Felicity:See U later.
With a smile on her face, she turned around.When she glanced down to check on the puppy, she saw that Sunny was busy pulling bags and boxes off the bottom shelf of the checkout counter.
“Oh, no.Stop.”She bent over and picked up the puppy.She looked into Sunny’s big brown eyes.“What am I going to do with you?”
Ding.
She reached for her phone, wondering what Justin had to say this time.If this kept up, she might be tempted to call them friends.Would that be pushing things?If so, it might be worth it.On second thought, it would definitely be worth it.
When she looked at the screen, she realized it wasn’t Justin.Instead, it was a response to one of the jobs she’d applied to.The corners of her mouth lowered.They’d turned her down just like the publisher before them and the literary agency before that.
The news pricked her good mood.She knew trying to get a new job at the end of the year was a long shot.The real problem was that she didn’t have a plan B.If she didn’t get a job by Christmas, what was she going to do?Stay in Kringle Falls?And what?Keep working at the bookshop?
As much as she loved Jingle Bell Books and Connie, she didn’t know if this was what she wanted to do the rest of her life.Could she be happy here?She honestly didn’t know the answer.However, she did know that she didn’t enjoy the long hours, including the weekends, she’d put in at her previous employer.
She held Sunny in one arm and with the other, she picked up the mess from the floor.Luckily, the pup hadn’t ruined anything.Maybe if Sunny had more toys to play with, she’d leave everything else alone.
Luckily, Connie was working in the office and hadn’t noticed Sunny’s shenanigans.Felicity was almost done cleaning up the mess when she heard the jingle of the front door opening.
“I’ll be right with you,” Felicity called out as she placed the last box on the shelf.When she rose, she found Merry standing on the other side of the counter.“Sorry about that.Just picking up a few things.”
“Good afternoon, you two.”Merry smiled brightly.
“Did you find a home for Sunny?”She didn’t know why those words immediately popped out of her mouth.It wasn’t like she was anxious to get rid of the puppy, even though having her here in the bookshop wasn’t exactly convenient.
When Merry shook her head, Felicity ignored the sense of relief that flooded her body.She continued to hold on to the puppy.Her fingers moved over the silky fur.
“I thought I had someone, but they aren’t allowed pets in their apartment.Can you imagine that?”Merry sighed.“But it looks like things are going well here.”
Felicity thought of the two chewed books and the mess she’d semi-cleaned up and then she said, “Sunny is fitting right in.”
Now what had she gone and said that for?It wasn’t like she could keep the puppy.She didn’t even have a real job.The chances of her landing a position in the city were shrinking every day.If she did get a new job, she’d more than likely be working long hours.That wasn’t a life for a dog.And even if she did get normal hours, the likelihood of her apartment allowing pets was slim to none.
Felicity once more reminded herself not to get attached.She’d already lost so much she cared about that she didn’t think her tattered heart could take much more.
In a feeble attempt to do just that she held the pup out to Merry.“Would you like to hold her?”
Merry’s gaze moved from Felicity to the pup and then back again.“She looks happy with you, and I can’t stay long.I just stopped in to see how things are going with the costumes.Will you have them ready in time for the curtain to rise next week?”
Felicity worried her bottom lip.“I will as soon as I find a ride.”
“A ride?”
Just then the door jingled again, and in walked Justin.His hair was a bit messy, as though he’d raked his fingers through it a time or two.It looked like he hadn’t had an easy day.
“Justin, you have good timing,” Merry said.“Felicity needs a ride.”
“I do?”The words popped out of Felicity’s mouth before she could stop them.
Merry arched a brow.“You just said you did, in order to finish the costumes.”
“Oh.Right?”Heat rushed to Felicity’s cheeks.She glanced at Justin.“But I can’t ask you…”
“You aren’t,” he said.“I’m offering.Can you go now?It’s snowing, and it’s supposed to get worse as the evening goes on.”
“I…I don’t know.”
“Sure, you can.I’ll clear it with Connie.”Merry looked sure of herself.
