It Really IS a Wonderful Life: The Snowflake Falls but Hearts in Love Keep a Home Warm All Year Long (19 page)

***

Jamey tossed his pen onto the desk. Could he really sell Sullivan’s? Pop wanted him to. So why the hesitation? This piece of paper was not permanent, just a mere memorandum of understanding while negotiations continued. Jim Brody and Pop’s attorney had drafted it, putting Sullivan’s under Harwood receivership until the sale was finalized.

Jamey reread the clauses and financial assurances. The gentleman’s agreement he made with Junior would secure Dorie’s future. These were reasonable solutions to a situation requiring immediate action, and Harwood would be well compensated for stepping in on short notice. Everyone benefited.

Could life be that perfect? There had to be a glitch, but what? This purchase agreement seemed right on many levels—a win-win proposition.

Jamey wiped his brow. Then why did his heart ache?

“Problem, Jamey?” Harwood might as well salivate for all his eagerness.

“No problem whatsoever.” Jamey clicked his pen and scribbled his signature.

Chapter Twenty-seven

Dorie scanned the auditorium, drinking in the buzz of last minute theater production routines. Zeke slumped into a seat next to Dorie and pulled his greasy cap half over his eyes. “The set looks pretty good, don’t you think? Danny designed it. Men in Baseball Caps built it.”

Dorie laughed. “Is that a description or a club?”

“Danny’s father formed the group after his wife joined the Red Hat Society. About fifteen retired men put on baseball caps and meet at the West End Café every morning to discuss the world’s ills. They also do a lot of community projects. Last summer they built a new playground for the Little Red Hen Preschool.”

“Pretty clever how they put all the sets on a turntable.” Dorie scoured the auditorium for Josh. She spotted him two rows behind, sitting with the Stanton boys.

Zeke rested his head against the back of his seat. “When are your parents coming home?”

“A week from Wednesday.”

“Bet you’ll be glad.”

Evie held up her hand for silence. “Now that you’re all seated, here are your production notes.” Each player received an individualized booklet containing costume instructions, needed props, and a drawing of the stage with exits and entrances. “There’s no curtain except at intermission and the end. We’ll have blackouts between scenes. Wait until the exiting actors get off and the table turns before you go onstage. I’ll be backstage to cue you.”

Reverend Stanton raised his hand. “Where’s the prop table?”

“If you turn to page four, you’ll see a drawing of the prop table and where each prop belongs. You’re all responsible to get your own props and to make sure they are returned to the proper place.”

Zeke stiffened. “If Evie weren’t so skinny, I’d like to bring her down a few sizes. She gets on my nerves with this commando routine of hers. You’d think every prop belonged to her personally.”

The players took the stage as Jamey entered. Evie’s face drooped into a deeper frown than usual. “Nice of you to make it, Mr. Sullivan. I’m sure you have a good reason for being late.”

“That I do. I’ll tell you later.”

Dorie sighed. Hadn’t God heard her prayers that Jamey would change his mind? How could he leave? Resentment twisted her heart.

Danny Riley came to center stage. “Places, everyone. Let’s take it from the top.”

Dorie noticed Jamey and Danny huddled in the wings. She moved her thoughts toward Gabe and Susan as they rehearsed. Did Gabe deliberately try to imitate Jimmy Stewart, or were his halting phrases a cover-up for not knowing his lines?

“Do you want the moon, Mary?” Gabe held Susan in a romantic embrace, much closer than the script required. They rubbed cheeks and gazed at an imaginary sky. Apparently, Gabe’s shattered heart mended quickly.

Danny yelled from behind the curtain. “Everyone take a ten-minute break.”

Before Dorie could get out of her seat, Zeke jumped off the stage and rejoined her. “That Gabe is always the last one to learn his lines. At least he nails them by opening performance.”

Jamey sneaked up from behind. “You should talk, Zeke. You’re nearly as bad. And you always have the fewest to learn.”

Zeke laughed and elbowed Dorie. “He’s right, you know.”

Jamey turned toward Dorie, his eyes red as if he hadn’t slept in two days. “I’d like to talk with you—someplace private.”

Well, I don’t want to talk to you. Not if this is good-bye.

***

In Jamey’s fantasy, Dorie cried when he told her the news. She kissed him and begged him not to go. Reality rarely mimicked his beautiful dreams—only his nightmares. He ushered her into an empty music room, then closed the door. “I don’t know how to say this.”

“Go ahead. Just say it.”

“You confuse me.”

“Speaking in precise terms has never been a strong suit of mine.”

Apparently, Dorie was determined to dig a trench and park. Not what he hoped for. Jamey leaned in. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what
do
you mean?”

“I like you.”

Dorie folded her arms and inched toward him. “I like you too.”

“You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you?” Her thin smile answered for her. “You know how I feel about you.”

“No, I don’t. Why don’t you tell me?” Could he say the words and still leave her?

“I love you.”

“How can you say that and then skip town? You are leaving, right? Isn’t that what you’re trying to tell me?”

“There are reasons to stay.”

“Like what?”

Why couldn’t he take her into his arms and end this turmoil? “For one thing, Pop’s not good. The doctor doesn’t think he’ll see spring. Leaving him like this is hard enough.”

Her eyes misted. “I’m sorry, Jamey. Anything I can do?”

“Not really. I appreciate your prayers.”

“Prayers are a given between friends.”

She shredded him with that last remark. “Is that what we are now?”

“I don’t know what we are. You tell me.”

He stepped back a few paces. If he stayed this close to her, he’d lose every bit of resolve. Anger reared—resentment toward a town and a sick father that put him in this position. Now he railed at an innocent whose only fault was her desirability. “I can’t get involved right now. Your kids deserve permanence. I’m done with comment. I’ve given everything I had to this town and now it’s my turn. What I deserve. If I don’t go now, Midville will devour me and everything I ever dreamed of.”

He gripped her shoulders and her eyes widened. Had he been too rough?

Dorie backed away from him.

“I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since the first moment I saw you—at tryouts. And I was relieved when you started dating Gabe, even though I knew you two were wrong for each other.”

“I don’t understand. What are you trying to tell me?”

“Being an actor was all I ever dreamed about when I was growing up. After college, I filmed a few commercials, landed a bit part in a movie, and I was on my way. Or so I thought. Then Pop got sick, so I came back to Midville. I thought my career was over. Then an agent happened to be vacationing in the North Country and caught our last production,
Ten Little Indians.
He signed me on, and now, the opportunity of a lifetime with Branson Harwood offering the sweetest deal we could hope for. My dream is about to come true, and all I can feel is the pain of losing you.”

“Could be that I’m just another excuse.”

“What are you saying?”

“Maybe you’re afraid you’ll fail.”

No matter how true, the words still stung. “I’m not afraid to love you, Dorie.” He pulled her to him and their lips met—a short taste of heaven until she pulled away from him. Fear gnawed his insides. “Come with me, Dorie.”

“You know I can’t.

“Can’t or won’t?”

“It’s too complicated. I won’t uproot the kids again. And I won’t have this between us. Life isn’t a script. Mary Hatch should have encouraged George to fly, not trap him into a life he didn’t want. She used his love for her, and he stayed.”

“They were happy.”

“But would we be happy? I love you too much to do that to you. Midville will be poorer without you. Everyone will move on and I will too.”

With that she walked away, leaving him with the only exit possible.

***

Dorie wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Jamey’s footsteps, six paces behind hers, resounded through the hall, echoing her despair. She welcomed the darkness when she returned to the auditorium.

Jamey scuffled past her and up onto the stage, where he pulled Danny Riley into a huddle. Within moments, Danny moved upstage. “I need everyone’s attention, please.”

Quiet took residence.

“Before we get going again, I have a cast change to announce. Zeke Fournier will play the part of Clarence in Jamey’s absence.”

A chorus of surprised exclamations preceded an oppressive hush.

“Jamey is heading for New York City tomorrow. He’s landed a part in a revival production of
Our Town
.”

The auditorium exploded with enthusiastic congratulations, but Dorie’s arms stayed at her side. How could she applaud with a broken heart?

Susan Davidson rushed toward the group shaking Jamey’s hand but stopped when she saw Dorie. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

She covered Dorie’s hand with hers. “Even in this light, I can see you’ve been crying.”

Dorie let a few tears fall as Jamey rushed out of the auditorium and away from Midville. He’d made his choice.

What now? Branson Harwood would have his own managerial staff who would streamline Sullivan Enterprises to his idea of efficiency. Dorie would be one data analyst too many. She envisioned a new stack of rejection letters as she began the whole job-hunting process again.

Mary Hatch gave up her honeymoon to keep the Building and Loan afloat when the stock market crashed. She understood the Bailey legacy would wind up in evil Mr. Potter’s control if she did nothing. Sacrificing a honeymoon was small potatoes in the overall scheme of things.

Dorie rarely wished she was wealthy, but if she could have bought Sullivan Enterprises, she could have prevented the company from sliding into Junior’s slimy hands. She’d have kept the name too.

Though she lacked no creature comfort, she suddenly felt poor. Nothing more she could do except pray.

***

Josh fell asleep on the ride home from rehearsal, and Dorie hated to wake him. He stumbled out of the car and into the house. She helped him off with his coat and let him crash on the couch, while Sherrie put on her coat.

“Thanks again for offering to babysit Emma for rehearsals until my mother gets back.”

“My treat. Emma is so much joy to be around. You’re very blessed to have such beautiful children.”

That I am.

“How was practice?”

Dorie couldn’t answer.

“I already heard the news about the sale of Sullivan Enterprises. Mr. Sullivan called me to let me know before he went to rehearsal. I’m truly happy for him, but that Junior Harwood gives me the creeps. And it takes a lot for me not to like a person.”

Dorie pushed her fear inward. “His father seems nice.”

“Brandy Harwood found religion late in life. Junior wants no part of his father’s churchy ways, as he calls them. Sullivan Enterprises will go on, I suspect. I can’t help wondering, though, what will happen to us?”

Chapter Twenty-eight

Jamey’s heart sank as Dorie came into the break room. He poured her a cup of coffee and handed it to her. This part would be the hardest—saying goodbye to people who were like family to him, and Dorie so much more than that.

“I didn’t think you’d be in today,” she said.

Her smile didn’t make this any easier. “The employees deserve the right to hear the full scoop from me. Branson Harwood will be here later this morning with additional paperwork. Afterward, we’ll make the announcement to all the stores.”

“So soon?”

“Harwood has been trying to buy the store for over a year. We’ve had a dozen or so drafts, Junior adding to the pot with each proposal. I’ve streamlined a few parameters to make sure the employees are protected until the sale is final.” He leaned against the wall, striking a confident pose to cover up his knocking knees. “You were right, you know.”

“About what?”

“I do have to try this. I’m not George Bailey, and Midville’s existence does not depend on my staying or leaving. The Harwoods can own all of Midville for all I care. My only regret is leaving you.”

Her eyes welled with tears and her lips trembled. She turned and dashed up the steps. He’d hurt her. The very thing he’d prayed he wouldn’t do.

***

Dorie stood in line with Sherrie, Elton, two cashiers, and the stock boy while Jamey put a “Closed” sign on the door. “I wanted to make this announcement to everyone at the same time. Sullivan Enterprises is being turned over to Harwood Industries effective today.”

Branson Harwood leered in Dorie’s direction, his mere gaze violating. An unknown power kept her from running out the back door and never coming back. She thought working for Jamey would bring a host of sunny days. Now storms of unknown magnitude loomed in the forecast. How could she possibly pledge allegiance to a sleaze like Harwood?

Jamey answered the few questions asked. “If there are no other concerns, consider the meeting adjourned. From this point on, you’ll address all your questions to Mr. Harwood.” Jamey and Branson put on their coats and left.

Though she had no tears left to shed, like Dorothy’s Tin Man, she knew she had a heart because she felt it breaking.

Chapter Twenty-nine

Dorie stretched, her fingers sore from typing. Hard to believe Jamey had been gone only a week when it seemed more like a hundred. She resumed her work, filling in the last line of the employee spreadsheet. Why bother? A part of her hoped he’d return like the prodigal. If he did, she wanted him to be proud of what she’d accomplished in his absence.

Or did her true motivation rest in a desire to be busy? Branson Harwood hadn’t shown his face since the day of the announcement. Elton and Sherrie adopted the philosophy business as usual until otherwise advised. Fresh flowers appeared on Dorie’s desk every day. She’d wished they’d come from Jamey but appreciated Sherrie’s faithfulness. A bright spot in what otherwise were dreary days.