Page 3 of Merry with a Grumpy Boss

“Well, yes.” Marietta pulled herself up proudly. “Calhoun Design sponsors the annual Jingle Bell Festival. Our carpenters put together all the booths, build and paint the signage, and construct Santaland every year. They love the overtime so close to the holidays.”

Ka-ching! The sound of an old-fashioned cash register resounded in his head. The furniture manufacturer was drowning in debt ,and yet they were spending God only knew how much money on a festival. Hell, maybe this was job wasgoing to be easier than he thought. The first thing Dayton could nix was this Jingle Bell bash.

“When Miss Folly has composed herself, send her into my office.” He ignored Marietta’s disapproval. “I assume I’ll be working with her since she’s the office manager.”

“Yes, sir, Mr. Holloway. Right away, Mr. Holloway.” She sniffed. “Anything else, Mr. Holloway?”

Huh, so that’s how it was going to be.

He told himself the brief pang of regret was allowing Dayton to coax him into coming to Love Beach, not the older woman’s withdrawal of open friendliness.

He’d committed to three months. If he could find more rampant leaks like the holiday sponsorship, he might be able to wrap it up in two months.

“Can I get a cup of coffee or do I need to go out?” he asked.

“I’m a tea drinker, so you’ll have to ask Ginger.” She suddenly grinned. “Arthur loved her coffee, especially this time of year.”

Uneasy but not sure why, Haywood strode back to the office marked President, eager to get started so his time in Love Beach was as brief as possible.

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“You should have seen his face when he took that first sip of coffee.” Ginger laughed at the memory, reenacting Haywood’s reaction. “‘Who the hell puts cinnamon in dark roast?’ He acted like I was trying to poison him.”

“It doesn’t sound like things are off to a good start.” Odette held a plastic bag imprinted with the logo and contact information for the Love Beach Animal Shelter, which she was filling with promotional material. The bags would be handed out during the Jingle Bell Festival, along with homemade organic dog treats. The fun part, making the doggie cookies, would start when they’d finished stuffing five hundred goodie bags.

“I’m surprised at you,” mused Willa Leigh Lewis—formerly Osborn—the third in the tight-knit circle of friends. The fourth, Jezzy Brant, was currently in Palm Springs with her flavor-of-the-month boy toy. “You’re the sweetest, least antagonistic person I know. You get along with everyone.”

“Excerpt her new boss,” Odette intoned.

“Haywood Holloway.” Ginger scoffed. “Pretentious snob. Likely has a trust fund. Arthur would have hated him. I mean, who doesn’t love Christmas?”

“Not me!” Lulu Osborn-Lewis, Willa Leigh’s eleven-year-old daughter, strolled into the lobby of the animal shelter, leading a scruffy dog on a leash. “I love Christmas. Daddy says it’s gonna be extra magical this year.”

Six months ago, Willa Leigh had reunited with her high school crush who’d left town the day after prom, unaware she was pregnant after their one night together. Learning he had a daughter—and that he’d missed the first ten years of her life—had been rough for all of them, but they finally had the happy ever after they deserved. Kobe and Willa Leigh were married in a ceremony on the beach three months ago and now split their time between Kobe’s ranch in Montana and the South Carolina beach town.

“Who’s your new pal?” Ginger asked, still prickly about Willa Leigh’s comment. It was true; Ginger embraced the adage that strangers were friends waiting to happen. But that was before Haywood walked into her life. She was still debating if he was more Scrooge or Grinch, but after threatening to pull the company’s sponsorship for the Jingle Bell Festival, he was showing a definite Grinch-like leaning. Important nuances, in her opinion. Scrooge was stingy and unsympathetic, but the Grinch took things a step further by actually stealing presents in an effort to ruin Christmas. If Haywood pulled support for the festival, it would steal joy—and much-needed funding—from hundreds of people.

“This is Max.” Lulu crouched next to the timid mutt, scratching behind his ears. “He’s not doing so well.”

“His owner is in the Army. He’s being deployed and couldn’t find anyone to keep Max for him. He asked us to find a good family since he’ll be gone a year or more.” When Odette began working at the rescue, she’d cried and cried. So many tragic stories that ended with someone’s beloved cat or dog being surrendered. She’d toughened up over the years; not becauseshe grew insensitive but because she got more accomplished when she wasn’t sitting in a puddle of tears.

“He looks exactly like the dog in the Grinch movie,” Willa Leigh said. “The one with Jim Carrey.”

“He does, Momma!”

“And his name is Max,” Odette noted.

“I’m not in the market for a pet,” Ginger declared. “Besides, Max is the Grinch’s dog. Talk to Haywood aka The Grinch of Love Beach.”

“He can’t be that bad.” Willa Leigh straightened the bags they’d already completed, making space in the cardboard box for more. “He’s only been here three days.”

“When Marietta told him how Calhoun Designs donates labor and supplies to the festival, he said that would be one of the first budgetary cuts. Without even looking at the company records!” Sadness welled up inside Ginger.

The Jingle Bell Festival had started fifteen years ago as a fundraising initiative for local non-profits. They tapped into holiday good will and added a few dollars to already-tight coffers. Over the years, it had grown into a beloved tradition. By expanding the festival to include food, crafts, and games, it drew in visitors from outside Love Beach which translated to more funding for the town’s charitable organizations.

While Calhoun Designs was the official sponsor, most of the money earmarked to support the festival was spend on salaries for the carpenters and crew who assembled safe and sturdy stalls for the vendors, plus signage and a wooden dais where musicians performed. The average income in Love Beach, a town that relied heavily on tourism, was modest, so employees appreciated the opportunity to pick up extra money while helping their neighbors and friends. In Ginger’s opinion, the overtime pay benefitted everyone versus doling out a token holiday bonus.

“Put a Santa hat on Max and bring him to the office on Monday,” Odette suggested. “The Grinchmeister was a cold-hearted sonuva, but he did love his fur baby. Think of it as the first step in dethawing the man’s frozen heart.”

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