Part 9 (2/2)
”Well, justdon't wearyourself out It's notworthit”
”I know butthebonusisboundtobegoodthisyear he's mentionedParis”
”Ohlala,tresbien”
”Nanny, Al wants to knohy Daddy isn't doing the high-ups,” Grayer asks quietly from behind the tree I lookover ather,unsurehowtoanswerhily?hasNantoldyouaboutwassailing?”
Heees ”Whatdidyousay?” Hecomes up closetoherandputshi+shandonher knee
”Wassailing, darlingWhenyou wassail ou ift you can give All you do is knock on someone's door, someone you want to share the joy of Christ your heart out Wassailing ou've got to try it!” He lies down nexttoetheron apillow
”Grand,” hesays I turnassheleansagainstthechaisesurroundedbycandles Shebegins tosingalong with her Frank to ”The Way You LookTonight” Grayer closes his eyes and I fall just a little bit more in lovewith her
A weeklater,inexcitedpursuit of Mr X, Mrs Xand Grayerthesahs of greens and twinkling colored lights noherefakecobwebshadbeen
Mrs X pushes Mr X's heavyofficedooropen
”Darling, co sun, which pours in through the floor-to-ceiling sbehindhis deskI am immediatelystruckbyhis capabilitytoexuderelaxedpower inthis rooeneraldirection ”Hey,sport”
Grayer tries to hand off the bag of Christht for the charity his father's cophone
I takethepresentsandleandowntounbuckleGrayer's togglecoat
”Justine said so about cookies in the conferenceroom Why don't you take Grayer down there? I have to take this call and then I'll join you,” Mr X instructs, his hand over the mouthpiece Mrs X drops her mink on the couch and we file back out toward the sound of Christ froarplureensuitwith redholly-berry trimandmistletoe buttons To top it off, the heels of her shoes are lobes with a reindeer in one and Santa in the other I arateful not to be dressed up as Frosty the Snowrand smile she pushes the doors open into the conference roole of wo a tin of cookies and playing Alvin andtheChip for the Christ short at the head of the table
”Would you like a cookie? Irobust woscalls back
”Oh”Mrs Xseeain, narrowly osteps in tojoinour cluster She littleinationthanherHalloweencostume did
”I heardtherewere cookies,”shesaysas asturdy-looking brunettecoainstthetable
”Mrs X,”thebrunettesays,slightlyoutofbreath
”Justine,MerryChristreets her
”Hi,MerryChristetsoosht here” She walks over to the chrooseewhat's takingthewith thosenumbers?”
”Are yousureyoudon't wanttocooraisesaneyebrow andJustinewalksslowlybackoutthedoubledoors
”Are weearly?” Mrs X inquires
”Earlyforwhat?” Ms Chicagoasks, pouringtwocupsofcoffee
”Forthefamily Christmas party”
”That's next week'hs,handingthe coffee to her Grayer squeezes past Ms Chicago's exposed knees, swaggering down to the other end of thetabletothesecretariesoutof acookie
Mrs X staottenthedatesconfused”
”Men,”Ms Chicagosnorts
Mrs X shi+ftstheStyrofoamcuptoherlefthand ”I'osobranch”
”Oh,”Mrs Xsays, ”nice toet to your dinner party heard it was lovely Unfortunately,that slave-driver husband of yours insisted I hightail it back to Illinois” She tilts her head to the side and ss wereadorable?everyonejustloves thepens”
”Oh, good” Mrs X raises her hand protectively to her collarbone ”You ith Grayer pickouttheperfectreindeercookie on the Midwest Mutual er Isn't it awful? Well, I'm sure you know”
”Truly,”Mrs Xsays, buthervoice rises,betrayingher uncertainty
”Getting theht percent was such a coup You hts over that one,” she says, shaking her titian hair in sympathy ”But I told him if we push the sell date up and savethehtover”
Mrs X stands very straight, her hand clenched tightly around the Styrofoaostruts to our end of the table, her lizard-skin pumps silenton theplush carpet ”Andyou're Grayer Doyouremember me?” shebendsdowntoinquire
Grayer places her ”You don't wearpants” Oh,sweet Jesus
Just then the door opens and Mr X strides in, his broad fra in the doorway ”Ed Strauss is onthephone ewantstogoover thecontract,” hecalls downthetabletoMs Chicago
”Fine,” she says, s, as she walks slowly back up the room past Mrs X ”Merry Christmas, everybody”asshereaches Mr X sheadds, ”It wassolovely tofinallymeet yourfamily”
Hisjaw clenched, Mr Xcloses thedoorswiftly behindthem