“Unless,” he said, pausing mid-step as a new idea began to form.
What if he did just that?
He didn’t know exactly what health condition each child was battling, but so many of them had probably been a resident for a while. They probably missed their homes, missed little things most people took for granted. Like shopping.
Pausing just before reaching his office door, he pulled out his phone. There wasn’t much time to get this going.
“Clary,” he said when she answered. “What’s your favorite part about going into an Ever After Sweet Shoppe?”
If his assistant was confused by his question, she didn’t evidence it. She was used to his antics, random as they sometimes were. “The candy is amazing, sir. But it’s even more appealing onsite. It reminds me of Honeydukes when we went to Harry Potter World last summer. Except you have a bit wider selection with your Italian soda bar.”
This was exactly what Hawk was thinking. It was one thing to order something from a store online. But going there? Experiencing the atmosphere of a store, of seeing something on a shelf and having the satisfaction of picking it out for himself? That was what he wanted to give these kids.
“Delivering candy to these kids is all well and good,” he said. “But I thought we should bring the Sweet Shoppe to them.”
“What? How?”
Energy whirred inside of him the more he spoke. “We could set it up in the hospital waiting room. Bring the kids out and let them pick whatever they wanted. Can you imagine how amazing that would be for them?”
Clary didn’t respond with the enthusiasm he was hoping for. “Don’t take this the wrong way,” she said. “But why go through all the trouble? We have our hands full with preparations for the ball. You’re going to need extra hands with this. Who are you going to find to help out? Everyone has taken the holidays off. Some have already left town, and a number of your staff are knee-deep in—”
“I get it,” Hawk said, settling into one of his leather chairs and trying not to let defeat settle in. “You’re absolutely right. Why don’t you let me worry about finding help? I know you’ve got your hands full.”
“Thanks, boss,” she said too quickly. “It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just—”
He rested his head in his free hand. “A lot all at once. I get it. Don’t worry about anything else, Clary. You know how much I appreciate you.”
“Thanks. Talk to you later.”
Hawk ended the call and ran his hands through his hair. Clary was right—he couldn’t add one more thing to her plate on short notice.
His friend, Adrian Bear, still hadn't responded affirmatively to the official invitation Hawk sent to him and his wife, Gabby. They had discussed the two of them coming a few months ago, and the Bears had seemed more than excited to attend. But apparently, Gabby was expecting a baby, and morning sickness was making travel difficult.
Hawk was happy for them, but it was too bad they couldn't make it. He was sure Adrian and Gabby would have helped with this.
After several ticks went by, he dialed the next person who darted into his mind.
His sister, Gemma, answered after the third ring. “Hawk?”
He rose from his chair and began to pace the rug. “Hey, Gemma. I have a last-minute idea, and I’m wondering if you can help me pull it off.”
Gemma ran a prestigious party planning company and organized everything, from high-end wedding receptions to twelve-year-old girls’ debut parties. He explained his idea.
“I don’t know,” Gemma said. “That’s a lot to put on the hospital staff, especially this late. It’s December twenty-third. Have you called them about this? You need to get their approval.”
“I will,” Hawk assured her. “But what do you think? Can you get everything set up for me?”
“What happened to Clary?”
“She’s already doing enough,” he said, resting a hand on his hip.
“So naturally you thought of me,” she said sarcastically.
“Come on, sis. Can you help me out?”
She hesitated. He clenched a fist, hanging onto her answer.
“I’ll try,” she finally said.
Hawk pumped his fist in the air while trying to mask his enthusiasm.
“I’ll stop by one of the stores on my way home; see what I can scrounge up.”
“Thanks, you’re a gem,” he said, knowing exactly the reaction he’d get.
“Ha, ha. Like I haven’t heard that before.”
Animated with excitement, he hung up and dialed the hospital himself. He wasn’t the heel-clicking type ordinarily, but in that moment he could sympathize with the urge to do something so over-the-top. This was a victory. This was really going to happen.
“It’s time to work a Christmas miracle,” he said while the hospital’s ringback tone sounded.
If only he could contact her somehow and let her know about it too.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Ella’s last conversation with Stina tormented her the rest of the day. Stina’s nasty words, her derisive tone, the insult of the whole situation was an uncomfortable echo hammering through her brain as she sorted and pinned fabric, as she sewed stitch after stitch. The perfect comebacks replayed at just the right points of the conversation—the way they hadn’t done earlier.
Shame was a barnacle on the inside of her sternum. She should have known not to give way to hope. Leopards couldn’t change their spots, and Stina was as speckled as they came.
If only she had the courage to find a new job. The courage to tell Stina off. What better way to do that than to quit? Then she could go to the ball. None of this midnight curfew madness. No working all night Christmas Eve so she would be too tired to even celebrate her favorite holiday.
“That’s just it,” she said to her vacant, excessively messy, conjoined dining and kitchen area. “Christmas is my favorite. I’ve let Stina push me around for far too long. She may have my father under her thumb, but not me. Not anymore.”
She could lose
