Falling at Christmas

I was sitting in my office, going through the paperwork. I hated paperwork when I didn’t see the point with it. To be honest, most paperwork I didn’t see the point with. Usually, Hunter took care of that. But he and Hana were on their honeymoon, so I was covering his part. Not that I minded, well I did, but it was for a good cause. I had never seen Hunter this happy, and Hana was a sweetheart. They both deserved a proper honeymoon, and some grown-up time before the baby arrived. I could take care of the business, and Hana had handed over the bakery to Mary for a few weeks. I sighed. Mary. She was unlike any woman I had met. Her innocence and soft-spoken way tugged at all my heartstrings. Her chocolate eyes haunted my thoughts, and I had memorised the sound of her laughter. It soothed me when I got stressed. I should skip the rest of the paperwork for today and go to the bakery. Just to check if things were under control. Not because I want to see Mary, but because I promised Hunter to keep an eye on things. Maybe it was just our company I was supposed to keep an eye on, but Hana was family, so her business was our business in a way. So logic dictated I needed to stop by the bakery. I had shut off my laptop before I had finished my deluded reasoning. I knew I was heading to the bakery because of Mary and not for any obligation toward Hunter or Hana. I wasn’t going to admit it to anyone else, but I could at least be honest with myself.

I parked my car in one of the employees parkingspots at the back of the bakery. I walked around to the front, even if I had access to the back door. Mary was weary of people sneaking up on her and I didn’t want to scare her. No one had told me about her past. No one needed to tell me Mary had been through things, it was clear. I wasn’t about to make her feel uncomfortable. I walked into the bakery and heard the familiar bell as the door opened and closed. Mary was arranging something on a shelf behind the counter and turned her head. When she saw me, she smiled and my freaking heart skipped a beat, and I found myself smiling back at her.

“Jason, hi,” she said and turned towards me.

“Hello. I’m just stopping by to check if everything is okay,” I said. We stood with the counter between us. My instincts were to reach out for her, but I didn’t because I had no right to do so.

“That’s sweet of you. Everything is okay, but it’s a little strange to be here alone all day,” she told me.

“Feeling lonely?” I asked.

“A little,” she confessed with the cutest giggle. “It doesn’t make sense as I have customers in and out of here all day. But I miss the small talk Hana and I have going during the day.”

“I can stop by and keep you company,” I offered without thinking.

“Oh no. I can’t let you do that. You must have even more to do than usual with Hunter away,” she objected.

“It’s not that bad. I can bring my laptop and work from here.” She gave me a shy smile, it did things to me.

“I would appreciate it,” she said.

“Then it’s decided. I’ll come by around nine tomorrow morning. Is there something you need help with now?” She gnawed her bottom lip. It made me focus on her plump lips and images of kissing them materialised in my mind. I was a pervert, I decided.

“No,” she said, but there was a hesitation in her voice.

“I’m already here. If you need help with something, I’m happy to assist,” I insisted.

“I was thinking of making banana bread tomorrow and we usually use some banana flour in it. But I checked, and the flour container is on the top shelf and I really can’t reach that high. But it’s okay, I can just use the ladder or I’ll just use regular flour,” she rambled.

“It’s okay, Mary. I will get the flour down for you. It’s not a big thing. In the pantry, I guess?” I told her. She relaxed and smiled.

“Yes, thank you. Top shelf on the right. A big container marked with ’Banana Flour’,” she said.

“No problem. I’ll put it on the counter for you. I’ll be right back.” I made my way back to the kitchen and the pantry. Why I felt like a fucking hero just because I could do this small thing for her, I didn’t know. Mary was a tiny little being, and I understood why she had issues reaching the top shelf. I took the flour down and was returning to the kitchen.

“Jason.” She didn’t shout, but something in her voice turned my insides to ice. I threw the container in my hands onto the closet surface. I would apologise to Hana if it got broken, and rushed for the bakery. A blond man stood just inside the door and Mary was backed up against the shelves, as far away from the man as she could come. All of her focus was on him, as if she tried to predict his next move.

“You need to leave,” I said and took a step towards the man. I was not a small man, and I had kept up with my training. The man in front of me was half a head shorter and didn’t look fit. But I had been int the business long enough to know not to underestimate the situation. He could have a weapon.

“And you are?” he asked.

“None of your fucking business, as you are leaving and won’t be stepping foot inside this bakery again,” I told him. For the first time, he looked away from Mary and focused on me. His blue eyes were ice cold. It wasn’t the first time I had seen a look like that. I knew I needed to get him away from Mary.

“And you think you can make me?” he asked. I smiled at him. Not the same smile I had for Mary. No, this was my business smile. I know I look like an asshole when I use it. It’s the whole point.

“There is no doubt in my mind you will exit that door behind you in less than thirty seconds. One way or another,” I said.

“I will see you later, Mary,” the blond man told her.

“No, you won’t. If I find out you have been near this place, or send someone else, or try to reach out to Mary in any other way. I will rain down the hurt on you and any business you might have to where the only viable option you have is to change your identity and leave the country. I am not playing with you. Now leave.” The man looked at me again , scoffed, and walked out the door. I followed him to make sure he was walking away. When I couldn’t see him any longer, I closed the door, lock it and switched the sign to ’Closed’. It was half an hour from closing, but I knew Hana wouldn’t care. I turned around and looked at Mary. She was white as a sheet and I got worried she would faint. I hurried towards her.

“I-is he gone?” She asked, still staring at the door. I rounded the counter and walked up to her. She jumped as I took her hands in mine. They were freezing cold and trembled.

“He’s gone, sweetheart. I watched him leave and the door is locked,” I told her. She nodded. She took a deep breath and I could see how she worked to get her emotion under control.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have involved you,” she said when she calmed down.

“Hey, you should absolutely involve me. Don’t tell me you have forgotten what I do for a living? Who else are you going to turn to? Besides, I was in the kitchen, I would have been involved whether you called for me or not. It would just have taken a minute longer. I’m happy you called to me.” She shook her head, but I noticed she hadn’t pulled her hands out of mine.

“You don’t know Alex like I do. He has connections and he hold grudges. What if he comes after you?” she said. It was sweet. She was trying to protect me.

“Mary, I promise you, even if he has connections, I have more. If he tries to come after me, he will fail. Has Hana told you how her and Hunter met?” I asked. Mary shook her head. “Hana’s ex-husband.”

“Hunter’s son?” Mary asked. I nodded.

“He got Hana into really deep trouble with the Russian mob. I’m talking millions of dollars deep trouble. Hunter steped in to help her. If we could help Hana get out of that spot of trouble, we can certainly help you with that man,” I ensured her. She looked at me with eyes filled with disbelief, hope and something I couldn’t interpret.

“You think you can get him to stop coming after me?” she asked. It sounded like she thought it was too good to be true.

“Sweetheart, I will personally guarantee he will stop bothering you,” I said. I didn’t make promises like that. But this was one promise I intended to keep, in ever which way I had to go about it. Mary looked at me for a long time before she nodded.

“Thank you,” she said.

“It’s my pleasure. Now you need to make a decision.”

“What decision do I need to make?” she asked.

“Do you want to stay here and have me sleep downstairs? Or do you want to come home with me?” I asked.

“Excuse me?”

“Look, I need to do some digging before I make this guy go away. I need to find his weak points. Until I am convinced he won’t pose an issue to you, you won’t be alone. I will protect you. So either I stay here or you are coming home with me. No discussion.”

“I’m just going to accept that is the way it is?” she asked.

“Yep, at least I gave you options,” I said. She giggled and shook her head. Fuck, this woman would be the death of me. She could giggle like that and ask me to step out in front of an oncoming train and I would happily do it with a smile on my fucking face. I was so gone.

“Fine. I can’t allow you to sleep in the bakery. There is no comfortable couch and I think it’s a violation of the health and safety regulations. Will you give me time to pack a bag?” she asked.

“Sure, we aren’t in any rush. I can clean up down here while you pack,” I offered. I had helped close the bakery before and knew the routines. Mary was gone a while before she came down the stairs with a small bag.

“You will take me back tomorrow so I can open the bakery, right?” she asked.

“Do you want me to?” I asked. “Hana would understand if you want to stay away for a day or two.” She shook her head.

“I won’t let him scare me from doing the things I want to do any longer,” she told me.

“Then we will be back tomorrow.” I asked her to stay in the kitchen while I had a look around the back. I wasn’t scared of this Alex man. But I didn’t want Mary to end up in the middle of another confrontation. When I was sure the coast was clear, I walked back and took Mary’s overnight bag from her and escorted her to my car. She stayed silent as I started the car and we drove off.

“What if he comes back when I’m not there?” she asked after a while.

“I would say that is a good thing.”

“But what if he does something to the bakery?”

“I installed the security system myself. It’s the best there is. If he does something, he will be caught on camera and we will make sure the police handle it. It’s one way to get rid of him,” I said.

“But the bakery will still get damaged,” Mary insisted.

“Hana has good insurance. It will cover things. And we both know Hana would rather see the bakery damaged than you.” Mary nodded. “Don’t worry. It will be fine,” I told her and placed my hand on top of hers. Mary nodded again.

“Thank you. I’m usually better at dealing with things.”

“You have had a scare. It’s okay to ask for help.” I parked the car in the garage under my apartment building. I knew we were safe here. I took Mary’s bag and placed my free hand on her back to guide her. I expected her to stiffen up. It would be the natural reaction being touched after the afternoon she had. Instead, I felt her relax, and I felt like a giant. We got up to my apartment, and I showed her around and placed her bag in the guest room. We walked out into the living room together and the urge to pull Mary into my arms was getting stronger by the minute. I reminded myself she had a bad day, and she didn’t need an old fool like myself making unwanted moves to her.

“I’m just going to give Hunter a quick call to let him know what is happening. There is food if you are hungry, feel free to grab whatever you feel like, or we can order something. Or snoop around if you like,” I told her. She laughed.

“Thank you.”