The Echo Ridge Romance Collection

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

ANIKA FOLDED A STACK OF SHIMMERY sweaters for the holiday display next to her cash register. Kenworth’s had been busy when she first came in at five o’clock, but the Wednesday night crowd was thinning out. A good thing because Megan was growing tired of playing on the floor. She had visited Santa earlier and told him in great detail about the dollhouse she wanted. The hollow place inside Anika ached when she heard the hope and joy in Megan’s voice. The child had complete faith that Santa Claus would bring her exactly what she asked for.

Her daughter zoomed through the clothing racks with a Care Bear under her arm— the toy Anika had found at a yard sale last summer for a dollar. Too bad there weren’t any yard sales in December.

Only two more days until pay day, maybe she’d have enough to buy Megan the gift she really wanted, but no. Anika chewed on her bottom lip. If she paid the daycare there definitely wouldn’t be enough, and if she didn’t pay them she’d have to keep bringing Megan to work with her. Anika pressed her fingers against the soft sweaters. There had to be another option. She was just too tired to see it right now.

Someone had come in earlier with a sheet of labels to put in the cards on the Hope Tree. Anika hadn’t looked, but she knew they contained information about people in need, children mostly, with specific sizes and toy requests for people to purchase to make their Christmas wishes come true. She’d spent some time creasing the cards to hang on the tree, making sure each one contained a label that was adhered perfectly straight according to Cecilia’s command. The cream-colored cards were edged to look like snowflakes and they hung from a golden string that reflected the overhead light. Silver and gold bells dangled from the branches and chimed softly whenever someone bumped up against the tree. Anika clenched her teeth. How ironic that it was her job to decorate the tree. Maybe the overtime would be enough to pull her out of the financial crevice she’d been stuck in for the past six years.

A woman walked by, trailing the scent of expensive perfume and toting a shopping bag overflowing with goods. That woman had no idea what a difference one-hundred dollars could make in someone’s life. Anika swallowed, and breathed out her mouth so she wouldn’t have to smell the fragrance of money she’d never have.

She arranged the sweaters carefully with a bit of gold tinsel snaking around the table. Megan zipped past, bumped into her elbow, tripped, and crashed into the pile of ornaments Anika was supposed to hang on the Christmas tree tonight. She heard the high note of breaking glass and sucked in a breath.

“Sorry, Mommy,” Megan whimpered.

Anika snatched her from the floor, quickly scanning her daughter for any injuries, and then holding her firmly. “I want you to go sit on your blanket behind the cash register while I clean this up.”

Megan’s lips turned into a pout but Anika narrowed her eyes and shook her head. Her stomach clenched when she found the first broken ornament. It was a green and white glass ball, or it had been. Now shards of the thin glass littered the area. It was almost nine o’clock, hopefully there wouldn’t be any customers coming in this late and she could get everything cleaned up.

She sorted through the rest of the boxes, and her heart returned to normal speed— there weren’t any other broken ornaments. She picked up a large piece of the green glass and bent to throw it away. The clicking of heels behind her ratcheted her heart into her throat. She turned to see Cecilia round the corner and take in the situation.

Megan chose that moment to pop up from behind the counter and yell, “Boo!”

Cecilia jumped, glanced at Megan with distaste and turned to Anika. “If you want to keep your job, you need to be responsible for your daughter.”

“Sorry.” Anika pointed to her daughter. “Megan, sit down and be quiet. Now is not the time to play peek-a-boo.”

“And what happened here?” Cecilia tapped her foot. Her frown lines deepened as she studied the bits of broken glass glistening from the polished wood floor.

“Megan tripped and broke an ornament. I’ll get it cleaned up.” Anika didn’t offer to pay for the ornament, but she felt the expectation in the current of air snapping around Cecilia’s head.

“I shouldn’t even have to say this, but your daughter isn’t an employee here and we’re not a daycare center.” Cecilia’s voice crept up the scale a few notes. Anika heard the threat.

“I know, and I’m sorry. I couldn’t find anyone to watch her.” Anika looked at the floor, swallowed the tiny fragment of pride she had left and begged. “Please, I really need this job. I’ve got some medical bills that are due, and I didn’t have another choice.”

Cecilia sighed. “We’ve all got bills to pay. Now, I’m going to treat you like a professional and I expect the same from you. Take care of your daughter.”

“Excuse me, but can I help?” It was Enrique’s brother with the sexy scruff lining his jaw. Anika studied the way his broad shoulders were set, his hands clenched as if he was angry. She stared, trying to think of his name. Carlos. She remembered him saying he wanted to see her again tonight. He’d rescued her from the Hope Tree and now he was interrupting Cecilia’s tirade.

“Anika’s daughter broke the decorations for the Christmas tree,” Cecilia said, as if Megan had destroyed everything instead of just one ornament.

“I can pay for the damages. Is it just a couple ornaments?” He gave Cecilia a tentative smile.

Anika’s eyes flitted from him to Cecilia, and she gave herself a mental shake. “It was one. I’ll get this mess cleaned up and you can take it out of my paycheck.”

“The store can cover it,” Cecilia huffed. “Just make sure it doesn’t happen again.” She turned and took two steps, and inclined her head toward Megan. “And find a sitter for your daughter.”

The main lights in the store switched off. Anika watched her boss disappear down the dim hallway past the employee lounge. She wished she could crawl into a dark hole and not come out until spring. Christmas would be over then and she wouldn’t have to worry about this job, decorating trees, or buying presents.

“Hey, are you okay?” Carlos asked. “Don’t let Cecilia get to you. She’s grouchy to everyone. I can help you clean up.”

Anika lifted her head. Carlos stood there with one corner of his mouth turned up in a lopsided grin. He was incredibly handsome and there was something genuine about him and his concern for her that made her believe he was a decent guy.

She could see the tip of Megan’s head behind him, and then her daughter’s blue eyes peeked over the counter. Anika didn’t have time to flirt with a guy; she didn’t even have time for friends. Megan was her top priority and experience had taught her that most attractive, single guys weren’t as interested in her daughter as they were about other things. A few months ago, Randy had treated her to a steak dinner and dessert, but then cornered her at his house asking for his “dessert”.

She gritted her teeth and something snapped inside when she turned to Carlos. “I can take care of myself,” Anika spat. “I don’t need your charity.”

“But I was just trying—” Carlos took one step back.

“You want to help?” Anika spun on her heel and ripped a tag off the tree. “There are plenty of people in this town you can help.” She stuffed the card in his hand. “C’mon Megan.” She hoisted her daughter on her hip and stomped past the tree toward the back of the store, putting as much space between her and Carlos as she could. She’d have to return in a few minutes to clean up the mess from the broken ornament. Her chest tightened. Gold tinsel, presents, ornaments, and people acting like Santa Claus. She hated Christmas.