Bright Lights, Big Christmas(28)

“But … but … you already paid me,” Kerry babbled.

“That was before I saw the finished product. And, take a piece of advice from someone who’s been in business for herself for a very long time. Never argue with a customer who wants to pay you what you’re worth. Too many women undervalue themselves.”

Susannah jumped back into the sedan and it rolled away. Kerry unfolded the bills. There were five twenty-dollar bills. Not a bad start for the morning.

In the next hour, she sold three more trees, all to customers who either promised to return to pick up their purchase after returning from brunch, or who wanted their trees delivered.

Still no sign of Murphy. She should have been annoyed, but then, she decided, why shouldn’t he have a night off? Especially when it involved a sleepover with the glamorous Claudia.

She got out her drawing pad and pencils and began to sketch, placing Queenie in the middle of the page, with the pigeons, looking like fussy old ladies, bobbing and pecking around her. On a whim, she pulled out colored pencils and began sketching in the Christmas tree lot, adding a border enclosing Spammy, the dog, and the pigeons with a semicircle of trees. She drew in the Tolliver Family Christmas tree sign festooned with a big red bow.

When she looked up from her work she saw a stooped figure in a long black coat slowly making his way down the sidewalk. Queenie got up and walked over to him, sniffling at the old man’s coat.

“She’s a smart girl, this one,” Heinz chuckled, pointing at her worktable. “So, what are you working on today?”

“Nothing, really,” she said.

“Will you let me see?”

Kerry shrugged and opened the sketchbook to this morning’s drawing. He put on a pair of spectacles and studied her work.

“It’s just a doodle,” Kerry said. “Not even a doodle.”

“No, no. I quite like it,” Heinz said. He turned to the page with the drawing of Queenie. “I like the expression on Queenie’s face while she watches the pigeons. You’re quite good with animals, you know. But tell me, how does all this fit into our story?”

“Our story?” Kerry raised an eyebrow.

“Certainly.” He stuffed his hand into his coat pocket and brought out a single dog biscuit. He extended his hand, palm out. Queenie crept closer, crouched, and after a moment, delicately swept the biscuit into her mouth with her tongue.

“Good girl,” Heinz said. He looked around the stand.

“Where is our young friend today?”

“It’s his mom’s week to stay with him, so I sort of doubt he’ll be hanging out here.”

She leaned in and lowered her voice. “I don’t think Gretchen approves of me.”

“Gretchen? The brunette?” He snorted. “She crosses the street when she sees me. Like I have something contagious. I don’t think she approves of me, either. So, you are in good company. And that reminds me. I don’t believe I know your name, young lady.”

“I’m Kerry,” she said, smiling. “Kerry Tolliver.”





chapter 20





Kerry had just sold a tree to the Moodys, a middle-aged couple whom she’d met the night before at the Christmas party, when Murphy came limping into the stand with his dobro tucked under his arm.

He wore only one shoe. His hair was wild, he was bleary-eyed, and his shirt was untucked and half unbuttoned.

“Hey, Debra, hey, Dale,” he said, giving a half-hearted nod to the customers.

“Morning, Murphy,” Debra Moody said. “We sure enjoyed your music last night.” Murphy gave a wan smile in return, then he slumped down onto his chair and sighed.

“Jesus, Murphy,” Kerry said after the Moodys walked away, “what happened? You look like you got hit by a truck. Or mugged. Or both.”

“I feel like I got hit by a truck full of muggers,” he moaned, massaging his forehead.

“I mean, it’s none of my business, but what did you and Claudia get up to last night?”

“Me and Claudia?” He opened one bloodshot eye. “Nothing. I wasn’t with her.”

“But I thought … the way you two were cuddling in the corner…”

“Nah. Get your mind out of the gutter, Kerry. I walked her back to her place, then I headed over to Augie’s Pub to play darts. Some guys I know turned up, and they begged me to play my dobro … and pretty soon it was after three, and I didn’t want to wake you up, so I just spent the night there.”

“In a bar?” She leaned over and sniffed her brother. He did indeed smell like beer. And barf.

“Well, on a couch down in the basement.” He shivered. “Kinda cold, ain’t it?”

“I guess so. What happened to your jacket? And your other shoe?”

“Damned if I know.”

Kerry tried to tamp down her mounting annoyance. She pointed at the stack of Christmas trees with SOLD tags attached. “You’ve got a bunch of deliveries to make. And I promised everyone they’d get their trees today.”

Murphy wiped his nose on the sleeve of his borrowed shirt. “I got it covered.” He looked up and nodded. “Here comes my helper now.”

A kid coasted toward them in the bike lane on a bright yellow twelve-speed bike. He had a wagon rigged to the back of the bike, and an eager smile.