Page 4 of A Merry Misfit Christmas

He chuckles, and somehow, it eases the tension I feel. “Get in here. It’s cold as shit out there.”

He’s not wrong. I step through the door and shiver as he closes it. “Thanks.”

“I figure we can sit in the kitchen. It’s warm from the ovens being in use this morning.”

“Okay. Lead the way.”

I follow Spike, and we end up in an enormous kitchen. It’s the size you would expect to see in an assisted living facility or a hospital. Everything is stainless steel. The commercial feel contrasts with the plants hanging from the ceiling close to the big window above the double sink that’s probably used for prep and utility as much as dishwashing. It’s clean too. Spotless. Like someone regularly wipes it all down to ensure no fingerprints smudge the smooth surfaces.

It’s silly I notice things like this, but my eye is drawn to it because of my career. There’s not a thing I would change in this room from an organizational standpoint. Shelving with neatly stacked pots and pans, closed cupboards, arranged spices in a rack, and various fresh herbs growing in little pots all lined up in a row on the deep windowsill meet my standards for cleanliness and orderliness.

Spike clears his throat and gestures to a square table with four chairs across from the entry to the kitchen. The dark wood adds a bit of warmth to the room. It’s a nice touch with all the stainless steel and matches the cabinetry on one wall. In the center of the table is a deep wooden bowl filled with peanuts. I noticed a bulk bag of them on one of the shelves.

“Peanut is fond of,” he chuckles, “peanuts.”

“Peanut?” I ask, wondering if he’s referring to one of his biker friends or someone else. Surely, they don’t have a pet elephant on the premises. This property is huge, so it’s not like I’ll notice, especially if they keep one indoors. I can’t think of any other animal that likes peanuts enough to buy them in bulk.

“He’s a member of the Shifted Misfits. My Enforcer.”

I nod, not really understanding what an enforcer is or why he’s needed. “Ah, okay.” I settle across from Spike and relax in my chair. The room is warm and cozy. I can feel the heat, like the ovens are warming the kitchen, but they’re not. I blink when I realize most of the heat is coming from the big guy across from me. He gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘hot-blooded’.

It’s not important. I have his attention, and I need to make the most of the minutes he spares me today. Cheryl mentioned the president of this club is a busy guy, and he can only spare an hour of his time. I open the folder and hand him the flyer I made, not wasting any time.

“Did Cheryl mention the reason for my visit today?” I ask, wondering how much information he learned from the call.

“Well, I know she runs Mercy Falls Refuge. Helps out families with domestic violence and orphans. She said something about needing help this Christmas. She really seems to care about the kids.”

“Yes. Cheryl is selfless. She’s got a big heart.” I point to the flyer. “That’s where we need help. These kids deserve a great Christmas. I want to help give them that.”

“What do you need?”

“A few things. Help with the toy drive and donations. Maybe gift cards for items the kids need like coats, hats, and mittens. Possibly food too but I plan to speak to the food pantry for that. Then there’s Santa.”

“Santa?” He says the name hesitantly, like he’s apprehensive.

“Yeah,” I joke. “The big guy with a white beard dressed in red who shows up to the Christmas party to brighten the children’s day.”

A boisterous laugh, deep while also rumbling his chest, startles me. “I’ve got just the man for the job.”

“Good.”

He strokes the light scruff on his jaw before looking into my eyes. He’s got a penetrating stare like he’s trying to figure out why I’m here. “You got me curious, Callie.”

“About the toy drive?”

“Not exactly. We’re helping. Not gonna turn my back on those kids.” He leans back into his chair and ticks his head at me. “But I want to know why you’re so invested. I can hear it in your voice. This means something to you, too.”

“It does,” I admit. “It’s personal.”

He slowly nods, not pushing for more, although I can see he’s still curious. “Consider it done. The Shifted Misfits will help with the toy drive and donations. We’ll send in a Santa and make sure those kids have a holiday to remember.”

I’m so thrilled I almost cry. “Thank you so much. This is awesome.”

“Where do we drop off the toys? At the facility?”

“Actually, no. I’m going to keep them at my apartment until the Christmas party. Cheryl is worried the kids might find them early.”

Spike smirks. “Yeah, I bet they would.”

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