Page 130 of Executive Decision

I hugged her tight. “He knows, Mum. I know he knows.”

“I’m going to take a minute,” she sniffled, departing.

“I’ve never seen her cry before,” Chloe remarked. “Is she okay?”

“She’s just emotional. Everything is hard without Dad.”

“I get it,” Chloe said. “I just hope she’s okay.”

“She will be,” I assured.

Cal approached. “So, how did it go?”

“Great,” I said.

“It was okay,” Chloe said. “Okay, no notes. It was sappy and cute. It also made Lady Danna cry.”

Cal’s jaw dropped.

“The whole thing has her in tears,” I confirmed.

“Well, I hope she’s okay.”

“She’ll be fine.” I squeezed his hand.

“Is there booze now?” Lanie said to Chloe.

“Is thatallyou care about?” Dora sighed.

“There are plenty of drinks at the bar on the ground floor,” I said. “Go.”

The girls fled to find harder stuff than the hot cocoa bar provided.

People milled, exploring the store for after-hours shopping. I followed Cal as we mingled, going upstairs to the ground floor after the girls. Parents who attended with children formed a somewhat disorderly, but excited queue to see Santa on the second floor. It could now be seen from the atrium.

“It feels strangely the same as it ever did,” I remarked.

“And yet, altogether different,” Cal offered. “Hey, come with me. I want to see something.”

“Oh… okay? We aren’t going to get up to anything too wild, I hope?”

“Nah. It’s not like that. We’re both on duty—our best behavior. I’ll save that for later, baby.”

I smiled, following him towards the gilded main elevators. Doors with the Delphine logo parted as we entered. He pressed the button for the sixth floor—one used mainly for stock and admin these days.

“What are we doing?” I asked.

“I want to take a good look at the tree. Trust me, Daph. It’s the best view.”

“Okay,” I gave in.

Stepping off the elevator, we approached the floor’s edge and leaned over the antique wrought-iron balcony wound with the official family motif. Below us, staff mingled, family chatted, and parents walked out with Santa photos, their children gleefully skipping. The tree and beautiful lit garland evoked the most cheerful feelings.

“I’m so proud of all of us,” I murmured. “It came together so well.”

“It was transformational. I came last year and it was a shell of what I remembered. The store looks amazing, Daphne. All the money you’ve put in—and all the time—shows. Your Dad would have done the same at the end if he could have.”

“Can you remember it so busy?” I asked.

---