“It’s just a ball,” he told himself. An annual ball. It happened every year.
His plans for putting a makeshift Ever After Sweet Shoppe in Harmony Children’s waiting room were taken care of. He’d told his parents he’d be over tomorrow afternoon once the morning’s excitement was over. It would probably take that long for the kids and their hospital visitors to do their “shopping.”
Which meant he just had tonight. He had to find her, to spend more than a handful of anxious moments in an elevator with her.
Hawk locked his office and took the dreaded elevator to the second level. The bright hallway welcomed him, adorned with swags of pine set off by festive wreaths in the center and punctuated with holly berries. Each swag arrangement made an archway, a veritable, cheery forest of pine branches to wander through.
The ball had been recently relocated here in his corporate office’s adjoined conference rooms after he’d decided to add more people to the invitation list. With the increased invites, his team and Clary had been good enough to make the necessary adjustments.
The conference room exploded with a flurry of Christmas trees and fake snow. Tables that habitually occupied the rooms’ center during meetings were only along the sides, offering festive refreshments. Clary had nixed the usual orchestra in favor of a DJ, who would take up less space.
The room was packed. Men in debonair tuxes guided women in gowns of every shade—from glittering red to deepest sapphire—across the floor to the sound of I’ll Be Home for Christmas.
They’d started the ball without him, but that was all right. It wasn’t as though he’d been on time.
Hawk stalked past the refreshment tables, taking in the fountains dripping with melted chocolate and piles of fat strawberries just waiting to be dipped, the mouthwatering eclairs, the chocolate-covered pretzels, mini sandwiches, and drinks the color of cranberries.
He released a low whistle even he couldn’t hear. Clary had really gone all out for this. He spotted her near the DJ and speakers in a black dress with a clipboard under one arm and a finger pressed to her ear.
Hawk strolled along the sidelines toward her. Her red hair was in an elegant bun on the back of her head.
“Clary, you look wonderful. And you’ve done an incredible job with this tonight.”
“Thanks, boss,” she said. “So far, so good. You want to say a few words?”
He ran a hand along his neck and glanced across the gathered dancers. “Not now. In a bit.”
“You looking for someone?”
“Maybe,” he said with a sheepish grin.
Clary nodded as if she understood, though he wasn’t sure she did. He tucked a hand into his pocket and searched as he’d done since he arrived. For the brunette who’d helped him survive a too-long and yet not-long-enough spurt in an elevator.
Uncertainty made a muddle of his thoughts. It was entirely possible the woman wasn’t coming. Many people spent this time with their families. He began to curse himself for his foolish hope when his cell phone vibrated from within his suitcoat pocket.
Hawk slipped out into the hall, out of range of the speakers and their festive music. He doubted he could have heard the caller otherwise.
“Hey, sis,” he said, noting the name on his screen. “What’s up?”
“Sorry,” Gemma said. “I know you’re at your ball, but I wanted to give you an update.”
He didn’t like the caution in her tone. “Is everything okay for tomorrow?”
Gemma hesitated long enough to give him pause. “Do you want the good news first or the bad?”
“Always good,” he said.
She exhaled loudly. “All right. You’re all set with the hospital. I got a few volunteers to set up tables, including shelves to display your goods and a little cash register for the children to use to exchange their tokens for candy. Those kids are in for a serious treat when they wake up.”
Hawk’s ribcage swelled at the news. This was exactly what he’d wished for. “Perfect. It’s so amazing of you to help me last minute like this, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Anything for my big brother.”
“And the bad news?”
“I didn’t find anyone to man the register, the counter—anything. Everyone has plans, Hawk. It’s Christmas. You’re on your own to handle your little transactions with the kids.”
The news wasn’t as hard of a hit as he’d been expecting. Sure, it would be a challenge to help fifty-something kids, some in wheelchairs, manage their way through his stash and to play Store with them as they pretend-paid for their goods.
He couldn’t help them navigate the shelves and make their little play purchases, though. He’d intended for this to be a totally immersive game, to make them feel as though they were in an actual Ever After Sweet Shoppe. Someone needed to work the register, at the very least.
“It’ll be all right,” he told Gemma. “You’ve already done enough, and on such short notice. I couldn’t have asked for more.”
“Plan better next year,” she said with a smile in her voice.
“You’re right about that.”
“Merry Christmas, Hawk. I’m going to get the kids to bed before Santa kicks their butts for peeking.”
He chuckled. Her three small boys were wiggly and energetic. “Thanks again, Gem. Merry Christmas to you guys too. Hopefully, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Hawk paced a small circle in the hall after he hung up. With the entirety of his staff, surely he could find someone who might manage to help. But Gemma had said it—he hadn’t planned well. This was a complete, last-minute idea, and to ask anyone now wouldn’t be fair.
Maybe some of the hospital staff could throw on an apron and play sales associates, but they already had enough to do. He didn’t want to take anyone away from their regular duties, especially not when they were so important.
Who else could he ask? Not Clary. She was usually his go-to, but he couldn’t mention it now, not after all the work she’d done putting the ball together. She deserved the break she’d been looking forward to with
