Page 49 of The Hanukkah Hook-Up

“Yeah.” Parker held up a hand and smiled at the guy behind the counter. “The Bridge and Tunnel guys really saved the day. After Beck, of course.”

“He’s moved the temp staff in?”

“Only this week, to give the New York office a breather during the transition. You should’ve seen the hug Tia laid on him.”

“Tia? I’ve been trying to get a hold of her. April, too. I still think I can help them find work –”

Parker shook his head, flaming hair and all.

“They will have plenty of work with the new Myers contracts, Nora.”

Nora had to wrap her head around what he was laying down a mile a minute. “Wait, but – all those Britesmith layoffs…it was all…?”

“It was all to protect the employee’s investments, and to make sure Britesmith paid what the employees were owed. Nolan was nearby for the whole thing when it went down. Said Beck was a total rock star.” Parker pulled his huge wig off, holding it under his arm. “Nora, the layoffs caused them all to become immediately vested in the old retirement plan. Beck had figured it out. He kept Hedstrom on the hook just long enough to trigger it.”

“Old plan?”

“Sure, everyone’s all under the parent company now. We all Team Hayseed, baby! On their payroll, benefits, everything.” He did a flossing move in his Christmas couture. “It never made sense to keep everything siloed. This helps with overhead while also presenting a more cohesive brand.”

“Um, who even are you with this lingo?”

“I’m still POO number two. Which sounds terrible, so we are changing the title. But I report to someone in Des Moines now.”

Nora felt a tiny stab of sadness, guilt and… something else unidentifiable, but it felt a bit like joy bursting in her chest.

Her people were safe. They were being taken care of. No longer by her, but…

“Take care of yourself.” Parker hugged her long and hard, his spiky wig in his hand poking her. “I gotta go. Oh, and Nora? Happy last night of Hanukkah.”

* * *

Alex nodded and smiled as people said hello and Happy Hanukkah. After four nights of gathering to watch the communal lighting, their faces were beginning to look familiar to him, so he guessed his was, too.

Who would’ve thought, in a place as big as New York?

It was still light out, just before sundown on the final night of Hanukkah. It was his last full day in the city for a while, and he wanted to drink it all in.

Uncle Marty had left on Christmas Day, after taking Alex and Drew out for lunch at a kosher Chinese place where they were able to order a matzo ball soup and an egg roll at the same meal. New York was full of tiny miracles.

Nora was right, the city had emptied out on Christmas. He thought maybe he’d have a better chance of finding her without the crowds. But instead, he found himself wandering neighborhoods he’d never been to before.

Places he could maybe see himself living someday.

Maybe.

Alex checked his watch, then settled on a bench. He pulled out the letter he had been carrying for the last four days. Even if Nora wasn’t coming, he still had this last piece of his grandfather, and her to thank for it.

Dusk was settling, heightening the crowd’s murmur of growing excitement. There were still twinkling white lights everywhere he looked – from the horse carriages lining the street to the trees in front of The Plaza, to the glittering skyscrapers stretched out beyond him. It was as if everyone wanted to prolong the magic of both holidays for a little while longer.

A flashing caught his eye in the distance.

All the Christmas camouflage in the world couldn’t hide her.

“Hey, Beckman.”

The blinking was coming from the stunner in blue and black – or rather, the tacky black sweater she wore with CHAI MAINTENANCE surrounded in blue lights.

“Hey, Ruben. You’re early.” He stood.

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