9. Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Ralphie

“Daddy, I don’t think it’s gonna fit.” I watched the men unload the two big trees for Daddy’s house and wondered if I’d picked ones that were too big.

“It’ll be fine, my little worry wort.”

As the men brought the first tree in, Daddy directed them to the family room and showed them where to put it. When they cut the strings off, Whoosh! It opened big.

“It’s ginormous!”

“That it is but there’s enough room for the star to go on top still.”

“Just barely.” Thankfully Daddy had super high ceilings. This tree would take up most of the living room in our apartment and be bent in half.

We pulled out boxes on top of boxes of Christmas decorations from Daddy’s big storage room the other day. He hired some guys to hang up all the pretty outside twinkle lights and they said they’d start after the tree guys were done. There were a lot of bodies in and out of Daddy’s house today, so I stuck close to his side so I wouldn’t get lost.

When it came time to set up the tree for the front room, Daddy had them put it right in front of the window.

“That way when we come home at night or when people drive by, they can see we have the best tree on the block.”

“In the world, Daddy!” It covered the entire front window view. “I hope we have enough lights and ornaments.”

“If not, we’ll get more.” Daddy tipped the nice men and off they went. The guys hanging the outside lights got started as the big flatbed truck drove away.

But now came the fun part, it was time to decorate.

“We need music, Daddy.” My feet were itching to dance around while we worked. A few seconds later, “Here Comes Santa Claus” played all around me. “Thank you, Daddy.”

Daddy was wayyyy taller than me and could reach the tops of the trees with his handy dandy ladder. While he strung the lights around them, I unpacked the ornaments and put the hooks on them and put the cute statues and decorations all around the house.

“Are you having fun, little one?”

“Oh, Daddy, you scared me,” I jumped into his arms. “I am, this is so much fun and you have tons of great things.”

“I’m glad you like them.” Daddy picked up an ornament with a picture of him and Elion I had set out. “Why did you choose to place this one on the side table?”

“It’s such a beautiful memory. Just because that was your past it doesn’t mean we should forget it. Look how happy you both are. It makes me smile when I look at it.” Silly Daddy, why was he so worried?

“You have the purest heart of anyone I know. Most boys would tell me to get rid of everything to do with Elion, yet you proudly display it.”

“Jealousy has no place in our lives. This is our happy place, and Elion is a part of it whether he’s here or not.”

Daddy took me by the hand and led me upstairs and this time instead of pausing at the door to the playroom, he opened it up and tugged me inside with him.

“I’ve been trying to force myself to donate everything in this room and make a new one for you. I’m not going to lie, it’s been difficult until today. This room belongs to you now and it’s your choice what we do with it.”

“Why would we do anything with it? I think it’s perfect, well, except for the changing table.”

Daddy smiled. “Consider it donated, and his clothes, too. You deserve your own.”

I shrugged. “I think it’s perfect. The colors are bright, the toys—there are so many, but they are really nice.” I opened a couple of containers and peeked inside. “It’s like he hardly played with them.”

“Again, we traveled a lot then he got sick. Some were never touched. Anything you want, my love, just say the word and it’s yours.”

“Daddy, I don’t need you to buy me things. All I need is you and your love.”

Daddy burst into tears, not what I expected because that was usually my job.

“What’s wrong, Daddy?”

“How is it possible you’re so much smarter than I am? I throw money at everything, always have, then you come along and suddenly money doesn’t matter anymore. How are you so absolutely perfect?”

“I’m far from perfect, Daddy. But when you grow up like I did you see things differently. I’m not mean, nasty, or rude and I don’t like to waste things. If you want to donate the toys then do it, but I don’t need new ones to replace them. I’ll never say no to giving anything to those in need. If you want to buy toys, let’s go to the mall and pull some of the tags off the gift trees and buy gifts for those kids who won’t have a Christmas without our help. For me, this room has everything, and I don’t need anything else but you.”

“Get your coat, we’re going out.”

“Daddy,” I started to protest but he held his hand up.

“We’re going to the mall.”

“Um, okay.” Boxes and ornaments were everywhere, but I guessed we’d finish later.

Daddy bundled me up and we headed for the mall.

“The parking lot is packed,” Daddy growled and not in that sexy, special way he did just for me.

“Merry Christmas!” My cheery response at least made him smile.

“So true. Now, let’s go make the holidays special for as many children as we can.”

“Yay! I wondered why we were suddenly shopping.” My Daddy was the best and those kids were going to be so happy.

It was nice to see there was a line to the trees in need area, that meant lots of kids were getting their wishes. When it was our turn, Daddy stepped up to the table.

“Good evening, can you explain to me how this works, please?”

“Absolutely, sir. I’m Katheen with the Wish Foundation. All of the children on these trees come from low-income families, some of which are currently housed in the shelter in town we also assist with. Without donations there would be no presents for them.”

“Thank you, and thank you for your diligence in helping families and children in need. How would I go about fulfilling the remaining wishes?” Both ladies at the tables gasped along with me and everyone in line behind us.

“Excuse me, sir. Did you just ask to fulfill the remaining wishes for all the children?”

“I did and I’d also like to make a financial donation to the shelter.”

Silence. In a completely jam packed mall.

“Give us just a moment please, sir.” The lady called someone on her phone and proceeded to tell them everything she and Daddy just talked about. “Sir, may I ask your name, please?”

“Marcel Allard.”

More gasps. I really should internet search, or actually ask Daddy about Daddy. That made more sense in my head. Either way, I had a lot to learn about the man I loved.

“Mr. Allard, the president of our non-profit would like a word with you,” she handed Daddy her phone and I wondered if he was in trouble. Daddy stepped off to the side and I went with him. When I glanced back, most people in the line as well as around the cute little fenced in area had their phones out. Were they recording this?

The ladies continued to let others in to pick cards from the trees and take tags to shop for the kids. Daddy was all smiles as he talked to whoever that was and they made an appointment to meet tomorrow.

“Here you go, Kathleen,” Daddy handed the phone back. “I have a meeting with them tomorrow morning at ten. In the interim he directed me to proceed with fulfilling the wishes and said he’ll have your team do the shopping for us.”

Both ladies at the table were crying.

“Thank you, Mr. Allard, we’d be honored.” The crowd clapped and cheered, even the people on the upper level of the mall had their phones out and were whistling and cheering, too.

“Attention, everyone,” Kathleen rose and addressed the crowd. “Thanks to these wonderful men there are no more wish tree wishes to fulfill!”

The crowd erupted and cheered even louder than they had before.

“How do we pay for the gifts, Daddy?” I whispered in his ear even though the crowd was so loud they wouldn’t have heard me ask.

“Tomorrow at the office I’ll make a donation that will more than cover the costs of the gifts and more.”

As we passed through the crowd on our way out, people we didn’t know stopped to thank Daddy for his wonderful donation. He nodded and was polite, but clearly didn’t do it for the accolades. It wasn’t until we were back in the car that he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“And that is exactly why I prefer to be a silent donor. This will be all over the news before we get home.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“Indeed, it is, for a billionaire.”

“A billion what?” Did he just say billionaire?

“I’m not one to flaunt my wealth. My home is simple, I don’t live ostentatiously, not by the standard of other billionaires. But yes, little one, Daddy is set which brings up another subject. I understand why you are concerned with how much things cost and count every penny, and I commend you for that, but you need not worry any longer. Neither does Tess.”

If his home was simple I was nervous to see how other billionaires lived.

“You were awfully quiet on the ride home. Did I do something to upset you?” Daddy asked as soon as we got home.

“No, everything you did was great. Amazing even. I’m so happy for all those kids. I guess I’m just, well it’s my own fault but I’ve never dated so I never googled anyone before and maybe I should’ve.”

“My love, you’re rambling.”

“Sorry, Daddy. It’s the billionaire thing. That’s a lot of zeroes.”

Daddy’s head went back as he released a full body chuckle. “Yes, indeed it is. Does my having money bother you?”

I held my arms out and glanced around. “I knew you had money. I mean, just look at your house. Money isn’t what matters to me, but it was still a shock to find out just how high you ranked in the food chain. I guess I just,” I shrugged, “don’t feel worthy of you. I’m a nobody. A totally broke nobody.”

Daddy wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. “You are not a nobody, you’re my somebody that I want to spend the rest of my life with. I love you, sweet boy, and your selflessness spurned this glorious idea today to give back to the community. And this Daddy couldn’t be prouder of his boy for suggesting it.”

“I love you, too, Daddy, and I hope we can do more wonderful things for those who need it with your money.”

“Ha-ha, you are the most wonderful boy in the world. Now, we better get back to work. These trees won’t decorate themselves.”

With the catchy carols once again playing, we were off for a long night of decorating.

Daddy dropped me off at work the next morning then went to a couple of meetings he had. One with the donation place and the other with an architect something or other. When I stepped inside the packed restaurant, everyone stood and clapped.

“What’s going on?” I asked Emerson.

“Evidently you and your Daddy,” he winked, “were in a gift giving mood last night and made the evening news.”

Oh pooh.

“That was Daddy Marcel. Well, it was my suggestion but his money. Why would they be here for me? I didn’t do anything.”

“You were filmed at the mall with him so by extension you’re a celebrity now, too. And now that I know it was your idea, you just elevated yourself to the moon with me.”

“I need to call Daddy.”

I went into the employee area and made the call.

“Miss me already, sweet boy?”

“Um, Daddy, there’s a whole lot of people here clapping for me and Emerson said we were on the news and we did a good thing and I don’t know what to do.”

“Slow down, sweet boy. You’re going to pass out if you don’t breathe. Let me see if I understand this. We were on the news and now the whole town knows and so they showed up at the diner to thank you?”

How did he do that? Half the time I didn’t even know what I was saying. “Yes.”

“Okay, this isn’t a bad thing. Overwhelming? Yes, but bad, no. What we did, what you came up with was a very good thing, my love. Take it in stride, tell them thanks then do what you need to do to take care of you. Whether that’s cleaning tables with your head down or actually talking to them or hiding in the back like I’m sure you are now.”

Busted.

“I’ll be back after my meetings and if you need to leave we will. You don’t have to work anymore if you don’t want to, but I know you enjoy your job and having your own money. Do you feel better now?”

“A bit.”

“Deep breath, my love, and let Emerson know if you don’t feel well. I’m sure he’ll let you take a break. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Daddy.”

I just hoped he was right and nothing bad would come of this.

I changed my shoes, locked my stuff way, grabbed a dish bucket and hit the floor.

And there was the something bad in the form of my parents standing in the entryway.

“Ralphie, what’s wrong? You’re pale as a ghost,” Karen asked me.

“What are my parents doing here?” Karen and Emerson were well aware of how awful they were to Tessy and me. “I haven’t seen them since I moved out.”

“Go call Tess and Marcel. I’ll get rid of them.”

I bolted to the back, grabbed my phone and called Daddy first.

“Daddy, Daddy!” I could hardly breathe.

“What’s wrong?”

“My-my parents are here.”

“I’m turning around. I’ll be right there. Call Tess.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Tessy, Mom and Dad are at the diner.”

“What the fuck do they want?” Tessy was mad, she hardly ever cursed. “I bet they saw you and Marcel on the news. Fucking slimy mooches. I’ll be right there.”

Emerson came into the back room. “Stay here until Marcel and Tessy get here. Deep breath, Ralphie.”

I was trying but it was so hard. My heart raced a million miles a minute and the rest of me couldn’t catch up.

“I’ll go help Karen deal with them. Doesn’t look like they’re leaving anytime soon. If you want we can call the police.”

“Not yet. Maybe they came to apologize?”

Emerson looked at me like I’d lost my mind but was too kind to say that. Instead, he went back out front. I could hear my mother’s screechy voice all the way back here. The flashbacks weren’t doing her any favor when all I heard was her screaming.

“No!” I stood, fists balled. “They won’t get a dime of Daddy’s money,” and stormed out to the front to give them a piece of my mind. It was time to fight my own battles.