Mister Christmas by Linda Cajio

Author:Linda Cajio [Linda Cajio]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459267794
Publisher: Harlequin

RAYMOND LOOKED AROUND at the toys piled to the ceiling in his office and groaned. What a sight at five in the morning. The station must have gone on a buying spree last night that would have made F.A.O. Schwarz happy. In fact, it probably did. Now, he had to get all this to the church after his show this morning.

“Isn’t it wonderful?” Holly exclaimed. She sat on top of a pile of large, boxed trucks, her eyes shining with excitement.

“That’ll fall,” he warned.

“Naw.” She swung her legs against the boxes. The tall pile never moved. “See? I’m okay.”

She looked so happy that Raymond took it as a good sign. She clearly thought she was accomplishing her mission. His heart didn’t feel any better, however. It even felt a little worse at the thought that she was on her way to vanishing forever. It was what he wanted, wasn’t it? It was what she needed. It was what had to be.

“We need to wrap these,” she said.

He gaped at her. “Wrap them! Are you nuts?”

“I believe that’s your department.” She frowned. “What’s wrong with wrapping them? The kids should have the fun of tearing off the paper and making a mess for their folks. That’s half the joy of Christmas.”

“A pragmatic elf,” he muttered. “Just what I needed.”

“Yes, I am, and yes, you do. We’d better get started. Where’s the wrapping paper?”

“The church might not accept them if they’re wrapped,” he said, thinking quickly. “They need to know what’s appropriate for a child’s age. They don’t want to be giving Monopoly to a three-year-old.”

“Oh.” She grinned. “Got out of that one, didn’t you?”

“Just what I was thinking,” he said.

“I know.”

Her smugness grated on his nerves. It shouldn’t. She was entitled to be smug since her mind reading was clearly in perfect working order.

“I’ve got a show to do,” he said.

For four hours, he tried to forget his upcoming afternoon chore with the toys, but the trip stayed in the back of his mind all through his show. He had a sense of doom about the entire thing, especially knowing he wasn’t doing it for the most altruistic of reasons.

The station manager was waiting for him afterward in Raymond’s now empty office. Charlie was entirely too gleeful and it wasn’t from generosity of spirit.

“We’ve got a van loaded with all the toys, and I’ve called in the news stations. Channel 10 wants to cover it.”

“It’s too much,” Raymond said, feeling used by the man.

“This donation is good for us. What’s wrong with that?”

“I’d rather do this quietly.”

Charlie was silent for a moment. “Raymond, I give you a lot of space here because of your ratings, but it only goes so far. You understand?”

Raymond stayed silent for one full minute. At last, he said, “Sure.”

“Good.”

The manager left. Holly popped in. “Who the hell died and left him king?”

“Santa ought to wash your mouth out with soap,” Raymond said.

“Hey, we’re all big elves here.” She looked down at her feet. “I think I really am getting bigger.

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