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“Speaking of which, is Frieda at the bar? She said she needed this stuff pronto.”
“You bet she is,” Birgit replied. “Everyone’s going wild for the holiday cocktails she mixed up. You can go use the kitchen entrance to get to the bar if you want. It’s pretty packed in there. It’ll make it easier.”
Chris gave her a nod, then picked up the box again.
“Good to see you, Frank,” he said as he began walking toward the employee entrance.
“Always a pleasure, bud,” Frank replied cordially. “I’ll leave your candy canes with B.”
“Appreciate it,” Chris called over his shoulder before disappearing through the employee’s only doors.
“Grandpa, can we go?” Alma asked, coming back from the Christmas tree, looking tired. “Gigi said we were going to make cookies tonight, and I’m hungry.”
Birgit looked at Frank with a raised brow.
“Gigi?” she asked.
Frank let out a dry chuckle and rolled his eyes.
“Her nickname for Anita. She doesn’t like the word grandma. Makes her feel old,” he explained before turning to Alma.
“Yeah, sweetheart, we can go. But something came up for Gigi, and she won’t be able to make cookies tonight. Why don’t you let Grandpa Frank take you out on a date instead? We can go wherever you want.”
For a moment a look of sadness passed over the little girl’s eyes, and Birgit felt another bout of guilt well up in her stomach. Then she smiled and nodded her little head.
“Okay, Grandpa,” Alma replied sweetly. “Let’s go get pizza!”
Frank chuckled as he turned back to Birgit.
“I guess we’re going to go get some pizza now,” he said in amusement. “Thanks for the talk, B. And don’t forget to give Chris his candy canes before he leaves.”
“Will do,” Birgit promised, relieved that they were leaving. She watched silently as Frank and Alma left, and the moment they disappeared into the parking lot, Birgit let out a long, loud exhale. Keeping this secret was going to be a lot harder than she thought it would be.
“How did that go?” Chris asked, coming back out into the lobby.
“Awful,” Birgit croaked, leaning her elbows onto the checkout counter so she could bury her face in her hands.
“All I wanted to do was tell him what I know. But I couldn’t. Not with Alma in tow.” She let out a groan. “I thought I was going to have a panic attack when he asked me if I knew where she was tonight.”
Chris came up beside her and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“Well, do you know where she is tonight?” he asked.
Birgit shook her head. “No, but I have a feeling wherever she is, she might be with Jimmy.”
“Well, if you don’t know for sure, then what can you do?” he asked.
“I know,” she sighed, “but this is an awful secret to have. I think I’m mad at you.”
Chris’ brows shot up in surprise, and he put a hand on his chest.
“Me? What did I do?” he asked, sounding hurt.
“You told me this awful secret!” she said with a bitter laugh. “And now I have to keep it, too.”
Chris gave her a “be reasonable” look. “You know why I had to tell you. If it hadn’t been Jimmy she was with, I wouldn’t have. But because it was him, you deserved to know.”
“I know,” she agreed, “but doesn’t Frank deserve to know, too? I mean, I feel bad for the guy!”
