Free A Christmas Hope by Stacy Henrie Page B

holiday was the sole reason. She suspected the changes in Dale had far more to do with the steady stream of patrons than the time of year.
    Instead of sequestering himself in the back office, Dale had begun to venture out into the lobby more, speaking with regular customers as well as those needing to visit with him personally. Their supply of candy canes had nearly been depleted from him offering the treats to nearly every child and adult who walked through the door. But Maria couldn’t fault him too much. His smile matched those of the ones receiving the sweets.
    His outward demeanor had changed, too. Though she’d considered him nice-looking when she’d first met him, she couldn’t help being a little in awe of him now. With his new suits and open manner, he exuded confidence. The self-assurance combined with his tall physique and already handsome face made Dale Emerson an attractive force to be reckoned with. One who’d begun to make her heart trip faster each time she saw him.
    “Maria.” Lawrence motioned for her to join them behind the teller windows.
    A flicker of frustration leapt through her at having to abandon her tree until all the customers had been helped. A small price to pay, she reminded herself, to have things going so well for the bank, and for Dale.
    “One moment,” she called to him as she took off her gloves. “I need to find a pail for this tree.”
    She pushed through the gate and hurried to the storage room to find a bucket. Her melancholy lingered, though, like the cold on her cheeks. She’d helped Dale as she had promised, and they’d made a good team. There was no reason to feel anything but happy.
    But she did. She missed helping Dale, missed talking with him alone, missed doing things outside of the bank. If only she could think up some other task for them to do together.
    She located the bucket, then filled it with water from the bathroom sink. Hopefully there’d be time later for her to run to the grocers and buy a few things to decorate the tree.
    The heady scent of pine filled the lobby as she returned to her Christmas tree. One of the bank patrons helped her stand the tree up inside the water pail and shift it into the corner, out of the way of the waiting customers.
    With a final look at the glorious fir, Maria went to sit at her teller window. She mustered her way through helping several of the bank patrons, bidding them what she hoped was a convincing “Merry Christmas” at the conclusion of their business.
    “How may I help you, sir?” A middle-aged man, holding a knit cap between his chapped hands, approached her window.
    “I need to see the bank manager.”
    Maria darted a glance at the closed door of the front office—Dale was still meeting with Mrs. Rothland, one of their most prestigious clients. “He’s busy at the moment. Would you mind waiting?” She waved to the chairs beside the lobby window.
    A look of disappointment settled onto the man’s face. “I can’t stay long. I’m on my lunch break, from the meat factory.”
    She eyed the door again and stood. “Give me one moment.” Perhaps Dale was almost done, though she doubted it. Mrs. Rothland was never in a hurry when she came to the bank. Maria stepped swiftly into the lobby and knocked on the office door.
    “Come in,” Dale said from inside before she opened the door.
    He lifted his gaze from where he sat at his desk, his face instantly brightening.
    “There’s man here to see you.” Maria stepped into the small room. “He’s only able to wait a short time before he has to get back to the meat factory.”
    “Do you know what it’s about?”
    Maria shook her head. Dale looked to the papers before him, then at Mrs. Rothland. “Would you excuse me, ma’am? I’ll be right back.”
    The well-dressed woman frowned but inclined her head. Maria hoped for Dale’s sake the other customer didn’t take too much of his time away from Mrs. Rothland.
    He followed her out the door and shut it behind