Free The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans

tomorrow.” She walked out of the office and called to her son. “Come on, Mason. It’s time to go home.”
    Kier sat back in his chair and thought about the commitment he had just made. He wondered if he were strong enough to follow through with it.

CHAPTER
Eighteen

Kier arrived at work at his usual time on Monday. As he walked down the hall he was followed by double takes and stares by his employees, their mouths falling open as if they’d seen a ghost. There were even a few audible gasps. He walked directly to Tim Brey’s office. Tim was on the phone and froze when he saw him. “I gotta go,” he said and dropped the phone into the cradle without waiting for a response from whoever was on the other end of the call.
    â€œHi, Tim.”
    Brey stared at him speechless.
    â€œWhat’s up?”
    â€œI don’t understand,” Brey said.
    â€œUnderstand what?” Kier was enjoying this.
    â€œThe paper said you were . . .”
    â€œDead? I know. I read it. Then I checked my pulse and concluded it was just poor reporting.”
    â€œOh, thank God.”
    Kier rubbed his hands together and approached Brey’s desk. “Really? Because I would think from what you wrote that you weren’t really all that happy working for me.”
    Brey turned pale. “What are you talking abo—”
    Kier lifted his hand and stopped him. “Please, Tim, don’t insult me.” He reached into his pants pocket and fished out the comments he’d printed out that morning, and read: “Kier’s only motivation in life was money. Gain was his only criterion for action, no matter who was hurt, no matter who was left in ashes. Just yesterday he celebrated taking some old man’s property. Believe me, I knew Kier—I played squash with him every week for seven years.” Kier looked back up at Brey. “Did you want to add anything to that, Supertramp?”
    Brey stared at him in horror, “So is this where you throw me under the bus?”
    Kier smiled. “Saturday I might have. Wanted to. Actually, I was kind of looking forward to it. But I’ve had time to think. There was some truth to what you wrote. More than I wanted to hear, but I needed to hear it. So I came in to thank you.”
    Brey looked at him skeptically. “Now you’re insulting me . Go on, get it over with.”
    â€œNo, I’m serious. I owe you.” Kier put his hands in his pockets. “I just wanted to let you know that I’m going to be working at home for a while on a project.”
    â€œWhat kind of project?”
    â€œA special one. Let everyone know that the news of my death was premature. I’m sure that will ruin their week but they’ll get over it. I don’t know how long I’ll be out, but I trust that you’ll run things with your usual efficiency.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œGood man.” He started to go but stopped at the doorway. “Oh, and Brey, get someone to put up a tree or something.”
    â€œWhat kind of tree?”
    â€œA Christmas tree. You know, deck the halls, that sort of thing. Christmas is only three weeks away. From the looks of things you’d never even know it was the season.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œGood man.”
    Brey sat stunned, as Kier walked out of his office.

CHAPTER
Nineteen

Kier smiled at Linda as he passed her going into his office.
    â€œGood morning, Linda.”
    â€œGood morning, Mr. Kier,” she replied awkwardly. His changed demeanor was still unnerving to her. A few minutes later she paged him. “Mr. Kier?”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œMay I come in?”
    â€œOf course.”
    A moment later, she stepped inside his office carrying a file folder. “I’m done.”
    â€œDone?”
    She walked up to his desk. “With the list .”
    â€œYou’ve finished it already?”
    â€œIt’s all right