Page 60 of Wait a HO HO HO Second!

“That’s never good,” Joy muttered. “We’ve already handled one ASAP situation today. I don’t know how many more I have left after yesterday. You wore me out.”

“Did I now, Miss Brady?” he asked, pushing her against the wall of her office and nuzzling her neck. “To think I barely even touched you. Imagine how tired you’ll be once I have my way with you.”

Her laughter was cut short by a throat-clearing at the door. “Not to interrupt or anything,” Marci said from the doorway.

Joy pushed Kian away and tried to look nonchalant as she leaned against the wall, but she knew her friend would have words for her later. “Marci, what’s up? Kian just said you needed to speak with us about something.”

Walking through the door, she raised an eyebrow at Joy as if to say, ‘That’s how it’s going to be?’

“Later,” Joy mouthed, since Kian was looking away, and Marci nodded.

“It’s about the Santa Wonderland Bash,” she said, taking the other open chair across from Joy’s desk. Joy sat in her chair and grabbed a pen.

“Is there a problem? I should have stayed to help you,” Joy fretted, feeling guilty for asking Marci to take on more during a season when they were already doing too much.

“Nonsense,” Marci said, pulling out her phone. “I didn’t need help, and the meeting about Harrington and Vale was more important.” She glanced between them and asked, “Have you heard anything?” They both shook their heads.

“It will be after the New Year,” Kian said. “Mark had to leave for a business trip last night after we finished the meeting.”

“That’s okay,” Joy said, jumping in. “It gives him time to consider the proposal without feeling rushed, which only helps us. He’s less likely to pass on the opportunity if he isn’t pressured by the venue’s timeline.”

“True,” Marci said. “Okay, I’ll try to be patient, but you know how hard that’s going to be for me.”

“You’ll be the second to know,” Kian assured Marci.

“You think I’m going to call you before I tell my best friend who works in the same office and has put hours into that proposal?” Joy asked, aghast. She was mostly teasing, but not entirely. There was no way she wouldn’t tell Marci first.

Kian held up his hands and laughed. “Okay, I stand corrected. You’ll be the first to know. Now, about the Wonderland Bash, when is it, and what do we need to do?”

“Tomorrow night from 6 to 8 p.m.,” Marci answered, glancing at her phone. “I’ll need you to be Santa.”

Joy was flabbergasted. “Are you serious? Tomorrow night?”

“Why do you think I needed to move so quickly?” Marci asked. “We only have two Wednesdays before Christmas, and next Thursday is the hospital event. I can’t have both my GM and Santa exhausted on the day they go to the hospital to spread holiday cheer. Our options were limited if we wanted to make it happen this year.”

“This is fantastic, Marci,” Kian said, and Joy nodded, still so surprised she’d managed to plan the whole thing without any extra help. It reminded Joy that she had underestimated her friend as much as Marci said she had.

“You’re right,” Joy said, leaning forward. “I do underestimate you and your ability to get things done around here. I won’t do that again.” When Marci grinned, Joy did too. Sometimes, admitting you’re wrong is worth it. “How are we spreading the word?”

“We’re using only the food bank and Rudolph Tree families this year. We didn’t have time to do anything else, and they have a direct line of communication with the families. Also, the food bank thought it was the perfect time for the families to pick up their holiday meals since the mall is paying for them this year. They’re going to set up that station at the entrance door once everyone is here, so they can keep the meat frozen and the families can grab everything on their way out.”

“Efficient,” Kian said. “I like it. It probably frees up time for them during the holidays as well.”

“That’s why Carol suggested it. They have all the food, and since the bazaar is meant to be a fun family event, it’s the ideal time to hand out the food packages as well.”

“Are we hosting a shopping spree?” Kian asked.

“Yes. Each child can pick out a gift for their parents and siblings. If it’s a sibling group, they’ll pick out a joint gift for their parents and then separate gifts for each other.”

“How will that work? Everyone will see what they’re doing.”

“We’re setting up stations, including a wrapping station,” Marci said. “I’ve got all the volunteers we need, so if you want to come with me to center court, I can explain in detail how it will work. Kian, your job won’t change much.”

“I’m ready,” he said, rubbing his hands together. “I can’t believe you put this together so quickly. I can’t thank you enough.”

“Thank me after the event,” Marci said as they followed her out the back door of the office and into the nearly empty mall. The snowstorm had kept people inside, but Joy saw it as a blessing that they now had less than 24 hours to prepare the mall for the event. “Since we don’t have much time, we’ve decided to set everything up tomorrow during the day and rope it off, so all we have to do once the mall closes tomorrow night is set out the gifts, food and drink,” Marci said.

She kept talking as they walked, and Joy tried to absorb it all, but it was hard with Kian beside her, wearing a wide grin. For some reason, this event meant a lot to him. Maybe, if she paid close enough attention, she’d discover why. Could she ask him? Sure, but sometimes action speaks louder than words, and she suspected that would be true for Kian tomorrow night.