Page 6 of Flamingo Christmas

“Right? I was leaving work, and the fool came from out of nowhere and insisted I give him my belongings. He wouldn’t listen to reason when I asked if I could at least keep my phone. Instead, he hit me with his gun.”

“A gun. He held you at gunpoint and you argued with him? Good Lord, lady. I’d say you’re lucky to be alive. Your phone couldn’t have been that important.”

Unable to explain that she’d been frantic to keep it in case Art messaged her back, she just nodded and then winced.

“I wanted to call my folks to let them know I’m in the hospital. I need them to come and look after me.”

“Of course, you do. It’s strange you lost your phone because that happened to me yesterday also. I had to go out and buy a new one. You can use it if you like.” He held it out.

“Yes, please.” Sue took the proffered phone and made her call, thankful that she had memorized her father’s number. While she waited for an answer, she really took a good look at the man who had walked over to the window to give her privacy. His face seemed ravaged with worry, his cheeks were drawn, and his warm brown eyes were bloodshot yet held sympathy for a total stranger.

She’d instantly felt his empathy and appreciated his caring attitude. Before she could ask him about his reason for being in the hospital, her father’s questioning voice sounded in her ear.

“Well, hi there?” He obviously hadn’t recognize her as the caller. Not until she began to cry. “Susie? Is that you? What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine, Dad. But I’m in the Victoria General. C-can you come? I need you.”

Her father didn’t ask the numerous questions her mother likely would have pelted out. Instead, he said the words she needed to hear. “We’re on our way, baby. See you as soon as possible.”

Finished with her call, she held the phone out. “Thank you.” She sniffed again and used a tissue to mop up her tears. “I’m sorry. I’m usually not this weepy. I guess it’s getting hit on the head that’s making me so emotional.”

The man approached and took his phone in one hand and patted her arm with his other. “Hey, you have nothing to apologize for. Get better soon.” When he left the room, she watched his tall body move away, his lanky form pleasing.

Darn… she forgot to ask his name. Or why he had appeared in her hospital room. She could only hope he wasn’t there to see anyone in a bad way. Something told her that he was, and her heart went out to the kind stranger.

Chapter Six

Once at home, Sue couldn’t get over how different her place seemed now. After being released from the hospital, her parents had made her stay with them for two days while they plied her with every treat they could think of to cheer her up.

Her mother even took out the Christmas tree and ornaments knowing that Sue loved this time of year and would visit every season to help them decorate.

For Sue, it wasn’t just slapping up a tree and a few statues. She would go to so much trouble that her father often grumbled that they lived in a hallmark Christmas movie.

Not having near as many ornaments at her place other than her flamingo seasonal collection, she loved to splurge when it came to indulging her mom’s passion. That woman had gathered her holiday stock for years and had a huge selection to choose from. Which delighted a girl who loved to go all out.

And so, over the couple of days of recuperating, she got busy and pretty soon, their apartment looked beautiful. They had other residents streaming in all evening to see what she’d accomplished, and the compliments had flown until her head started swelling.

Laughing at the memory, she bustled around getting ready for work and thought about the one discord to those easy times. She hadn’t heard back from Art. Day after day, she’d checked her emails and waited. Even though she’d lost her phone, she could still open her Hotmail account on her laptop and see what activity had gone on. All her regular emails had continued to flow except one from him.

Over the phone, she’d talked with her girls in the workplace, and they’d found her drawings and gathered the materials they thought would best match that particular pattern. She’d also sent them the image in color so they would choose the exact replicas.

Today, being her first day back to work, she intended to make the stuffed toy the best way she could, and just maybe, Art would contact her.

Thinking over the email address he’d used, she actually wondered if there was a way to find him through that info. It hadn’t consisted of a first and last name like so many others. Instead, he’d just used his first name with a set of numbers and a Yahoo account. No doubt, the police might be able to locate the man behind the address, but a girl with very little online knowledge was pretty well screwed. Guess she’d just have to wait for him to get back to her… if he ever did.

Packing one of her old purses with her new phone and personals, she snatched her second set of car keys and drove to work. Parking in the back lot, she made a note to herself to have her dad organize the repairman to come and install new sets of motion lights rather than just relying on the one that hadn’t helped her a bit. She wanted the whole area to be well lit from now on.

When she stepped out of her car and walked past the spot where she’d lain in the gravel, she saw the amount of blood there and gulped hard. Goodness, no wonder she’d been such a mess. Stumbling slightly, she went to unlock the doors and open the blinds.

Soon, the other three girls who worked with her arrived and after catching up with hugs and well wishes, they got down to work. During her absence, orders for Christmas had piled up and they were suddenly very busy.

Before she could concentrate on anything else, Sue gathered the special material the others had laid out, and she began making the exact replica of the toy in her drawings. Glad that Art had sent the image in color, she knew the materials they’d chosen would work. Putting her head down, she soon had the stuffed toy finished and staring at her.

Now she felt better. If he did reach out again, she would be ready. A voice whispered in her ear, and she jumped back from her stool, dizzy from the unexpected movement.

“Jacquie? Hi. You startled me.”

Laughing, Jacquie grabbed Sue’s shoulders to balance her and turned it into a hug. “I was worried about you. Seeing you in the hospital so pale and shaken made me wonder how you were getting on now that you’re back at work.”

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