Читать книгу The Perfect Spouse: A Novel - Sioux Dallas - Страница 16

Chapter Eight

The weekend was quiet because everything was shut down due to the blizzard that swept through the Village of Fayette. Business people, police and other citizens, who talked to each other, agreed that it had been many years since they had such a severe winter.

By Monday the road crews had cleared the main roads and opened a few of the side streets. Jason called his three employees and told them to wait until the next day to come to work.

On Tuesday Jason took his time fixing blueberry pancakes, sausage and scrambled eggs. He drank two cups of coffee and poured the rest in a thermos to take to work with him. With Grace preparing to leave, he wasn’t sure there would be coffee at the office.

As he locked his door, Betty Dixon stuck her head out of her door and called to him. “Good morning, Jason. You work too hard. We never get to see you except in a passing blur. Please say you’ll come for dinner tonight. We would love so much to have you join us.”

“Oh, Mrs. Dixon, I don’t want to be any trouble. I usually pick up a take out to bring home with me or just have a sandwich.”

“Absolutely no trouble. I already cook for us and what’s one more.”

Jason recognized that she and Tony were lonely and missed their children.. He really didn’t want to get involved or feel obligated, but he was too kind to keep turning her down. “Okay. It’ll be my pleasure to join you. What can I bring?”

“Just yourself at seven. I’m so happy. Tony,” she yelled as she stepped back into her apartment. Jason heard her saying. “Jason’s going to join us for dinner. Yippeee!”

He walked to the elevator feeling ashamed that he had not given them more attention. He should have been more thoughtful knowing how they had lost two sons and now a daughter and grandchildren. I don’t want them to begin to feel that I’ll take the place of their children. I don’t dislike them, but I don’t have anything in common with them.

Jason smiled when he passed the Head Above The Rest Beauty Salon and Barber Shop. The music was turned on so that it could be heard on the street. “I’m Dreaming Of A White Christmas” played joyfully. “Yeah, sure,” he said, looking around at the pristine snow banks. Whistling, he walked on.

He enjoyed greetings and comments from several people as he made his way down the slippery walk. As he passed the hardware store, he could hear, “Joy To The World.”

He walked on to work with his chin dipped down in a scarf wrapped around his neck. It was a clear day but bitter cold. Keeping his eyes on the walk and being careful not to step on any obvious ice, he got out his keys to open the office door. To his surprise the door was unlocked. He pushed it open and stopped in amazement.

Greg, Beth and Grace came out of the middle room to greet him. He sniffed the wonderful odors of pine and fresh greenery. There were ropes of garland around the front windows and more around the room. Greenery and holly were arranged artfully in various places. To his left, in the corner, was a beautifully decorated tree about eight feet tall. He felt dumb-founded. He had not thought of decorating for Christmas and hadn’t been aware that his staff wanted to do so.

Multi-colored fairy lights twinkled in the garlands around the windows and around the room. A small tree, about twenty inches tall, had been placed in a window with decorations on it and tiny presents wrapped gaily and placed under the tree. Holly had been placed in several spots to make the window more attractive and festive. Cotton had been placed in the floor of the windows to represent snow. Jason began to grin about the cotton snow with so much of the real stuff on the ground outside. He finally laughed aloud. The three breathed a sigh of relief and looked happy as larks.

Beautiful, full poinsettia plants were on all three desks. “When did you wonderful people do this? I’m ashamed that I haven’t even thought of decorating and here you’ve gone all out and done an outstanding job. Thank you so much. I love it.”

The three cheered. Greg came over and slapped Jason on the shoulder. “We wanted to do it because you’re the best boss anyone could ever have.”

“When did you get all this done?” Jason was still gawking and trying to breathe through his surprise and excitement.

Grace walked over to adjust decorations of the big tree. “We did some Sunday afternoon and when we found out you didn’t expect us in on Monday, we came in and worked until we were satisfied with our efforts. You won’t be able to appreciate the lights on the hedge at the front until after dark.” Grace had planned well and the items were donated by them and some purchased.

“I don’t know whether to be angry with you or forget it. I told you to stay home on Monday for a good reason. It was too dangerous to be out in the snow and ice.”

“Jason,” Beth hurriedly said, “did you know the Chamber of Commerce is going to check business places and judge their decorating? There will be prizes and The Blade will take pictures of the winner and do a story on them.

“As far as I’m concerned you three are the winners and the best.” Jason swept his arms out. He started walking through the long room and back to his office. He stopped in admiration when he discovered the decorating that had been done to this room. Pine boughs were place in various locations with pine cones and holly. He smiled and walked on back to his office. Opening his door he stopped in surprise and admiration. “You pixies have even worked wonders back here. It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

On his desk was a big poinsettia. Around the six by four window were garlands and tiny twinkling lights. In the corner, near his private restroom, was a small tree sitting on a table with a skirt of red velvet under it. This tree, too, was decorated. He grinned as he hung up his coat and then laughed aloud when he saw pictures of the staff taped on the inside of his door. Every picture was taken when the weather was hot, when they were on vacation and mostly wearing shorts or swim suits.

At his laughter, Beth and Greg stuck their heads in the door and ask him to share with them.

“Are all of you hinting for a warm vacation, or are you anticipating the summer to come?”

“Neither.” Beth chuckled. “We just thought it might make you feel better in the middle of this cold weather to look at some warm pictures.”

“It beats a cold, impersonal door,” Jason laughed. “Thank you for doing all of this for me. I hope all three of you will have a wonderful Christmas.”

“What will you be doing?” Greg asked.

“I think I’ve been adopted by an elderly couple who live across the hall from me.” He didn’t explain that he was being nice to them and hoped they’d leave him alone most of the time.

Grace left to answer the phone and came back looking as if she could shoot a lazar beam. “That was that Margaret Archer again. She refuses to leave a message. I still say she gives me the creeps.”

“Forget it, Grace. If she needs our services badly enough, she’ll let us know.” Jason sat at his desk and took a folder from the files to work on.