Debbie Macomber - Call Me Mrs. Miracle

“Um, so if you don’t have a restaurant yet, you can’t cater the event?”

“I can’t,” Wendy agreed. “But perhaps Lucie and her friends from culinary school could.”

“Really?” Holly asked excitedly.

“Give me your number and I’ll call her to see if we can make this happen.”

“Great!”

Holly fidgeted until Wendy called back five minutes later. “We’ll do it,” Wendy told her. “Lucie talked to several of her colleagues and they’re all interested. I can promise you’ll love their menu. Lucie’s already working on it.”

“Fabulous. Thank you! Oh, thank you so much.” Her relief was so great that she felt like weeping.

She disconnected just as Lindy returned from lunch.

“The party’s all set,” Holly said happily.

“Really?” She’d impressed Lindy Lee, which was no small feat.

“Christmas Eve from two to four.”

Her employer nodded. “Good job, Holly.”

Holly closed her eyes and basked in the glow of Lindy Lee’s approval.

Jake glanced at his watch and felt a surge of relief. Five-thirty on Christmas Eve; in half an hour, the store would close its doors for the season.

Finley’s would open again on the twenty-sixth for the year-end frenzy. He felt good that toy sales for this quarter were twenty percent higher than the previous year. He attributed the boost in revenue to Intellytron the SuperRobot. Jake felt vindicated that his hunch had been proven right. He’d be proud to take these latest figures to his father. While the robot alone didn’t explain the increase, the fact that it was available at Finley’s had brought new customers into the store.

Holly was occupied with her boss and the Christmas party, which she’d arranged for Lindy Lee at the last moment. The poor girl had worked herself into a nervous state to pull off the event, and Jake was confident that the afternoon had gone well. He knew Holly had obsessed over each and every detail.

No doubt exhausted, she’d go home to her Brooklyn apartment as soon as she was finished with the cleanup. Jake would come by later that evening to spend time with her and Gabe. The three of them would enjoy a quiet dinner and then attend Christmas Eve services at her church.

It felt strangely luxurious not to be rushing away from the city with his father, although Jake was saddened that he hadn’t been able to convince J.R. to join them on Christmas Day.

His cell chirped, and even before he looked, Jake knew it was Holly.

“Hi,” he said. “How’d the party go?”

“Great! Wonderful. Even Lindy Lee was pleased. The caterers did a fabulous job, above and beyond my expectations. Wendy told me that Heavenly Delights plans to specialize in desserts and they should. Everything was spectacular.”

“I’m glad.”

“Don’t forget to bring over Gabe’s gift tonight,” she said in a tired voice. As he’d expected, Holly was worn out.

“Sure thing.”

“We’ll hide it in my bedroom until he goes to sleep, and then we can put it under the tree. That way it’ll be the first thing he sees Christmas morning.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“I’ll distract him when you arrive so you can shove it in my closet.”

“Okay.”

She hesitated. “Are you sure you can’t talk your father into coming for Christmas dinner?”

“I don’t think so, Holly. He isn’t ready to give up his…vacation.” He nearly choked on the word.

“Ask him again, would you?” she said softly.

“I will,” he agreed with some reluctance, knowing it wouldn’t have any effect.

“And thank Mrs. Miracle for me. She saved the day with this recommendation.”

“Of course. Although I believe she’s already left.”

“She’ll be back, won’t she?”

“As seasonal help, she’ll stay on until the end of January when we finish inventory.” The older woman had been a real success in the department. She’d reassured parents and entertained their kids. If she was interested, Jake would like to offer her full-time employment.

He ended his conversation with Holly and went into the storeroom to pick up Gabe’s robot.

He stopped short. The package that had lain on the counter, the package so beautifully wrapped by Mrs. Miracle, was missing.

Gone.

“Karen,” Jake said, walking directly past a customer to confront one of the other sales associates. If this was a practical joke, he was not amused. “Where’s the robot that was on the counter in the storeroom?” he demanded, ignoring the last-minute shopper she was assisting.

Karen blinked as though he was speaking in a foreign language. “I beg your pardon?”

“The wrapped gift in the storage room?” he repeated.

“I…I don’t have a clue.”

“You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?”

Her face became flushed. “I’m not sure.”

“It was wrapped and ready for delivery and now it’s missing.” Jake couldn’t believe anyone would steal the robot. He knew his employees, and there wasn’t a single one who was capable of such a deed. He’d stake his career on it.

“Did you ask John?”

“No.” Jake quickly sought out the youngest sales associate. John had just finished with a customer and looked expectantly at Jake.

“The robot’s missing,” he said without preamble.

John stared back at him. “The one in the storeroom?”

“Are there any others in this department?” he snapped. If there were, he’d grab one and be done with it. However, no one knew better than Jake that there wasn’t an Intellytron to be had.

“I saw it,” Gail said, joining them.

Relief washed over Jake. Someone had moved it without telling him; that was obviously what had happened. The prospect of facing Holly and telling her he didn’t have the robot didn’t bear thinking about.

That morning, the moment she’d received her Christmas bonus, Holly had rushed over to Finley’s to pay for the toy. Her face had been alight with happiness as she described how excited Gabe would be when he found his gift under the Christmas tree. That robot meant so much to the boy. If Jake didn’t bring it as promised, Holly might not forgive him. He hoped that wouldn’t happen, but the thought sent a chill through him nonetheless.

Frances, another sales associate, came over, too. “Mrs. Miracle had it,” she said.

“When?”

“This morning,” Frances explained. “She didn’t mention it to you?”

“No.” Jake shook his head. “What did she do with it?”

Frances stared down at the floor. “She sold it.”

“ Sold it?” Jake exploded. This had to be some kind of joke-didn’t it? “How could she do that? It was already paid for by someone else.” That robot belonged to Gabe Larson. She knew that as well as anyone.

“Why would she sell it?” he burst out again, completely bewildered.

“I…I don’t know. You’ll have to ask her,” Frances said. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Finley. I’m sure there’s a logical explanation.”

There’d better be. Not that it would help now.

Sick at heart, Jake left the department and went up to his father’s office. Dora had already gone home; the whole administrative floor was deserted. He didn’t know what he’d tell Holly. He should’ve taken the robot to his apartment and kept it there. Then he could’ve been guaranteed that nothing like this would happen. Still, berating himself now wouldn’t serve any useful purpose.

Preparing for his flight, J. R. Finley was busy stuffing paperwork in his computer case when Jake entered the office. J.R. looked up at him. “What’s the matter with you? Did you decide to come with me, after all?”