NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: This holiday story was inspired by the movies The Shop Around The Corner and You've Got Mail. The screenplay for The Shop Around The Corner was written by Samson Raphaelson based on the 1937 Hungarian play Parfumerie by Miklós László. You've Got Mail.was written by Nora and Delia Ephron, and it is based on the same 1937 play.
Christian and Heath Slater are the main characters in this one. My OC is in this one as well, and she's married to Justin Bradshaw (Acolytes fame). Hope you enjoy!
DISCLAIMERS: Not mine (except for Anna).
The Lot Across The Street
By Debwood-1999
Chapter One
This is the story of Triple H Trees (the H's stand for Hunter Hearst Helmsley, the owner, as well as for Ho-Ho-Ho, since it's a Christmas tree lot) and the people who work there. It's located in Heartland Valley, a nice-size town in North Carolina about an hour's drive west of Fayetteville, on Reilly Road...in the lot across the street from the IGA grocery store...
It was a clear, bright December morning, and the sun was just rising as Mike Mizanin steered the borrowed truck into the parking space at the tree lot. Even at this early hour, traffic was rather heavy (it was the Monday after Black Friday, after all), but Miz didn't mind. He figured punctuality would be an asset, especially if he wanted to move up from the position he was at—a delivery driver and errand boy.
He climbed out and noticed a familiar curly-headed blonde figure leaning against the side of a Ford F-150 that looked too big for her to drive (it WAS her daily driver, believe it or not!), dressed warmly and listening to an iPod. Holiday music, most likely. Anna had a huge playlist on her iPod that she plugged into the sound system at the lot, providing customers with appropriately festive background music. Sensing the errand boy's presence, the blonde took out her headphones and gave her co-worker an easy smile.
"'Morning, Anna."
Anna Bradshaw waved. She was one of the cashiers on the lot, along with her BFF Trish Stratus. "Good morning, Miz."
"You're always the first one here, Anna."
"Hey, it doesn't hurt to be too early," Anna shrugged, as she put away her iPod and accompanied Miz to the locked entrance to the tree lot. Sure, she married into a wealthy family and didn't need to work, but she worked because it kept her from getting bored. And if she could set a good example and have a good work record, then she'd have something to fall back on in case her husband's energy drink business fell through.
"What's the point?" Miz frowned. "Who sees you? Me. And who sees me? You. What does it get us? Can we give each other a raise? No."
Anna shrugged and glanced over at the truck, noticing the advertising on its side. "Well, what are you doing, driving the company truck? Hunter would have your head."
"Why don't you tell him? It's all right with me. He said I could drive it, anyway." A pause. "You know where I was last night while you and your husband were gallivanting around, doing whatever it is you do?"
"Justin and I were out to dinner at Monty's Steak House for my early birthday. We were not gallivanting around."
"Whatever," Miz snorted. "I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off for Hunter and his wife." Miz's voice became effeminate, a near perfect impression of Mrs. Helmsley that left Anna chuckling. "Miz, can you pick up three twenty pound bags of ice? And then, after I come back, it's Miz, will you please swing by Starbucks and pick up five bags of Christmas Blend Coffee? The Espresso version, because I like my coffee strong. And by the way, Rosa's Restaurant has an order of pies ready for me. Would you be a dear and pick them up for our party tonight?"
"Y'know Miz, if this job fell through, you could always pick up work as an impressionist," chimed in a new voice. Miz and Anna turned to see Trish Stratus climb out of her car. She reached in and pulled out a box labeled Rosa's Family Restaurant. "Thought you guys might want some breakfast. Fresh baked muffins. They're today's flavor, mixed fruit."
"Aahh, the way through a man's heart is through his stomach." Miz took the box of muffins and he and Trish air-kissed.
Anna frowned. "Don't Bogart the muffins, Mizanin. And Trish, good morning."
"Good morning, Sweetie." Trish gave her girlfriend an air kiss as well. "How was dinner last night?"
"Great. Monty's has the best steak in Heartland Valley. Did you get to talk to Lita last night?"
"I did. She's doing much better." Lita was a friend of Anna and Trish's, and she was having some complications with her pregnancy. "She has having something called round ligament pains, so Dr. Nora kept her in the hospital over the weekend as a precaution. On the bright side, she and Glen learned that they're having a baby boy."
"Guess I'll head to Walmart to pick up some blue baby stuff after work. Glen must be over the moon right now. I know he and Lita were trying so hard for so long."
"Who'da thunk that Lita and Glenn would actually get married?" Miz chimed in, taking a muffin and passing the box to the girls. "I mean, Matt and Lita were an item all through high school."
"Yeah, but Lita was a beard," Trish pointed out, taking a muffin.
Miz cocked an eyebrow. "A beard?"
"Matt dated Lita to make it look like he wasn't gay. Of course, I knew he was, I just didn't say anything because I didn't want to embarrass him, or Lita. I think Lita knew it too, but she wanted to stay friends with Matt and Jeff," Trish explained. "Then, after graduation, Matt came out, Lita ended their romance and met and married Glen Jacobs, Matt met Chris Irvine, and the rest, as they say, is history."
"Oh, speaking of Chris," Anna chimed in, fumbling in her coat pocket and pulling out a CD labeled Fozzy Demos to hand to Trish. "I ripped the music off of this and put it on my new iPod. Can you give this to Jeff when he shows up."
"Fozzy? Anna, this is Chris's band. Why don't you give this to Chris if you see him again? You borrowed it from him, didn't you?"
"Because if I give it to you, you'll give it to Jeff, he'll give it to Matt, and he'll give it back to Chris."
"Whatever," Trish sighed, pocketing the CD. "And did I hear you say new iPod?"
"iPod touch. 64 gig. My birthday present from Justin." Anna couldn't stop the smile from tweaking across her face. "The way to my heart is with technology."
"Was that what you were listening to when I pulled into the lot?" Miz wondered, nibbling on his muffin.
"Sure was. I'll plug it into the speakers. All my holiday stuff is on it," Anna said, just as two more vehicles pulled into the lot. She recognized the black truck as Jeff's; no doubt his brother was riding into work with him. The other was a dark blue Suburban that looked right at home amid the trucks and older model vehicles. "It's the Brothers Hardy! Morning! We got muffins!"
"Good morning!" Jeff was the first one over. He was dressed in red and green and had a elf collar around his neck. His long blonde hair was streaked bright red and green to match the outfit. He looked like a psychedelic elf, and Hunter would have demanded that he change into something more conservative if he didn't bring in so many customers. "Matty! Trish brought muffins from Rosa's!"
"Let me lock the truck up."
"Matty, you're gonna be driving around all day. You don't need to lock the truck yet. Besides, I have the keys."
Matt facepalmed and wove his way over to the small group. "G'morning all." Matt was a man of few words, but he was always polite. "Rosa's, huh? What flavor?"
"Mixed fruit." Trish passed out two more muffins. "Oh, before I forget...Jeff." She handed the younger Hardy brother the CD.
"Thank you." Jeff turned to his brother. "Matty, here's Chris's CD."
"I'll have to put this in the truck so I don't forget. I'll be back." Matt made his way quietly to the truck, and Anna shot Trish a look that said, Told you so.
"That must have been pretty expensive," Miz remarked, gazing at Anna's birthday gift.
"It was," Anna nodded. "I wrestled with the idea of picking it up for myself. I was in Walmart on Friday, and told myself, Anna, that's too expensive, but then I remembered who I was married to. Money's no object for him. Then I thought, You don't need a 64 gig i-touch. What you've got is big enough-"
"And then Justin up and bought it for you. Problem solved."
"Trying to be clever again, Mizzie?" snarked a new voice.
"Shut up, Jay!" Miz barked back, but with a twinkle in his eye and a lopsided grin.
"Good morning, everyone!" Jay Reso was one of Hunter's oldest employees; he'd started back when Triple H Trees was just an idea. He'd been a delivery driver and errand boy like Miz, but his blonde good looks and bulldog tenacity made him a natural as a salesman. His longevity had earned the respect of his co-workers; his easygoing demeanor and sense of humor had earned him quite a few friends.
The Hardy brothers dropped to their knees and bowed comically. "We're not worthy! We're not worthy! We're not worthy!"
"Get up, I'm not that important." Trish offered Jay a muffin, which he politely declined (Trish would save it for him later). "Besides, you look ridiculous on your knees."
Matt was the first one up. Jeff followed suit. "Hi, Jay! How was your evening?"
"It was good." Jay pulled out his wallet and handed Miz a folded-up bill. "Hey Miz, can you go over to the IGA and get me a pack of Tums?"
Miz tilted his head to the side and pocketed the money. "What's the matter? Do you feel well?"
"It's all right. Nothing major." Jay reassured the errand boy, who headed out of the lot and jogged across the street, mindful of the traffic that passed by.
"Good morning, good morning. Good morning."
The lot employees groaned inwardly at the sound of Kurt Angle's voice. He, like Jay, was a tree salesman (and a pretty decent one), but he had the unintentional knack for rubbing people the wrong way. He was a pain in the ass like Miz, but the difference between them was that one was a pain in the ass that the other employees didn't mind having.
"Hi, Kurt," Anna said, politely.
"You guys wanna hear a joke?"
"No."
Kurt shook his head. "What's the matter, folks? Not awake yet? Look at me. I bet I haven't slept half as much as you. To tell you the truth...I had a great time last night."
"We don't want to hear the girl's name," Trish sighed, reluctantly passing Kurt a muffin.
Anna turned to Triple H Tree's top salesman. "Jay, how was the dinner last night?"
Kurt's eyes lit up. "Oh, yeah, that's right. Jay had dinner with the boss last night. How was it? Tell us all about it. Are you a partner now, Jay?"
"Don't be funny. And no, I'm not a partner."
"How was it?" Trish and the others crowded around Jay, curious.
"It was a very nice evening, and I had a great time."
"I bet the food was good," Anna smirked.
"You can imagine."
"Tell me, is it true Mrs. Helmsley had a boob job?" Trish chimed in.
"How could I know that, Trish?"
"What was she wearing last night?"
"A classy and tasteful low-cut blouse."
"Well, she had a boob job," Trish concluded, as Anna nodded in agreement.
"I think Mrs. Helmsley is a very charming woman," Kurt remarked.
"Who said she isn't?" Jeff scowled as he and his brother turned to glare at the cocky salesman.
"And don't try to make something out of it," Matt added. "My brother didn't say Mrs. Helmsley is not charming."
Kurt shrugged. "But I said she is charming. What's wrong with that?"
"So the food was good?" Anna asked Jay.
"Yeah. Helluva spread."
"Were you sitting next to Mrs. Helmsley?" Kurt asked.
"I was. What do you think of that?"
"I bet you were brilliant."
"No, I kept still and tried not to make an ass of myself," Jay answered, as Anna chuckled.
Miz rushed back to the gaggle of employees, handing Jay his change and a small familiar package. "Here's your Tums, Jay."
"Thanks, Miz."
"Tums?" Kurt wondered.
"I had a few too many Swedish meatballs," Jay explained, opening the pack of Tums and popping one into his mouth to chew up and swallow.
"What's the matter? Weren't they any good?"
Jay had had enough of the cocky salesman. "Okay, that's enough, Angle! Just a minute." He gestured for everyone to crowd around him. "Guys, come over. Did you hear. I want you to hear this. Did I make any derogatory remark about the Swedish meatballs?"
"No, not any!" everyone—except for Kurt—answered back. "Not one word!"
"Yeah. I merely said that I had a few too many Swedish meatballs."
"A few too many Swedish meatballs."
"That's right. A few too many Swedish meatballs. Not one word more, and not one less."
The squabbling was interrupted by the arrival of a tall, prominent-nosed blonde man. "Did I just miss something important?"
"Good morning, Mr. Helmsley." Kurt grinned a little too broadly.
"Yes, good morning."
"Good morning." greeted the Brothers Hardy.
"Good morning, Mr. Helmsley," Trish offered him a muffin. Hunter shook his head and saw something in the lot that looked a little odd. "Who put the inflatable Snoopy snow globe out here?"
Anna looked a little sheepish. "I did, Mr. Helmsley. Right before I left last night."
After gazing at the inflatable decoration, Hunter nodded. "I guess it's all right. It looks festive enough."
"Thank you, Mr. Helmsley."
"You're welcome. Hey, Miz."
"Yes, Mr. Helmsley?"
"Can you go over to the IGA and get me a pack of Tums?"
"Sure." Miz pocketed the bill and headed back across the street, watching as Hunter unlocked the main gate and ushered the other employees into the lot. "My work is never done," he sighed to himself.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Another story that's gonna be finished before Christmas. I like the creative spurts because they're therapeutic in a way. My dad passed away on April 1, 2012, and it's feels weird not having him here, but writing keeps me happy and focused, especially during this time. I promise the next chapter will pick up; this one was table-setting more than anything else.
BTW, I was going to put Evan Bourne in this one as the errand boy, but Miz and his personality work a little better, don't you agree?
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