Part 10 (1/2)
How could that possibly pertain to her working as an elf? ”Not really. Why?”
Simon paused. ”Maybe you should ask me your question, after all, before I explain.”
”I'd rather hear what you have to say first.”
He sighed loudly. ”I talked to the mall and-”
”Yes, yes, we've been through this.”
”I did mention that a uniform-a costume-is required.”
”Yes.” His reluctance to get to the point was beginning to concern her.
”I wasn't aware anything like this would be asked of you, but I'm encouraged that you don't have any fear of heights.”
”I don't have to swing from the top of the s.p.a.ce Needle, do I?”
”No...” He exhaled slowly, staring down at his desk. ”The mall wants the first elf-that would be you-to arrive by wire.”
Ca.s.sie swallowed hard. ”You're not referring to a telegram, are you?”
”No.”
”A wire...from where?”
Again he avoided meeting her gaze. ”The ceiling.”
Ca.s.sie frowned, attempting to picture it. ”You mean they want me to fly in like Peter Pan?”
”Exactly.”
”You're joking!” This was the most preposterous idea she'd ever heard.
”The reindeer will follow you.”
”Live reindeer?”
”They're plastic, but the mall wants to make a real production of Santa's arrival.”
”And,” she said, swallowing again since her mouth was so dry, ”I'm part of the production.”
”Yes. Are you willing to do this?” he asked.
Ca.s.sie's fingers tightened around her purse strap. ”Would I still meet John if I decline?”
Simon hesitated. ”This wasn't part of our original agreement, so I'd need to find a replacement task. That might take a few weeks.”
”I don't want to wait any longer than I already have to.”
”Then I'll inform the mall there won't be a problem and they can expect you on Sat.u.r.day morning around nine.”
Her complete lack of reaction must have alerted Simon to the fact that she was having second thoughts.
”No need to worry,” Simon a.s.sured her. ”I've been told it's quite safe. The wire will hold up to four hundred pounds.”
”Oh.” Ca.s.sie couldn't believe she'd agreed to this. When she glanced up, she thought, just for a moment, that she saw a smile on Simon's face. She leaned forward. ”Were you smiling?”
”Pardon me?”
”You were smiling, weren't you? You're enjoying this.” The man should be arrested for deriving pleasure from her humiliation.
His mouth quivered, but Simon had the good grace to look away. ”Actually, I was thinking you're going to manage this quite well. You're a woman who's destined for high places.”
Unfortunately, his vote of confidence didn't excite her. And his joke didn't amuse her.
Chapter 9.
Simon says: The best match for you is the one I arrange-because I know you better than you know yourself.
”T his must be a joke,” Ca.s.sie said, staring at the limp green tights. No way was she going to stuff her hips and thighs into those.
”Dr. Dodson gave us your size, miss,” said an elderly woman, whose name tag identified her as Daisy.
”He did?” Well, if he a.s.sumed she wore a size four, then who was she to enlighten him with the truth? Besides, the material did stretch.
Daisy handed her the elf costume, which consisted of a short green dress, like a skater's, with white faux fur edging the hem and a wide red belt. A green Santa-style hat with a white fur ball dangling from the end completed the outfit. But the piece de resistance was a gold-painted pair of slippers with curled-up toes.
”The changing room is this way,” Daisy said as she guided her down the dimly lit mall corridor.
Ca.s.sie followed, clutching the uniform, the hat and shoes.
”I can't tell you how pleased we are that you agreed to do this,” Daisy was telling her. ”You already have an audience of children waiting.”
This wasn't news Ca.s.sie wanted to hear. ”Where will Santa be while I'm floating through the air?”
”Oh, he'll be right behind you.”
”Great.” So she wouldn't be doing a solo flight. If she was going to descend from the clouds, Santa should do the same.
”Only...Santa will be on ground level,” Daisy explained.
This was unfair.
The woman stopped and, frowning, bent down to pick up an empty beer can. ”Oh, dear,” she grumbled. ”I'm afraid Floyd's been at it again.”
”And who is Floyd?” Ca.s.sie asked a bit fearfully.