Wanda E. Brunstetter (6 page)

“Thanks,” she murmured. “I appreciate your kindness.”

His ears turned pink. “Just helping a friend.”

B
ev closed the door behind a customer and glanced around the toy store. She couldn’t believe she’d been working here three weeks already. So much had happened in that time—moving, getting Amy situated in her new school, and learning more about her job. She felt she was doing fairly well, for she’d sold twice as many toys in the last few days as she had the previous week. Working at Twice Loved was proving to be fun, with not nearly as much stress as her last job. No overbearing boss making unwanted advances either.

Bev had felt such relief when Dan agreed to let Amy come to the store after school. He even said having the child there might make some customers stay longer, since those who’d brought children along could shop at their leisure while Amy kept their little ones occupied.

There were times, like the Saturday Bev and Amy had moved, when Dan seemed so friendly and approachable. Other times he shut himself off, hiding behind the doors of his studio and barely saying more than a few words whenever he was around. Bev figured he was busy with pre-Christmasportraits, but it almost seemed as if he’d been avoiding her.

Have I done something wrong?
she wondered.
Is he displeased with the way I do the books or how I run the store?

She studied the room more closely. Everything looked neat and orderly. Cleaning and organizing was one of the first things she had done. She’d also placed some of the more interesting toys in strategic spots in order to catch the customers’ attention when they entered the store. The Christmas decorations she’d put in the store window looked enticing, even though the train wasn’t part of the display yet. Ellis had phoned yesterday, saying the train should be ready later this week and that he would bring it by.

Bev picked up the ledger from her desk and thumbed through the last few pages. Twice Loved was making more money than it had in several months—the profit column was proof of that.

So why did Dan seem so aloof? Was he dreading the holidays? If so, Bev couldn’t blame him. This was the first year since Fred’s death that she hadn’t experienced anxiety about Christmas coming.

“It’s probably because I’m working here among all these toys,” she said aloud. “I feel like a kid again.”

Bev closed the ledger and moved across the room to the sewing area.
Maybe I should invite Dan to join Amy and me for Thanksgiving dinner. It would be nice to have someone else to cook for. I could bake a small turkey, fix mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffing. Maybe make a pumpkin and an apple pie
.

Bev took a seat at the sewing table and threaded her needle, prepared to mend the dress of the bisque doll she had chosen to give Amy for Christmas. Once the dress was repaired and the doll’s wig combed and set in ringlets, she planned to put the doll in the storage closet at the back of the store until closer to Christmas. Then she would wrap it, take it home, and, when Amy wasn’t looking, slip it under the tree she hoped to get for their new apartment.

Thinking of a tree caused Bev to reflect on the day they had moved. Her daughter’s enthusiasm over the large living room with a tall ceiling was catching.

“We can have a giant Christmas tree, Mommy!” Amy had exclaimed. “Uncle Dan can help us decorate and climb the ladder to put the angel on top.”

Bev didn’t know what had prompted Amy to call Dan “Uncle,” but he didn’t seem to mind. In fact, the man had been patient and kind to Amy all during the move, even rocking her to sleep when she’d become tired and fussy that evening.

The bell above the door jingled, forcing Bev’s thoughts aside. When Amy skipped into the room, Bev hurriedly slipped the doll’s dress into a drawer.

“Mommy, Mommy, guess what?” Amy’s cheeks were rosy, and she was clearly out of breath.

“What is it, sweetie?” Bev asked, bending down to help her daughter out of her wool coat.

“No, I can’t take my coat off yet,” Amy said, thrusting out her lower lip.

“Why not?”

“ ’Cause it’s snowing, and I want to play in it!”

Bev glanced out the front window. Sure enough, silvery flakes fell from the sky like twinkling diamonds. And here it was only the second week of November.

“It’s beautiful,” she murmured.

“Can we build a snowman?” Amy’s blue eyes glistened with excitement, as she wiggled from side to side.

“Simmer down,” Bev said, giving her daughter a hug. “There’s not nearly enough snow yet to make a snowball, let alone a snowman. If we had a place to build one, that is.”

“We can put it out on the sidewalk in front of the store. I’ll give it my hat and mittens to wear.” Amy reached up to remove her stocking cap, but Bev stopped her.

“Whoa! You need your hat and mittens—you would get cold without them.”

“What about the snowman? Won’t he get cold without anything on his head or hands?”

Bev chuckled. “Oh Amy, I don’t think—”

“What’s all this about a snowman?”

Both Bev and Amy turned at the sound of Dan’s deep voice. Then Amy darted across the room and grabbed hold of his hand. “It’s snowing, Uncle Dan! Can we build a snowman?”

“Amy, I just told you there’s not enough snow,” Bev reminded her. “Besides, Uncle Dan—I mean, Mr. Fisher—is busy and doesn’t have time to play in the snow.”

Dan shook his head and gave Amy’s hand a squeeze. “Who says I’m too busy to have a little fun?”

“Yippee!” Amy shouted.

Bev took a few steps toward him. “Do you really have the time for this?”

“For Amy and fun in the snow—absolutely!” His face sobered, and he bent down so he was eye level with the child. “There’s not enough snow to build a snowman, but we can run up and down the sidewalk and catch snowflakes on our tongue.” He glanced over at Bev and smiled. “How about it, Mommy? Why don’t you slip into your coat and join us?”

She laughed self-consciously. “Oh, I couldn’t do that.”

“Why not?”

She made a sweeping gesture with her hand. “Who would mind the store?”

Dan tweaked Amy’s nose and gave Bev a quick wink. “Let the store mind itself, because I think we all deserve some fun!”

Dan couldn’t remember when he’d felt so exuberant or enjoyed himself so much. Certainly not since Darcy had taken ill.

For the last half hour, the three of them had been running up and down the sidewalk, slipping and sliding in the icy snow, catching snowflakes on their tongues, and singing Christmas carols at the top of their lungs. Some folks who passed by joined in their song. Some merely smiled and kept on walking. A few unfriendly faces shook their heads and mumbled something about it not being Christmas yet. One elderly woman glared at Dan and said, “Some people never grow up.”

Dan didn’t care what anyone thought. He’d been cooped up in his studio for several days and needed the fresh air. He drew in a deep breath, taking in a few snowflakes in the process.
If I had known this was going to feel so good, I would have done it sooner
.

The sidewalk was covered with a good inch of snow now, and feeling like a mischievous boy, Dan bent down and scooped up a handful of the powdery stuff. He then trotted up the sidewalk, grabbed hold of Bev’s collar, and dropped the snow down the back of her coat.

She shrieked and whirled around. “Hey! That was cold!”

“Of course it’s cold. Snow’s always cold.” Dan winked at Amy, and she snickered.

“Stop that, or I won’t invite you to join Amy and me for Thanksgiving.” Bev wrinkled her nose. “That is, if you have no other plans.”

He grinned. “I have no plans, and I’d be happy to have dinner at your place.”

Bev smiled, and Amy clapped her hands.

“Can I bring anything?”

She shook her head. “Just a hearty appetite.”

Before Dan could respond, two teenage girls strode up to them. Each held several wreaths in their hands. Dan recognized them and realized they attended his church.

“Hi, Mr. Fisher,” Dorothy said. “Looks like you’re havin’ some fun today.”

“Sure am,” he replied with a grin.

“We came by to see if you’d like to buy a wreath for your front door,” Amber put in.

He glanced at Bev. “Might be nice to have one hanging on the door of Twice Loved. What do you think?”

She nodded. “Sounds good to me.”

Dorothy moved toward Bev. “Would you like to buy one to take home?”

“Thanks anyway, but it will be all I can do to afford a tree.”

Dan was tempted to give Bev the money for a wreath, but he figured she would see it as charity. She’d made it clear that she didn’t want his help and was making it difficult for him to do anything nice for her and Amy. So he kept quiet and paid the girls for one wreath then went to hang it on the door of Twice Loved.

Just as the teens were leaving, an elderly couple showed up, wanting to buy something in the store.

“I’d better get back inside,” Bev said, hurrying past Dan.

He nodded. “Amy and I will be there in a minute.”

Bev and the couple entered the store, and Dan reached for Amy’s hand. “How would you like to give your mother a special Christmas present this year?”

She grinned up at him with snowflakes melting on her dark, curly lashes. “What is it?”

“Can you keep a secret?”

She bobbed her head up and down.

“Let’s go inside my photography studio, and I’ll tell you about it.”

I
’m sorry, Leona,” Dan said into the phone, “but I can’t come to your place for Thanksgiving.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’ve made other plans.”

There was a long pause, and he could almost see Leona’s furrowed brows.

“Are you going to spend the holiday with your folks this year?”

“No. I’ll be staying in town.”

“But you’re having dinner with someone?”

Dan tapped his fingers along the edge of his desk, anxious to end this conversation. He still had some book work to do, and another photo shoot was scheduled in half an hour. “I’ve been invited to eat with Bev Winters and her daughter, Amy.”

“Bev Winters? Who’s she?” Leona’s voice sounded strained, and Dan had a hunch she might be jealous. Of course, she had no right to be. He’d never given her any hope that he was interested in starting a relationship. Besides, Bev was an employee, not his girlfriend.

“Danny, are you still there?”

“Yes, Leona, although I do need to hang up. I’ve got a client coming soon.”

“First tell me who this
Bev
person is.”

“She’s the woman I hired to run Twice Loved.”

Leona made no reply.

“I really do need to go. Thanks for the invite.”

Leona sighed. “Have a nice holiday, and I’ll see you soon.” She hung up the phone before he could say good-bye.

Dan massaged his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. He reached for his cup of lukewarm coffee and gulped some down as the picture of Darcy hanging on the far wall caught his attention. Even though it had been two years since her death, he still loved her and probably always would.