look so serious. Are you okay?”
Oh great, he even looked all caring and compassionate.
“So… I didn't tell you the full truth before.”
His lips thinned, but he didn't say anything merely nodded for her to continue.
“I'm actually not a real assistant.” She bit her lip and rubbed her hands together then stopped. She needed to look cool and professional. That was the only way she could get through this. “I'm actually the list organizer.”
“The list organizer. Like the ‘naughty and nice’ one?”
“Yes, I take the old lists and organize them, so that way, we’ll always have a database backup. I work in the basement of the workshop. I don't really get to see anyone. My job is also to call the executives about a month before just to check-in. But, even then, it's more of a hello and goodbye phone call, not really anything of substance. But, when you reacted the way you did, I saw a way to help you. I'm so sorry I lied to you. I feel terrible. I want you to know I know what to do. You can trust me about that. I know you probably can't trust me with anything else because I lied, but I will help you get through this. I even talked to Santa today, and he wants me to stay and help you. Please, I’m so sorry.”
Justin was silent for so long that she didn't know what to do. Was she just supposed to leave because he was angry? Or, maybe stay and let him yell at her?
Please talk .
“I knew something was off.”
She blinked. What did that mean?
He came up to her, and she held back a flinch. Justin was a good guy. He wouldn’t hit her or anything, right?
He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. She stiffened for a second then let her body do what it wanted to do. It relaxed into him. She inhaled a crisp scent that was just him and held back a sigh. He was so strong, so manly. Was it wrong that she just wanted to stay in his arms for just a little while longer? Like maybe twenty to thirty more years?
He didn't say anything for another few minutes; he just held her. Reluctantly, she pulled back so she could stare up at him.
“Justin, not that I don't like it, and that’s not to say I do like it, but why are you hugging me?”
He looked down at her and smiled. “I just felt like doing it. Everything will be okay. I knew something was off when you looked so guilty yesterday. But, for some reason, I trust you. So, let's start off fresh, and you can tell me all about what I need to do today. Because I'm just a little bit nervous.” He squeezed her, and she squeezed back. She could get used to this. Not that she would.
He pulled back and got his coat, looking embarrassed. Well, he could join her in the embarrassment category. She didn't think long hugs were a job requirement, but it sure was nice.
“I'll drive if that's okay,” Justin said as he tugged her hat over her head. She didn't know why he did that, but she was starting to crave his touch. Not a good thing. “I know you live up at the North Pole, and all but I know these roads a little bit better.”
“Okay, that's fine with me.”
They shuffled out to the car, and he even opened the door for her, closing it after he made sure she'd settled in. As they drove toward the orphanage, Justin kept his eyes on the road, but kept the conversation up. They talked about their childhoods and his job as a principal. She could tell from the way he smiled and grew animated how much he loved his job, even if she knew that he somehow doubted his reasons for accepting the job in the first place.
When they got to the orphanage, all the kids stared at them, their eyes wide. Some looked as if they were happy to see new people while others shielded themselves, not wanting to get their hopes up. Luckily, the administrators had explained to the kids that Rina and Justin were just volunteers, not a couple looking to adopt. It broke her heart just thinking about these kids being alone on Christmas. Maybe through Justin, and even her help, they could
Oh great, he even looked all caring and compassionate.
“So… I didn't tell you the full truth before.”
His lips thinned, but he didn't say anything merely nodded for her to continue.
“I'm actually not a real assistant.” She bit her lip and rubbed her hands together then stopped. She needed to look cool and professional. That was the only way she could get through this. “I'm actually the list organizer.”
“The list organizer. Like the ‘naughty and nice’ one?”
“Yes, I take the old lists and organize them, so that way, we’ll always have a database backup. I work in the basement of the workshop. I don't really get to see anyone. My job is also to call the executives about a month before just to check-in. But, even then, it's more of a hello and goodbye phone call, not really anything of substance. But, when you reacted the way you did, I saw a way to help you. I'm so sorry I lied to you. I feel terrible. I want you to know I know what to do. You can trust me about that. I know you probably can't trust me with anything else because I lied, but I will help you get through this. I even talked to Santa today, and he wants me to stay and help you. Please, I’m so sorry.”
Justin was silent for so long that she didn't know what to do. Was she just supposed to leave because he was angry? Or, maybe stay and let him yell at her?
Please talk .
“I knew something was off.”
She blinked. What did that mean?
He came up to her, and she held back a flinch. Justin was a good guy. He wouldn’t hit her or anything, right?
He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. She stiffened for a second then let her body do what it wanted to do. It relaxed into him. She inhaled a crisp scent that was just him and held back a sigh. He was so strong, so manly. Was it wrong that she just wanted to stay in his arms for just a little while longer? Like maybe twenty to thirty more years?
He didn't say anything for another few minutes; he just held her. Reluctantly, she pulled back so she could stare up at him.
“Justin, not that I don't like it, and that’s not to say I do like it, but why are you hugging me?”
He looked down at her and smiled. “I just felt like doing it. Everything will be okay. I knew something was off when you looked so guilty yesterday. But, for some reason, I trust you. So, let's start off fresh, and you can tell me all about what I need to do today. Because I'm just a little bit nervous.” He squeezed her, and she squeezed back. She could get used to this. Not that she would.
He pulled back and got his coat, looking embarrassed. Well, he could join her in the embarrassment category. She didn't think long hugs were a job requirement, but it sure was nice.
“I'll drive if that's okay,” Justin said as he tugged her hat over her head. She didn't know why he did that, but she was starting to crave his touch. Not a good thing. “I know you live up at the North Pole, and all but I know these roads a little bit better.”
“Okay, that's fine with me.”
They shuffled out to the car, and he even opened the door for her, closing it after he made sure she'd settled in. As they drove toward the orphanage, Justin kept his eyes on the road, but kept the conversation up. They talked about their childhoods and his job as a principal. She could tell from the way he smiled and grew animated how much he loved his job, even if she knew that he somehow doubted his reasons for accepting the job in the first place.
When they got to the orphanage, all the kids stared at them, their eyes wide. Some looked as if they were happy to see new people while others shielded themselves, not wanting to get their hopes up. Luckily, the administrators had explained to the kids that Rina and Justin were just volunteers, not a couple looking to adopt. It broke her heart just thinking about these kids being alone on Christmas. Maybe through Justin, and even her help, they could
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