Page 27 of Christmas Kisses
“I need to go to work.”
He nodded again, “I do too. I will drive you to your house, so you can have your car.”
She didn’t like it, and her body was rebelling against her decisions, but her mind was still in charge and what he said sounded crazy, and yet at the same time, sane.
She was the crazy one. He led her to his car, not touching her and they sat in silence.
She got out as soon as she could when he pulled in her driveway and she had to bite back the tears that threatened when he pulled away.
She hurried inside to get her keys to her car, and fell against the door, her mind still racing, trying to wrap her head around what he had said.
She had stopped believing in Santa Claus a long time ago, and had put away thoughts of going to the North Pole someday.
She always had those dreams, and had asked Santa more than once for Christmas to take her to the Pole.
Of course he never answered her wishes, and she got lovely toys, and things, but with each year that passed she stopped asking for something that would never happen.
Even if she had always wanted to see it, how she wanted to see how he did what he did and she longed to meet an elf.
She read story after story of elves and Fae, loving each new one she read, and they were her favorite.
She always wished to meet a real elf one day and yet, it was a secret she had never divulged, not even to Eryka.
She had let the dreams of going to the Pole die as she grew older and knew better than to believe in a farce.
She had let her Christmas spirit still thrive, but stopped believing in the magic of it a long time ago.
She had started to love Christmas again only since meeting Eryka. They both loved the spirit that people had, and Eryka made her see the joy and the light again.
A throat cleared and she looked up at Eryka.
“Hey? I thought you were with Jensynn.”
Brenya nodded, her throat tight with unshed tears, “I was. But some stuff happened and I needed to think.”
Eryka hurried to her side, “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
Brenya shook her head, “Not that way. I just need time to think. And I can’t when he is around.”
Eryka looked confused, “Okay….”
Brenya stepped away from the door, and went to get her keys, and gave Eryka a quick hug, “I will see you later.”
Eryka nodded, and Brenya left, not wanting to elaborate further on what made her upset.
She drove on autopilot to the mall and when she walked in the doors, she avoided looking at the Santa display.
She hurried to open the shop and much to her surprise, the doors were already unlocked.
She went inside, confused.
Agnes was in the small office in the back room and when Brenya walked in, Agnes stood.
“We need to talk Brenya.” Agnes said and Brenya felt her brows furrow, “Okay. What’s wrong?”
Agnes sat back down, “Alan told me that a young man threatened him yesterday. Your boyfriend in fact. Alan told me that he was here, minding his own business and just checking on the store when your boyfriend came in and started accusing Alan of things. And I have been looking at the books, and there is a discrepancy there. Money has gone missing each time you worked. Can you tell me why?”
Brenya felt her eyes widen in shock, “Alan came onto me yesterday. Tried to kiss me and attack me at work. He has for years. And the money thing is all Alan. He takes money from the till each time he is here. If you don’t believe me, watch the surveillance video. I didn’t do a single thing wrong.”
