Page 25 of Bright Lights, Big Christmas
“Only if you can make it to go,” Kerry said. “I’m already on my brother’s shit list.”
Claudia rolled her eyes, but fetched a cardboard cup and drew her a cup of the inky black espresso.
“I’ll see you at the party tonight, right?” Claudia asked.
“Not sure. I found a jacket at a flea market this morning, but it’s kind of wrinkly and stinky. And I don’t have anything to wear with it. Plus, Murphy’s in a real mood.”
Claudia followed her outside the restaurant. “You leave your brother to me. And in the meantime, why don’t you give me that jacket? I’ve got a little hand steamer upstairs in my apartment that works miracles.”
chapter 14
The sleet had finally slacked off, but now the sky was darkening and the temperature had dropped another ten degrees while Kerry finished up her wreaths.
She was searching for the gloves she’d removed while crafting when she heard the trailer door open and saw Murphy step out, stretching and yawning like a grizzly bear after a long winter nap. She felt herself involuntarily flinch as he approached her work station.
“How’d we do today?” he asked, slumping down into his lawn chair. “How many trees?”
She consulted her steno pad, where she’d made hash marks for every tree sold.
“Eighteen trees. Not bad, right?”
“Not good,” he said, shaking his head. He lifted one hip and extracted a small notebook from his pocket. He leafed through well-thumbed pages of what looked like handwritten hieroglyphics and muttered under his breath.
“What?”
He ran an index finger down the page he’d opened the notebook to. “We’re way behind. Last year, by now, we’d sold thirty-two trees.”
Kerry craned her neck to get a look at the page, but the scratchings were illegible.
“Kerry, I don’t think you appreciate what all is on the line here. These next three weeks, right here on this corner, this is what keeps Tolliver Tree Farm in business next year. We’re operating on a razor-thin profit margin, as it is. We’re getting killed with expenses. Had to buy a new baling machine last month, and the cost of fuel is sky high. We lost all those trees last spring. And now, missing the first week of sales, plus all these hospital expenses from Dad’s heart attack…”
A chill ran down her spine. “What are you trying to say? We might lose the farm?”
“Not saying that,” Murphy said, running his hands through his already wild mane. For the first time she noticed that his dark reddish hair was shot through with silver, as was his beard.
“I’m saying we gotta pay attention. Gotta maximize sales. Especially with those two goons over across the street calling the cops on us to try and make trouble.”
“You think it was the Brodys?”
“Hundred percent it was them. We know every cop in this precinct. They know us. I deliver a Tolliver tree to the station house every year, and give all the cops half-price trees.”
“Hey.” Claudia stood a few feet away, holding up the green velvet blazer.
“This jacket doesn’t even look like the one I bought,” Kerry marveled, taking it from her. “It looks brand new.”
“It is brand new. Or it was a few years ago. I found the price tag in the inside breast pocket. I don’t think it was ever worn.”
Kerry sniffed the collar and smelled something like lavender. “Smells new too.”
“Gave it a toss with a scented dryer sheet then ran my steamer over it,” Claudia said.
“Well, you’re awesome.” She poked her brother in the ribs. “Isn’t she?”
“Yeah, totally,” he said dutifully.
Claudia looked Murphy up and down. “So what are you wearing tonight, big fella?”
“I forgot about that party. And, uh…”
