Even Caesar was wearing one of those Christmas hats, the red velvet cone-shaped ones with the white pom-pom on the top, that and his tuxedo. He was standing at his maître d’ stand looking through his book when Bill came in and first saw him. Instead of the usual black bow tie, he wore a green one with candy canes on it. His facial expression, Bill thought, said “bah, humbug.”
Humbug was how Bill felt. He’d already been in the hotel all day and he would be there all night. His wife was at her parents’ house. They would be going over to her aunt’s house for Christmas eve celebration. Bill would miss that.
After work, Bill would be going to his wife at her parent’s house. Then he would be off to the hotel to work the Falstaff Room on Christmas Day. The room was open early and was closing at ten. No big deal really.
As a lark, when Bill had put the things he’d carried in down in the kitchen, he walked over to Caesar. He and Caesar had not really spoken except for business dealings since their bad start. But seeing Caesar in the stupid hat and Christmas bow tie, Bill sensed two things, first and opening and second a weakness. After all, it was Christmas.
As he approached Caesar, he put out his hand to shake.
Caesar was taken aback. He looked up from his book and reached over the little podium-type stand and shook hands with Bill.
“Merry Christmas,” Bill said.
“Merry Christmas to you,” Caesar returned.
“Maybe we can get past the crappy start we had,” Bill said. “New Year’s is right around the corner. I don’t see any point in continuing the animosity. It’s not good for you, not good for me, and most certainly not good for the room.”
“You’re right,” Caesar said. “Let’s shake on that too.”
“Good deal,” Bill said.
They shook hands a second time and Caesar came around from his stand and walked Bill back to the kitchen.
“What have we got for tonight?” he asked.
“It’s not here yet, but some nice fish and chicken specials. I think the banquet chef is cooking turkeys for tomorrow. There’ll be stuffing too.”
“I don’t have many reservations for tonight. It’s a sleeper I think.”
“Yeah, well, we’ve been doing great business, so I’ve been told. The real measure will come after the holidays.”
“Winter is slower,” Caesar said.
“Maybe we can break that pattern.”
“That would be nice.”
“Well, here’s to a good Christmas and good new year,” Bill said.
He reached out one last time to shake Caesar’s hand. The two men shook hands and Caesar went back to his maître d’ stand while Bill continued the kitchen setup. He put away everything he’d set down in the kitchen then went out to where Kalista was, where they’d left the cart. Jimmy G was sitting by his aunt drinking an espresso.
“Gonna work today?” Bill asked.
“Not unless I have to.”
Kalista reached over to her nephew and slapped him one on the back of his head. “Why you make the boy work so hard?” she asked.
Jimmy G didn’t say anything. He didn’t move either. He sat and quietly sipped his coffee.
“Want espresso?” Kalista said.
“Sure.”
Bill went back to unloading the cart no longer counting on Jimmy G to help out. When he came back through the double door, his hands full, he met with the a surprise which was Rosie and Edelgarde both standing at the entry to the kitchen. They had hung a piece of mistletoe over the entryway. He saw that they wore the same hat as Caesar was wearing. He also saw that they had big cotton tails in the appropriate place on the back of their uniforms. They wore big, big smiles on their faces.
Both girls stepped aside so Bill could set down the things he carried. Then, Edelgarde first and Rosie right after, they each stepped enough into the kitchen such that Caesar could not see them and kissed Bill. They both chose long, passionate and intimate kisses.
