Christmas Eve had arrived at Watson & Summers.
But it was far from merry.
Wes sat in his boss’s office, where the silence was deafening. Mr. Summers sat behind his desk, paging through Wes’s report. Christmas here at the office just wasn’t the same as what Wes had come to expect in his few weeks in Bayberry. How had he forgotten what a real Christmas was like?
Christmas wasn’t about trying to get a jump on the New Year. It wasn’t about setting outrageous work-related goals for the next 365 days. It wasn’t about chasing after a promotion. Christmas was about so much more.
It was about taking time to appreciate the many blessings in his life, both big and small. It was about spreading holiday cheer to old friends and new ones. Christmas was Bayberry. That small town emanated the spirit of the holiday.
He just hoped that some of its residents were able to keep a secret—a Christmas secret—for a little while longer. He knew it was a lot to ask, but they’d all been willing to help him with a special surprise for Kate. Everyone loved Kate. How could they not?
“Wes, I’ve gone over your report and I must say you’ve done a thorough job.” Mr. Summer’s eyes met his across the desk. “And the recommendation to sell—I agree with it.”
“Thank you, sir.” Wes resisted the urge to tug at his shirt collar. It’d been weeks since he wore a tie, and now it felt too tight, too stifling. Or maybe it was his job that was making him feel this way. “I’ve been doing some thinking—”
“As have I since I received your initial report. I know of a national candle company that’s looking to expand. They have the capital to invest in new equipment, and they’d consolidate their operations at their headquarters. This would be an ideal solution for everyone.” Mr. Summers leaned back in his chair, looking pleased with himself.
Wes rolled the idea around in his head. He had an uneasy feeling in his gut. He knew about takeovers and buyouts. The acquired entities rarely stayed the same. In some instances, the products and/or recipes were moved to a new location. The original building was put up for sale. In other cases, there was just one thing the buyer wanted, and the rest of the business was broken up and sold off. And where would that leave Kate and the citizens of Bayberry?
Kate would be devastated. He would be devastated. The one thing he knew about Bayberry was that it was the perfect small town. And having big business swoop in was not going to be good for the town or its residents. Fortunately, he had an alternative.
Mr. Summers had been talking, but Wes had been distracted, missing most of what he’d said. Wes forced his concentration back to his. “And so I need you to take this proposal to Bayberry.” Mr. Summers handed a red folder across the desk. “I’ll need you to leave right away. I know it’s not where you were planning to spend Christmas, but sometimes sacrifices must be made.”
Wes’s lips curved in a smile. He’d been planning to return to Bayberry before the dance anyway, but he wouldn’t be taking Mr. Summers’ red folder. “I’m sorry, sir, but the owner of the candle company has already agreed to a sale.”
Mr. Summers’ gray brows drew together into a formidable line. “Why am I just hearing about this? When did it happen?”
“It’s very recent. The details are still being ironed out.”
“Are you sure Ms. Taylor won’t change her mind?”
“I’m sure, Mr. Summers.”
The older man’s frown deepened. “I was counting on making this sale for my client, but I must commend you for being proactive. You beat me to the punch. I like that. I’ve come to realize that you take each and every task seriously. It doesn’t matter if it’s a big account or a small one, you give your all. And that’s what we need around here.”
Wes couldn’t believe it. After all this time wishing, hoping and waiting for a promotion, he was about to get it. Not so long ago, this would have made his Christmas perfect. But now, the excitement was lacking. The thought of staying here and fighting th
e hustle and bustle of city life on his own didn’t have the same draw.
“Wes, did you hear me? I’m promoting you to assistant vice president. I’ll have your things moved to a windowed office after the first of the year. For some reason, maintenance takes time off between Christmas and New Year’s.” Mr. Summers pursed his lips and shook his head. “Come the beginning of the year, we’ll meet again. I have a lot of new projects for you. There’s no time to waste.”
New projects meant more overtime—weekends spent in the office. The prestige of working in Manhattan had lost its luster. Wes’s thoughts returned to Bayberry, where work was balanced with life. And overtime at the candle company was sporadic, not a regular occurrence. And then there was Kate—beautiful Kate.
Wes cleared his throat. “Sir, I want to thank you for your faith in me and my abilities.”
Mr. Summers smiled as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I know you can handle whatever’s thrown at you. If you want, I can give you some of the projects I need you to jump on now.”
“Thank you, sir, but that won’t be necessary.”
Mr. Summers was confused. “What won’t be necessary?”
“I learned a lot while I was in Bayberry. I realized I don’t have to sacrifice my life just to have the stability I always wanted. It doesn’t have to be a tradeoff. Sometimes you really can have it all.”
“What?” Mr. Summers leaned forward with a concerned look. “Wes, are you feeling all right?”
“I’ve never felt better.” And he meant it. This decision was the right one for him. “Mr. Summers, I’m sorry, but I can’t accept your promotion. In fact, I’m resigning.”
The man sputtered. It was apparent he wasn’t used to people turning him down. “You’re making a mistake. Take the holiday and think this over.” When Wes shook his head, Mr. Summers said, “You drive a hard bargain, but you’re going to go far. I…I’ll throw in a corner office.”