Ella missed her mom, and so she’d kept up with Stitches for Sierra, not only to help kids in need but to honor her mother, too. This Christmas, their project was Christmas pillowcases for all the kids in Harmony Children’s. Ella had relished perusing bolt after bolt of colorful, festive fabrics—vibrant reds and greens covered with elves, reindeer, or Santa Claus, sparkling blues and purples with glittering snowflakes. There was something about coordinating colors together that was more satisfying than getting the last piece of pie.
“That should do it,” she said, snipping through the thread on her machine. She then turned the fabric right-side out, pleased to find the rectangular edging blending perfectly with the pink pillowcase body, which was covered with gingerbread men.
“Some little girl is going to freak out over that one,” said Brandy, pausing over her own machine on the opposite end of Ella’s kitchen table. Brandy called herself “huggable,” with dark skin and hair, and the most gorgeous eyelashes Ella had ever seen.
“I know, right? I wish I could see their faces when their pillows are brought in that morning and they’re not covered in boring white fabric, but spangled in Christmas perfection.”
The plan was to deliver them a day or two before, so the staff had time to prepare a pillow for each child.
“It really is a great idea,” Chloe added, speaking from over her shoulder. Her blue train-and-wreath-covered pillowcase fabric hung from the edge of the desk near the window. Chloe was of Asian descent, with dark hair, slanted eyes, and stunning cheekbones.
“Giving is something my mom always did for people.” Ella shrugged off their praise. Admiration wasn’t why she did this. Having had an incredibly disheartening experience at the hospital with her own mother before she’d died, Ella knew how lonely hours at a hospital could be. Especially during the holidays.
While the last ten years without her mom had been a struggle, Ella always found it hardest at Christmastime. Stina could be cordial enough on the surface, but deep down Ella knew the woman disliked her. Her stepmother had been over the moon when Ella had graduated from high school and finally moved out. At Stina’s request.
If Ella told the truth, she’d been relieved at the separation too.
At least her dad was happy with Stina. That was what mattered, she told herself. What did she care that he’d gradually allowed Stina to push Ella out of his life? At least she still had her health. Ella was nothing if not optimistic in the face of opposition.
A pinging email alert sounded from her cell. Ella rifled through piles of fabric. She lifted the precut stacks and the scraps she’d just received from Samantha at Ever After Sweet Shoppe, as well as those fresh from the store, before finally locating her phone below a red and black combination. She swiped to see a little number on the icon.
The email’s sender was Ever After Sweet Shoppe. Unlike the other emails she occasionally got, announcing promotions or discounts in their boutique shops, this was from Corporate.
“That’s weird,” Ella muttered.
Brandy spoke without looking up from her sewing machine. “What?”
“I don’t usually get emails from Corporate Ever After. Usually, they’re from Stina or just ads.”
“Must be pretty important then,” said Brandy. The whir of her machine began again.
The subject line read, An Invitation Especially for You. Curious, Ella tapped on the email and read:
Dear Ms. Embers,
Christmas is a wonderful season of celebration, and one of the best ways we honor this beloved holiday here at Ever After Sweet Shoppe is by hosting an annual Christmas Ball. We delight in gathering our employees who work so hard the rest of the year together for one harmonious celebration, to thank them for all they do to keep Ever After Sweet Shoppe thriving all year round.
As a member of Ever After Sweet Shoppe’s exclusive custodial staff via Malus Custodial Management, you often slip through unseen. We at Human Resources believe your contribution is as vital as anyone else’s in the company and are pleased to extend an invitation to you to attend Mr. Danielson’s Honorary Christmas Ball to thank you for your hours of quiet, consistent service.
It will be held on Christmas Eve, December 24, from eight pm to midnight, at Ever After’s corporate office. As this is a formal event, come ready to paint the night in your finest, formal attire. Refreshments will be served during the event. Please feel free to bring a single guest with you.
We hope to see you at the ball!
Sincerely,
Deanna Hunt, Human Resource Manager
One phrase stuck out more than any other as Ella finished reading the email aloud: Mr. Danielson’s Honorary Christmas Ball.
He’d held this ball for years now. She knew it—good grief, she’d had to clean up after it. In all that time, the custodial staff had never once been included. They didn’t do enough, not like his other departments. Or that was always Stina’s argument whenever a complaint was voiced from one of her crew members.
Why was Hawk Danielson including them now? Did it have something to do with the recent robbery accusations he’d pitted against the entire custodial staff? Considering Stina’s warning to the custodial staff earlier, he’d made it clear they were on rocky ground.
She was sure he’d seen right through her on the elevator. She’d stuffed her employee badge into her purse as quickly as she could. But then he’d been cool and flirtatious, even in the midst of his bout of anxiety. He hadn’t seemed to notice her badge at all.
All his talk of thrusting herself on him—she hadn’t been sure how to reply. It wasn’t often that men flirted with her, let alone men who looked like him.
He hadn’t known who she was. How
