Page 20 of The Grump Who Stole Christmas
I smiled as a name immediately came to mind.
Would Matt care?
Would Matt even know?
Didn’t matter. He wasn’t here and we needed the help.
I looked up her name, and sure enough, she had a website that showcased her skills, if not her client list. Dad had told me something went wrong with her last firm and now she was on her own. Dad had always liked Jasmine, Matt’s high-school girlfriend. She’d been a cheerleader and one of the most optimistic people I’d ever met.
For my sake, the inn’s sake, I hoped she still believed she could do anything. Because, right now, I needed a little optimism.
* * *
I mademy way into town and followed the direction to the address on Jasmine’s website. However, when I stopped and looked up at the building, I realized it was probably just her apartment.
Made sense. When starting a business you wanted the least amount of overhead you could have. Keep it lean and simple until you started turning a profit and then carefully expand.
Look at me, I thought. Boss Lady with all the sound business advice. If only people would just listen to me…
I found the buzzer outside the building with her name on it and rang it.
“Yes?”
Good. She was home. “Jasmine, it’s Kristen Kringle.”
“Kristen? What are you doing back in Salt Springs…oh, wait, I heard about your dad. Is he okay?”
“Broken leg, but he’s healing. Actually I want to talk to you about a job. Can I come up? Or maybe get coffee someplace?”
“Yes! Coffee. I’ll be right down. Just give me five minutes. Four minutes!”
I laughed. That sounded like Jas. I’d been in college when she and Matt were dating, but she was around when I was home his senior year. Petite, blonde. Cheerful. I didn’t know if Jasmine even knew what sarcasm was. My total opposite in every way. I’d always thought I should hate her. But I never could.
I don’t think it was possible to hate Jasmine. Certainly Matt hadn’t. At least, not back in the day. For the few months they’d dated he’d only had two thoughts in his head. Hockey and Jas. Ultimately, hockey won. I never asked what broke them up, but it was easy enough to see Matt hadn’t taken it well. He was cranky on his best day.
After he and Jas split, well, those had not been his best days.
But that was a long time ago. In fact it felt like a hundred years ago. Like I’d lived three lives during my time after college, working in New York, and now I was this dried up old woman. One stiff wind and I would blow apart.
I didn’t look it, though. I’d packed a few business suits, because you never knew when a business opportunity might present itself, and was wearing one now for this interview.
Navy blue pinstripe pantsuit. Custom made. A crisp white blouse underneath. My only problem was my shoes. Jimmy Choos were not made for snowy slushy sidewalks, so my feet were freezing. But it wasn’t like I was going to pair the suit with my boots.
White cashmere overcoat, black leather gloves, my hair slicked back into my normal working ponytail that I knew made my face look even more pointed and narrow. Sharp clothes, sharp face, sharp attitude.
I practically screamed Manhattan.
That was going to have to change. Eventually.
The building door open and Jas bounced out. Still petite, blonde, and adorable. Even in business casual attire.
Bitch.
“Kristen! It’s so good to see you. This is a real surprise.”
“Let’s walk,” I said. I didn’t want to waste time with chit-chat, what-have-you-been-doings, or any other type of small talk. I could have called ahead, but my gut said that I needed a face-to-face. What I was going to ask might be impossible. I would either get that sense from her immediately, or I would see if she was up for the challenge.
I found the nearest coffee shop and stepped inside. The smell, as it always did, gave me a little extra edge.
