Page 4 of Flamingo Christmas

Also, the firm he’d been employed by had a wonderful reputation. They’d had more contracts than they could handle and had been willing to make this arrangement with him as long as they got results...which they always did. Then came the pandemic and they depended on him even more.

But now that Lisa was four, he had to agree that his firm had been pretty lenient so far and with their increased business, they really did need him to be there like they insisted.

“How about I come in for half days and put Lisa in a daycare for the afternoon or mornings?”

“Nope. Not going to work, Art. We need a person on site full-time. Many days our meetings run late, and we have to be available at the drop of a hat. Nowadays, business people expect us to be at their beck and call at any time. And you know we’ve lost Hal to retirement and Irene is on maternity leave. I need you now more than ever.”

He saw the dismay that Art couldn’t hide and pressed his advantage. “Look, my friend, we’re being generous about a full work week. Anyone else and I’d insist. But I get it. So, until Lisa begins school, we’ll deal with having you here for three days. But we need you to start next week.”

“Right. Okay. I’ll make some arrangements. I figure Tuesday through Thursday will work better for me as that’ll give me the long weekends to bring work home with me too.”

“Fine. However it’s best for you. Just let me know, and I’ll start making arrangements and get a big office set up for you rather than just the small cubicle with a desk you’ve been keeping these last years.”

Art smiled, knowing his boss, John, was trying to cheer him up with this bribe, but he hated the thought of having to leave Lisa for even three days a week.

While he sat by her side, thinking about his life, watching for any change in her tiny face, he again searched his pockets for his missing phone.Jesus, really? How could he have been so careless.

He slipped out the door and returned to the waiting room, praying that the nurses might have found his cell, or some honest citizen had turned it in at the counter. No such luck.

“Art?”

He looked up and saw his parents flying down the hallway and knew they must have caught the plane as soon as he’d gotten through to them about the accident.

“Mom, Dad.” He hugged them both, feeling a huge wave of gratitude to have them near. “I’m sorry you had to cut your vacation short in Miami. But I knew you’d want to be here for Lisa.”

“And for you, son. We’re shocked to hear about this accident. How is our girl?”

Chapter Four

Sue couldn’t concentrate for the rest of the day. She must have checked her phone a dozen times, hoping to see a reply back from Art, the man whose hospitalized daughter had lost her stuffed toy.

Finally, after everyone else left for the night, Sue began to sketch the stuffed flamingo showing in the image. The one she couldn’t stop thinking about all day. Opening up the attachment, she printed it out, hoping to get an even better view.

Deciding that Jacquie’s measurements had been correct, she worked on her drawing until her eyes became blurry, and her shoulders ached. Standing back, she nodded her head in satisfaction. It was as close as she could get without having the original.

Rubbing her eyes and then stretching, arching her back muscles, she decided to leave it for now and would begin searching out the materials tomorrow as soon as she got into the shop. She could get help from the others as they knew even better than her what stock they had.

Before closing down for the night, she again checked her phone. She’d sent Art two messages and had gotten zero replies. Hopefully, she’d hear back the next day.

Packing up her belongings and locking up the place, she made her way to the back lot where they had a small area for parking. As she neared her car, the hackles on the back of her neck began to warn her that something was out of place. Stopping before she stepped fully into the darkened area, she looked around and listened carefully.

The motion light that usually came on didn’t, which in itself seemed weird. She listened again.

Nothing.

Quit being so silly.

But her intuition wouldn’t be silenced. Unsure of whether to continue to her car or return to where the lights were brighter on the sidewalk, she hesitated.

And that was her biggest mistake. Whoever had decided to make mischief got sick of her indecision and stepped in front of her with a gun in his hand aimed for her belly.

Now she could clearly see the male figure who’d decided to make trouble. His eyes looked young and scared and his hand wavered. A black balaclava-type ski mask covered most of his face. His voice sounded weak but defiant. “Give me your purse, lady, and they’ll be no trouble.”

Knees threatening to crumble, Sue took two small steps back. “I-I don’t have a lot of money on me. I’m sorry.” Instantly feeling stupid for apologizing, she held out the bag, her hands trembling wildly.

Suddenly, she remembered her phone and the need to keep it with her. How could she stay in touch with Art and the child who needed her? “Please, may I have my phone back. You can take everything else, but I really need that one item.”

“Shut up. And get on your knees.”

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