Free Holiday Escort by Julia P. Lynde Page B

asked.
    "Frankly, Fred , I don't know."
    "Maybe you've been setting your sights too low. You've been applying for other personal assistant jobs? Maybe you should aim higher. Come see me after the holidays are over. We have some openings."
    I looked at Karen. "I'd want to talk to Karen about whether working for her father is a good idea, but I'd love to talk to you, even if it's simply for advice."
    Rhonda smiled at me and patted my hand.
    The meal moved onto safer topics and eventually wound down. I got up to clear. "No," said Rhonda. "You and I are going to relax. Those who didn't help in the kitchen get to do the cleanup."
    "I want to open presents!" said brat number one.
    "Yeah!" said brat number two.
    "And you will as soon as everything is cleaned up and put away," their grandmother said. "And not a moment before." She paused. "Everyone who helped cook is excused from cleanup duty. The rest of you, do a good job. Or else."
    Then Rhonda took my hand and pulled me to the living room. I went numbly after her.
    "Sit," she ordered, pointing to the sofa. I sat. She sat down next to me. We chatted about nothing important while everyone else worked on the cleanup.
    Fred excused himself first from duties and came to join us, carrying a bottle of wine. Rhonda allowed him to fill our glasses and sit down. The brats tried to join us but Rhonda said, "The sooner the cleanup is done, the sooner you get to open your presents." She pointed back to the kitchen. I watched as Karen put them to work.
    Fred was chuckling. "What is it, Dear ?" Rhonda asked him.
    "Lisa's krumkake ," he said, still chuckling. He reached over to a plate and took one of the last remaining krumkake from it and seemed to enjoy it. I was pleased. Then he turned to me. " I like you," he said. "I spent years in denial over my daughter's lifestyle. It can still be difficult to accept for an old codger like me. But I like you."
    I smiled. Karen's parents were nice, and they were treating me well. I reached over and clasped Rhonda's hand for a moment. "I was so nervous," I admitted. "But you two are being so kind. Thank you."
    "We love our daughter," Rhonda said. "And she hasn't smiled for a long time."
    "No pressure then."
    Rhonda laughed.
    "I think I'm a fling for her, but right now we're good for each other. I don't know if that will be the case when I have a proper job again."
    The conversation moved to safer topics for a few minutes before the kitchen crew declared things were sufficiently resolved and came to join us. We reseated slightly so I was in the middle of the couch with Karen on one side and Rhonda on another. The other adults took the available chairs. The kids sat on the floor. Chris's teenage daughter was tasked with handing out the presents from under the tree.
    I had done Karen's shopping for her. She had given me a list of people and what she wanted me to get everyone, but she hadn't physically seen any of the presents before I wrapped them. I had supplemented some of the lists. Once the presents were passed out, I had one in front of me from Rhonda and Fred . Karen's present from me was back under the tree as well as all the presents to my family , and I saw there was another one under the tree. I chose to believe it was a gift from Karen to me. Everyone else had a couple of presents to open , with the children having several each.
    The rug rats were actually pretty good about it. They took turns opening presents , and they were gracious about what they received. I revised my opinion from it and made a mental note to say something kind to Lisa and Bob later.  Rhonda's gifts from Karen were the theater tickets Karen had directed plus a pampering basket I'd added to it. Karen covered well, but she hadn't paid any attention when I'd run through what I had gotten everyone . After she had opened everything and the attention was off of her, Rhonda leaned to me and whispered quietly, "Thank you, Dear."
    "Whatever for?" I asked her.
    Rhonda simply smiled. I