They all scream in excitement at once.
“Are you crazy, honey?You should auction them off!”
“Oh, hell no.I’m not fighting you in a bidding war!”
“What if I buy them for five hundred each instead?Take whatever you want, and I’ll pay to donate it.”
The chatter dies instantly.Every woman goes silent as a tall man walks toward us with a confident stride and that devastating smile.
He’s offering a deal no one here could possibly refuse, and something in his smile makes my stomach flip.
There are about thirty items on our stand.If each one goes for five hundred, then God, even Mom would probably dive into a frozen lake for that kind of money going to charity.
But it’s him.How the hell does he dare show up here?
“Stay away from me,” I whisper, my voice trembling with anger.My hands are shaking, slick with cold sweat.
“Don’t be so cold, Fenella.The air’s already freezing enough to keep me out here.”He flashes that crooked smile, the one I used to fall for and now can’t stand.The women around us are mesmerized, staring at him with their mouths half open like they just saw a celebrity walk in.
“Hi, are you a friend of Fenella’s?”Mom asks, finally breaking the tension.
“No, he’s not my friend,” I snap before he can answer.I’m not giving him that satisfaction.
“Is it true you’re paying for everything?Free for grabs?”one of the older ladies gasps, clutching a Baumer scarf like it’s treasure.
“Yes, that’s right.Take whatever you want, I’ll cover it,” Alan says with that easy nod that always makes people believe him.
“Don’t listen to him!”I try to stop them, but the crowd’s already buzzing.The older women are thrilled, their eyes sparkling like kids at Christmas.
“Even this book?You’ll pay five hundred dollars for it?”one of them asks, waving one of my old bedtime storybooks, a frown forming between her brows.
“Yes, anything,” Alan says again, still calm, still confident.
“Oh no, that’s not how this works.We’re selling everything at regular secondhand prices,” Mom says, shaking her head.
“Yes, but this is my donation,” Alan replies, smiling so bright it practically lights up the stand.“Please don’t hesitate.Consider it a Christmas gift from me, ma’am.”
And just like that, he wins them over.The air shifts.His presence, that charm, infects the whole group.They’re smiling at him, murmuring blessings like he’s a grand priest walking out of church.
“God bless you, son.”
“What a kind-hearted angel,” another one says, almost swooning.
“No!Just ignore him.Please, go away.”I push at his chest, but he doesn’t move an inch.The women barely notice me now, too busy praising their new hero.
“Hey!Why are you grabbing stuff first?That’s cheating!”someone yells, and chaos breaks loose.
“Ladies, please, I still need to note down the items you’re taking.Don’t push,” Mom says, trying to calm them, but it’s useless.
The second they hear ‘free’ and ‘take whatever you like’, it’s over.People from the other stands, bystanders, mom’s friends, all swarm our stand, hands grabbing everything in sight.My neat little display turns into a battlefield.
“Look what you’ve done!”I yell at Alan, but he just laughs like some devil enjoying the show.
“Stop!”I shout, but no one listens.The women are pushing, yelling, fighting over bags and shoes like it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Someone shoves me hard and knocks into the table.The bottle of Mom’s eggnog tips over, about to spill all over my feet.But Alan dives in, kicks it out of the way.
The lid bursts open, and hot eggnog splashes across his leg.The sharp, sweet smell fills the air.He lets out a scream, crouching and clutching his calf while the crowd freezes in shock.
