Mahogany Eyes – Book 6: Her Beautiful Benefactor
Chapter 29: Hidden Trauma – December 14
Lex put the lid down on the toilet and sat down. She squeezed her eyes shut, yet the tears still managed to leak out between her eyelids. She felt them sliding down her face. She was embarrassed that she kept getting upset in front of Yoongi. He really didn’t need to know all of her problems.
She did, in fact, feel like she’d been simply a series of challenges for him since she’d met him a little over a week ago. But speaking of her stepfather had been too much for her to handle. She had never discussed him with anyone.
She was feeling particularly vulnerable today. She wondered if it had something to do with pregnancy hormones. The smallest things had brought tears to her eyes this afternoon. Even while she’d been surrounded by Christmas lights and seasonal cheer in the stores she’d visited.
Honestly, all this emotion was exhausting too. She felt like she didn’t have the energy to lift her pinky finger. Let alone to celebrate the holiday in style. The way Christmas was meant to be celebrated.
And here Yoongi had done the sweetest thing for her – found her a real Christmas tree and dragged it home – and how had she rewarded him? With heartache followed by flight. After she had promised to stop hiding from him!
She had to get herself under control and return to the living room. She decided to take a shower. Hopefully, the warm water would soothe her.
Twenty minutes later, after standing under those comforting streams of water, she acknowledged that she’d made the right decision. She felt much better. Still tired. But not so weepy.
She dressed in a clean pair of leggings – burgundy this time. And pulled Yoongi’s gray hoodie on. He had never asked for it back. And she reveled in wearing it. Even after a couple of days, it still smelled like him. Every time she put it on, she was wrapped in comfort.
She hugged it close and wandered out to the living room. “Is dinner ready yet?” she asked.
Yoongi, who was standing at the stove, glanced up at her. He smiled. “Yep. You’re just in time. Go ahead and grab a seat on the couch. I’ll bring your dinner out to you in a minute.”
As his eyes took in his gray sweatshirt cloaking her slender form, he felt his heart lurch.
She’s wearing my hoodie again. Does it mean anything?
“Thank you, Yoongi, for making me dinner.”
“Hey, I gotta take care of my roommate. She’s the only one I’ve got, you know.” His lips quirked up at the corners as he smiled sweetly at her before turning back to the pan on the stove.
But his smile faded as his mind once again retraced their last conversation. What trauma had Alexis endured as a child that had made her so susceptible to criticism?
It seemed to Yoongi that she more easily believed someone’s fault-finding than she did his words of encouragement. He knew that a little of that was human nature. But the problem seemed to be amplified in her case. She hadn’t been able to handle his faith in her. It hurt his heart. He wanted to help her to see herself the way he did.
He was completely fascinated by her. And certain that she was a wonderful person. With hidden talents. And a wide heart. But she seemed determined to belittle herself. And such an attitude wounded him.
He didn’t understand why she was so important to him, but she clearly was. So he simply wanted to help her to be happy. But he hadn’t the foggiest idea how to go about such a daunting task. It seemed to him that every time he tried, he found another wound that needed bandaging.
So, for tonight, he was just going to give up. He would use the art of distraction instead of confrontation. He served them both a plate of bulgogi, veggies, and rice before carrying them out to the living room. As he set their plates on the coffee table, he asked her, “Wanna watch a movie?”
She perked up instantly, and he knew he had chosen the right course for tonight. “I’d love that!”
They spent the next two hours engrossed in a moving drama about a single mother whose little boy attracted the notice of a successful – and single – businessman. Of course, there was a resulting romance between him and the young mother. Occasionally, Yoongi caught Alexis sliding a surreptitious glance his way, and he wondered if she was considering her own predicament. And his eligibility as a love interest.
But then he berated himself for such a thought. She had just broken up with her fiancé less than two weeks ago. There was no way her heart was prepared to love again. She must still be heartbroken over Frederick’s cold treatment of her. And over the loss of a man who she must have believed loved her at some point. Why else would she have agreed to marry him?
Yoongi kept his lips sealed tonight, though. He wasn’t about to rock the boat. He had no wish to test the waters. Or risk upsetting the sweet girl he was coming to respect greatly.
As the credits rolled at the end of the movie – a conclusion that included a very sweet kiss between the two protagonists – he glanced her way and was surprised to find her sleeping soundly. Her head had fallen back, and her mouth was hanging slightly open. He smiled at the charming picture she made. Alexis was absolutely adorable. Did she have any idea just how cute she was?
His smile faded as he considered that question. He was certain she did not.
Chapter 30: Sanctuary – December 15
Yoongi awoke the next morning to singing. A very pleasant voice invaded his dreams and coaxed his eyes open. No sunlight was streaming through his window yet. He turned his head and glanced at the brilliant blue digits on his clock. 5:43.
Again, that lovely tone sounded in his ears. He could hear it even over the sounds of water running. Lex must be taking a shower. If that was her voice that he was enjoying right now, then her stepfather had been just as wrong about her ability to carry a tune as Yoongi had first suspected.
He lay still and closed his eyes to concentrate on the beautiful strains emanating from his bathroom. He wanted to pick out the words. As he relaxed and bent all his attention to listening, he began to make out the lyrics. He heard the water shut off, and she began to sing the song through from the beginning again. Which cheered him because he could more clearly hear the words now. And her gorgeous voice.
“Give me your tender heart.
May it be my sanctuary.
Right from the very start,
I knew you were my luminary.
“Your light, it shone so bright.
I knew you were my guiding light.
You reached out, took my hand.
Can you truly help me understand?”
Then she began to hum a few bars before launching into a sweeping chorus.
“You are my
Sanctuary.
You are my
Seat of safety.
“You are always here for me.
Wrapping me in ecstasy.
“You are my
Steadfast fortress.
You are my
Lilting chorus.
“You are always here for me.
Cloaking me in rhapsody.”
Yoongi really loved this song. Almost as much as the sweet voice that was singing it. He suddenly had a flash of Alexis cradling a tiny baby in her arms while she sang this song to the wee child. And his heart released a pang. Because he wanted to be in that picture too.
Again, her voice sounded as she began to sing the second verse. To a song Yoongi had never heard before today. Where had she learned it?
“Lend me your glowing soul.
May it be my estuary.
Your waters make me whole.
I knew you were my visionary.
“Your love, it quenched my thirst.
You saw the best when I saw worst.
Your kindness set me free.
You helped me to see the real me.”
Her voice began to fade away after the final verse. She opened his bathroom door a crack and turned off the light in the bathroom. She must be headed for her bedroom. As she walked into it, he faintly heard her voice singing the chorus. He sighed in disappointment. He wanted to hear that voice again.
It was quite captivating. Just as he had suspected.
Chapter 31: A Taste of Home – December 15
“Lex, I’m headed to practice. I’ll be home in about three hours,” Yoongi announced later that day as she lay on the couch watching TV. He glanced down at her. “Are you okay?”
She lifted her eyes to his face. “Yeah. I’m just tired. I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t sleep for some reason.”
That must explain the early morning shower and the concert that he’d overheard.
He smiled down at her. “Get some rest. I’ll make us dinner when I get home.”
Her heart melted. And she determined to take better care of him. “Have a good practice,” she responded before he headed out the door.
The instant that door closed, she jumped off the couch. She needed to get busy if she was going to be done by the time he came home.
She was just finishing up when she heard the door open three hours later. As Yoongi came breezing in, she glanced his way and noticed the takeout bag in his hand.
“You bought dinner?” she asked, disappointed.
Hearing the tremor in her voice, he swung his head in her direction. “What’s wrong?”
“I made dinner,” she murmured softly.
His face made a strange contortion as he gazed at her. “You did? I’m so sorry! I just figured since I said I was taking care of it that…” His voice trailed off as he approached her.
He came to a standstill behind her. And had to resist the urge to slide his arms around her and draw her close. Still, he gave in to the desire to close the distance between them. He bent over her to peer down into the pot she was stirring.
“What is that? It smells amazing!”
Yoongi’s chin was practically resting on her shoulder. She closed her eyes and soaked in his presence. His warmth was wrapping around her. She wanted to lean back against him. But instead, she held herself straight.
“Chicken noodle soup.”
Yoongi frowned. “I don’t remember buying any noodles.”
“You didn’t. I made them.”
“From scratch?” he asked, astounded. He pulled away from her and came to stand next to her. He pivoted to face her and leaned up against the counter next to the stove. His eyes searched her face.
She nodded.
“You made noodles from scratch?” he echoed his own question for clarification.
Her face was comical. “Yoongi. You act like I accomplished an impossible feat. It’s really easy to make egg noodles. You just mix a little flour with an egg and some salt. Then roll out the dough and cut it. Then I tossed them into my soup and boiled them for a little while. And voilà! Chicken noodle soup.”
“You’re amazing.”
In surprise, she glanced up into his eyes. And got caught in his gaze.
Yoongi’s lips curved upward into a gentle smile. Then his eyes slid away, caressing her cheek. He reached up a moment later and liberated one auburn lock that had gotten stuck to her skin.
As the pad of his finger slid along her cheek, she gasped, and their eyes connected.
Yoongi pulled his eyebrows towards his nose in a sudden, controlled movement. “Did I hurt you?” he whispered gruffly.
She shook her head slightly. She was still reeling from the electrical shock that had just rocked her at the touch of just one of his fingers.
“Oh,” he breathed as his eyes traveled down to her mouth. His gaze seemed fixated to that spot for a few moments.
Nervously, she ceased breathing. Then she pressed her lips together, and the tip of her pink tongue darted out to moisten the bottom one. This anxious action increased the tension between them. Yoongi leaned towards her.
She blinked. And her voice stopped his forward motion. “What did you pick up for dinner?”
Now frozen a few inches from her, Yoongi glanced up, and his eyes kissed hers. The shock caused by her voice breaking into his reverie reverberated in the depths of those mahogany orbs. He grappled for sanity. And coherency.
Finally, he cleared his throat and lifted the bag in his hand. A smile curved his lips as he responded, “Japchae.”
“Yoongi! You spoil me.”
“I suspect it’s about time someone did,” he murmured.
The tone of his voice arrested her once again.
“You can have it all,” he shook the japchae bag as he gazed down into her pot. “I want to try your soup!”
She smiled at him. “You do?”
He nodded briskly. “Absolutely. It smells heavenly.” He set his bag down on the counter and grabbed a spoon before dipping it into the pot. He drew it close to his face and blew on it. After a few moments, he took a bite and closed his eyes in bliss. “Lex, you’re an amazing cook! This is so good.”
She simply stared at him. And blinked back the tears that had instantly formed in her eyes.
He pulled a bowl out of the cabinet and served himself some soup. Then he glanced down at her. “Grab your bag. Let’s go watch something while we eat.”
“Wait. Yoongi.”
His eyes probed hers. Her voice was communicating such sobriety that he became concerned. “What is it?”
“I, uh, I have a Christmas surprise for you.”
He quirked one dark eyebrow. “You do?”
She nodded. Before reaching over to pull a towel off a plate resting on the counter in front of him. He glanced down.
And the years rolled away as a tender voice spoke affectionately into his ear, “Come here, Yoonie. Harmony made you your favorites.”
“How?” he asked suddenly. His lips barely moved as his eyes traveled to Lex’s face. “How did you know my favorites?”
She beamed at him. “Dasik really are your favorite cookies?” Her voice was vibrating with delight. “I wanted to do something that would make it feel like Christmas to you. Something special.”
“Well, you struck upon the very thing,” he murmured as a lump formed in his throat. His gaze shifted back to the plate of sesame cookies. “You could not have picked anything that would better encapsulate Christmas for me than my Harmony’s cookies. But I don’t understand. How did you know?”
“This.” She reached into the drawer in front of him and pulled out the note his grandma had written him years ago.
His face trembled as he reached out to take that beloved missive. “I had completely forgotten about this,” he breathed in awe as he stared down at the precious strokes of his grandmother’s pen.
“Yoonie, I made your favorites! I hope these dasik will make you well. Love, Harmony.”
“They did,” he murmured.
Alexis studied his face. “What?”
“Her cookies. They did make me feel better.” Yoongi lifted his gaze to meet hers.
Alexis was still captivated by those glorious, mahogany orbs. No matter how many times Yoongi looked at her, she simply continued to fall into their depths. Completely powerless against the hidden part of him that intrigued her the most.
“They did?” she queried hollowly, not even sure what they were talking about anymore.
His head bobbed up once before his chin returned to its normal resting place. “Yes. I had experienced a horrid week at school. I was seven years old, and my best friend deserted me for one of the kids that bullied me. It was an awful time. But Harmony,” his lips twitched into a sweet smile, “she made it better with her dasik. She knew they could always pull me out of my doldrums.”
He glanced back down at Lex’s cookies.
“I’m sorry they’re shaped so funny,” she apologized as she gazed down at the lumpy disks. “I couldn’t find a dasik mold in your kitchen, and I didn’t think to buy one at the store.” Truthfully, she had looked at them, but they’d cost so much. She couldn’t rob her baby to enrich Yoongi. “So I had to roll the dough into balls and just flatten them.”
Yoongi stared down at the little coins of honeyed sesame dough. He reached out and grabbed one before popping the entire thing into his mouth. His eyes fell shut as he savored the sweetness of the cookies a weary mother-to-be had spent her afternoon making for him.
“They’re just perfect,” he whispered as a hundred memories assailed him. Every single one of those memories was good. He felt tears pricking his eyes.
He turned towards Alexis and reached for her. He tugged her into his embrace. Folding his arms against her back, he pulled her tight up against him. “Thank you, Lex,” he breathed.
And it was clear to her that he was the only one still breathing.
Chapter 32: A Little Wonder – December 15
He seemed reluctant to let her go. And she was definitely not in a hurry to release him either. She buried her nose against his strong chest and inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of sage and citrus. Her lips curved into a smile as a deep sense of contentment embraced her. Alexis felt like she would always be happy in Yoongi’s arms.
So they stood holding on to each other for several seconds. Both basking in the other’s touch. Finally, they drew apart. Each with a sad sigh. But when their eyes met a moment later, they both smiled at the other.
“Hungry?” he whispered.
She nodded her head. “Ravenous.” And japchae sounded absolutely wonderful. But not nearly as wonderful as the man standing in front of her.
––
After dinner, Yoongi washed the dishes while Lex dried them. Then she sent him a fabulous grin.
“I have another surprise.”
She melted into her bedroom and returned a couple of minutes later, carrying a box. She set it down on the coffee table. Then she glanced up at him as he wiped down the kitchen counter. “Yoongi, would you like to help me decorate our tree?”
His eyes traversed the distance between them, finally colliding with hers. “I would love to!” He tossed the towel down onto the counter and crossed the room to join her at the coffee table.
“I made a bunch of ornaments,” she admitted softly as she pulled a glittery gold star out of the box. It had been designed from several pieces of cardstock woven together to make a beautiful tree topper.
“You made this?” he breathed in wonder as he liberated it from her grasp. He tilted it at several different angles while he examined it. “Lex. This is gorgeous! You could sell these!”
“Nah, nobody would want to pay for a few scraps of card stock and glitter paint.”
He glanced sharply at her. “Once again, you underestimate yourself. This is stunning! It doesn’t look like you made it from such cheap materials.” He tilted his head towards her. “Do you think you could make some more?”
She shrugged. “Sure.”
“By Friday night? Maybe fifty?”
She frowned. “Yeah, I guess. But why?”
“Do you trust me?” he whispered.
She gazed into those captivating, mahogany eyes. Eyes that had drawn her at the first. Eyes that drew her still. “Of course.”
“Then make me fifty of these this week.” His lips tilted downward. “But don’t wear yourself out to do it.”
She nodded. “I promise I won’t. But, really, I’ve got lots of time on my hands now that school’s out. I should be able to sleep and create more ornaments.”
He gazed with interest down into her box. “What else you got?”
She pulled out a sparkly red and white candy cane fashioned from a thicker piece of cardstock and more paint. He gasped as he gazed down at it. “This one is just as stunning! How do you manage to turn paper and paint – such ordinary items – into a masterpiece?”
She just stared at him. “Yoongi, it’s just a children’s project!”
“No,” he shook his head. “This is more than a children’s project.” He reached into the box and unearthed a miniature Christmas tree. His eyes grew wide as he studied the details on it. “How did you make these Christmas lights look so real?” he queried in wonder as he reached out and brushed his finger across one. He almost expected it to be warm to the touch because it was so realistic. “What’s the medium for this one? It feels thicker than paper.”
“It’s a thin sheet of wood.”
“Ah! You can make them out of wood?”
She nodded. “I found a little shop selling Christmas shapes cut out of balsam wood.”
“That’s perfect!” He peered down into the box before pulling out a glittery, golden star followed by a red stocking. She had glued a tuft of white fluff to the top to form a soft cuff. “This is really cute.” He turned around and hung it on the tree. Then he found a place for the tiny star. He turned back towards her. “Are there more?”
She pulled out a couple of snow globes. Yoongi stared down in wonder at them. “What are those?”
“Snow globes.”
He wrinkled his brow. “What on earth did you make them out of?”
“Baby food jars.”
He reached out to pull one from her fingers. He examined it before shaking it. He watched as the white glitter floated through the liquid to create a miniature snowstorm that swirled around a little snowman inside. “This is cute. Where’d you get the jars?”
“From the mother of one of my students. I asked the kids to bring supplies to school last week so they could each make a different ornament every day. I had a few left over, so I brought them home with me.”
Yoongi grinned as he held up the second snow globe and shook it around. He watched the ivory flakes fall to the ground around the tiny, plastic penguin which she’d glued to the inside of the jar lid.
Then Alexis uncovered several more wooden ornaments. A pair of green mittens, a gingerbread man, and a crimson heart all soon joined the star and stocking on the tree. Next, Yoongi discovered another shimmering ornament made of balsam wood. He studied the adorable snowman which she’d created using a sparkly white paint. She’d also given him a shiny black top hat, a glowing red scarf, and a bright orange nose in the shape of a carrot. His coal black eyes matched the three buttons crowning his middle layer.
Yoongi glanced up at her. “Lex, how many of these do you think you could make this week?”
“None.”
“What?”
“I’m out of the wooden shapes. And I don’t really have any money to buy any more.”
“Oh. That’s not a problem. I’ll pay for them.” He cocked his midnight eyebrow at her. “Can you buy more?”
“I think so. They had a lot the last time I visited the craft store.”
“Make as many as you can. How much money do you need?”
They agreed upon an amount, and he pulled a bill from his wallet. “This should more than cover it.”
Her eyes grew wide as she stared down at the sum in his hand. “Yoongi! That’s way too much!”
“Treat yourself to lunch too when you go shopping,” he remarked with a twinkle in his eye.
“Yoongi, I couldn’t.”
“Yes, you can. You’re working for me now. And I always take good care of my employees.”
“I’m working for you now?” she echoed him quizzically. “What do you mean?”
“I’m going to sell these ornaments, so I’m also going to pay you for making them.”
“Sell them?” she queried in astonishment. “To whom?”
“That’s going to be my surprise.”
She blinked up at him in such an innocent and bewildered fashion that he was suddenly seized by an overpowering desire to kiss her pretty lips. Instead, he turned away from her to dig through the box in his search for more ornaments to hang on the tree.
“Oh, no!” she exclaimed.
His eyes flew to her face. “What?”
“I forgot that we needed Christmas lights for the tree!”
“Oh!” He turned from her to walk across the room. “And I forgot that I picked some up on my way home.” He bent to retrieve the box that he’d set down by the front door.
As Alexis watched him, she marveled that she hadn’t noticed the colorful box sitting on the ground. Yoongi opened it and unwound the lights before winding them around the tree. A few moments later, they were lighting up their little, green fir. And Lex’s countenance.
He turned around and froze as he saw the delight crowning her face. As pure wonder shocked her countenance, she appeared to be no older than a five-year-old. He stood captivated by that beautiful face. He could just picture her as a tiny girl with long, red braids framing her face as her bright, blue eyes lit up with joy as they studied the lights of the Christmas tree. Today was no different. Except that those wild, auburn tresses had been loosed to cascade in a brilliant waterfall down her back.
And Yoongi confronted a new truth. Not kissing her was becoming increasingly harder.
Chapter 33: A Christmas Miracle – December 16 – 18
The next afternoon, while Alexis was gone on a quick errand to buy some more metallic paint, Yoongi made a speedy purchase himself. He managed to secrete it away in her bedroom before she returned from the craft store.
As she came through the door shivering, he approached her with a smile.
She glanced up at him curiously. “Yoongi?” she breathed. “What is it?”
“I have a present for you,” he responded gently. His face was practically shining with happiness.
“A present?” she echoed in surprise.
He nodded. “I was going to save it for you for Christmas, but I think you need it now.” He reached out a hand towards her. “Come.”
Wondering what on earth he could have bought her, she blinked as she allowed him to take her hand and lead her into her bedroom. She instantly noticed the new nightstand resting next to her bed.
“Yoongi! It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed as her eyes slid along the smooth, wooden top of that little bureau.
Then she turned to gaze up at him, still very conscious of his warm fingers pressing into hers. “Thank you, Yoongi!”
He beamed down at her as he gave those fingers a little squeeze. “You’re welcome, Lex. You really like it?”
“Like it?” An odd tremor flowed over her forehead. “I love it!” She moved towards her new gift, and Yoongi reluctantly released her hand.
A moment later, that hand was sliding over the top of her new nightstand as she delighted in the cool touch of its sleek top. “I think it’s the nicest thing anyone has ever bought me,” she breathed, breaking Yoongi’s heart.
––
Alexis spent the remainder of the week dreaming up new ornaments and bringing them to life. And having the time of her own life. She loved to let her creativity stretch its legs. Even more than she enjoyed teaching small children.
She cut, pasted, and painted her way through the week. At the end of it, she had three hundred beautiful ornaments to show for her hard work. Yoongi gazed down at them late Friday morning as he helped her pack them into boxes.
“Lex, these are just stunning! You have such a talent with a paintbrush!”
She blushed, two bright roses staining her cheeks with pleasure at his compliment. “You really think so?”
“Do you think I would have paid for all your materials and bought you lunch if I didn’t?”
She peered suspiciously up at him. “Maybe. You’re awfully nice.”
He chuckled and reached out to tweak her nose.
“Hey!” she shouted in outrage. “What was that?”
“That,” his smile faded as his eyes grew serious, “was me teasing you.”
But he wasn’t teasing her now. He was entirely sober. And she could feel that odd tension dancing on the air between them again. The buzz that stole her breath.
Often.
If she would but admit it.
However, she did her best to ignore it. For it scared her. A lot. She had a crazy chemistry with Yoongi that she had never experienced with Frederick. It made her want to throw caution to the wind and embrace Yoongi with longing. And passion.
But she hoped that she was wiser than she used to be. With each passing day, she drew closer to the reality of becoming some little being’s loving mother and sole support. She had to keep her focus on her baby. Not on the wonderful man who slept a few feet away from her each night.
So, she turned away from Yoongi.
He sighed and continued packing the decorations. Once both boxes were full, he taped them shut before turning towards her. “I’ll come pick you up at four o’clock, and we’ll head to dinner. Okay?”
She nodded. “Are you sure you want me to make more ornaments this afternoon?”
He nodded emphatically. “Yes. But only if you’re not tired,” he added.
She smiled. “I’m not. Not today. I slept pretty late this morning.”
“Good for you.” The corners of his eyes crinkled as he flashed his gummy grin at her and resisted the urge to tweak her nose again. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”
He headed for the concert hall. Two large boxes in his arms. He still wouldn’t explain to her where he was taking her decorations.
But as soon as the door was shut, she got to work again. She had a lot of ornaments to paint. And a concert to get ready for. What on earth was she going to wear tonight? She was running out of options. But she didn’t want to embarrass Yoongi.
She sighed. She’d wear the black dress tonight. Tomorrow night would feature the red one. But…what would she wear on Sunday?
––
Yoongi escorted her into the concert hall at five thirty. On the button. As they entered the lobby, he led her to a table that had been set up in one corner. She gasped as her eyes took in several rows of merchandise. The ornaments she had created!
Her eyes perused the sign someone had set up at the back of the table. It was advertising that her ornaments were for sale. For ten dollars apiece. About eleven thousand won each. She inhaled sharply as her eyes collided with his.
“You’re selling my ornaments here?”
He shook his head. “No, you’re selling your ornaments here. See? Read the other sign.” He pointed at one end of the table.
Her gaze found the second sign.
“Local artist, Alexis Campbell, a transplant from the cornfields of America, brings a little Christmas cheer to Seoul. Get your own hand-painted ornament today before they are all gone!”
The sign was written in both Korean and English.
Alexis turned her eyes towards Yoongi. “You did all this? For me?”
He nodded his head. “You need a way to provide for your baby, Lex. Once she – or he – is born. I saw an opportunity. So I took it. I got special permission for you to sell the ornaments here in the lobby. You get to keep all the money.”
Her eyes grew wide. “What?” she breathed in shock.
He bobbed his head as a sweet smile stole across his countenance. “Hopefully, we can establish your reputation as a local artist before the New Year. Maybe you can branch out and make decorations for other holidays too? Korean New Year? Chuseok? I figured you could use some additional income.”
“Thank you, Yoongi!” she gasped as she threw her arms around him and hugged him tight.
For just a moment, he returned that blissful hug. Then he released her. “You can sell your ornaments until five minutes before the show starts. And you can head back here as soon as it’s over. I’ll meet you here afterward, okay?”
She nodded as she swallowed a tear that had just run down the back of her throat. Sniffing, she moved behind the table. Yoongi sent her a sweet smile before turning towards the auditorium.
“How am I ever going to be able to repay you, Yoongi? At every turn, you outdo yourself blessing me.”
His eyes slid back towards her. “Lex, I don’t want you to repay me. Just accept my help. That’s enough for me.” He glanced at her ornaments lining the table. “You did all the work. All I did was use my connections to find you a venue to sell them. The rest is up to you.”
With those dubious words, he disappeared. But, as it turned out, Alexis had no reason to worry. She’d sold more than half her ornaments before the symphony began that night. She was absolutely astounded. All of the patrons who purchased one were exclaiming over their beauty.
Alexis couldn’t understand it. They were simple decorations. Just a little bit of paint covering a flimsy piece of wood. But everyone seemed to think they’d just purchased a masterpiece. Whatever this miracle was, she was grateful for it. She’d just collected twenty-five hundred dollars! That was nearly half of what she’d need to deliver her baby.
And tonight wasn’t the last performance before Christmas. There were three more. She would have three more opportunities to sell her creations. She suddenly had a lot of work to do over the next few days! She smiled as she headed towards the front row of the concert hall. Yoongi’s generous heart had provided her with a Christmas miracle.
