Sleigh Bells - Fern Michaels Page 0,9
with the help of her daughter, she could return the favor. How that would come about, she had no clue. Well, she thought briskly, I can think about that while I’m having my therapy. Perhaps thinking about Angus will help to alleviate the pain of therapy.
By nine o’clock Eva had finished her therapy, eaten a light breakfast, and showered before she slowly made her way to the sunroom, where she flopped down on a chair, her forehead beaded with perspiration from her efforts. She could hardly wait for Angie and the delicious coffee she was addicted to. Not to mention the donuts.
Eva looked around, acknowledging the other patients who were waiting for their turn in the therapy room. There was no sign of Angus. She didn’t know if that was a good thing or not. She leaned back and closed her eyes, her thoughts going in all directions.
Fifteen minutes later, Eva’s eyes popped open when she felt a light touch to her shoulder. “Morning, Mom. Did you have a good night?”
“I did have a good night. Angie, I need to talk to you. Pass out your donuts and coffee and hurry back here.” Seeing the alarm on her daughter’s face, she hastened to add, “It’s not about me. I’m fine. Hurry, Angie.”
A few minutes later, worry lines were etched on Angie’s face as she settled herself next to her mother. She shook her head when her mother offered her a jelly-filled donut. “What? Tell me, Mom.”
“It’s the store, Angie. Angus and I spoke last night after you left. When I woke up this morning, he was standing in my doorway waiting for me to wake up. It’s not good, Angie. Let me tell it all to you the way Angus told it to me. Don’t interrupt me, either.”
Angie listened, her facial expressions going from anger to disbelief to sadness. When her mother finished, the only thing she could think of to say was, “We can’t let that happen, Mom. Eagle’s is an institution. We can renegotiate the lease. Oh, God, I need to think about this. I thought Angus Eagle was a nice man. How could he have sabotaged his son like that? I feel terrible about the way I treated Josh. I need to give Mr. Eagle a piece of my mind.”
“You need to do no such thing. What you will do is give Angus a ride home. He’s finished with his therapy today and was going to call a car service. I volunteered your services, dear. You can talk to him on the way home.”
“Mommmm!”
“Sweetie, we’re all in this together. I don’t want Angus to lose his son, and that’s what will happen. Both of them have too much pride to admit when they’re wrong. Because we’re women, we can fix that. At least I think we can. All right, we’re going to try to fix things. All those wonderful suggestions you had over the years might come in handy now. All you have to do is get Josh to think they’re his ideas.”
“Mom, you can’t undo years of being in the red in a few short months. Yes, profits are greater during the holiday season, but that alone can’t ward off the inevitable.”
“I’ll settle for a reprieve. For now, the gift wrap department belongs to Eagle’s. We’ll take 20 percent and the store takes 80 percent. This is just for now. I’ll call our lawyer today to discuss it. We have two short months to turn things around before the shopping season begins.”
Angie offered up a bitter laugh. “Mom, Eagle’s merchandise is archaic. Where can they get new stuff in two months?”
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Think about something people can’t do without. Then stock up on that. Fire sales, get rid of the junk they’re stuck with or donate it somewhere. Get some glitter and sparkle in there. I know you’ll come up with something, dear.”
“Mom! When was the last time you experienced a miracle? That’s what it’s going to take to get Eagle’s to soar again. I’m not…I don’t think…”
“I don’t want to hear anything negative. From here on in, we think positive. I know we can at least get it off the ground. If we can do that, then it’s up to Josh to follow through. Now run along and pick up Angus and take him home. He is a nice man, Angie. He just didn’t know how to let go, and he didn’t trust his son enough to let him run