… it’s just an idea for next year,” Holly said, and regretted making the suggestion. Still, she couldn’t seem to stop. “The future is always uncertain, isn’t it? And there’ll always be ups and downs in the economy. But the one constant is the fact that as long as you’re in business you’ll have a staff, right? And you need them to be committed and—”
“I get it,” Lindy Lee said dryly.
Holly waited.
And waited.
“Let me think about it,” Lindy Lee finally mumbled.
She’d actually agreed to think about it. Now, this was progress—more progress than Holly had dared to expect.
Chapter Fifteen
The best vitamin for a Christian is B1. —Mrs. Miracle
Jake Finley was in love. Logically, he knew, it was too soon to be so sure of his feelings, and yet he couldn’t deny his heart. Love wasn’t about logic. He’d been attracted to Holly from the moment he met her, but this was more than attraction. He felt … connected to Holly, absorbed in her. He thought about her constantly. Over the years he’d been in other relationships, but no woman had made him feel the way Holly did.
When he arrived at work Thursday morning, he went directly to his father’s office. Dora Coffey seemed surprised to see him.
“Is my father in yet?” Jake asked her. “Yes, he’s been here for a couple of hours. You know your father—this store is his life.”
“Does he have time to see me?” Jake asked next. “No meetings or conference calls?”
“He’s free for a few minutes.” She left her desk and announced Jake, who trailed behind her.
When Jake entered the office, his father stood. “Good morning, son. What can I do for you?” He gestured for Jake to take a seat, which he did, and settled back in his own chair.
Jake leaned forward, unsure where to start. He should’ve worked out what he was going to say before coming up here.
“I suppose you want to gloat.” J.R. chuckled. “You were right about that robot. Hardly anyone else forecast this trend. I turned on the TV this morning and there was a story on Telly the SuperRobot. Hottest toy of the season, they said. Who would’ve guessed it? Not me, that’s for sure.”
“Not Mike Scott, either,” Jake added, although he didn’t fault the buyer.
“True enough. And yet Mike was the first to admit he didn’t see this coming.”
So Scott had mentioned it to J.R. but not to him. Still, it must’ve taken real humility to acknowledge that he’d been wrong.
“I’m proud of you, son,” J.R. continued. “You went with your gut and you were right to do it.”
Jake wondered what would’ve happened if Finley’s had been stuck with four hundred leftover robots. Fortunately, however, he wouldn’t have to find out.
“I checked inventory this morning, and we have less than twenty of the robots in stock.”
Jake didn’t need to point out the benefits of being the only store in the tristate area with any robots in stock. Having a supply—even a rapidly dwindling supply—of the season’s most popular toy brought more shoppers into the store and created customer loyalty.
“They’re selling fast. The entire quantity will be gone before Christmas.”
“Good. Good,” his father said. He grinned as he tilted back in his high leather chair. “Oh, I enjoyed meeting your lady friend last night.”
“Holly enjoyed meeting you.”
“She’s special, isn’t she?”
Jake was astonished that his father had immediately discerned his feelings for Holly. “Yes, but. What makes you say that?” He had to ask why it had been so obvious to his father.
J.R. didn’t respond for a moment. Finally he said, “I recognized it from the way you looked at her. The way you looked at each other.”
Jake nodded but didn’t speak.
“I remember when I met your mother.” There was a faraway expression in his eyes. “I think I fell in love with Helene as soon as I saw her. She was the daughter of one of my competitors and so beautiful I had trouble getting out a complete sentence. It’s a wonder she ever agreed to that first date.” He smiled at the memory.
So rarely did his father discuss his mother and sister that Jake kept quiet, afraid that any questions would distract J.R. He craved details, but knew he had to be cautious.
“I loved your mother more than life itself. I still do.”
“I know,” Jake said softly.
“She wasn’t just beautiful,” he murmured, and the same faraway look stole over him. “She had a heart unlike anyone I’ve ever known. Everyone came to her when they needed something, whether it was a kind word, a job, some advice. She never turned anyone away.” His face, so often tense, relaxed as he sighed. “I felt that my world ended the day your mother and Kaitlyn died. Since then you’ve been my only reason for going on.”
“Well, I hope your grandchildren will be another good reason,” Jake teased, hoping to lighten the moment.
J.R. gave a hearty laugh. “They certainly will. So … I was right about you and Holly.”
“It’s too early to say for sure,” Jake hedged. Confident though he was about his own feelings, he didn’t want to speak for Holly. Not yet.
“But you know.”
“It looks … promising.”
Slapping the top of his desk, J.R. laughed again. “I thought so. I’m happy for you, Jake.”
“Thanks, Dad.” But he doubted J.R. would be as happy when he found out what that meant, at least as far as Christmas was concerned.
“Oh, before I forget,” J.R. said with exquisite timing. “Dora’s ordered the plane tickets for Christmas Eve. We leave JFK at seven and land in Saint John around—” “Dad, I’ll need to change my ticket,” Jake said, interrupting his father.
That brought J.R. up short. “Change your ticket? Why?”
“I’ll join you on the twenty-sixth,” Jake explained. “Holly invited me to spend Christmas Day with her and her nephew.”
J.R.’s frown was back as he mulled over that statement. “You’re going to do it?”
“Yes. I told her I would.”
J.R. stood and walked to the window, turning his back to Jake. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Holly invited you, too.”
“You
