Page 42 of Christmas Coffee

Celyn

The next afternoon, mid-shift, Reginald calls me. I turn away from the line and answer as Nova takes over for me. I duck out of the shack, leaving my coat behind, and crunch my way across the icy pavement to the sidewalk in front of the mall exterior.

I answer as I walk, “Hey, what can I do for you?”

“Celyn,” Reginald’s voice is strained, “I hope you’re doing well.”

My breath forms a puff of white air as I exhale and run a hand through my hair. “Better than expected, actually. I think I have a shot at this thing, Reg.”

There’s a bit of silence, and then Reginald clears his throat. “I’m proud of you, of your attempt at this, no matter how it turns out. I went by there yesterday. Although parts of your business are unorthodox, it’s doing well. You utilized sex appeal on a product with a high markup. It’s impressive, Celyn.”

“I didn’t realize you came by. When was that?”

“Around four o’clock. There was a woman working very hard. We had a nice chat before another co-worker relieved her. I’d hoped to speak with you then. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but yesterday afternoon something happened. I think you need to speak with your uncle right away.”

I grimace and kick a spot of icy slush on the pavement. Little balls of unmelted rock salt litter the cement. I tip one with the toe of my boot off the curb. I want to ask what’s so urgent, but I doubt he can tell me even if he knows. “Can it wait until tonight?”

“It can,” his voice becomes deeper, more urgent, “but I’d get here as soon as possible.”

Screw it. I ask him pointblank, “Why, what’s going on? Is it Dad’s company? Is something wrong at Bardenbey?” I glance back at the Hut and see Nova in the window, her blonde braids poking out from under her fuzzy hat as she laughs at something the man standing below the window said to her. The sound carries across the parking lot and it’s hard to focus on anything else. That is, until Reginald actually tells me something.

“It’s not Bardenbey. I’m not entirely sure. In years past, this month has always had your uncle on edge. His daily demeanor ranged from demon to dementor,” I smile at the Harry Potter reference and nearly say something about it, but he plows on, “But your uncle is exceedingly happy, which is so peculiar at this time of year. I can’t remember a final quarter where he’s had a smile on his face for more than a second, and this one has lasted all day. In conclusion, I surmise that he—”

I cut him off, my mood darkening. “Yeah, got it. He’s figured something out, a way to block me. Shit. Do you know what it is?” Lead fills my chest and the light hope that filled me up before is crushed flat. I’ve been watching my numbers all day, every day. Even with everything that’s happened, I still have a decent chance of coming out ahead. But if Uncle is grinning and singing Christmas ditties, I’m fucked.

“I’m afraid not. I’ll keep an eye out, but Celyn, this is a bad sign.”

“Reg, I’m so damn close to pulling this off.” I glance at the Hottie Hut, at the long line of people who will walk away if I take too long. “If I leave right now it could make the difference between winning the bet and losing.”

Reginald scoffs, “Don’t call it a bet, Celyn. That’s so tasteless.”

“That’s what it is, Reg. I bet my entire fortune on this. I won’t pretend that the board—whoever they are—will be impartial. At a minimum, it’s you, Uncle, and an unknown. You’re the only one I can count on to be fair. Uncle will use that third seat against me.”

I hear Reginald smack his lips. “Business has very little to do with fairness, I’m afraid.”

“Right, and if I don’t meet goal for today, I don’t have a chance in hell at winning this thing. I’ll be in later tonight. Let Uncle gloat. Maybe he’ll let something slip.” I run a hand through my hair, wondering what else could possibly have Uncle that cheerful. The man kills bliss for sport. Being happy isn’t part of his outlook on life. Success is the only thing that matters and it has a heavy price.

I glance up at the Hottie Hut. That mantra was drilled into me and I’m using it here. I’ll forfeit any chance at a friendship with her when she finds out about this. There’s no way she’ll ever talk to me again, and if I lose—I couldn’t bear to face her. The price of success is loneliness. I saw it with my father and again with my uncle. It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make to continue my family’s legacy, to make a mark on this world, and make it better than it had been. I was chasing a pipe dream with the pharmaceutical division. We were so close to finding a cure for cancer. So close. That was the catalyst that caused my monstrous failure all those years ago. Idealism. Hope. I was a fool. I won’t make the same mistakes twice.

After we disconnect, I head back toward the hut and help handle the line that’s formed. People mill about with nowhere to go. I glance at the Christmas tree guy across the lot. He has picnic tables there and even in the cold weather, people use them. I don’t have enough cash to afford seating or I’d have gotten it. People who mill about are more likely to buy a second cup or another cookie. Sometimes I wonder if that’s going to be what breaks us—no seating.

When I’m back in the hut, I squeeze past Nova, my hips narrowly avoiding hers. Her scent catches me as I pass the back of her bare neck. It’s vanilla and sugar. I inhale again and smirk. “Are you wearing cookie perfume?”

She laughs and swings a golden braid over her shoulder. “Do you sniff all of your employees?”

“Only the ones who smell good.” I smirk at her and the woman in the window smiles hard, watching us like we’re flirting.

Nova hands her the order and thanks her before greeting the next customer. “I take it that you haven’t taken the liberty of sneaking a sniff of Shannon, then?”

I laugh once, hard. “That man smells like dirt and yak.”

She nearly chokes on her chortle. Nova glances sidelong at me as I hand her the next order. “Okay, you do smell all your employees then.”

“You caught me.” I hold up my hands, and then reach for the cups to ready the next order. Adding, “And that’s why he’s not in here.”

She turns and looks at me over her shoulder after handing me the next order slip. “Really? I thought he was taking a two hour break after handing out fliers again.”

“Leave it alone, Nova.” My tone is light and she’s already told me several times that Shannon is dead weight, but I’m not sure he is. I have a model working right now that’s incredibly close to succeeding. My future will be secure. I’ll have my seat at the table, and my life can go on as normal.

Nova holds up her hands, palms facing me. “It’s not my call.”

I cut off the conversation, “I’ll take over in the window. You’re freezing. Go buy a pair of gloves or something.”

“Psh,” she says, bumping her hip against mine as she passes. “I’ll fill coffee cups and you work the window. I bet we can serve that last person in seven minutes or less.”

The corners of my mouth tip up into a lazy smile even though worry is pawing at my mind like a determined cat. I glance at the line. “Well, let’s go, Hot Girl. If you lose, you buy me a cookie.”

Her head sways on her neck as she barks a laugh. Pointing at me, she counters, “And if I’m right, you owe me two cookies.”

“Hungry?” I smirk at her.

“No, my sister is coming. I’m planning ahead.” Her face lights up as she lifts a brow. “Well, do we have a deal or not?”

“Start the timer.”