stared at him as if he’d spoken a second language. “You must be kidding. That’s ridiculous!”
“Why is it ridiculous?”
“Because my father has—had enough help for Christmas.”
“He wasn’t going to pay me a salary. My grandfather had talked to your father about selling the store.” He held up his hand when she would’ve interrupted him. “Your father refused to even consider selling. But because of the amount of business you do, my grandfather thought I might find out good information if we decided to branch out into smaller stores across the state.”
“So my father could teach you how to put us out of business? My father wouldn’t do that,” Sally responded.
“No, they had an agreement that we wouldn’t take over any store, or open a new store, within your area.”
“I didn’t find any such agreement.”
“I believe it was a gentleman’s agreement.”
“I don’t think my father would settle for that. It would have to be in writing. And if not for him, then for me. I wouldn’t allow you to work here unless you signed a non-compete clause.”
“Sally?” a voice called from the back of the store.
“Coming,” she returned. With an apologetic smile, she said, “I have to go see what’s wrong. Excuse me.”
When she got to the back room, she found her employee, Billy Johnson, standing, looking puzzled.
“What is it, Billy?”
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with these things, Sally.”
She looked at the stack of boxes. They each held jeans. “You put these on the shelves in the men’s department, Billy. See? It’s jeans.”
“But some of them are girls’ jeans.”
Sally smiled. “Then you put those in the women’s department. Here, I’ll separate them for you.”
Billy had worked in the store for over twenty years. He was a good worker, but at almost seventy he often got a little confused over things. Her dad had said Billy was the hardest worker he’d ever known and he could still be relied on to lift the heavier loads that Sally couldn’t manage.
“Oh. Okay. I got it, Sally.” Billy nodded as Sally showed him what he needed to do.
She went back into the store to find the stranger still there, leaning against the checkout counter. “Do you need something else?” she asked.
“Just more time to talk to you.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s Christmas. I really don’t have much time to spare.”
“Do you have a Christmas rush here, too?” the stranger asked, clearly not ready to leave yet.
“Yes, we do. Our Christmas Festival is in a little over a week from now and we are always busier then. I have a lot to get organized.”
“What’s the Christmas Festival?” he questioned again.
Sally smiled and decided it might be best to humor him. “Well, it’s a town celebration for Christmas. Our parents started it when we were three and it’s been going ever since.” Sally thought about all the good times she and her cousin, Penny, had shared over the years. This Christmas was going to be hard for both of them.
The man paused before he spoke again. “We? Do you have brothers or sisters?”
“No, I’m an only child. I meant my cousin and I. We both wanted to see Santa when we were very little, but there was nowhere near here where we could go. Our parents decided it would be easier if they brought Santa to our town. They ended up taking turns playing Santa. Now a lot of people come to our Festival for a chance to see Santa.”
The man looked at Sally. “And how much money do you make off of it now you’re older?”
Sally heard the sarcasm in his voice and turned to face him. He was really beginning to annoy her with all his questions. “Not a penny, actually. In fact we serve refreshments free of charge and offer used clothing and toys to those who need it. Shopping in the store increases naturally, but that’s all. My cousin, Penny, will supply the Christmas tree and I’ll decorate it. She does some of the baking, along with some other ladies in town who volunteer. It’s a true Christmas Festival.”
The stranger stood up straight and shifted uncomfortably. “I’m impressed. You could probably make a fair amount of money if you charged for some things, especially the refreshments.”
“No, thank you. That’s big city talk, not small town talk.”
“Maybe. But you could consider—”
“No. We won’t change the Festival,” Sally insisted, staring the man straight in the face.
“Has anyone ever told you you’re stubborn?” the stranger asked with a grin that almost won her over.
Quickly Sally turned away, afraid he would see the tears that his remark had brought. That had been one of her father’s frequent complaints about both her and her mother. Except his had been full of love. The sudden memory made Sally’s heart ache.
“Hey, what did I say?” the man asked, moving to stand nearer to Sally. “I was only teasing. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He put his hand on her arm, tugging her gently to face him.
“It’s okay…I’m okay. It’s just my father made that complaint frequently,” she whispered.
“Damn! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—most everything around here must remind you of them.”
“Yes, it does,” Sally answered, quickly wiping away her tears. She didn’t want to think about how close she was standing to this strange man, how reassuring his arms felt holding hers and how good he smelled.
The bell over the front door jingled as it opened and a customer came in. Sally moved herself away from the man and composed herself before turning to the customer.
“Good morning, Mrs Ellison. How may I help you?” Sally asked, stepping toward the lady, grateful for the interruption.
“I’ve come for some of that yarn I bought last week. It’s part of a Christmas gift I’m making for my granddaughter.”
“Oh, yes, I remember. It’s right this way.” Sally led the lady to the yarn section and pulled out the exact shade she wanted. “Now, is there anything else I can get you? I just got in some special face cream that you might want to try.”
“Really? Will it make my wrinkles go away?”
“It doesn’t promise that, but I think it will soften them a little,” Sally answered smiling at the elderly lady.
Sally led her to the newest product the store had to offer. Mrs Ellison ended up buying a jar of the cream. And she added two new coloring books, for her granddaughter’s
