Egg the Halls

Chapter 3-2

“It’s not like you to leave an empty tree,” said Katie when she entered Yolks on You. She yawned and moved to the basement to punch in without waiting for Kiko’s response, ponytail bobbing behind her. Katie was his one full-time employee, a blond, pale woman in her forties. She was both a good worker and friend, and though Kiko knew Dom wanted him to get rid of Chad and hire on another full-time person, he couldn’t imagine anyone else at the moment.

Kiko still had time to put it off. Dom had started helping out occasionally—and with no pay—and Chad was still around now and again. For now. After that call last night, Kiko wondered what was going to change. He knew he couldn’t keep Chad around forever.

“Cat from Cats N Canvas is getting some art ready for us,” said Kiko when Katie came back up. Her coat off he could see she was wearing a red and white sweater. He self-consciously smoothed his candy cane striped tie. “She’s been going around seeing whether the Twelve Days businesses want to promote her themed art.”

“I heard,” said Katie, moving to make herself her mug of green tea. Kiko suspected everyone was having a case of the Mondays. He’d given her the morning off but she seemed no more awake than normal, even after coming in at noon. “Elena told me she was getting Turtle Doves art this week.”

Elena owned the chocolate shop in town and was one of Katie’s close friends. Kiko kept thinking he needed to talk to her about stocking some of her chocolates in his display, but as far as he knew Elena didn’t make egg-shaped truffles.

“I was saving that space for her items,” said Kiko.

“Not a bad idea. Chad will be able to handle it at least.”

“That’s what I thought,” said Kiko as a customer entered and began peering at the sparkling ornaments. “And I like being organized.”

He expected Katie to laugh at that, but instead she leaned closer.

“Did you hear Cat asked Ben?” she asked, eyeing the customer, who was no one they knew. Kiko got a lot of Mount Angus information from Katie, had come to rely on her more now that he was spending almost all of his free time with Dom.

“I wondered if she was going to.”

Katie nodded, eyes wide.

“What happened?” asked Kiko. Katie sipped her tea, drawing out the tension.

“They had a huge fight last night, down on Second Street. Everyone heard them—somebody actually called the cops! Gordon came down to write up a report and everything.”

Kiko could imagine Police Chief Gordon making his slow way down the street, hitching up his pants, and then making Cat and Ben stand there for an hour spelling everything for him as he wrote. What was irritating to Kiko personally over Halloween now seemed like a great crime-fighting tactic. After a run-in with perpetually slow Gordon, you’d try harder to stay out of trouble with the law.

“I knew they didn’t get along,” said Kiko. “But wouldn’t it have been a simple situation?”

“Oh, I’ve heard all sorts of things,” said Katie. “Cat wouldn’t take no for an answer, Ben insulted her, there were threats on both sides…The only bit of the story that’s the same is that Cat asked Ben if he wanted her art and he said no.”

“That all for you?” asked Kiko as the customer came up to the counter to pay for several ornaments. He gave them one of his smiles and rang them up.

“Slow day,” said Katie. Kiko smoothed his hair with a hand.

“There was bound to be trouble with two art business in two neighboring towns run by two members of the same family. That’s intense competition.”

“I know,” said Katie, rolling her eyes. “Elena says they both threatened each other’s businesses last night. Cat said she’d run him out, and Ben told her to watch it or she might find she has bigger problems to worry about than mediocre art. Really nasty for siblings!”

Kiko nodded. He really never had too much of a problem with his sister Gabriela and they had gotten along fine overall, but many people seemed to have terrible family issues. The holidays seemed to bring all the tensions out, too, as with Dom and his brother. While Kiko was looking forward to several days catching up with his sister and watching his niece and nephew try to pet Mother, most people were dealing with real turmoil.

“You think they’ll gift each other bad art at Christmas?” asked Katie, and Kiko smiled.

“That sounds like something Dom would suggest.”

Katie rolled her eyes.

“You ever stop thinking about him?” she asked. Kiko shrugged.

“Not really.”