“No, that doesn’t count. That’s just something family members do. That’s not a good deed. That’s why the lights came back on. I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do.”
“Okay, okay.”
The remediation company says it could be seven to fourteen days before the office is even able to open. He looks at me, his eyes heavy.
“I’m going to give everybody in the office the rest of the week off. There’s no point in trying to find a different space.”
“That’s it, Holden. That’s your first good deed.”
He scratches his head. His eyes look up. “Wait, that’s it? That’s my first good deed?”
“I don’t know, Holden. Do you think giving the rest of the week off to your employees when they can’t come into work anyway is what parking lot Santa had in mind?”
“I don’t know, but it’s worth a try.”
“Sure.”
We talk about work for a few minutes, and then I look at Holden. “Why are you here, Holden? You could have said all of this in a text, or at least called me.”
“I need your help, Atlanta.”
“Okay.”
“You’re the best person I know, and I want to try to do these three good deeds. Three really good deeds. I can’t be cursed. Idon’t want to be cursed. And I was thinking maybe you could help me figure all this out.” He shoots a bright grin at me. “We can get started right away.”
I watch him, every instinct in me telling me no. I don’t need to get involved in this craziness. I need some space from my boss.
“Let me think about it, Holden.”
He looks at me, a quiet desperation crossing his face as he speaks words that pierce my heart. “If you help me, I will give you that promotion.”
I blink at Holden, the skin under my shoulders tingling with tension. I grip my teacup, my knuckles white, fighting to breathe as he watches me expectantly.
“Okay. I’ll help you.”
As I shut the door behind him, I can’t keep the tears from falling freely down my face. This is not how I wanted to get the promotion.
Chapter 5
Holden
“Uncle Holden, Uncle Holden. Again!”
I crawl around my sister’s den with my little niece on my back, playing runaway bronco. She bursts into the biggest fit of giggles each time I rear back, a great way to spend time together.
Stuffed to the gills with Turkey and three kinds of pie, I’m the last one here. Our parents and siblings all went home, so it’s just me left.
“Bailey, honey, why don’t you give Uncle Holden a break from being a bronco?”
She grips me tightly. “You don’t need a break, do you, Uncle Holden?”
I am not about to deny those cute brown eyes anything, so I remain quiet. I know better than to get in the middle of this battle.
“Go up to your playroom for a little bit and have some quiet playtime.”
Bailey tumbles off my back. “Quiet time is dumb.”
“Baily Renée!”
