Page 18 of Wishing Stone

“I know you’re right, but I can’t help it. I think it’s bothering me so much because it’s Christmastime. Everyone deserves to be happy this time of year, and what she did negatively impacts so many people.”

My throat thickened with a sudden surge of emotion. My fiercely independent and sassy wife could be tough as nails in the boardroom, but anyone privileged enough to get to know her would see her selflessness. She cared deeply about what happened at Stone’s Hope, and it went beyond her personal experiences with abuse. Krystina cared because it was innately her.

“Have I told you lately how much I love your big heart?”

“No, not recently. Tell me again how wonderful I am,” she teased.

I chuckled at her wit. Krystina never took a compliment well but instead made a sarcastic joke or flushed with embarrassment and changed the subject.

“So wonderful that I think you need to be pampered tonight,” I said suggestively.

“Is that so?” Her voice had noticeably lowered, sounding somewhat breathy in anticipation. “I’m imagining a bubble bath. Drawn for two, I think. Candles. Music. Maybe a massage.”

I suppressed a groan as the image of Krystina’s lithe, naked legs wet and slippery with scented bubbles filled my mind. I spun in my chair, making a slow revolution before standing to look out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the Manhattan skyline. I used the view as a distraction from the restless energy that had suddenly come over me.

“Are you trying to torture me while I’m at work?” I asked.

“I would never!” she admonished. “But I must know. What are you wearing right now?”

“A suit. What else would I be wearing at the office?”

“What color suit?” she pushed.

I pressed my lips together, but was unable to stop the corners from twitching up. I could already predict where this was going and knew she was trying to distract me from what was really troubling her.

“Why do you ask, angel?”

“Because picturing you in a suit makes me all hot and bothered. Indulge me.”

“It’s a black Armani, fitted, with a red tie.”

“I love that suit on you. Is the shirt fitted too?”

I chuckled. “Oh, no you don’t. As much as I’d love to continue this conversation, I have to get some work done if you want me home at a decent time. Can we continue this later?”

“That’s a promise, Mr. Stone.”

Smiling, I ended the call and turned back toward my desk.

Despite Krystina’s flirtations, I knew her heart was heavy. Stress over Hannah and not being able to give the kids at Stone’s Hope a Christmas was slowly destroying her holiday spirit. Besides her waking up in the middle of the night, there had been other signs as well. Krystina almost always had Christmas music playing in the house and holiday-scented candles burning this time of the year. But, the past few days, it had been silent and without the familiar woody scents of mistletoe, berries, pine boughs, and holly when I got home from work. I needed to do something—anything—to brighten her dismal mood.

I’d considered donating money to the shelter so they could have their Christmas party as planned, but Stephen continued to adamantly advise against it for now. He’d rattled off some legal mumbo-jumbo about the IRS and how Stone Enterprise was connected to the Foundation. Until the issue with the missing money was sorted out, he thought it would be best not to donate anything. Because my hands were tied there, I would have to think of something else to cheer up Krystina.

I rubbed my palms over my face in frustration as I racked my brain. The problem was that my wife lacked for nothing—I made sure of it. I couldn’t buy her happiness. This would require something more creative.

My laptop computer pinged, signaling the arrival of a new email. Moving over to the mouse, I clicked on the most recent email. It was from Hale.

TO: Alexander Stone

FROM: Hale Fulton

SUBJECT: Supply Order

Boss,

This month, I’ll be placing a larger than normal order from our supplier in Queens. I need to replace several security lights around the house that were damaged in the windstorm we had a couple of weeks back. Helena’s nursing staff also requested a few items to help with her occupational therapy, so I said I’d get what they needed while in the city. If you think of anything else I might need to grab when I’m there, let me know. I’ll be making the supply run a week from today.

Hale

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