Chapter Eight

After Hunter's breakdown and Jay's promotion, Triple H Trees continued to see brisk business. The trees continued to sell well, and the morale among the employees improved drastically. Heath and Jay got along much better. Jay, of course, made no mention of the disastrous date at Monty's, and Heath didn't bring it up.

Kurt was never seen at the lot again. Word on the street was that he'd moved out of town with the former Stephanie Helmsley. Speaking of which...Hunter filed for divorce from his wife, and a court issued gag order prevented word of the divorce from going public.

Miz found his replacement in a young man named Randy Orton. Randy was a sports medicine student over at Blakely College, and he'd just moved to Heartland Valley to continue his studies on a scholarship. Randy needed the money, and by working as a delivery driver and errand boy, he made good money and got familiar with his new surroundings quickly. Miz had the kid under a microscope, but he did it because he knew the kid had potential, and he genuinely wanted Randy to succeed.

Finally, Christmas Eve day rolled around, the lot was jumping, and there was a certain magic in the air. Miz had just gotten off the phone with Hunter, and Hunter had great news. He was doing much better, and he was convalescing at home after being released from the hospital. The last shipment of trees were selling briskly, and the delivery drivers were out full force. Everyone, except for Randy, who had just ducked in to grab a cup of coffee and wolf down the muffin that he'd been graciously given earlier. So naturally, Miz felt it necessary to motivate his successor...

"Randy!"

"Yes, Miz?" Randy tossed his empty cup into the trash.

"Do you know what time it is?"

"A few minutes after ten."

Miz cocked an eyebrow. "And you're still here?" he questioned. His voice was kind, but firm. "Randy, you're doing a bang-up job out there, but you have to be faster, especially on Christmas Eve." He passed the rookie driver a slip of paper with addresses and delivery information. "Everyone's running around like chickens with their heads cut off, trying to get their holiday preparations together. And you have to make sure that everyone gets their trees delivered as soon as possible. So you need to step it up a little, okay?"

"Okay, sure."

Miz gave Randy a friendly slap on the back. "But don't go breaking speed limits. Last thing we need is for you to get into a wreck on Christmas Eve."

Randy got in his truck, which had already been loaded with trees, and pulled easily out into traffic. Once he left, Miz gathered the remaining employees together. "All right. Okay, everyone. I have great news. I talked to Hunter this morning, and he's doing great! He's been resting at home, and he sends everyone his appreciation."

Anna smiled. "That's wonderful! Can we visit him?"

Trish suggested, "Let's all get together and buy him a nice Christmas present. Maybe a nice Christmas gift basket."

Jay shook his head. "That's all very nice, but the best present we could give him is a bare-looking tree lot with nothing in it except money in the cash register." The employees groaned. "Now, come on, guys! Let's make this the biggest Christmas Eve day in the history of Triple H Trees."

Miz clapped his hands. He was quite enjoying his job as salesman, and liked interacting with potential customers. "No use standing here then. Let's go kick some holiday butt."

The employees went back to work, but Jay noticed that someone was missing from their impromptu meeting. "Where's Heath?"

Jay searched around the lot for him and found him opening up a box. "Sorry, I was just getting the last set of stands up. Jay, what is it?"

"How are you today?"

"I'm good, thanks."

Jay's smile was genuine. "Glad to hear it. We're expecting terrific business today. It's going to be tough, but don't overdo it."

"No problem. If I need a breather, you'll be the first to know."

~~~TLATS~~~

Later, Anna and Heath were busy setting out the last of the wreath kits. "Anna, can you keep a secret?"

Anna grinned. "I can take a secret to the grave. Okay Heath...spill."

"When I come back Monday, I might have a ring on my finger. Maybe, you never know."

"What?" It took a moment for Heath's words to register. "You're might get engaged? That's wonderful! And that's with the man you're conversing with online, right?"

"Yeah. He and I worked things out."

"I'm so glad. It's nice to see you so happy. You and your friend, you have any plans tonight?"

"We're gonna be spending Christmas Eve together. How about you?"

"Justin and I are gonna be spending Christmas Eve together, too. Tomorrow, we're gonna have family coming in for the weekend. We already have it planned. We're going to the Centre Stage Playhouse, and then have dinner at Lander's."

"Sounds like fun."

"We planned it out like that intentionally. This way, nobody has to cook, and our families still have a chance to get together and do something fun. No muss, no fuss. Besides, our house isn't big enough for everyone, so our guests either had to get hotel rooms or head out the same night. Justin pulled a few strings with a friend over at the Park Hotel, so they'll be staying over in comfort for a couple of days."

The two of them worked in companionable silence, and then Heath asked, "Anna, I need some help. If you were in my shoes, what would you give a potential husband for Christmas?"

"Well, I gave Justin an engraved money clip three years ago. He uses it all the time, still. Hmmm...how about, uhm...a wallet? You can swing by Walmart and pick up a really nice one. Genuine leather, too."

"That's what I was thinking of."

"You can't miss with a wallet. If Justin got one, he'd be very, very happy. I'm gonna get him a new one when we start our family. You see, on one side, I'll put a picture of me. And on the other side, a picture of our baby. So when he opens it, it'll have everything he needs. No missing ribbons, or gift cards, or wires."

"Thanks, Anna! That's a great idea!" Heath exclaimed happily, before calling Randy on his cell. "Hey, Randy. It's Heath. You think you can swing by Walmart and pick up a wallet..."

Anna set out another cellophane wrapped kit. "Jay," she said to herself. "You're getting a wallet."

~~~TLATS~~~

Later, in the south corner of the lot, where the small trees were...

"Do you think Eric would like that tree in the dining room?" asked one warmly bundled shopper to another.

"I don't know. I'm not so sure."

A tall man with blonde hair and a big nose approached the two shoppers. "Hi, ladies. I can't see very well without my glasses. Could you tell me the price on that small Nordman?"

"$19.95."

The blonde smiled. "That's a really good deal. I wonder how Triple H Trees can do it."

"If you don't know, Hunter, then you're hopeless?"

Hunter turned around so quickly, he nearly stumbled into the tree. "Aww, Jay!" he laughed. "You blew my cover!"

Jay was beaming. His boss looked more relaxed and at ease, and a genuine smile was on his face. "Hunter, what are you doing here? When'd you show up?"

"Half an hour ago. The lot's so crowded, I could slip in without being noticed. I'm supposed to be taking a leave of absence, but it's Christmas Eve, and I couldn't stay away any longer. Can you imagine me, over a week in the hospital...without seeing a single customer? And they expect me to get well?"

Jay laughed and gestured towards the throngs of last-minute tree shoppers. "Well, we have no shortage of customers today."

"Good. This is what I was hoping to see."

"Hunter, take it easy. Don't overdo it. We wouldn't want you having a setback."

"I'm not, I came around to see if the tree lot is still here. Apparently, it's still standing." Hunter paused. "Jay, you haven't completely taken over my office, have you?"

Jay shrugged. "I tried, but it wouldn't be the same. It's not Triple H Trees without you."

"Glad to hear that I haven't been completely replaced. Listen, I'm gonna slip into the office for a half-hour or so. I just have something I wanna work on before the end of the day."

"Do whatever you need to. Merry Christmas, Hunter."

"Same to you, Jay."

~~~TLATS~~~

When 6 pm rolled around, the last customer had left for the day, the wreath kits were all sold, and the lot was almost bare. Hunter and his employees were gathered around the cashier's booth.

"What's our grand total?" Jay asked, attempting to peer over Anna to look at the day's receipts.

"Well, we had 120 trees in the lot at the beginning of the day. We have 8 left. At an average price of forty dollars per tree, and at two dollars per mile for mileage out of town, we made nearly $5000 today."

"That's great!" Jay exclaimed, as the lot employees broke into applause.

"That's the biggest single day total since '06," Hunter said, happily. "You should be very proud." He paused. "I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Two hours ago when I walked in here, I was a sick man. But you, Jay, and you, Anna, you're the best doctors. And you, Heath and Trish, and Matt and Jeff...you're great nurses."

"Thank you." they all replied.

Hunter fixed his eyes on Miz. "Miz, you know how I feel about you."

"I'm a pain in the ass, aren't I?" Miz glanced down sheepishly.

"Yeah, you are..." Hunter paused, and then grinned and slapped the kid on the shoulder. "But I wouldn't get rid of you for the world."

"Thanks," Miz smiled, genuinely touched.

"First off, I wanna say thanks for the gift basket you guys sent to my house. That was really thoughtful of you guys. I read your Hallmark card over and over. And it made me very happy that you missed me...and hoped that I'd be coming back home soon again. And you're right, I've spent so much time here, that this is my home away from home."

Hunter removed some envelopes from the inside pocket of his winter coat and began to pass them out. "By the way, no Christmas is complete without a bonus. Jay..."

"Thanks."

"Heath...Miz..."

Thank you, sir.

"Thanks, Hunter."

"My cashiers, Trish...Anna..."

"Thanks!"

"Thank you, Hunter."

"And Matt, Jeff, I've called you both names on several occasions. When you see what's in these envelopes, you'll know that I didn't mean it."

"Thank you, Hunter."

"Thanks, Hunter! "

"I guess that's about all...here, there's one more envelope here. You're Miz's replacement, Randy, right?"

"Yes, sir."

"And he's a good kid, hard worker," Miz smiled, patting the rookie on the back.

"Well, Randy. I think this envelope's for you. Good job out there."

"Thank you, Mr. Helmsley."

"It's all right, Randy. Call me Hunter."

Miz glanced over at the check Randy was holding. "Not bad for a couple of weeks work, Kid," he said under his breath.

"We'll leave the tree lot just as it is until after Christmas," announced Hunter. "We'll call the tree recycler place, they'll make sure these trees are put to good use as mulch for next year. In the meantime. I want you all to go home now and have a very Merry Christmas."

"Thank you," everyone said, as they filed out. Jay and Hunter were the only ones left near the booth.

"Well, Jay, almost five grand of sales in a day. That's fantastic. Thanks for your hard work."

"I know you'd do the same for me, Hunter. It was a pleasure."

"Well, I think I'll have a...little dinner now, and celebrate Christmas. Have you ever been to Lander's?"

"No sir, I'm afraid that's a little pricier than I'm used to."

"Oh, hell. Christmas only comes once a year. How about joining me, and we can catch up and have a nice Christmas feast."

"Hunter, that sounds great, but..."

"You have another engagement?"

"Yeah. I do. I'll take a raincheck, though."

"Hey, that's cool. I wanted to be sure that you weren't gonna be a Christmas orphan. Have a wonderful time, and Merry Christmas."

"Same to you, Hunter," Jay grinned and went to get his things from the office.

Anna and Trish were the next ones Hunter encountered. "Anna, I guess you're going to have a nice party at your house tonight."

"I am."

"Who's on the guest list?"

"Just Justin and me. That's all we want, and we are very happy. Of course, until the in-laws show up tomorrow."

"Bet that's gonna be a madhouse."

"Actually, it won't. We have a game plan. We're all going to see White Christmas at the Centre Stage Playhouse."

"Oh, yeah. The original Broadway cast, huh?"

"That's the one. Then we're going to Lander's for dinner. No muss, no fuss, and the only thing Justin and I had to make were reservations."

"Well, smart idea. Merry Christmas."

"Thanks, and Merry Christmas, Hunter."

"Merry Christmas, Hunter."

"Thank you, Trish. Tell Lita and Glen I said hi. Hope they got the baby gift basket."

"I'm sure they did. Thanks."

A few more minutes passed, and then Miz punched Hunter playfully on the arm. "Still hanging around the tree lot, Hunter?"

"Can't get away from here. You'd better hurry home, Miz. You're probably celebrating Christmas with your family,"

"Not this year."

"So I'm wrong?"

"Yes, Hunter." Miz pointed to a young woman standing by a street lamp. "See that cute blonde girl over there in the parking lot, in the red BMW?"

"Yeah."

Miz winked. "Her name's Maryse. She's a French exchange student, and I'm her Santa Claus. Good night, Hunter."

"Good night, Mizzie," Hunter chuckled, as the lot's resident pain-in-the-ass practically skipped over to Maryse's car. "And thanks again."

The Hardy's were the next ones out. "Matt, Jeff, have a great Christmas. And say hi to Chris for me."

"We will! Merry Christmas."

Hunter watched his employees drive out of the lot. Jay would probably be the last one out and would make sure the place was locked up before taking off for the night. Heath was nowhere to be seen, and he assumed that he'd already left.

"Hunter, I don't know how to thank you for that bonus."

The tree lot owner turned around and smiled. Randy, the new kid, was leaning against the cashier's booth. "You're still here."

"Yeah. I wanted to thank you. That was really generous of you. After all, I'm only working here a short time, and then I'm going back to school."

"That's all right. So, Randy. How old are you?"

"I'm twenty."

"That's a good age. You've got your whole life ahead of you. It's up to you what you make of it."

"Yes, sir."

"You better not squander that money. Go home and give it to your mom."

"I just moved here a couple weeks ago. My family's out of town. I'm here on scholarship. I'm studying sports medicine at Blakely College."

"Is that so? Have you no other relatives here?"

"No, Hunter. "

"You're all alone on Christmas Eve?"

Randy shrugged. "That's right."

Hunter nodded, and then he was struck with a great idea. "Randy, do you like chicken noodle soup?"

"I certainly do."

"And what would you think of roast goose stuffed with baked apples?" Hunter put a fatherly arm across Randy's shoulder. "And fresh mashed potatoes and butter and some red cabbage on the side?"

"I'd love it!"

"And then cucumber salad with sour cream? Then a double order of apple strudel with vanilla ice cream for dessert."

Randy was smiling in excitement. "Sounds wonderful!"

"You're going to have it, Randy. I'm taking you to Lander's for dinner. They've got an all you can eat Christmas buffet." Afterwards, you and my neighbors from next door can watch sappy Christmas movies on my new entertainment center. One of my neighbors, the Barretts, has a son about your age. I think you might like him, he's a pretty nice kid. Go get your truck, and you can follow me there..."

~~~TLATS~~~

"It's really sharp looking," Jay smiled as he set the wallet Heath purchased back in its gift bag. He and Heath were still in the office, and Heath was showing Jay the Christmas gift. "I'm sure your boyfriend'll like it."

"I think so, too."

"Merry Christmas, Heath. I hope it all turns out the way you want it to."

"Thanks, Jay."

"I guess you decided to follow my advice after all."

"I did."

"Heath, I wanna show you something, if that's okay."

"Sure," Heath nodded as Jay took a small velvet box out of the top drawer of Hunter's desk and opened it. A solitaire ring sat in the box; a simple diamond hammer set in a wide band of white gold. "Wow! That's beautiful."

"Why don't you try it on? I'd like to see what it looks like on someone."

"Okay." Heath slipped the ring on his ring finger, admiring the sparkle and fire of the solitaire. "Is that a real diamond?"

Jay gazed over Heath's shoulder. "Half a carat."

"I didn't know you had a boyfriend," Heath sighed, taking the ring off and putting it back into the box.

"Yeah." Jay took the ring box from Heath and stuffed it in his coat pocket. "It probably isn't easy for you to imagine anyone could like a guy like me."

"Aww, come on. Don't start. It's Christmas, and I'd like to be friends. Beside, you're wrong. Do you mind if I tell you something?"

"No, not at all. Let me turn the lights off and lock up. You can talk to me while I do that."

"When I first came to work here, something very strange happened to me. I wound up developing some...personal problems."

"Really."

"Yes. I found myself looking at you again and again. I couldn't take my eyes off of you. I told myself, Heath, what the hell are you doing? This Jay guy's not particularly attractive. I hope you don't take any offense to that."

"None taken. Come on. Walk out with me."

"Now, here comes the bizarre twist. I found myself falling for you."

You could have knocked Jay over with a feather. "No way!"

"Damn straight. And falling for you hard."

Jay shook his head. He and Heath walked through the now bare lot, save for a few scraggly trees that would be recycled. "You certainly didn't show it."

"Especially those first few days. I know you won't misconstrue what I'm going to say to you. After all, I'm happily engaged. At least it looks that way, right?"

"Sure. Go ahead."

"In those first few weeks, there were moments in the lot... when you could have swept me off of my feet."

Jay stared at Heath like he'd just sprouted horns and a tail. "Now I'm getting personal problems."

"I was different, then. I was rather naive. All my knowledge came from books, and I'd just finished a novel about a glamorous French actress from the Comédie Française. That's a theater in France. When she wanted to arouse a man's interest, she treated him like a dog."

"Yes, you treated me like a dog."

"But instead of licking my hand, you barked. My mistake was I didn't realize that the difference between her and me was that she was with the Comédie Française...and I was with Triple H Trees."

"Well, that's all water under the bridge now."

"Now you're going to see your boyfriend, Jay. By the way, is it serious?"

By this time, Jay and Heath were at the now deserted cashier's booth. Jay leaned against the side of the structure. "Yes, very."

"Maybe we'll both be engaged Monday morning."

"I think we will. "

"Don't get me wrong. I just said in my case, it might happen."

"As a matter of fact, I can tell you, it will happen."

"How do you know?" snorted Heath.

"We won't go into that."

"Jay, what do you mean you know?"

A sigh escaped Jay's lips. "Well, I guess I might as well tell you. He came by to see me."

"Who?"

"Your fiancée."

"No!"

"Yes, he came last night," Jay explained, as Heath's jaw dropped in shock. "You shouldn't have told him who I am. I spent an uncomfortable hour. Apparently, he didn't believe it when you wrote that I meant nothing to you."

"I can't get it into my head." Heath backed up a few steps, bewildered. "He...he came to see you? That doesn't sound like him at all."

"I've straightened everything out. You don't have to worry. In a little while you'll be Mr. Slater-Dinsmore."

"Mr...Slater-Dinsmore?"

"That's the name, isn't it? That's the name he gave me."

"Oh, yes, that's right. Dinsmore. Dinsmore."

"A very nice man. Congratulations."

"Thank you. I think he's a very attractive man, don't you?

"Yes. For his type, I'd say yes."

"You would classify him as a definite type?"

"Absolutely! And don't try to change him. Don't put him on a diet."

"Would you call him fat?"

"I wouldn't, but that's a matter of opinion. I think that little stomach of his gives him a nice, homey quality. That's what you want in a husband, isn't it?

"Yes, that's what I want. And you're perfectly right."

"If I had to choose between a young, good-for-nothing...with plenty of hair, and a solid, mature citizen, I'd pick Eugene Dinsmore every time."

"Anyway, he has a fine mind," Heath sighed, looking slightly deflated, but trying gamely to look upbeat. "Didn't he impress you as being charming and witty?"

Jay ushered Heath out of the lot and locked up the gates. "He struck me as rather depressed, but it's unfair to judge a man...when he's unemployed."

"He's unemployed?" Heath squeaked. "He never told me!"

"That shows you how sensitive he is. You have nothing to worry about. He feels that both of you can live very nicely on your salary."

"Did you tell him how much I make?"

"Well," pointed out Jay. "He's your fiancée, and he asked me. When I told him what salary you made, he was a little worried... but then I promised him you'd get a raise, and he felt better about it. Let me tell you, mentioning that bonus didn't do you any harm at all."

Heath went pale, and he looked ready to cry. "This is terrible! I had no idea he was so materialistic. If you could only read his emails. Such ideals, such a lofty point of view. I could quote you passages."

"For instance?"

Heath gathered his composure and said softly, "I'm looking for love. real love. Ridiculous..."

"...inconvenient, consuming, can't live without eachother love." Jay finished. "That's from Sex And The City. Carrie Bradshaw. He stole that."

"All along, I thought I'd inspired him to write those things. And he was just copying words from a TV show. He probably didn't mean any of them. I thought he was The One." Heath had to choke back the lump in his throat.

"I'm sorry you feel this way about it. I'd hate to think I'm spoiling your Christmas."

"I'd built up such an illusion about him."

"And I had to come along and destroy it. I'm really sorry, Heath."

"That's all right. I guess I really ought to thank you." Silence dropped between Heath and Jay, so thick you could slice it.

Jay's heart was racing. It was now or never, and he hoped that Heath would eventually understand why he'd said what he said. He screwed his courage up to the sticking place once more and approached the heartbroken young man. When he spoke again, it was gentle and warm:

"Heath, if I'd only known in the beginning how you felt about me, things would have been much different. We wouldn't have been fighting all the time. If we fought, it wouldn't have been over wreath kits and t-shirts...but over something like which set of parents we would spend the holidays with."

Heath chuckled wryly. "It's sweet of you to try to cheer me up. I think we'd better say good night. You have an engagement and so have l, and we shouldn't be late."

Jay drew closer. "Do you know what I wish would happen, Heath? When your bell rings at 8:30 and you open the door...instead of Eugene, I come in."

"Please, don't make it more difficult for me."

"I'd say, Heath..."

"No, don't do this-" Heath turned his back to Jay, heart aching.

"Heath, I can't stand it any longer. Take your mouse, click on the email icon, open me up..." Jay paused, and then removed his red scarf from his coat pocket. Wrapping it around his neck, he continued, "open me up...and kiss me"

Heath turned around in exasperation. "Jay, you must be..." his voice trailed off in shock as he saw Jay standing in front of him, smiling, holding the velvet box in his hand...and wearing a red scarf around his neck. It took a moment for everything to register.

"No way...You? InstantClassic?"

"You're not disappointed, are you?"

"Y'know. Those personal problems just came back, Jay." Heath paused...and then a slow smile spread across his face. "But this is one personal problem that I don't mind having."

"Oh, Heath!" Jay chuckled, as he slipped the ring on Heath's finger. He wrapped his arms around the bewildered and happy young man and kissed him. It was a sweet kiss that dared nothing, but promised so much more in the future. It was worth every email sent and received, and it was worth the heartache that the two of them had put each other through.

When the two of them pulled away, their eyes were sparkling and their faces were flushed with joy. "Jay, when you came to Monty's that night, I was pretty rude, wasn't I?"

"Oh, no. No. You weren't."

"Yes, I was. Don't you remember? I called you bowlegged and implied that you went commando, and you called me a ginger-headed showoff."

"I was going to prove to you that I didn't go commando. I was going to drop my pants in the middle of the street."

"Would you mind very much if I asked you to drop them now?"

"Hmmm...let's wait a while for that, huh?" Jay put an arm around Heath's waist as the two of them made their way across the parking lot, each of them looking forward to presenting themselves as a couple. "Right now, I think there's a Christmas Buffet at Lander's that's waiting for us..."

THE END

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: WOO-HOO! Finished! Done! Finito! And before Christmas! Anyway, whatever you're all celebrating, I hope it's happy and restful.

REVIEWS = LOVE