Holiday Magic (Second Chance) (2 page)

“
Of course, I have seamstresses, laborers, and decorators, so you don’t have to worry about any of that stuff, and anything I design exclusively for the casino stays there. It’s really just a long term, all-inclusive gig. It’ll be fine.”

Why was it that whenever Eleni said that, she always worried? Visions of past disasters from their teen years flashed through her mind.

“I need you to manage the local business for me. I can finish the jobs I have, and take on others. I just can’t work for any other casinos. There are only four all-inclusive jobs that require your presence during the events. The rest of the bookings can be handled alone by the staff. They’ve managed similar themes before, and know how to put the scenes together. They’ll be fine on their own. I only book one event a day, so that I don’t run short of help.”

“
So while you’re having fun, exactly how many events will I have to
supervise
?”

“
It’s not that bad. I have the Christmas Eve Snow Ball, two office Christmas parties, three weddings, and three house parties. The Snow Ball, one office party and two of the weddings are your all-inclusive gigs. You’ll look after any new clients, of course,” Eleni answered with that
duh
sound in her voice, the one she used when she thought someone was asking a ridiculous question.

“
I booked off the month of January, because that’s when the accountants come in and do their thing, so it’s up to you if you want to take any work then, and I’ll be back at the end of February.”

Frustrated that this was obviously a bigger job than she’d anticipated, Georgia paced the room, and counted to ten to control her temper. Eleni never seemed to fully understand the implications of her actions. Helping her would take far more time than Georgia had planned to take away from her own business. She had not intended to leave her shop before the holidays, but since her social life was nil, she had a lot of completed stock. She would have to limit the new commissions she could take.

“So, genius sister of mine, how am I supposed to look after all that on my own?  I thought you had a partner who helped out at these events. Will Mr. Mysterious be able to help me?”

“
Well…” Georgia could hear the reluctance in her voice. “He will, but I didn’t think you would want his help. Georgia, you do remember that Mark is my partner?”

The bottom fell out of Georgia’s world. She had known going back to Philly would mean confronting the memories and heartache she had buried over the last three years, but she had not expected it to happen this way. How could Eleni even suggest such a thing?

“You said he was a silent partner, providing money. You never said he attended these affairs with you,” she accused, her voice heavy with emotion.

“
It’s not as if I have to stay in Atlantic City for the duration. I’ll be back and forth, and once my displays there are done, I’ll race back to Philadelphia to help you. I mean, the man has to be kidding about the twenty-four seven. Even slaves got time off and a day of rest. Besides, Mark handles the church, while you manage the hotel. It’ll be fine, you’ll see.”

Georgia saw nothing of the kind. Searing pain had pierced her heart at the mention of Mark, and it was all she could do to keep from falling to the floor and curling herself up in a ball. She had convinced herself that she could do this, walk the streets of the city she loved, renew friendships she had let lapse, maybe even see him, and be able to be polite, but distant. She had known that he had been involved in the business, but she had assumed his role was that of a silent partner, offering financial support and nothing more.

“I really want to help you, Leni, but I don’t think I can work with Mark, and you know why! I’m not ready to face him. I can’t imagine why you thought I could.” Tears filled her eyes.

“
Georgia, just think about it, please?” Eleni begged. “If you can’t do this for me, I’ll understand, but it’s not as if he’ll be here every day. He comes in once a week, does the books and the taxes, and leaves. If I get a request for an event, I make a list of the items, project the man-hours involved, and run it by him, so that I can offer the best price, and still turn a profit. You can do that over the phone, or send him the information electronically. If you don’t want him to help with the events, I’m sure I can give my part-timers more hours. It’s just that having him on hand has generated quite a lot of business, especially from the single ladies.” 

She had hung up shortly afterward and nursed the ache in her heart the conversation had caused. Needless to say, Eleni had worn her down, as she always did, and she had acquiesced to her request.

Chapter Two

Georgia shook her head to clear the unhappy memories, and returned her thoughts to the present. She’d paused to stare at the stone base of Belvedere Castle on the Great Lawn. She’d crossed to the Turtle Pond, stopped again near the Delacorte Theater and its barren Shakespearean garden before coming here to see Gwen and have a final cup of tea.

From where she sat, she could see the Angel of the Waters holding her lily, standing atop the now-drained fountain on the Bethesda Terrace. The four cherubs beneath her—Temperance, Purity, Health, and Peace—had been the inspiration for her Valentine’s Day Merry Cupids coat pin. The park and Gwen had helped her heal. Unlike the Biblical fountain at Bethesda, they had not cured her, but the pain was bearable, and time would ease it more. She felt confident enough to return to Philadelphia and face her unpleasant past.

She paid her tab, and after a tearful good-bye to Gwen, continued her final walk through the park. The realtor was coming tomorrow with the couple who had purchased the apartment for more money than Georgia had expected. She had decided to make a clean break. If she did have to come back, she would find another place to live, just as she had three years ago.

It wasn’t a particularly cold day, but dampness crept into her bones and chilled her. She strolled past the Hans Christian Anderson statue and the Conservatory Pond. She stopped beside the Imagine Mosaic, the beautiful memorial to John Lennon in Strawberry Fields, and sat on one of the many benches that lined the sidewalk. In one of the old American elm trees, one leaf seemed to cling tenaciously to its branch. It had been that tree that had inspired Autumn Leaves, and it now gave her the final Central Park Collection design. She exited the park at East 72
nd
Street, and hurried along the last three blocks to her apartment.

Georgia unlocked the door to her condo, removed her coat and hat, and pulled a large suitcase out of the closet. She didn’t have a lot of clothes since almost everything she had brought with her from Philadelphia no longer fit, and had been given away to the Salvation Army over time. She wasn’t a clothes horse like her twin, but she had acquired some classic designer clothes, and these would need to be carefully packed. She had fabricated pewter buttons and toggles for a new fashion designer on Houston Street, and had been paid in beautiful dresses and pant suits. She had several pairs of jeans and sweaters, her normal mode of dress, and other bits and pieces to take with her as well. Since she would be tied up with lawyers and realtors most of the day tomorrow, she would have to pack tonight. The movers she’d hired were coming in the morning to pack up her studio and ship it to Eleni’s.

She left the suitcase in the hallway near her bedroom, went into the kitchen, opened the fridge, but nothing appealed to her. She had lost weight, possibly too much weight. Now that she had snapped out of her lethargic state, she would have to remedy that. She liked her new lithe form, but there really was such a thing as being too thin.

She looked around the apartment and realized she had never really made it hers. Everything in it was as it had been when she had bought it, furnished, three years ago, and she had sold it the same way. There were few things in it that reflected her personality. Other than her design studio, photos of Eleni, their parents, and grandparents, and a poster celebrating her jewelry store opening, the place was impersonal. It was like a long-term hospital room in a rehab center, a stopping place where she healed and got her emotions in order, and it was time to depart. What was it they said? Stagnation was death. Well, she had stagnated long enough.

She walked into her studio, picked up a piece of charcoal and a drawing pad, and sketched out a design for a broach. The drawing showed the bare branch she had seen with one last leaf dangling precariously from the tip. She had watched it for almost an hour, but it clung tenaciously to its exposed position, as if daring the wind to knock it down. It was still there when she had walked away. It was the answer she had needed.

Some people might admire the leaf for clinging to the branch, but in reality, the leaf was dead, and it was the tree that refused to let it go. Just like that tree, she had clung to her pain, her humiliation, her heartache. It was time to let them go. Life was too precious to spend all of it in regret. She would move on, and maybe, someday, her heart would heal.

She put down her sketch pad, packed away her materials, and flipped the switch, plunging the room into darkness. She went into the bedroom, opened the top drawer of her dresser, and removed the picture frame inside. It was a classic black and white photograph of her and Mark taken by one of Philadelphia’s best photographers. It had been their engagement picture for the society page. She looked at the image of the handsome man beside her, and reached out her finger to trace his face. A single tear slipped down her cheek. She hoped that she had made the right choice. She was certain that seeing Mark again would be sheer hell.

***

Mark Anderson stared at the letter in his hand, a message from Howard, his lawyer, concerning Eleni’s latest venture. Mysterious millionaire and casino owner Garth Simmons had requested an exclusive contract for Eleni’s services, stating that Holiday Magic could complete any contracted events while she worked for him provided that they were not in similar venues. In addition, he had stipulated that Eleni herself live at the casino for the duration of the contract. He was offering an outrageous fee for her services, and her penthouse and meals would all be complimentary. According to Howard, while the stipulations of the contract were unusual, it was a great deal.

The phone desk rang. He saw it was his administrative assistant, so he pressed speaker button.

“
Yes, Ruth. What is it?”

“”
Eleni Baxter is here to see you.”

“
Send her in.” He hung up and walked towards the door that was opening.

Eleni had almost become his sister-in-law. The tall, leggy blonde with a figure most models envied, came over and kissed him on each cheek as she always did. Her green eyes sparkled.

“What did your lawyer say? Can I sign the contract? I’m so excited!”

“
Hello to you too.” He laughed. No matter how down in the dumps you were, you could never be unhappy around Eleni when she was in a good mood. Most of the time, she saw the world as bright and beautiful. He would kill the person who ever took away those rose-colored glasses she wore. He had come close to doing it himself once, but she had forgiven him. If only her sister were that kind.

“
Howard, my lawyer, says the contract is iron clad. If he fires you or chooses to end it before February 28th, it’ll cost him three times the fee he has offered. Plus, the suite is yours for the duration, all meals and casino expenses included. When Howard asked Simmons’ lawyer what that meant, he said, and I quote, ‘Ms. Baxter can leave her purse in Philadelphia. Every cent she spends is on us.’

“
Does that mean that I can gamble with his money too?” The mischievous look on her face that did not bode well for Garth Simmons.

“
Eleni, use your head. This contract will make or break you. If you got it extended, you’d never have to do another job again. No more dealing with Bridezilla or pushy mothers. The world would be your oyster. He owns six casinos world-wide Vegas, Monte Carlo, Darwin, Lisbon, and England, as well as the one in Atlantic City. If you were to do the décor for all of them, you’d be set for life.”

Mark turned and looked out the office window. Sometimes working with her was exasperating. Holiday Magic was her dream. He was a not-so-silent partner, but in reality, she could get along fine without him. He was the one who didn’t want to let go, because to do so would cut his last tie to Georgia.

“Did you read the fine print?” He knew she would probably lie and say yes when she had done no such thing.

“
Of course I did. I saw that twenty-four seven part, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“
Are you ready to sign it then?”

“
Yes, ready, willing, and able.” She selected a pen from the cup on his desk and signed where the stick-on arrows indicated. “Done. I am now Ocean Front Casino’s official winter season decorator.”

He took the signed contract out into the bull pen to make copies. He was back in less than a minute. Eleni stood in front of the window looking out at the world below.

“I wish it would snow.” She turned around to face him once more. “Everything always looks so nice and clean when it does.” She walked over to the desk and picked up the envelope that held the original contract.

“
I’m leaving for Atlantic City in the morning. I’ll take this with me. He’s expecting me there by noon. I want to get a feel for the place before I put up my Thanksgiving displays. I’ll be back on Monday to finalize things.”

“
Which of your brilliant protégés will run our business into the ground during your absence? You know I can’t take that much time away from Anderson Security.”

Eleni laughed. “Be nice! Sam could have done the job, but she’s still in school. I’ve brought in a temporary manager during my absence.”

She looked away as if she were afraid to meet his eyes. Alarm bells went off in his head.

“
I needed someone artistic who could think on her feet. In time, Sam will make an excellent manager, but right now, she lacks the time and the creative spark I need.”

A bad feeling started in the pit of his stomach and grew as she avoided giving him a straight answer to his question.

“What have you done, Eleni? Who is going to manage Holiday Magic while you’re in Atlantic City?

“
Georgia.” Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

“
When were you going to tell me this?” he asked, forcing himself to remain calm when he wanted to rant, rave, and curse fate, and beg its forgiveness all at the same time.

“
Well, I wasn’t sure she was going to do it until Friday night, so I was going to tell you now.”

“
Did you tell her that I would be there as well?”

“
Of course I told her. You’re my partner. You come in for a few hours a week to help with the books and the payroll. You help out with the weddings, since it’s hard to be in two places at once. I’m not an idiot; you know darn well that I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.”

“
You conveniently forgot that it is your year-end, and I’ll be there just about every day for the first two weeks of December at least?”

“
You’re joking, right? It can’t be that time of year. You always did that after Christmas; that’s why I didn’t book anything for January.”

“
When we expanded the business and opened the showroom, we moved the year-end up I’ve scheduled it for early December, and I’ll be in there a lot longer than an afternoon. The accountant is expecting me there.”

Eleni dropped into a chair in front of the desk. Tears filled her eyes.

“Oh Lord, Mark, she’ll never believe that I forgot about this. What am I going to do? She’s moving back, and if she thinks I tried to set you guys up, she may change her mind. I can’t back out of this contract. Surely you can tell the accountant to come back in January?” she pleaded.

Mark was stunned. Georgia was moving back to Philadelphia? She hadn’t set foot in the city for three years. Why had she decided to come back now?

“I’m sorry, Eleni, but I can’t. It isn’t only my time involved. I’ll try to stay out of her way, but you have to tell her.”

“
I’ll tell her as soon as she arrives. I’ve waited too long for her to come home. I won’t take a chance on her changing her mind. I’ll take her to Angelo’s, that little Italian restaurant she used to love.”

“
While you’re breaking the bad news, make sure you remind her that she has to run all the event quotes by me before she signs any contracts.”

Eleni smiled. “I already told her that. I’m not really a bubble head, you know. Now, I’d better get going or I’ll be late.” She turned to leave.

“Eleni,” he called to her as she reached the door, “what about the Christmas Eve Snow Ball. Did you think of that?”

“
It’s on my calendar, silly. I’m sure the mighty Mr. Simmons will let me come back for that. After all, I’m entitled to some time off, and it
is
Christmas.”

“
Did you bother to read the contract?” He was annoyed with her. “It stipulates twenty-four seven, with no exceptions, for the period extending from November 21
st
to February 28
th
. There is no mention of any free time allowed away from the casino.”

“
You’re serious!” she screeched. “I have to stay there all the time. Who does he think he is, Simon Legree? I’m not his slave. It’s illegal. It’s unconstitutional!”

“
It’s in the private contract you willingly signed.” He put an end to her rant.

“
Damn! Are you sure?”