Operation Christmas by Barbara Weitz Page A

apology for offending her in any way. That seemed a good start to pave the way for Tamara’s phone call. He got back a “thanks.”
    At day’s end, when Jess hadn’t heard from Tamara, he made a quick call and got her voicemail. “What’s happening?”
    Packing up to go home, she returned his call. “Hey, I didn’t have time to call her until I left the office.”
    “And.”
    “ And , she was having a busy day too and sounded distracted, but from what I observed at the Christmas party I think she seriously likes you, Jess.”
    “That makes no sense.”
    “Of course it does.”
    “How?”
    “She still loves her husband.”
    “ Forever! ” he squeaked. Damn, he never squeaked.
    “Oh, boy. I’m dealing with a guy who’s never been in love. Real love.”
    “I’ve had relationships.”
    “You ever itch to marry one of ’em?”
    “Don’t you think we should date before you marry us off?”
    Tamara laughed. “Uh-huh. But it’s not so far out there is it, Honey Bear?”
    “At the moment...yeah, it is. Mama T.” He tossed back one her nicknames and Tamara laughed again. “All I want is to date. Dinner. The movies. Someone to talk about...dammit, I don’t know...things. See if we’re more than two kids who went to the same high school. Which brings us back to the fact you’ve not answered me.”
    “She’s busy. Sorry I couldn’t come through for you, Honey Bear. What? What’s so funny?”
    “She shot us both down.”
    “Maddie’s confused. She still wears her wedding ring, in case you didn’t notice.”
    “I noticed.”
    “So you goin’ with me and Jamal tomorrow night?”
    “Only if I can bring Crystal.”
    “Of course. We love that girl. See you at seven—Dante’s?”
    “We’ll be there.”
    Jess stared out over the frozen parking lot outside his window. Ice crystals were making headway from its corners. Muted sounds drifted into the office from the warehouse as stragglers left from the front office and called out their good-byes. Alone, but not really alone, he’d accomplish more in an hour after closing than the entire day.
    Damn , the fingers he didn’t have hovered between a tingle, an itch or hurting like hell. He removed the prosthesis to see if something pressed on a nerve in his stump, anything that might relieve the unpleasant sensations. He set the arm on his desk, when his cell jingled. Crystal had already checked in, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t call again.
    His heart about stopped when he saw Madeleine’s number. The last person he expected to hear from after today.

Chapter Eight
    “Jess, I don’t know what to do. Mom had a fender bender and—”
    “Is she okay?”
    “Yes. Dad’s there. She hardly made it out of our driveway. But I thought...well, since you work so close and all it...it just seemed, uh, sensible—”
    “Madeleine. Do you need a ride?”
    “If you don’t mind. I mean—” Her voice broke into a quiver.
    “Sit tight. I’ll be right there.”
    Brushing away a tear, she hung up the phone. Wait until Jess got a load of the box of trinkets from her desk. No way could she avoid telling him she’d been given her walking papers for Christmas. It seemed the lousy day began the moment her mom made her late for work and she’d been mean to her. And now her mom had an accident.
    Jess’s truck idled outside her office building in what seemed an impossibly short time. She waved to let him know she’d be right out before he came inside and saw her puffy red eyes. Kurt and Derek had been hiding out in their offices ever since the news was delivered at quitting time. Too many late days and too many sick days was the reason.
    Last winter’s flu that turned into walking pneumonia did make her miss too many days earlier in the year. The more recent troubles with the Mini’s reliability also made her late too often. Although it was tempting to dispute the four sick days and eight late days against the many after-hours she’d put in, she kept her