“We don’t have anyone else to ask, Avery. Kim and I are already on our way to start preparations at the hotel for the Central Bank’s Christmas Eve party. You know how important that is for us,” explained Jill Copeland, one of the co-owners of Divine Catering.
Avery sighed. She tried to curb the irritation at the untimely interruption but wasn’t successful. Her two friends knew how she hated to have her concentration broken. Worse still, they expected her to drop the intricate wedding cake decoration she was busy with.
“What about Jesse? Can’t he handle it?” she grumbled while concentrating to keep her hand steady as she continued to design a mesh with a thin piping tube around the smallest section of the six-layer wedding cake.
“Avery, come on! You can’t seriously plan on spending Christmas Eve working on that wedding cake? When was the last time you attended one of the parties we cater for?” asked a concerned Kim Langley, the third of the three owners of Divine Catering.
Avery could hear they were on speaker-phone while driving, and defended herself with a short laugh. “Contrary to your beliefs, I do go out now and then.”
She stepped back to critically eye her designs. She smiled with satisfaction as all the finely drawn squares of the mesh were evenly spread.
“Partying with us and going grocery shopping don’t count, Avery. We always personally oversee our key clients, and you know how hard Kim worked to get this contract with Jenning and Lenox Trucking. We can’t afford to piss them off,” Jill censured.
“Stone Jenning’s company? That Jenning and Lenox Trucking?” Avery asked with bated breath.
“The one and only. Didn’t we tell you they signed the contract two weeks ago?” Kim asked, a little surprised by this oversight.
“Humph, like you didn’t know that already,” Avery accused gruffly. “Why did you even take the job if you knew we were so busy?”
“Busy or not, Stone Jenning is someone you don’t say no to in Minneapolis. Besides, at the time we weren’t as inundated with functions. We’ve been swamped over the past week. I’m sorry, Avery, but you’re going to have to jump in and help us out,” Jill explained. “The wedding is a week away and you’re ahead of schedule, as usual.”
Avery sighed heavily. “Very well. Where, what and when?”
“That’s the spirit!” Kim exclaimed. “It’s the Christmas Eve function for their staff. They’ve decided to have it in the barn on his farm.”
“You’re not serious,” Avery said, lowering her face in her hands.
Why the devil did you let them talk you into this, Avery Blaine? It’s Stone Jenning for heaven’s sake!
“I actually think it’s a brilliant idea. The barn is massive and more than big enough to accommodate all their staff with a lot of space as a dancefloor. It’s not too far outside of Minnetonka. It borders on Whaletale Lake just off County Road 110 West. We’ll send you the coordinates. Oh, before I forget, you need to make a couple of Santa cupcakes. Twenty dozen or so,” Jill intoned evenly.
“Twenty dozen! It’s ten in the morning already. Why are you only telling me now? What time does the party start?” Avery queried, already worried about timing.
“He just phoned and asked for it. They’re going to dress up as Santas and hand out presents and cupcakes to all the kids,” Kim explained.
“And I guess you didn’t have the sense to say: No, Mr. Jenning, it’s too late.” Avery snapped irritably. She began walking toward the industrial sized kitchen where she could hear their staff buzzing as they worked.
“Well, no, silly. Stone Jenning, remember?” Kim chuckled as though the mere mention of his name should make Avery jump up and down.
“Yeah, and I guess he called you sweetheart and your panties melted,” Avery grumbled as she pushed through the door into the kitchen.
Kim giggled. “Something like that. He wants to hand out the cupcakes after dinner, which they want served around six, so the little kids are still awake for Santa. You and the team will have to be there around four to set everything up, and to start the dishes they can’t prepare in advance. Don’t worry,” Kim continued quickly, preventing another chilled response from Avery, “It’s not a very involved menu. They wanted something similar to a Texan cookout, without the barbeque. Said it would take too long and it was too cold out.”
“Fucking right it takes too long and is too cold. How does he propose to keep the barn warm?” Avery asked as she turned to her head chef, “Jesse, we need twenty dozen mixed chocolate and vanilla cupcakes. Get Annie and Kathy started on those please.” Returning to the phone conversation once again, Avery stated flatly, “I’m waiting, Kim.”
“Oh, it has built-in heaters. Seems he cares for his animals as much as for his employees’ kids.”
“How noble of him,” Avery replied with more than a hint of condescension.
“Okie dokie, then it’s all settled. We’ll speak to you in the morning. Thanks Avery, I know how difficult it is for you to walk away from a half-finished wedding cake,” Jill cooed sweetly.
Avery shook her head at the crystal clear manipulation from her partners as she ended the call.
“Right, Jesse. I need an update. Bring the Jenning menu and let’s see what still needs to be done.”
Stone Jenning. How the hell did I end up having to spend Christmas Eve in his company?
* * * * * * * *
“Santa? You’re out of your fucking mind, Jaxon. I’m not making a spectacle of myself in front of all our staff,” Stone barked irritably as he took the corner. “Jesus!” He slammed on the brakes and the large GMC truck rocked to a halt a few inches from the cattle crossing the road.
It was midday already and he was running late. Hopefully his foreman had already started clearing the barn for the evening’s party. He sat tapping his fingers on the steering wheel waiting for the one lagging behind to cross.
“Come on, Stone. You’ll make a smashing Santa. Just think of all the happy faces of the kids,” Jaxon continued.
Stone could hear the amusement in his voice. Jaxon loved to ruffle Stone’s feathers.
“You know, I don’t know why I still put up with you. You always drag me into these hairbrained schemes of yours,” he grunted.
He parked the truck in front of the massive farmhouse that he’d recently renovated. It was a majestic Southern style house but it was homey and warm once you stepped inside.
“And just where do you propose to get Santa suits now? In case you’d forgotten, it’s Christmas Eve.”
“Never fear when Jaxon is near.”
Stone laughed. In all the years they had been friends, and it was too many to count, it was the one saying that everyone associated with Jaxon.
“And what about presents? How many kids are there? Did you think this through, Jaxon? You can’t skimp on gifts for kids. You know how I feel about that.”
“All taken care of, mate. You know my little sis loves to shop, and she has three kids of her own. If there’s one person who knows what to get a hundred or so kids, it’s her and her friend, Beryl.”
“Hundred kids? Are you fucking crazy? Do you know how long it’s going to take to hand out that many gifts?”
“Which is why there’ll be two Santas. You and the one and only, me.”
“Ah, shit. I know I’m gonna regret this. Don’t kids expect treats of some sort?”
“Yeah, but that has been arranged with the caterers already.”
“It seems you have everything under control. Very well, Jaxon. Just be warned, I’ll be Santa, but I’ll fire the first fucker who laughs at me.”
“Yeah, right, of course you will.”