Page 6 of A Christmas Auction

The Christmas Auction

HOLLY

“I’m fine, Mom. Really. It’s been three days of nothing but being fawned over by you and Dad. You don’t have enough vacation time saved up from the casino to stay home any longer. And it’s time I get back to The Desert Shack and my own life.”

“Now Holly, you can’t rush these things. Healing takes time. And your dad and I have worked at the casino for over twenty years. When the other waitresses heard what happened to you, they all chipped in to cover my shifts. I’ve got it handled. Don’t worry about me,” she chattered on.

Mom was in her element. Taking care of me was her greatest joy. I know that because she repeated it regularly. If they could have afforded it, the entire house would have been filled with children, but they decided early on in their marriage that one was enough for them. Sometimes I wished they’d had other children, then I wouldn’t be the center of their universe.

I gritted my teeth as Mom brought me another pillow I didn’t need. For the past three days I’d been laid out on my parents’ couch, with them hovering over me like I was five years old again.

“How does chicken soup, Saltines, and 7-Up sound for lunch?” She hummed merrily as she headed to the kitchen to make soup.

“Mom, I’m not sick. I was attacked by a couple of drunken criminals who are sitting in jail right now.” I stood up, shuckedoff the blanket, and marched into the kitchen. “I’m going to take a shower and head back to my place. You and Dad have been amazing as usual, but I need to go home.”

“Baby, this is your home.” She opened her arms wide, gesturing to the tiny kitchen in the two-bedroom duplex they’d rented my entire life. Thankfully, they had a good landlord and were lucky that he used this property as a tax write-off without raising the rent too much over the years.

My parents lived a happy, simple, rather uncomplicated life here in Vegas. Dad was a card dealer and Mom was a cocktail waitress. They met in a casino, and they’ve spent their entire relationship working in one. I knew how to play poker before I knew my ABCs. I also knew and respected the golden rule in Las Vegas.The house always wins.Sure, you could get “lucky”, if you want to call it that, and maybe pull a lever and win a jackpot or roll the right numbers in craps, but that wasn’t the norm. Casinos were in business for one reason. To make money. And they did that very well. I just wished they provided better for their staff. Mom and Dad were happy, but for the most part, they lived paycheck to paycheck with just enough extra to go out of town once a year on vacation and no retirement.

One day, if I was ever able to start up my own flashy bar, I’d send them on a real vacation. For years, Mom dreamed of going to Paris, but on their income, that was a pipe dream. Sometimes I thought about burning my savings and taking all three of us on a trip of a lifetime, and if I didn’t start making my dreams a reality soon, I might just cave and do it.

“I know this will always be my home because it’s where you and Dad are. But Mom, home isn’t a place, it’s the people you love. And we all deserve more in life. You and Dad deserve more and one day, somehow, I’m going to make it happen.”

She came over to me, cupped my cheeks and smiled. “I have faith in you, Holly. If opening your own establishment will fillthis void in your soul, your father and I are happy to support you in it. Whatever that entails.”

I put my hands over hers. “Then you have to let me go back to work. Neither one of us is making tips hanging out on the couch and watching old movies.”

“It’s just…” her breath hitched. “When we got that call you were in the hospital… Holly, I’d never been more scared in my entire life. Not ever.”

Tears filled both of our eyes as that reminder struck a chord between us. “I know, but it all worked out. I know better how to protect myself and will make sure I stay completely alert and aware from now on.”

“Okay,” she sighed. “I’ll pack your things while you shower. But, baby, you know you’re always welcome back home. Anytime you need us, we’re right here.”

I pulled her into a big hug, snuggling against her neck, her perfume filling my senses with the familiar white amber, lavender, and apple scent that wasLovelyby Sarah Jessica Parker. It was supposed to remind the wearer of that old hit showSex and the City. Mom was obsessed with SJP the way people were with Taylor Swift. I thought it was cute, and I enabled her fascination by buying her a bottle of perfume every year on Mother’s Day. And every year, she acted as if it was the first time I bought it for her.

My mom was the best. And as I let her go and made my way to the shower, I vowed to one day give her that trip of a lifetime. Maybe we could also go to New York City first and hit all the places SJP did in the show. My mother would lose her mind.

As I pulled back the shower curtain, removed my clothes, and turned on the water, I stepped inside with one thing on my mind.

How could I make a lot of money in a short amount of time?

Pinching my pennies and saving all my tips to put $6,000 in the bank every year wasn’t nearly enough. It would never be enough.

I needed a miracle.

* * * *

When I got back to the bar, Mac was already there. He wore a black bandana tied around his bald head, a white T-shirt, his leather cut, and a pair of ratty jeans and black combat boots. Basically, his normal uniform. He had a salt and pepper mustache that I’d been told was called a Fu Manchu style because it was bushy around his upper lip and went down the sides of his mouth, stopping at his jawline. I thought it was badass and so did the myriad forty and fifty-something biker babes that often waited for him to end his shift each night he worked.

“Hey Mac,” I waved as I dragged in my duffle bag.

He pressed his big hands to the bar top, bracing his giant frame. The guy was six foot four, at least two hundred and sixty pounds, and had a mean resting dick face.

“Don’t youHey Macme, little girl!” he bit out angrily.

I stopped in my tracks. “Well hello to you too. Who pissed in your cheerios this morning?”

“Don’t you dare give me that bullshit,” he growled, his tone rising as his face reddened.

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