Last Christmas

Andrew John Porter, A.J. to everyone, bent down to unlock the jewelry display case holding the diamond jewelry for the tall, thin blonde woman with the elegant chignon
.
“A.J.,” his co-worker, Brian, whispered urgently from a couple display cases down.

“In a minute, with a customer,” A.J. said under his breath. He peered up from the display case and gave the woman his best smile. “This one?”

“The one next to that, thank you.”

A.J. closed his hand around the box of one carat diamond studs and placed them on the counter.

“This is really important,” Brian persisted.

A.J. glanced at Brian and mouthed, “In a minute.”

Overhead the music track played Christmas tunes. Actually the department store had been playing Christmas songs since before Thanksgiving. A.J. thought it might have been shortly after Halloween. Only two weeks remained until Christmas.

“Those earrings are nice, but do you think they are appropriate for a teenage girl?” the woman asked him.

He didn’t have the heart to tell her he had no clue what a teenage girl would like. He hadn’t ever even dated one when he was a teenager having always known he preferred guys. He was tempted to call Brian over to get his opinion since his friend and co-worker was straight and engaged, but well, he could manage to at least to pretend he had a clue.

“These are gorgeous, but perhaps a little too sophisticated for a younger girl,” A.J. said, placing the earrings back in the case and reaching for another smaller and less expensive pair of diamond studs. “May I suggest these?”

“A.J., you won’t believe who is here,” Brian spoke from behind another display case. He didn’t have a customer since it tended to be slower during the day on weekdays even during the holiday shopping scene.

“Santa Claus?” A.J. smiled at the woman. “What do you think?”

She turned them over and looked at the price, returning his smile. “Oh, I think these are perfect for my niece, A.J.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him.

“Shall I wrap them for you?”

“Oh, you do that?”

He winked. “I do. Red or green bow?”

“Red would be great. Thank you so much.” She handed him her credit card.

A.J. smiled. “Be right back.”

He stepped over to where they kept the wrapping paper. Brian, short with thinning brown hair, stood next to the drawer with the wrapping supplies.

“What are you doing?” he asked A.J.

“Making a sale.”

“You’re flirting with that woman. What’s the point of that?”

A.J. shrugged. “It helps make a sale. I’ve found most women respond to me.”

“Even though you aren’t remotely interested in them.” Brian shook his head. “It’s so unfair. They don’t look at me twice.”

“You’re engaged anyway. What did you want?”

Brian’s eyes widened. “Oh, yeah. Guess who is in the store?”

“The president.”

“Funny. Way worse for you.” Brian glanced around as though expecting someone to be listening to them. “Carter Thorne.”

A.J.’s turned cold, his stomach twisting. For a minute his head spun with the overwhelming memories.

Last Christmas…