Weeredfrenchie provided me with some marvelous prompts for the Andith Secret Santa exchange. Although I've already posted one fic based on her prompts, another of her prompts, the joy or not of working in retail, kept churning in my brain and inspired this little story. I'm thinking the chapters will be short but we'll see.
Merry Christmas!
Edith Crawley wasn't sure whether she wanted to scream or cry. Probably both she decided. Her feet were aching, her mind was frazzled, and her entire shift had consisted of having to deal with one irate customer after another. Working retail was never the most pleasant job under any circumstances but especially not during the holidays. And now, as the final hours and minutes of the last few shopping days before Christmas counted down, it was absolute murder. People who had procastinated until the last moment, those who were stressed because they'd maxed out their credit, folks simply tired of being bombarded by seasonal music and displays or those disgusted by the fact that commercialism had overtaken the true spirit of the season; whatever the reason, most everyone was being extremely rude!
"I can take the next guest" she called, trying to get the attention of a fellow who was preoccupied with his smartphone. Oh how she wished management could post a sign saying customers would not be served while using cell phones or something to that effect.
As the line slowly moved forward and Edith dealt with one disgruntled shopper after another, she couldn't help but smile when she spied a familiar head of blonde hair towering above everyone else. Anthony Strallan was his name. If only every customer was as well mannered as he, this job might actually be enjoyable. He was polite to all employees, genuinely interested in how a cashier's day had been, had a charming crooked grin, and dear lord, the bluest eyes, Edith had ever seen. He was at least twenty years older than her but Edith was unable to stop her growing attraction to the gentleman. The redhead wasn't entirely certain but it seemed as though, recently, he deliberately maneuvered his postion in line so that she might wait on him. Probably just wishful thinking on your part, silly girl. Although they did seem to have much to talk about whether it be books, music, politics, or art. Anthony had also taken an interest in Edith's dream of becoming a writer and unlike most everyone in her family, he offered the young lady words of encouragement rather than negative insults. He'd even asked if she might allow him the privilege of reading the novel she'd recently completed. And so she'd agreed, albeit, a bit reluctantly. The man was rather persuasive, she thought. It suddenly occurred to Miss Crawley, that when it came to Anthony Strallan, she could probably be persuaded to do most anything!
Anthony glanced up and Edith felt herself blush, knowing the tall blonde had caught her staring at him. The left corner of his lip rose awkwardly into a half smile, causing that nervous fluttering in the young woman's tummy which occurred whenever he flashed that now familiar crooked grin in her direction. His bright blue eyes sparkling with mirth, the older gentleman then did something completely unexpected, he winked at her! Feeling her knees buckle, the strawberry blonde grasped the counter to steady herself and dipped her head to hide her flaming cheeks. If this is what love does to a person, she thought, heaven help me, I'm in trouble.