Page 26 of Wait a HO HO HO Second!

My list says you’ve been a good girl this year, so I sent an early present to help you get through the holiday shopping season.

Santa

“An early Christmas present?” she asked the empty staircase. “These things cost about eight thousand dollars.” Flipping the card over, she saw someone had written the directions on the back. “Place the crutches in the holder on the side of the chair, lower both armrests, and the footplate will drop. Use the toggle switch on the armrest to raise and lower the chair.”

It seemed simple enough, so she stashed her crutches in a holder beside the chair. It had a cup at the bottom and a ring at the top, linked by a long, flat metal piece. Sliding the crutches in from the top was easy, and they settled in the cupped bottom, with no chance of falling out. Satisfied, she sat back down. That’s when she noticed a seatbelt, but decided she could manage without it. Resting the food on her lap, she pushed the toggle switch to the left. With a slight jerk, the chair started, and all she could think of was that game on The Price Is Right where the yodeler kept climbing, and the goal was to stop him before he went over the edge. Man, her dad loved his 1980s Price Is Right.

On her way up the rail, which didn’t take long, she ran through the people who could have done this. There were only two. It had to be Marci, because Joy didn’t believe for a second it was Kian. The question was, where had Marci gotten the money without Joy knowing? And how had she gotten someone to install it on a Friday night?

When the chair stopped, Joy sighed and shook her head. Marci wasn’t behind this. She would never ask anyone for a special favor, and she wouldn't have done so without talking to Joy first. That left only one person with the money and pull to get this done.

After grabbing her crutches and unlocking her door, Joy tossed her keys onto the counter, then stashed the food in the fridge. She flipped on a few lights, walked to the front windows overlooking the mall, and stared out over the bustling walkways.

She had a few hours before she had to go through the closing routine. While she waited, she’d get the coupons ready to be printed tomorrow by Copy Cat, which, thankfully, was over on Lane Three and always willing to jump her copy needs ahead of anyone else. She’d only have them print enough for the first Saturday, just to see how it went. Considering all Joy could do for advertising was have WJMC 13 mention it on air a few times before Santa made his entrance, the chances were good they wouldn’t get much action. That said, people would see it and hopefully remember it for next Saturday.

Joy loved the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. She knew she was an oddity when it came to that, but her dad always told her she was made to make people happy. That was why he’d named her Joy, because she brought so much to his life the instant he held her in his arms. For that reason, before she could get to the rest of her work, she needed to thank someone for making her life considerably easier.

With a sigh, she pulled out her phone and dialed Marci’s number.

“Is there a problem?” Marci asked by way of greeting. Joy had sent Marci home from Kian’s instead of having her return to the mall. Joy wouldn’t need her help closing up tonight. Wait. Did she just call Wintercrest Estate ‘Kian’s’? The very idea made her both mad and sad until she remembered it was his now. Even if the very idea broke her heart.

“No, there’s nothing wrong, but I have a question. Wait, I’ll send you a picture.”

Walking back to the front door, she opened it, snapped a picture of the chair lift, and sent it to Marci, who was silent on the other end.

“What on earth?” Marci asked a few moments later.

“That was my first reaction, too,” Joy agreed. “Did you have anything to do with this?”

“Uh, no,” Marci said. “If I were going to spend that kind of money, I’d have to run it by you first. You know who this had to be, right?”

“The note says it’s from Santa.”

“Santa Kian,” Marci said, and Joy could almost see the smirk on her face.

“Why would he do this? I don’t understand, Marci. We talked about CMT the other day, but I never mentioned the difficulties I have with stairs.” The line went silent for a beat too long, and then it hit her. “You told him!”

“It may have slipped out,” Marci squeaked nervously. “But it wasn’t on purpose. We were just talking about how many hours you put in. I explained that you spend a lot of time in your office rather than going up and down the stairs several times a day because stairs are difficult and dangerous for you. I didn’t mean for him to install a chair lift! I’m sorry if I overstepped.”

“No, Marci,” Joy said with a sigh. “It’s not your fault. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never been more excited to see a piece of mobility equipment. The trip up the stairs took only ten seconds. There’s even a place to stash my crutches. Just think, I won’t have to ask you for help every time I need to carry something up or down the stairs.”

“The ripple effect is far-reaching,” Marci said, her voice brimming with happiness.

“We just left his house. Why didn’t he say anything?” Joy asked, sitting on the couch and leaning forward over her thighs.

“Probably because he knew how you’d react and he’d rather ask for forgiveness than permission?”

“It is his mall. He can do whatever he wants without my permission.”

“Be that as it may, maybe just ask him whether he did it rather than accuse him.”

“I’m not going to accuse him of anything,” Joy said, knowing it was true. “Well, asking him is an accusation in itself, but I’ll be nice about it. We’re still working on Operation Bye-Bye Bossman. We’ve got only a few days to get him gone.”

Marci’s sigh was heavy. “After speaking with August today, I fear our operation is destined to fail. Kian isn’t scheduled to return to the main office until after the first of the year.”

A moan escaped Joy’s lips. “The worst part is, he knows I’m being nice to him just so he’ll go away!”

“He told you that?” Marci asked, shocked.