Something in the Eggnog?

By Elise

Kim Barrett with Cindy

"Mandy put up the holiday sale signs."

Taking the signs from his hands she sighed. "My name is Cindy, Mr. Barrett."

Kim nodded and pointed to the signs as he set the hangers on top of the pile. "None of them go in hardware. That stuff is under priced as it is."

"Yes, Mr. Barrett." Nodding Cindy turned and walked over to the clothes racks and started to set the signs in the holders. The few days she’s worked for Kim Barrett haven’t been all that pleasant. It’s a job she keeps telling herself, it’s a small town not many opportunities available.

Kim walked though to the back room to pull out the last of the holiday decorations to place in the clearance bin. The first sale at Barrett’s. Kim began to think of where he came from as he places items in the sorted bins and marking them down sixty percent off. Seventy five percent off was too close to his cost, this business was all about profit after all.

He’d come a long way since the shoe factory. That place was always dirty and loud. The workers substandard at best. That reminded him of his own employee. Hefting a bin of ornaments to set out on the clearance table he peeked out the small window in the back room door.

Cindy was putting up the last of the signs and started right into cleaning and straitening the shelves and racks. With a satisfied nod he walked out to the tables. Cindy had been a good choice, she worked hard and wasn’t shy with the customers. She was the first one here every morning the doors open and the shop ready for the public.

Their day had gone in spurts with folks getting ready for the New Year. Kim looked at the calendar. Two more days and it would be a bright shiny profitable new year. Glancing at the clock he walked over and turned the sign on the door. "Sandy, lock up. I’m going on upstairs I have a date this evening."

Cindy waved at him as he went into the back room and up the stairs. The building was three stories but he wasn’t ready for all that yet. Start small then expand. The second floor was already set with two apartments. One he’d cleaned up and moved into saving on extra over head. Then the other Kim had gone back and fourth over weather he wanted to deal with a tenant or not. Third floor was perfect storage space. Not needed just yet but hopefully soon the lower stock room would become too small.

"Supply and demand, all about supply and demand." Looking into the mirror as he combed back his hair and straightened his tie Kim smiled at the image. "You handsome devil, you are going to be in demand tonight." With a grin and a wink at the mirror he headed out on the town.

It was near three in the morning when Kim made it back home as he stumbled a bit the back stairs something caught his eye. There was a light on in the showroom, looked like one of the floor lamps.

Making his way though the store room he set out to find the source. As he got closer the sight of a boy making shadow puppets on the wall. "There must have been something else in that eggnog."

Rubbing his eyes and blinking the boy didn’t disappear. Instead he looked up at Kim and ran over to the other side of the sofa loudly whispering. "Mom…..Mom."

Cindy sat up bleary eyed with sleep. "Jake what are you doing up?" Then she sees the shadow falling across the sofa and turns slowly to see him. "Oh my goodness! Mr. Barrett! I… I can explain."

Kim looked down at her and pointed at the sofa where the child is hiding. "What’s that? And what the hell is it and you doing in my store…. After hours no less."

Cindy stood up and Kim noticed that she was wearing pajamas as she tried to stammer though an explanation. Smoothing her hair back she took a breath and started again. "He’s not a what or that. He’s a who, my son Jake."

Kim as starting to get angry as he sobered a bit and snapped at her. "Why are you camping in the middle of the store? Did you have a fight with your husband or something?"

Looking down at her hands Cindy spoke with a quite voice. "I’m not married. It’s just me and Jake. We would have stayed in the car but it’s a cool night and he’s getting a bit of a cold. I’m sorry, we’ll go. Just …please I need this job."

He listened to her then watched as she started rolling the sleeping bag and telling her son to get his bag. Something in that boy’s face as he quickly says yes ma’am and complies. Kim sighed and took her arm gently stopping her. "Mindy, why aren’t you at home?"

This time she ignored the name as she fell onto the sofa. "We don’t have one… yet. By the time we made it here the money had run out. It takes first and last plus deposit to get a place so….." Knowing he’s judging her Cindy sighed. "I understand if I’m fired."

Kim looked at her then the boy, her son. She never mentioned any family. Then again he’d never asked. Didn’t really give a damn at the time. He knew she hadn’t been in town long. She could have stayed at Millie’s, she then she said they had no money. And he hadn’t paid her yet either. The boy sneezed and he sighed. "Come with me."

Cindy looked up to say something and he was already walking into the back room. Taking Jakes hand she quickly caught up as Kim started up the stairs. He looked back at the woman and the boy in their pajamas and wonders just how they had been eating the last few days.

As he opened the door to the empty apartment Kim watched the boy. "I’m across the hall. The water and fridge works." He walks in and turns on the power in the fuse box. There’s a few remnants of furniture a table and chairs, bed frame in the smaller bedroom.

Cindy looked around wondering if she was understanding his meaning behind all this. Kim led her to the small hall where the bathroom and the bedrooms were. Jake tugged her hand. "I could have my own room."

She smoothed his hair as Kim gave him a half grin half frown. "Only if you keep it tidy and your mother agrees to the terms of rental."

Cindy swallowed and sighed. Here it comes, the catch. She knew there would be one with him. "What’s the catch…. I mean what are the terms?"

Kim liked that about her she was straight up. Putting his hands in his pockets he takes a breath thinking for a moment. "You are an employee with a key so I don’t think we need to have a security deposit. Let’s say two hundred a month and if you want I can deduct it from your check weekly so you can move in tonight if you wish."

Standing in mild shock Cindy looked around. Sure the place is dirty but it’s worth a lot more that two hundred a month. Before her mind can calculate more she feels her head bob up and down once. "Yes. Yes we would like that."

Again he wondered if they’ve had anything to eat. Memory of a more than modest Christmas meal comes to mind. The gentleness of his tone even surprises him. "Have you eaten?"

With a soft smile she noded. "Yeah, we had some peanut butter sandwiches earlier. Jake loves anything with peanut butter."

He noded then started to say something then straightened his shoulders and raiseed his head. "Good then, I expect you to be to work on time in the morning and your things out of my showroom. Good night, Cindy."

Kim left his surprised employee and her son staring for a moment at the door. Jake looked up at his mother. "I thought you said he was mean. He gave us a place to live."

Smoothing his hair back she grinned softly shaking her head. "No, honey he didn’t give it to us. But still that was the nicest thing he’s done. And he got my name right. Maybe there was something in the eggnog at that party he went to."