that
evening. Hover didn't say anything. He quietly stood at the end of
the counter at attention, waiting for her to finish her meal. To
his credit, he seemed to be taking a new to be seen and not heard
approach with her.

Elizabeth wiped her mouth on the napkin and made an
effort to start off on the right foot with the robot. “That was a
good meal.”

“
I am glad you liked it,” he said without the
attitude.

“
I did. Now clean up the kitchen and go to your
corner. I'm going to read for a while and turn in early,” Elizabeth
said, wondering if she'd gotten the hang of managing this robot.
The phone rang. She flinched, and then she picked up the receiver
on the kitchen counter. “Hello. Oh, hi, Zoe.” She eyed Hover. He
was watching her with an intent curiosity. “No, not tonight. Let's
plan on you coming over another night. I'm rather tired tonight.
Today was the last day before break. It made for a busy day.”
Actually, the last thing she wanted was to have her friend see a
good looking robot living with her.

“
It is too bad you are so tired.” Hover raised
the volume on his voice control. “You have no other visitors coming
tonight. It would be good to have your friend come to
visit.”

“
No wonder you don't want me around. I hear a
man's voice. Finally, you have a man! Who is he?” Zoe asked
excitedly.

“
No, I don't have anyone here,” Elizabeth
cried.

“
You do, too. You can't deny it,” Zoe cried. “I
heard his voice, but I don't recognize it. Who is he?”

“
No one you would know,” Elizabeth
hedged.

“
Is it your brother, Scott? I've been wanting
to meet him. From the pictures I've seen in your place, he looks
hot.”

“
No, Scott isn't coming to visit until after
Christmas,” Elizabeth said.

Zoe wasn't buying her story. “You said you two always
spent Christmas together.”

“
Yes, that's true, but not this
year.”

“
Oh, okay, but you do have a man there right
now. I know I haven't met him. I don't recognize his voice. Why
haven't you told me about him before this. I'd almost given up hope
on you ever finding anyone. For goodness sakes, I'm your best
friend. I worry about you spending so much time alone. Hello!
Remember me? Zoe.

The least you can do is confide in me when you
finally meet a man you like. That way I can quit worrying about
you. I'm coming over to meet him right now.” The phone clicked in
Elizabeth's ear.

Elizabeth hadn't finished scolding Hover for putting
her in this awkward situation with her friend before the door bell
rang. She hadn't even had time to think about where she was going
to hide the robot in that fifteen minutes.

Hover started for the door, but Elizabeth beat him to
it. Not that it mattered. As she opened the door, she sensed he
stayed right behind her. “Come on in, Zoe,” she said.

“
Here.” The cheerful, petite blond thrust a
bottle of wine at her and winked. “I stopped on the way over and
picked this up for after I leave. I thought you and your company
could share it.”

“
Thanks, but he doesn't drink,” Elizabeth
mumbled.

“
Oh, I'm sorry. I just never think about who
might be going to AA these days,” Zoe whispered. “Merry Christmas,”
she said, staring over Elizabeth's shoulder at Hover. “He's cute,”
she whispered.

“
Oh no, Zo. This isn't at all what you think,”
Elizabeth said, near tears.

“
If you aren't going to introduce me, I'll do
it myself,” Zoe said, edging around Elizabeth. “Hello, I'm Zoe
Darvin.”

“
I am glad to meet a friend of Beth's. I did
not think she had any,” Hover droned.

“
Really. Well, once you get to know Elizabeth,
you'll find she has plenty of friends. She's quite likable,” Zoe
said, trying to figure out why this man seemed so different. She
turned to Elizabeth. “Beth?”

“
As far as my name goes, he doesn't know any
better. Truth be known, there's a lot of things about me he doesn't
know,” Elizabeth said with a half shrug. She gave Hover the wine
bottle along with her orders. “Hover, open up the bottle, bring two
wine glasses and the ice bucket to the living room then finish
cleaning the kitchen.

Zo, come over and sit down. You and I might as well
not let your good wine go to waste. I expect you've had a long day
at the beauty shop with Christmas coming and could use a little
cheer.

All your clients probably want the latest hairdo for
the holiday parties. Every woman must want to look better than
their friends.” She knew she was babbling so she stopped talking
and looked at Zoe.

“
Yes, it was a madhouse.” Zoe agreed, staring
after Hover. Her mind wasn't on her work as she pointed at his
back. “He does your kitchen duties?”

“
I told you this isn't what you
think.”

“
I can see that. No wonder you can't keep a man
if you exile them to the kitchen to work for you,” Zoe criticized,
crinkling up her nose. “What nationality is he?”

Elizabeth rubbed her forehead as she said softly,
“Robot.”

Zoe puzzled, “Robot? What country is that?”

“
Zoe! He doesn't need a country. He isn't
alive. He's a mechanical man. You know. A robot,” Elizabeth
declared.

“
No way! That nice looking man isn't real. What
a shame,” Zoe declared, definitely disappointed.

Elizabeth sighed. “Finally, you got it.”

Zoe gave her a woeful stare. “That's really, really
sad. Are you that desperate? There has to be a real man out there
for you somewhere. Whatever possessed you to buy a fake man to live
with you?”

“
For goodness sakes, Zo, it wasn't my idea. I
didn't bring him here to live with me. I'd never do such a thing.
It was my brother's idea to give him to me for a Christmas gift, of
all things. Just let me explain why Hover Hill is here before you
decide I've gone crazy or got that desperate.”