Under the Mistletoe

Fresh Stance

I sat there staring out the window, my bags at my feet. What was I going to do now? The shock of my father slapping me had finally worn off, leaving a stark emptiness in its wake. My father had died the day of the cancer diagnosis; I had just been too blind to see it then. We used to be close—he was engaged and supportive, but now he was just a shell of the man I once knew. I felt nothing for him anymore; no sorrow, no regret.

I was pulled from my thoughts by Rachel's loud voice. “Tell me you have made a plan to destroy that beast of a father of yours! I can’t believe he laid a hand on you!” she growled, sitting down across from me, her expression fierce.

I turned to her, feeling a mix of frustration and gratitude. “I don’t have a plan, Rachel. I don’t even care about him anymore.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “You’re not just going to let him get away with this, are you? You deserve better!”

“I don’t want to be a burden on you by asking to stay at your place,” I admitted, the weight of it pressing down on me.

“Burden? Please! You’re not a burden. Your family is a bunch of monsters, and they deserve every curse I can throw at them!” Rachel snapped, her anger directed at my family rather than me. “You can stay with me as long as you need. I want you there—besides, I need to show off my new house!”

I couldn’t help but smile at her fierce loyalty. “Really? You don’t mind?”

“Not at all! It’ll be fun. We can figure out your next move together. No more allowing those wretched people to use you,” she said, her voice steady and light hearted. I couldn't help but laugh at Rachel, the sound bubbling up from deep within me. God, I had missed this—missed having a good, loyal friend around. After grabbing a quick bite to eat, we made our way to her house, excitement buzzing between us.

Once we arrived, I moved into Rachel's spare room. Her home was humble but inviting, filled with warmth and character. As she gave me a tour, I could see the pride beaming from her. “I love this place!” she said, gesturing to the cozy living room with its mismatched furniture and colorful cushions. “It’s not big, but it’s mine!”

Her enthusiasm was contagious. I smiled as she pointed out little details—a quirky painting she had found at a flea market, the small potted plants lining the windowsill, and the kitchen filled with the scent of fresh herbs. “I can’t wait to have you here! We’ll make this place feel like home for both of us,” she said, her eyes sparkling.

I felt a warmth in my chest that I hadn’t felt in a long time. “Thank you for letting me move in, Rachel. I promise I won’t be a burden.”

“Stop it! You’re not a burden. You’re my best friend, and I want you here. We’re going to have so much fun,” she replied, her smile infectious.

“Now work-wise, you can start at the café tomorrow with me,” Rachel beamed. “That way, I can remind you of the ropes.”

I grinned back, nodding eagerly. “I’ve definitely missed the café. That would be great.”

Rachel nodded, her excitement infectious. “Get some rest. You’ve had a rough day. Tomorrow, your life will get so much better.”

Then, with a loud squeal, she added, “It’s so good you’re finally back!”

I laughed as I watched her retreating figure, feeling a flicker of joy at the prospect of working alongside her again. But once I was alone, my smile slowly faded. This was not how I had planned my life. I never expected to be out of the family business in just two days.

I sank onto the edge of the bed, the weight of the day settling heavily on my shoulders. I had thought I would climb the business as the CEO, prove myself, maybe even mend things with my father.

Taking a deep breath, I flop back onto my bed. Tomorrow will be the start of something great. I'll make sure of it.

The next few days passed in a blur. It felt as if I had never left the café. Brewing coffees, taking orders, and baking sweets was refreshing, grounding me in a way I desperately needed.

Ding ding. A smile broke across my face at the sound of the door. “Welcome to Buttercakes Bread! What can I get for you today?” I greeted the young teenagers who had just walked in. They mumbled their orders before pointing to a table and sitting down.

“O, the memories of being a teen!” Rachel sang, laughing at their wide-eyed expressions. I cracked a smile too, nostalgia washing over me.

As I quickly got to work on their order, my attention was caught by the small TV mounted in the corner. There stood Ben, his arm linked with some blonde, blue-eyed beauty as they hurried into a building. My heart dropped at the sight. What had I expected? I had only just found out his company was nearby, but I was too scared to go see him. Look at me now—a café worker. And him? A successful billionaire.

Sighing, I turned to see Rachel watching me intently. “That Rebecca is something, isn’t she?” she scoffed.

“What?” I asked, puzzled.

“Her! Rebecca Star. It’s pathetic seeing her chase after Benjamin again. Like he’s not interested in you. Move along,” Rachel laughed dryly.

I hated how my heart leaped with hope at the mention of his name. For goodness' sake, I didn’t even know the man! We’d had a brief conversation and a kiss, and now I felt like a lovestruck puppy. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Rachel,” I responded, trying to turn my attention back to the coffees rather than listen to the gossip swirling around them.

“Rebecca is the daughter of Robert Star, the owner of Imagine Campaign, the modeling agency. Probably the only reason she became a model,” Rachel continued, shaking her head. “Anyways, they started dating back in 2022, and she cheated on him a few months later. He obviously dumped her, and she’s been chasing him ever since.”

I hummed in response, not wanting to look too invested. “At least he’s got good morals, I suppose, to not take her back,” I mumbled. Rachel smiled, a gleam in her eyes. “Got a little crush on the billionaire bachelor, huh?”

My face flushed. “No, Rachel! How could I have a crush on someone I don’t even know?” I quickly departed to drop off the coffees, trying to shake off her teasing.

“Calm down, May! Everyone has a crush on him. God, look at him—smoking hot! I’d totally bang that if the chance arose,” Rachel laughed as she grabbed something from the fridge and headed back to the front counter.

I shook my head, my cheeks still bright red. I stayed in the back, washing the dishes to distract myself, trying to control my raging emotions. How did a small meeting turn me into this? Now he was haunting me everywhere.

Glancing to the left, I noticed a photo of Jeff on the wall. A wave of sadness washed over me. Rachel had lied when I first asked about him—he had passed away last year and left the café to her. My heart ached at the thought of not being able to see him again, to feel the warmth of his loving, fatherly embrace. He had been like a real father to me—loving, supportive, and always there to lend a shoulder to cry on. I missed him.

I had visited his grave to say goodbye, but it felt inadequate. It gnawed at me that I hadn’t been there for him in his final days. Rachel constantly reassured me that he wanted me to focus on my studies, which was why he never told me how serious his condition was.

As I scrubbed the dishes, I let the memories wash over me. Jeff’s laughter, his encouragement, the way he believed in me when no one else did. I closed my eyes for a moment, wishing I could hear his voice one more time. But as the water ran over my hands, I knew I had to keep moving forward.