Page 65 of His Gift
“I know we’re all motivated to get our emotional baggage out on the table so that we can start healing,” I said, though really, I was barely a part of the family yet, “but we’ve got a Christmas Eve extravaganza to pull off. I say we put our energy into that first.”
“That’s a wonderful idea, Enzo,” Anthony said, smiling at me like I’d just handed him the best Christmas gift of all.
“I’m eager to see if this job fair is a success,” Mr. Wythe said with his usual stiffness. “I still have my doubts, but if the attendees find the whole thing useful, perhaps we could consider offering other improvement services under the umbrella of the Wythe Foundation.”
“That’s a good idea, Dad,” Shawn said, then imitated his father and added, “Well done.”
Mr. Wythe looked startled for a moment, then laughed and shook his head. “We’ll work through all the apologies for yearsof misunderstandings later,” he said, shifting so he could thump Shawn’s arm, then rest a hand on Walt’s shoulder. “I believe I have a lot to make up for.”
Boy was he ever right. I wasn’t going to make things worse by pointing that out, though. At least the Wythe family was back on the right track. It wasn’t the full-on Christmas miracle it could have been, but there was still time. And I noticed that when he got up, Walt stepped over to Dr. Brendan’s booth to take the card that had been offered and to chat with the alpha for a few minutes.
“I hope this is the start of something,” I told Shawn as we headed over to the event hall’s main doors. I was supposed to be helping at the registration table, after all.
“I definitely think it is,” Shawn said. “I’ve never seen my father like this before. Dare I say it, but I think you’ve made a huge impact on this family.”
I shrugged as Shawn opened the door to the noisy lobby and let me walk through first. “I dunno. I think you had all reached a boiling point without me. You would have worked things out eventually. It might not look like it at first sight, but you’re all really good people.”
Shawn huffed as he helped me over to the seat at the registration table that was designated for me. “I’m not so sure about that.”
He kissed my cheek after I sat, then returned to the event hall and the task he was meant to be doing. I didn’t know if he wasn’t sure about his family being good people or whether they would have sorted things out on their own, but it didn’t matter now. The Wythes were on the right track, and I was there to help them. And maybe Dr. Brendan, too.
I didn’t have much time to think about it. The job fair portion of the Christmas Eve event was more than ready to get started.After a few last checks to make sure we were ready, the doors were opened and the event that I’d staked everything on began.
And it went well. At least, from my end of things.
“Here’s your badge and a questionnaire for you to fill out for our employers and service advisors,” I told each person who came up to check in with me. “There is also some card stock in your envelope so you can make your own business cards.”
“Is there an arty table in there so I can decorate mine?”
I glanced up, surprised to find Amy standing at my table, Erica by her side.
“Hey!” I said, getting to my feet and edging my way around the table to throw my arms around her. “Where have you been?”
“I should be asking you the same question,” Amy said, hugging me back. “It’s been weeks since we’ve hung out.”
“You’re looking good,” Erica added, nodding to my belly. I wasn’t really showing yet, but I appreciated the notice all the same.
“Sorry, sorry,” I said, stepping to the side so we weren’t blocking the table. “As you can see, I’ve been busy.”
“Yeah, I forgive you,” Amy said. “As long as you don’t forget about me after this is all over.” She winked for good measure.
“And if you help the two of us find better jobs, we’ll love you forever,” Erica added.
I laughed. “There are all sorts of options available. There might even be some internship positions available at the Wythe Foundation.” I grinned and winked back at Amy. I would absolutely hire Amy and Erica to work with me if this event was a success and I was given other things like it to plan.
“That would be the best Christmas present ever,” Amy said with a smile. “Even though I’m really hoping someone donated a nice pair of boots to the whole gift exchange thing.”
I laughed, but the statement was a good reminder that both parts of the event were a good idea. Finding jobs and trainingwere desperately needed, but sometimes you just needed someone to give you that Christmas gift that you’d always wanted.
I told Shawn as much as the fair portion of the evening wound down and people started to take their seats for the supper, which the Pullman Center’s staff was already rolling out.
“So you think charitable gifts are a good idea after all?” Shawn asked as we stood to one side, surveying the results of all the work we’d done in the last few weeks.
“This doesn’t feel like charity, though,” I said, sliding an arm around his back and plastering myself against his side. “This feels like a great big family Christmas party, and we’re just giving presents to all our friends.”
“That’s how it should feel,” Shawn said.
He caressed my jaw, then tipped my face up to him so that he could kiss my lips. The kiss was borderline too sensual for a room crowded with people, but I didn’t mind. My alpha could have whatever he wanted from me.
