A Child''s Christmas (Mills & Boon Heartwarming)

  The agreement was much more favorable for Daniel than he would have dreamed. Although he’d been prepared to take a significant cut in pay, the fact that he wouldn’t have to be too concerned about a big impact to his finances was a huge burden lifted. He was grateful to his partners. As a bonus, Selena would continue to support him both at Lindstrom, Kinsley and McGuire, and his new company, which he decided to call Heartfelt Legal Services. He chose to work out of his home initially, until he had a few relationships established, such as with the Wish I May Foundation. Then he’d be able to better assess where his office should be located. In the interim, if he needed to meet with clients, he could use the boardrooms of Lindstrom, Kinsley and McGuire.

  Now he needed to set up his new office, even if it would just be a virtual office to begin with. He needed basic marketing and business collateral, such as a logo, letterhead, business cards and a website. Because it was a smaller boutique firm, Lindstrom, Kinsley and McGuire didn’t have the in-house expertise for this type of work. Daniel had to find another way and absorb the cost in Heartfelt’s overhead.

  Jason raised an unexpected idea one night. “Why doesn’t Mom do it for you?”

  Daniel shifted his gaze to meet Paige’s.

  “She used to do stuff like that all the time when she worked for the other company,” Jason explained. “I know, ’cause she used to do it at home, too. She was really good at it.” There was pride in his voice.

  “I bet she was.”

  “There wasn’t much to it,” Paige said. “I worked with a company on the visual brand, then used it to create all the templates for business cards and stationery. Since it wasn’t a very big enterprise and they didn’t need a complicated website, I used an online service provider and set it up for them.”

  “Really?”

  “Mom, give him the website address so he can see!”

  Daniel looked up Paige’s former company on her computer. He was impressed. The site was clean, appealing, professional and easy to navigate.

  They discussed the matter long after Jason went to bed. Finally, Paige agreed that she’d help Daniel set up his virtual office, and she’d work on it from home when she wasn’t at the call center. Paige initially resisted accepting payment from Daniel, but he ultimately convinced her that she should treat this as a business venture. After all, if she didn’t do it, he’d have to hire someone else. It wasn’t as if it was all coming out of his own pocket—which was the biggest stumbling block for her. His agreement with Lindstrom, Kinsley and McGuire had them picking up part of the overhead. This definitely qualified.

  Paige was shocked at the hourly rate he offered her. It was nearly twice what she was making at the call center. She loved the idea of helping him and doing something creative for a change. By accepting payment from him, she could scale back her hours at the call center, as long as she worked the minimum necessary to keep her benefits. Best of all, she’d be more available for Jason.

  Daniel wasted no time getting her started. He bought her a new laptop, which thrilled Jason, especially when Daniel showed him some of the most popular online games for kids.

  *

  PAIGE WAS WORKING on the Heartfelt website at the dining room table, and Jason was sketching.

  “Look at this, Mom.” Jason spun his sketch pad around so his drawing was facing Paige.

  She pulled the pad closer, examined the drawing and looked up at Jason thoughtfully. “Is this what I think it is?”

  Jason made a funny face, grinned but said nothing.

  “I assume that means yes. So, tell me about it.”

  He cleared his throat, sounding very mature and businesslike. “Mr. Kinsley said his company would work for families with sick kids. And you said he needed a...a logo? Is that what it’s called?”

  “Yes, that’s correct.”

  “Something that symbolizes the firm. Something that stands for what it is, right?”

  “That’s right.”

  Jason pointed to his drawing. “This is a family. See here? The tall person is the father. This is the mother. And this is their daughter. Oh, and their dog.” He turned to Paige and looked at her mischievously. “You know, every family should have a dog.”

  She kept her eyes on his but didn’t say a word.

  “Aaanywaaay,” he continued, drawing out the word. “This kid here? See how they’re all huddled around him, sort of protective and all?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “It’s because he’s sick. He’s sick...like me. Except he’s got a dog...and a dad.”

  “Oh, sweetie,” she murmured.

  “They’re all there to help the kid,” he continued. “And Mr. Kinsley will help him, too. That’s what his firm will do. And see this?” He pointed to the heart-shaped outline of the family unit, broader at the shoulders, narrow at their feet and dipping down between the mom and dad. “This shows the name of the company—you know, Heartfelt—but it also shows that someone cares. That Mr. Kinsley cares, so they know they’re not alone.” Jason traced the heart-shaped outline of the logo with his finger.

  Paige continued to examine the drawing, nodding her head slowly. The drawing was well done. Jason hadn’t gone into fine detail, as he was prone to do with his sketches. He seemed to understand that a logo should be simple, representing what a company stood for but easy to reproduce. Easy to identify with. Jason had nailed it. This was an outline—a schematic, really—of a small family with an ill child. The parents and sister clustered around him represented a single family unit. How smart was that of Jason? And the heart shape was somehow buoyant and positive and, as Jason said, showed someone cared.

  Paige’s laughter was light. “How did you come up with this?”

  Jason looked sheepish. “I listened to you and Mr. Kinsley talk about what he wants to do. And I know he cares. A lot.” He shrugged. “I just put it on paper.”

  Paige leaned forward, grasped Jason’s face between her hands, and gave him a kiss on the nose. “You, my beloved son, are extraordinary!”

  Color rose in his face. “You like it, Mom? Really?”

  She gave him another smacking kiss. “Like it? I love it!”

  “Do you think Mr. Kinsley will like it? That he’ll use it?”

  “I can’t speak for him, sweetie, but let’s show him and see what he thinks. Okay?”

  *

  DANIEL WAS EVEN more enthusiastic about the logo than Paige had been.

  “Like it? I love it!” he exclaimed.

  “Did Mom ask you to say that?”

  “No. She didn’t. Why would you think so?”

  Jason giggled. “Because that’s what she said!”

  “She did, did she?” Daniel picked up the sketch pad and scrutinized the drawing. “Well, she’s a smart lady.”

  Jason bounced in his seat, barely able to contain his excitement. “So? Will you use it?”

  Daniel’s face turned serious. He put down the sketch pad. “The logo’s perfect. I didn’t know what I wanted, but you got it right.”

  Jason looked at Daniel with such hope that Paige thought she’d have to hurt Daniel if he let her little boy down.

  “So, you want to use it, right?”

  “I do. No question about it. But here’s the thing.” Daniel turned a shrewd eye on Jason. “How much do you want for it?”

  Jason’s face revealed a range of emotions until he finally settled on a hesitant smile. “You want to pay me for it?”

  “You did the job. You should get paid.” After some negotiation with Paige, Daniel gave Jason twenty dollars to buy his design. He’d offered to give him a hundred, but Paige thought that was too much for an eight-year-old. The deal done, Daniel winked at Jason, and with mock seriousness said to Paige, “We need to teach you about the art of negotiation. If you’re on the receiving end, the trick is to negotiate the amount up, not down!”

  With the matter of the logo settled, Jason presented another idea. “Mom, why don’t you do this stuff for Mr. Kinsley full-time?” br />
  She glanced at Daniel and smiled. “It’s a nice idea, but there’s not enough work to keep me busy full-time.”

  “Then why don’t you do it for other people, too? You know, help them set up their offices and websites?”

  Paige laughed, but Daniel looked pensive. “The kid’s got an idea! Why not, Paige?”

  She was at a loss for words. If Daniel was giving it some credence, it might not be as crazy an idea as she’d first thought. She’d loved doing the work for her old company and loved doing it for Daniel even more. She’d toyed with the possibility of returning to the business world, but the hours were always a deterrent. She’d never thought of setting up her own consulting practice. Working from home would be wonderful, but could she make a living at it? And if she left the call center, she’d have to factor in the cost of a private health care plan.

  “Think of the advantages, Paige,” Daniel continued. “You could set your own hours, be more available for Jason and do something you enjoy and that seems to make you happy. You already have a computer. Why not start your own home-based web design and maintenance company?”

  “Oh, no. The computer isn’t mine. It’s yours. When I’m done with the work for you, you should take it back. And web maintenance is only part of what I did for my old company. I don’t know if I’m good enough to do it for others.”

  “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. I’d like to put you on retainer to keep my website up to date, handle social media for the company and deal with any other office-related matters that come up. That means the computer stays with you, and you can use it for other clients, too. If you want my opinion, you can do it.”

  She felt a bubble of excitement forming in her belly. Oh, to not have to go to the call center anymore! To be able to work from home and do something she enjoyed, something that gave her a sense of accomplishment. “You really think I can do this?”

  “Absolutely. You’ve got your first contract. With me. I’ll check with the powers that be at Lindstrom, Kinsley and McGuire, too. See if they need any work done.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t have you giving me all the work!”

  He smoothed her hair back and tucked it behind her ear. “I won’t have to. I’m just giving you a start. I know your work will sell itself.”

  “You’ll do it?” Jason asked excitedly.

  Paige pressed a hand to her belly, where the bubble had clearly burst and excitement was rioting. “I think so.”

  Jason did a fist pump in the air, the way he’d seen Chelsea do. “Yay, Mom!”

  *

  LINDSTROM, KINSLEY AND McGuire signed a contract with Paige, as did Laura Andrews on behalf of the Wish I May Foundation. Paige was guardedly optimistic about her new business venture. Although she had three contracts, they were all Daniel’s doing. It wasn’t enough work for her to resign from the call center altogether, but she was thankful for the reduced hours. Her new schedule gave her far more time to be with Jason.

  To succeed with her business venture, she knew her focus had to be on getting other contracts on her own merits. That would take time and energy, two things she had in short supply.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  AFTER JASON’S LAST MRI, his oncologist delivered very encouraging news. Jason’s tumor had shrunk to a size that made surgery viable. They had one more treatment scheduled, but the time had come to set the date for his surgery if they were going to proceed. Paige continued to struggle with the possible consequences, but she knew it was the right—the necessary—thing to do.

  Friday night, Daniel arrived shortly before seven. “What’s that?” Paige asked, pointing to the yellow folder in his hand.

  “Let’s discuss it later.” He gave her the brown paper bag in his other hand. “This is for now, for dinner.” When she accepted the bag and pulled out a bottle of merlot, he tucked the folder inside the sleeve of his jacket and hung it up.

  As they ate dinner, Daniel updated them on the clients his new firm was already representing. “The work’s highly gratifying,” he concluded. “I’m enthusiastic about making a difference for families who really need it.”

  Jason squirmed in his chair. “Mom, tell Mr. Kinsley your good news!”

  He turned to her expectantly.

  She grinned. “I signed my first new client. It’s a local pet store that wants to expand its reach by offering their products online.”

  “Tell him how you got your new client, Mom!”

  Paige chuckled. “Jason sold them.”

  “Can I tell it, Mom?”

  “May. Yes, you may.”

  “We were walking home from school and Mom let me go inside to see if they had any puppies. They didn’t. The lady said it’s cruel to have them in stores. But we were just talking to her, and she was saying how she wanted to sell some of the stuff she has in the store online. I told her what Mom did. The lady checked the Wish I May Foundation website right then. She called Ms. Andrews to see how she liked working with Mom. Sort of a report card. Then she asked Mom to give her a price.”

  Daniel smiled broadly. “Congratulations!”

  Paige shrugged but couldn’t hide the fact that she was thrilled. “I should put Jason on payroll.”

  “She really liked the work Mom did for the Wish I May Foundation.”

  “See?” Paige said to Daniel. “My top salesman.”

  Later that night, with Jason tucked into bed, Daniel retrieved the folder he’d brought with him. Paige had nearly forgotten about it. Seeing it aroused her curiosity, but she also felt an odd sense of trepidation.

  He must have read her expression since he was quick to reassure her. “It’s nothing bad. I promise.” He took it to the dining table with him and put it down there.

  He tapped a finger on the file folder. “I’ve been doing some research.”

  Paige’s eyes went to the folder, then up to his in question. “On?”

  “Cancer treatment facilities.”

  Paige felt her doubts resurface. She responded with a noncommittal, “Okay.” “Here’s what I came up with, for your consideration.” He emphasized those words, making it clear to Paige that he realized it was her decision and respected that. He flipped open the folder. “Perhaps no surprise, the Karlsen Center for Cancer Care is the best in the country.”

  “They’re located in Pennsylvania? No, wait. Maryland, right?”

  He nodded. “East Baltimore. And they can do the surgery and follow it up with the treatment that’s been prescribed for Jason. They’ve had very good results. Significantly better than other hospitals. Here, have a look.” He withdrew a single sheet from the folder and slid it toward Paige. “They’re willing to consider Jason’s case.”

  Paige perused the statistics. She had to be grateful, even if Daniel had, once again, acted unilaterally. This was too important. Only one thing mattered—that Jason’s chances would clearly be better at the Karlsen Center. “What about timing? When could they do the surgery?”

  “Under the circumstances, they’d accommodate Jason. They have many operating rooms, and they can reassign as needed. The Karlsen Center also has reciprocal agreements with a number of area hospitals for use of their operating rooms, if necessary. They committed to hold a date for Jason based on his oncologist’s recommended timing, subject to your choosing their facility.”

  He slid two more pages toward Paige. “This one.” He tapped a finger on the first page. “It gives you an overview of their programs.” He moved his finger to the other sheet. “This one provides brief bios of their oncologists and surgical staff.”

  Paige scanned the pages. When she was finished, he handed her a multipage, stapled document. He didn’t need to explain what it was. She could read for herself. It was an application form. The proposed date of surgery was marked at the top.

  “This all sounds too good to be true. But the expense,” Paige objected. “I could never afford it.”

  “You don’t have to. I’ll take care of it. Please don’t argue.
Forget the money, Paige. Think of what’s best for Jason.”

  Of course that was where she would’ve ended up anyway. When it came right down to it, nothing else was important. Although she’d already decided what had to be done, there were still times she vacillated. The money issue aside, and even with the increased rate of success at the Karlsen Center, it was an agonizing decision.

  But Jason had a chance for a life free of cancer. She thought of the woman she’d met whose daughter had been through the same surgery. How happy and vibrant the little girl was. Then she thought of a discussion she and Jason had earlier that week. There’d been an article on the front page of the local paper about third-world conditions that had sparked his interest. She remembered his words distinctly. I’m going to beat this thing, Mom. I want to grow up and be an architect, and help people in places like that where there aren’t any schools or hospitals. I want to help people, kinda like Mr. Kinsley, only different.

  If Jason was that determined, if he had such a strong resolve to live, how could she not give him the best chance he had?

  “All right,” she whispered.

  “Paige...”

  “Yes. I want to go ahead with the Karlsen Center.” Her voice gained strength and determination as she spoke. “Jason deserves the greatest chance he has to beat his disease, and this is it.” Her strength drained, tears of gratitude, hope and fear coursed down her cheeks. “Thank you,” she breathed.

  *

  DANIEL GATHERED PAIGE in his arms, stroked her hair and held her tightly as she cried. He could feel tears in his own eyes.

  As he held her, a decision became crystal clear to him. Acknowledging his deep love for Paige and Jason, Daniel knew unquestionably what he wanted.

  Daniel drew back, his eyes meeting hers. “Paige, I don’t know what the future will hold, but whatever it is, I want to spend it with you and Jason.”

  He took her face in both of his hands. “I love you, Paige. Will you marry me?”