The Mistletoe Kiss

“Thanks for your vote of confidence in me.”

“Now, Millie, you know I—”

“I’m hoping no one but you and the Talbots will know that I fear heights. I’m pretty sure John wouldn’t splash that information all across the front page.”

“No. Of course he wouldn’t. But—” Matt shook his head and sighed. “The decision is yours.”

“I’m not pretending this will be an easy choice. I’ll need to think things over and pray about it. And I don’t know if I will accept the offer or not. That’s so high up.”

“You might not want to look down.”

“But isn’t the view the best part?”

“It is for me, seeing the city laid out below, but it might not be for you. You’d probably get dizzy.”

Was he trying to talk her out of even contemplating taking the job? Millicent felt a little queasy just thinking about looking down at the streets below, but she certainly wasn’t going to let Matt know. “I’m sure it’s a sight to see.”

“It is.”

Their trolley stopped and Millicent was thankful for the break in conversation as they got off and hurried to Heaton House. The night air was cooling quickly and she was glad to be inside once more. The boarders were in the parlor with Julia playing the piano as she often did. But she stopped playing as Millicent and Matt joined them, and one of the maids brought in tea for everyone.

“You must be a mind reader, Maida,” Matt said.

“No, sir, I just heard the front door open and knew that at this time of night, you and Miss Millicent must be getting home.”

“How nice of you, Maida.” Millicent took a cup from her and took a sip. She loved living at Heaton House. It’d become home in a short time. And even having boarders come and go hadn’t changed that feeling. For one thing, they still saw all those who’d moved out fairly often, and though there’d been a period of time when Mrs. Heaton’s table felt a bit empty, she’d managed to fill it back up with new people in no time.

As Millicent looked over at Matt, she found his piercing blue gaze on her, and her pulse began to race as it had the first time she saw him. He was very handsome, that lock of dark hair falling over his forehead and with well-cut lips that seemed to want to smile at her, but didn’t. What was he thinking? Probably how to keep her from bothering him and his workmen.

She smiled at him, daring him to smile back, but not prepared when he did. Her heart seemed to dip into her stomach—a reaction she didn’t even want to think about. For while there was much to like about Mathew Sterling, his views were so opposite from hers on so many levels and—

“Millicent?”

She heard Julia call her name and broke her gaze. “I’m sorry. Did you say something, Julia?”

“I asked how dinner with Elizabeth and John went.”

“Very well. She’s a very good cook.”

Julia and Elizabeth were boarders at Heaton House together for several years until Elizabeth and John married. “They wanted to speak to Matt and me about a chance they might have to do some articles on the building he’s working on. They want me to take photos.”

“Oh, I did wonder why they asked just the two of you,” Julia said.

Millicent was glad she’d told her why they’d been invited and that Julia’s feelings hadn’t been hurt. “I’m not sure Matt’s boss will be agreeable to it, but they wanted us to know about the possibility.”

“Would you have to go up high to take your photos?” Julia lowered her voice.

“Yes. But the Tribune editor asked for me specifically and I don’t think I can refuse this kind of exposure.”

“Oh, that is an opportunity, isn’t it?”

Millicent nodded. “One I don’t want to turn down. Nor do I want to accept and not be able to carry through. I’ll be praying for the Lord to guide me in this decision.”

“I’ll pray, too,” Julia said.

“So will I,” Emily added.

“Please do, for I truly am not sure what to do.” She could only hope the Lord would let her know sooner rather than later.

* * *

The next afternoon at quitting time, Matt stretched and gazed out at the view. The taller this building became, the more of the city and surrounding area he could see. He loved looking out to the ocean and the ships that moved in and docked, or eased out into the Atlantic. He turned and picked out Macy’s, where Emily worked, and the huge Siegel-Cooper company on Sixth Avenue where Stephen was employed. He knew right where to look to see the top of Heaton House in Gramercy Park. He loved looking up at the sky and feeling closer to the Lord somehow.

But much as he enjoyed working up here, he couldn’t help remember the fear he’d seen in Millicent’s eyes and the trepidation he’d heard in her voice. But she was also one of the most independent, stubborn women he’d ever met, and he wouldn’t be surprised at all if she took the offer—if it came about.

“Hey, boss.” Burl Callaway, the man Matt counted on to train the newer men on the job, came up to him. “Looks like we’ve almost caught up where we ought to be after Jim and Ned got hurt. Have you heard how they’re doing?”

“I checked in on them Sunday afternoon and they should be back next week,” Matt said.

“That’s good to know.”

“Yeah, it is. How’s that new guy...Ed...doing?”

“He’s a hard worker, just needs to learn a few more things.”

Matt nodded. The kid was young, but they needed the help. “Just make sure he puts his tools where they’re supposed to go. And we need to tie down the tarp over there,” Matt motioned to a tarp flapping in the breeze.

“I’ll see to it.”

Matt watched as Jack Dennison and Tom O’Riley, two of his best workers, finished making sure the area they’d been working in was cleaned up and in order before waving good-night.

Matt waved goodbye to some of his other men as they called it a day, and then made sure everything was secured for the night. As foreman, it was his responsibility and he didn’t take it lightly. Once he was satisfied nothing was amiss, he looked out over the city one more time before calling it a day and heading to the freight elevator that would take him down to street level. He was taking off his work belt to hang in the locker room when he heard footsteps. He turned to see his supervisor approaching.

“Sterling! You’re just the man I want to see.”

“Oh? What’s up, Mr. Johnson?”

“Well, the boss man just told me he’s agreed to give some reporters and a photographer free access to the building to do a series of articles. Says you might know them.”

“Afraid I do. I was hoping he’d say no.”

Johnson chuckled. “I’m glad to hear you think like I do. But we aren’t the ones who make the decisions. He is and we’ve got to ‘help in any way we can.’”

“Yes, sir.”

“I suppose if you know them, you also know one of the reporters and the photographer are women?”

“I do.” He wasn’t going to tell the man about Millicent being petrified of heights, although he wondered if he should.