Christmas Elopement

He waved his hand as though it were no big deal.”What time should I pick ya up, lass?”

“Uh-uh. You take care of happy hour, and I’ll manage on my own.” She opened her door and stepped out, the wind catching her wild mane. With one hand on the door and the other pushing back a heavily moussed tangle of curls, she gave him one last nervous smile.”Thanks, Gus. I’ll tell you all about it tonight.”

“Okay, lass, but if ya find ya need a ride, ya call.”

She shut the door, made a small X over her breast pocket, then waved over her shoulder as she fought a bone-chilling wind the last dozen yards to the entrance.

This weather was just the wake-up call she needed. She’d helped close the pub at 2:00 a.m., then tossed and turned till the alarm sounded at six. Now, as Carrie strode through the front door of Cunningham Construction, butterflies flickered behind her ribcage and a small laugh passed her lips. The last time she walked out that door, she’d been certain she’d never return.

She punched the elevator button and studied the barren atrium with more interest than the first time. It was a massive space that begged for warmth. Maybe everything had been cleared out in anticipation of the holidays. She could picture a tall pine with all the trimmings and large red poinsettias here and there. The door slid open and she stepped in. She smoothed the wrinkles from her navy skirt and straightened the red-white-and-blue scarf that had been tied in a large, loose bow just above the lapels of her red blazer. When she stepped out a moment later, Peggy came around the reception desk and offered her hand.

“Ms. Sargent…welcome! I’m so glad you got the job.” Her handshake was firm and energetic. Carrie smiled back, knowing she’d already made her first friend at Cunningham Construction.

“Thank you, Peggy. I’m glad to be here. But why don’t you call me Carrie? I’m not big on formalities.”

Peggy pumped her hand again, excitedly.”Okay…Carrie. I can’t tell you how happy I am that we’re getting some help around here…especially someone with all your experience.” She finally let go of Carrie’s hand when the phone rang.

Carrie watched the young woman as she answered the phone. There was a smile in her voice, as well as on her face. Cash was lucky to find this one, she decided, just as she saw him round the corner.

“Ms. Sargent! Welcome aboard.” He closed the space between them and extended his hand. She gripped it in hers, remembering the first time he’d taken her hand in both of his. She shook it quickly and let go, an uneasy feeling spreading through her. Poise. Confidence. Where were they when she needed them? Somehow she found her voice.

“Do you mind calling me Carrie?”

“If that’s what you’d like,” he said, and she noticed him giving her a quick once-over. She did look a little like an American flag, but a clean, crisp American flag. Maybe she should go stand in the atrium and brighten things up.

“So…Cash…where do I begin?”

He arched an eyebrow and she knew her mistake instantly. Cash. He hadn’t asked her to call him by his first name. Oh, for Pete’s sake. This was a construction company, not the UN. She continued to smile at him as if she didn’t have a clue his feathers had been ruffled.

Finally he turned around and said,”Follow me.”

His pace was brisk, no-nonsense. She had trouble keeping up. They passed his open door and he turned into the next room, stopping abruptly, with Carrie right on his heels. Somehow she managed to keep from running into him, but when he turned to face her she was close enough to feel his long sigh on her forehead. She stepped back and pretended to take in the room, avoiding those damnable blue eyes.

“This will be your office,” he said, getting right down to brass tacks.

When she finally did look, she saw an eight-foot walnutveneer folding table in the center, surrounded by eight armless brown vinyl chairs. And nothing else. She didn’t know what she’d expected, but this wasn’t it, not in a building as grand as this one.

The carpet was commercial brown tweed. A large glass wall was covered with off-white vertical blinds, the same shade as the flat-painted walls. There had to be a redeeming quality, if she looked hard enough. In her mind’s eye she pictured her first visit. If her memory was right, behind the closed blinds should be a view of the Pacific. With a little work…

“This used to be a conference room,” Cash said, forestalling her decorating ideas.”I never use it anymore, since there’s a larger one with a wet bar in the new wing. Besides, I thought we may find it convenient to be next door to each other.” For some reason he suddenly seemed uncomfortable, but he pushed on.”I’ve ordered a phone, which should be installed Monday. As to the rest, make a list of what you think you’ll need and we’ll talk about it. For now, I’ll take you down to Purchasing and Fran will set you up with basic supplies.”

He started to go and she followed.”And my computer?” she said to his back. He stopped dead in his tracks, and she almost ran into him again. Damn! She wished he’d stop doing that. He turned sideways and eyed her as if she’d just poked a gun in his back.

“Computer?”

“Well, yes. The employee handbook is a very long and arduous project—even with a word processor. And I’ll need desktop publishing for all the related forms. Then I was thinking there would be a company newsletter, and memos for special events…some graphics software would be nice for that—”

Cash held up both hands.”Whoa, slow down. We’ll get you some paper and pencils, stapler, that kind of stuff. Then we’ll see about the rest.”

She saw him roll his eyes as he turned and started off again.

“Of course, I’ll need a desk and an ergonomic chair…”

His head tilted back and he stared at the ceiling, the set of his shoulders telling her he was ready to blow a gasket, but he kept moving. Along the way she noticed work areas separated by free-standing beige partitions. Still no plants, no family photos, no doodads. Unsmiling people hunched over their work, only a few giving her passing notice. The more she saw, the more she knew her first impression of this guy had been right—a self-centered, arrogant iceman. A nice outer package with nothing inside.

When they reached the purchasing department, a middle-aged woman with short gray hair swiveled away from her computer and eyed them curiously. Thank God, a computer! At least he believed in modern technology, Carrie thought as Cash half turned for introductions.

“Fran Wilson, I’d like you to meet Carrie Sargent, our new Human Resources Manager.”

Fran stayed seated and peered over her half-glasses.”Nice to meet you,” she said with cool efficiency.

“Carrie…” His gaze met hers briefly, then flitted away.”I’m going to leave you with Fran. She’ll introduce you around and get your supplies.” He glanced at his watch.”I have an appointment, but I’ll be back just before noon. If you don’t mind working over lunch, we could discuss that list of needs of yours and prioritize a few assignments.” Now he held her steady gaze and awaited a reply.

“F-fine,” she stammered, not sure why she was still here. Flutie had made a big mistake if he thought she could work for this man.

He left her staring after him. She forced her gaze away from the doorway and back to Fran, who seemed to be scrutinizing the new kid’s hair and wardrobe. Fran wore a smart gray knit suit the color of her hair, which meant she was in perfect harmony with her drab surroundings.

Ah, a plethora of challenges. Well, S, if you’re going to stay, there’s no time like the present to meet one of them head-on.

Carrie took a seat in front of Fran’s desk and heaved a sigh. Leaning closer on her elbow, she looked the woman in the eye, smiled and said,”So, Fran…do you have any pets?”

Three hours later Cash jogged up the back stairway and went directly to Carrie’s office, wondering if he’d made a mistake in planning lunch with her the very first day. Surely she’d have more questions later, but by then he’d be out of town. Besides, there was no better time than day one to let her know his employees call him”Mr. Cunningham” and that she’d have to tone down her flamboyant attire.

He pushed a stray hair off his forehead and straightened his tie as he neared her office, never slowing his pace till he crossed her threshold, then he nearly staggered backward. Gone were the folding table and chairs. In their place sat an old oak desk, a typing stand perpendicular to one side, with Carrie pecking away at a computer keyboard atop it. What the—?

“Cash! Isn’t this great?” She gestured with a sweep of her arm.”Fran and I found the desk under a tarp in the shop. We had to move a lot of boxes off it and clean it up, but I love it. Much better than any new thing. The guys in the shop were real sweet and carried it up here. And look at this.” She turned her palm up toward the computer.”Fran said it’s just been gathering dust in the storage room since she got her new one.”

With hands on hips, Cash took it all in. It didn’t have the crisp contemporary feel everything else did, but the price was right.

“I’ll need a new chair, though,” she said, her fingers back at the keyboard, doing who knew what. A person would think she’d been here forever.

She looked up from her work.”Is it time for lunch yet? I could eat the back end of a skunk I’m so hungry.”

He knew his mouth had dropped open, but he found it difficult to either move or speak.

“Oh, I forgot. You’ll probably want to look at your messages first,” she said, pounding away at the computer.

“Uh…right.” He managed to find his voice.”Just give me a minute.” He walked to his office, feeling as though he’d stepped into some time warp, and this was his first day on the job instead of hers.

The feeling lingered on the short drive to Fish Hopper’s and all through lunch as he listened to her ideas for—he had to remind himself—his company.

When she took a breath and drank some iced tea, Cash seized the first quiet moment.”I’m glad you’ve started on the new policy manual, but there’s something else I’d like you to think about.” She set her glass down and waited. Well, what do you know? She can keep her mouth shut.

“There’s been a higher-than-usual amount of turnover and absenteeism lately. Morale seems a little low, too.” Carrie smiled and leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, looking as though he’d just offered her dessert instead of a challenge.”Maybe you could come up with a few ideas to help turn things around.” She seemed to vibrate with enthusiasm, as if she might overflow any moment if he didn’t let her speak. He leaned back in his chair and watched her green eyes widen as she took a deep breath and began.

“I have a couple ideas already.”

Surprise, surprise.