Read Online Jolly Dead St. Nicholas by Carol A. Guy - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Carol A. Guy
Ads: Link
until we open.” Adelaide took out her key and led Tina to the basement door off the kitchen. On the other side she could hear muted conversations. The cooks were already here, of course, probably had been for an hour or more. Besides the box lunches being served today, they had to begin preparing tonight’s dinner, which was sold out.
“Are you eating here tonight?” Adelaide asked Tina.
Tina shook her head. “Can’t. Rudy’s mother is cooking his birthday dinner at her place.”
“What do you hear from Leon?” Adelaide asked. The Engler’s twenty-one year-old son was in the Army, stationed in Germany. Through the years, Adelaide had formed a special bond with Leon, since she began tutoring him in difficult subjects when he was in the second grade. He’d been a bright, eager-to-learn child who had turned into an amazing adult. She’d already mailed his Christmas present a week ago.
“He’s doing fine. We’re a little disappointed he won’t make it home for the holidays, but he’s got leave coming up in March.”
They entered the kitchen amid stares from the workers along with a glare from Zelda Jackson, who again seemed to be in charge. Adelaide quickly shepherded Tina into the social hall. Already, baked goods were visible on the tables in the back. Two choir members, both women with grey hair and rosy cheeks, waved at them. Adelaide told them, “I’m on my way up to the office to get the cash drawers. Be back in a minute.” To Tina, she said, “Go ahead start looking around. Like last year, the merchandise is in the classrooms.”
Adelaide checked the time as she went upstairs. Hopefully either Jerry Hatfield, Carl Henshaw or Reverend Underwood would be here to open the safe in the church office, since they were the only three with the combination. To her relief, the minister was waiting for her at the top of the stairs, money trays stacked in his arms. “I saw you coming up the alley.” He handed her the trays rather abruptly. “I have to make a couple of hospital visits.” He stepped around her and hurried out the front door, allowing the people waiting outside to come in even though it wasn’t time to open.
Feeling somewhat flustered, Adelaide made a beeline for the basement where she quickly handed out the money trays to the workers.
* * * *
By eleven o’clock that morning the church was filled with holiday shoppers. Adelaide was taking her turn at the baked goods table. “These gingham aprons are a nice touch, Ethel. You’re quite the seamstress.”
“I wish everyone felt that way. Zelda Jackson refused to wear one yesterday afternoon. Probably because she didn’t think of it herself,” Ethel snapped.
Today Ethel was wearing a black dress accented by a red blazer. On her feet were black orthopedic shoes.
Adelaide knew Ethel had leg problems, which didn’t surprise her. After all, the woman had worked as a nurse for decades, first in Marietta then at the Crescent Falls Medical Center when it was built in the early 1980s. Long hours on her feet had done some damage. When she retired two years ago at the age of sixty, she’d had some of the varicose veins lasered away but many of the deeper ones remained.
Just as Adelaide finished with a customer, her attention was drawn across the room. In the doorway stood Reverend Douglas Underwood, looking around as though searching for someone in the crowd. Momentarily, Susan Hatfield entered the social hall from the kitchen. She stopped in mid- stride when she spotted the minister. He gave her a short nod of the head, then left. Susan looked around surreptitiously then strode toward the main doorway.
“Can you handle things for a moment, Ethel?” Adelaide asked.
Ethel raised an eyebrow. “I saw that, too.”
“I’ll be right back.” Adelaide stepped out from behind the table, following the preacher and Susan from the social hall.
They were standing in an alcove by the door at the end of the hallway, the one leading
“Are you eating here tonight?” Adelaide asked Tina.
Tina shook her head. “Can’t. Rudy’s mother is cooking his birthday dinner at her place.”
“What do you hear from Leon?” Adelaide asked. The Engler’s twenty-one year-old son was in the Army, stationed in Germany. Through the years, Adelaide had formed a special bond with Leon, since she began tutoring him in difficult subjects when he was in the second grade. He’d been a bright, eager-to-learn child who had turned into an amazing adult. She’d already mailed his Christmas present a week ago.
“He’s doing fine. We’re a little disappointed he won’t make it home for the holidays, but he’s got leave coming up in March.”
They entered the kitchen amid stares from the workers along with a glare from Zelda Jackson, who again seemed to be in charge. Adelaide quickly shepherded Tina into the social hall. Already, baked goods were visible on the tables in the back. Two choir members, both women with grey hair and rosy cheeks, waved at them. Adelaide told them, “I’m on my way up to the office to get the cash drawers. Be back in a minute.” To Tina, she said, “Go ahead start looking around. Like last year, the merchandise is in the classrooms.”
Adelaide checked the time as she went upstairs. Hopefully either Jerry Hatfield, Carl Henshaw or Reverend Underwood would be here to open the safe in the church office, since they were the only three with the combination. To her relief, the minister was waiting for her at the top of the stairs, money trays stacked in his arms. “I saw you coming up the alley.” He handed her the trays rather abruptly. “I have to make a couple of hospital visits.” He stepped around her and hurried out the front door, allowing the people waiting outside to come in even though it wasn’t time to open.
Feeling somewhat flustered, Adelaide made a beeline for the basement where she quickly handed out the money trays to the workers.
* * * *
By eleven o’clock that morning the church was filled with holiday shoppers. Adelaide was taking her turn at the baked goods table. “These gingham aprons are a nice touch, Ethel. You’re quite the seamstress.”
“I wish everyone felt that way. Zelda Jackson refused to wear one yesterday afternoon. Probably because she didn’t think of it herself,” Ethel snapped.
Today Ethel was wearing a black dress accented by a red blazer. On her feet were black orthopedic shoes.
Adelaide knew Ethel had leg problems, which didn’t surprise her. After all, the woman had worked as a nurse for decades, first in Marietta then at the Crescent Falls Medical Center when it was built in the early 1980s. Long hours on her feet had done some damage. When she retired two years ago at the age of sixty, she’d had some of the varicose veins lasered away but many of the deeper ones remained.
Just as Adelaide finished with a customer, her attention was drawn across the room. In the doorway stood Reverend Douglas Underwood, looking around as though searching for someone in the crowd. Momentarily, Susan Hatfield entered the social hall from the kitchen. She stopped in mid- stride when she spotted the minister. He gave her a short nod of the head, then left. Susan looked around surreptitiously then strode toward the main doorway.
“Can you handle things for a moment, Ethel?” Adelaide asked.
Ethel raised an eyebrow. “I saw that, too.”
“I’ll be right back.” Adelaide stepped out from behind the table, following the preacher and Susan from the social hall.
They were standing in an alcove by the door at the end of the hallway, the one leading
Similar Books
