Page 6 of Magic in Mistletoe
“He was in the other day. Big white beard.”
“Right. I remember him. He was buying candy for his grandkids. Wait. Aren’t you a bit old for that?”
“It was for business only. We all had to taste the candy before we placed an order this large. And your confections passed with flying colors.”
“So, all of you run one little toy store?”
“Not quite. We’re more of an international conglomerate. The history of toy making goes back generations. We started with a single workshop but soon found it was too hard to keep up with production. Smaller factories in strategic locations worked far better. There are eight locations and each one is run by one of the grandchildren. I,” he smiled, leaning back in the chair, “work in North America-West.”
“Right then,” she said, relieved that there must be some money backing his purchase. “What kind of numbers are we talking about?”
Martin reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. He handed it to Sadie. She blinked in disbelief, then glared at Martin. “I knew it. This is a joke. Did Eleanor send you?”
“No joke,” he said, his expression serious as he handed her a check. “This should cover about half the cost. We’ll pay the rest upon delivery.”
Sadie stared at the check. Holy crap. This order would save the store.
And then some.
Chapter 4
Martinsatfacinghisgrandfather across a large mahogany desk, his laptop open.
“So, how did it go?” his grandfather asked, peering up at him through his thick-rimmed glasses. The old man’s office was cramped, especially with that beast of a desk, but each visit filled Martin with a sense of nostalgia—the smell of leather-bound books, the sound of the clock ticking in the corner, and the sight of his grandfather’s old typewriter, still perched atop a wooden pedestal took Martin back to his childhood. He’d spent many an afternoon in that room while his father and grandfather discussed business.
“It went well,” Martin replied. “Sadie agreed to supply us with candy.”
“Good,” his grandfather said, nodding. “I remember when her grandmother ran the shop. You could always rely on her for good candy.”
“You’ve done business with the Snowflake Sugar Shop before? I thought they were new suppliers.”
“Oh, they are, but Mable, Sadie’s grandmother, gave us a hand from time to time. Until recently, I didn’t know that Mable had a granddaughter, but the family resemblance is strong. Sadie’s the spitting image of her grandmother.”
Martin smiled. “Is she? I hope Mable was friendlier.”
His grandfather chuckled. “She was. And yes, Sadie is a bit grumpy, but maybe all she needs is a little Christmas magic.” He glanced at Martin over the top of his glasses.
Martin nodded. “I like her, though. Her skepticism kept me on my toes.”
He couldn’t help but think about Sadie’s piercing blue eyes and how they looked right through him. Something about her certainly interested him, although he couldn’t put his finger on anything specific. Maybe it was the way she carried herself, with an air of confidence—no, make that indifference—that was both intriguing and intimidating. “I think there’s more to her than meets the eye.”
“What do you mean?” his grandfather asked, leaning forward.
“Oh, I don’t know exactly. It’s just a feeling I have.”
Martin's grandfather nodded thoughtfully. “Could be. But it’s not our place to pry. All we need is a strong business relationship. Now, let’s take a look at the numbers.” His grandfather gestured to the laptop screen. Together, they pored over the budget for the season, factoring in the cost of Sadie’s candy. Martin was grateful for his grandfather’s guidance. He couldn’t imagine running things without him.
As they worked, Martin’s mind kept drifting back to Sadie. He wondered what her life was like outside the candy shop. Did she have family nearby? A partner? Did she enjoy the store, or was it merely a job?
“Martin? Are you listening?” his grandfather’s voice broke through his thoughts.
“Sorry, what was that?”
“I said that we need to monitor the bottom line. We can’t go overboard on the candy order.”
“Right, of course,” Martin said, refocusing on the screen. “I’ll make sure everything is within budget.”
As they finished up their work, Martin’s thoughts returned to Sadie. He wondered if he would see her again soon. Maybe he could bring her a cup of coffee or something to show his appreciation for her help. Assumably, the order was larger than the store was accustomed to handling. Yet, he’d seen nothing but determination in her eyes—after the skepticism, that is.
