Read The Kid Who Stole Christmas for Free Online Page B

her spirits, as well. She hadn’t been sure he would work out. But after a hesitant start, during which just being around them seemed to make him sad, Rick proved to have a genuine affinity for children, and they for him. Even Leo approved of his performance, and he was a harsh judge.
    But there was more to Shannon’s improved mood than the fact that Rick was working out at the job. She could tell that she was actually doing him a service, and not only economically speaking. There was a spring in his step that hadn’t been there when he’d come in that afternoon to apply for the job.
    She wanted to get to know him better. Since he was due for a break and she was about to faint with hunger, she decided a good start would be to have a chat with him while grabbing a quick bite in the cafeteria. The pickings would be slim by now, but at least it would be quiet. Not that it really mattered. She just wanted him to fill out a couple of forms and maybe have a little employer-to-employee talk.
    Sure she did. That’s why she had put on a spritz of the most expensive French perfume Lyon’s carried. And touched up her lipstick. She was already in cosmetics, so why not? Just because a woman tried to look her best, that didn’t mean it was to impress a man.
    “Shannon,” she muttered to herself. “You’re such a liar.”
    It wasn’t that she was hard up for companionship. She had two cats, Buttons and Phil. And handsome customers were always asking her out. Of course, most of them were shopping for their kids and had wives at home, but it was the thought that counted, right?
    There were also phone calls every now and then from her ex-husband who called to remind her that he still held her responsible for their lack of children and, ultimately, their lack of marriage.
    Yes, Shannon had her pick of interesting diversions. But whether Rick had lost a child, too, or had endured a bitter divorce, Shannon knew that lost look. She had worn one of her own for a long time. Maybe she could help him. Maybe they could help each other. Stranger things had happened.
    At last, Rick approached her. He was hobbling slightly, she noticed. “Knee or shin?” Shannon asked.
    “Shin. The knee went numb an hour ago.”
    “That’ll get stronger,” she informed him. “And here’s a trick for the shin.” Shannon dug around beneath the sales counter to find him a magazine. “Stick that in your boot. I’m told it works wonders.”
    He grinned. “Thanks.”
    “Hey, I’ve got some forms Accounting needs you to fill out. Care to join me for a bite to eat while we take care of them?” she asked, as if the thought had suddenly occurred to her. “It’s still a couple of hours till closing time.”
    Rick looked over toward Santa’s workshop, actually just a little tableau set up where the kids could get their pictures taken with Santa—and a hidden area where the Santas could switch places without anyone’s feeling they were being slighted. The crowds were thinning out a bit.
    “I can’t be long,” he said. “Hans probably doesn’t have much more than another thirty minutes in him.”
    “No problem,” Shannon assured him. “I should have told you earlier. There’s a cafeteria on the fourth floor. Not too fancy, but it’s clean and cheap.”
    “That’s the magic word.”
    They rode the elevator up. It was something of an ordeal. Rick didn’t want to take the trouble of changing, so he went in costume. And of course, his fluffy white beard was glued on. He and Shannon were the object of some interested stares.
    They went over the forms Rick needed to fill out, but it was just the basics, to keep the government happy, and didn’t take them long. There were only sandwiches left, but they each bought one, ate, then lingered over coffee.
    “Tough work, isn’t it?” Shannon said.
    Rick nodded. “I had no idea. But I’m having a blast.”
    “It shows.” She laughed. “Sorry. But I feel a bit absurd. Like I’m having a private