Not so much a Scrooge but very much a Grinch

Sheldon heard the words of appreciation and saw the excitement on his uncles' faces. He could see also that every one too was lost in the tranquil festivity that had long since been denied to the Angels Cafe.

His eyes took in the columns, arches, and Sheila's counter, which were strewn with twinkling lights that blinked in tune to Jingle Bell. Santa Claus and his reindeer had their place in full flight across the top half of the picture window, and mistletoes were placed in all the places where a smooch or two could be easily intercepted.

As his eyes travelled about the cafe, he balled his hands into tight fists, fighting the emotions that surged through him like a wildfire burning away the chaff. He was not prepared for this.

However, it was the Christmas Tree decorated with ornaments and banners depicting glittering angels along with red and green bows that took the spotlight that shook him to his very core.

It tugged at him, pulling out all his emotions and causing him to want to be enveloped in the tranquillity that he saw on everyone's faces.

Sheldon begrudgingly had to admit it was very beautiful. Just as beautiful as the one from many years ago that turned his world upside down. The one that had boasted the creativity, joy, and pride of his mother.

Just like the woman who he knew contradicted his every demand and broke the one rule he had kept in place for many years, it pulled him closer and closer to wanting to let loose and give in.

She had gotten everyone behind her to bring back Christmas to The Angel's Cafe. He could feel both her and the change she created breaking down at his reluctance and causing the chains that he had placed about his emotions to suddenly want to be unshackled.

His eyes moved to her and followed her every move before he came to stand by her. He intended to voice his displeasure, but as of late, he found himself acting in total opposite.

This was too much. Where was the old him that nipped every action that went against his desire in the bud without remorse?

He was not ready for this. He was not ready to let go and dive into the sweet temptation that was his petite golden waitress. He did not deserve such freedom, not after what he did.

Unlike the happy couple who his eyes now reluctantly observed he could not pin a picture to a bough and move on; unlike his uncles, he could not show appreciation for the time that he destroyed the woman he loved and robbed him and his brother of the life that could have lasted if he wasn't so careless.

Alexa, despite Sheldon's displeasure, was pleased by his uncles' appreciation. She was very much aware of his cold scrutiny and tried her best to appear poised and unphased.

She had responded nonchalantly to his barely repressed anger earlier when he had practically ripped her to shreds with his barely suppressed anger-filled words. Now, deep down, she was upset at his lack of care or concern at his selfishness. Why could he not share their undiluted appreciation?

She watched him as he gazed at the couple, who, after taking an instant pic of a cute baby, went and pinned it to one of the trees bough and then returned to their table looking as if a weight had been removed from their heart.

The distraught look on Sheldon's face as he watched the couple, who smiled sweetly at each other as if sharing an understanding of what they had endured, had her heart racing heart with emotions that blurred her vision and caused her to blink the threatening tears away.

She knew that she had done the right thing, yet seeing Sheldon like this, she felt like a bandit who robbed him of his resolve. She turned to where his relatives still stood, talking jovially as they greeted strangers and friends alike.

Why could Sheldon not allow himself the same respite? She thought before she turned to watch him storm from the room, and her heart bled for him.

How could he be so selfish and unsympathetic? After all that he saw he was still hell-bent on being a damn Grinch. She would be damn if she allowed him to make a mess of everyone's Christmas because he was a callus Grinch!

She had first considered him a Scrooge but he was not a miserable miser who would rather keep profiting from the Angel's Cafe and seeing his workers have nothing.

He ensured his workers were well taken care of if only he shared their love for the Christmas season or found the spirit of Christmas in himself to share with the people who truly loved him.

She stared at Sheila's crestfallen face as she wiped the already spotless counter. She could hear Molly in the kitchen banging a few pots a little too loudly and the atmosphere was now somewhat saddened.

All this was not going to be in vain dammit.

She had come too far and risked too much to let it all go back to square one. She saw how much this time of year meant to everyone who visited Mistle, and to those who lived here as well. It went far more than just being a tourist attraction, the time when money flowed and business boomed.

There was something here that could not be lost. If she should give up now, pretty soon, the Angel's Cafe will be just a place, a building where true purpose will be lost as it fades away. She was not sure how long Molly and the others would give their time, effort, and love to a place that would eventually become a part of something that once was.

She swallowed as she thought back to the Shady figure by the statue. He said if she wanted her chance, she had to restore Sheldon, and something tells her it also had to come about from her. She had to let him realize the importance of the legacy that was not only his but for everyone who became a part of Mistle one way or the other.

"Please wherever you are," she said softly as she pictured the figure who set this day in motion because of the stone around her neck, "give me the right things to say to him."

She knew already just how much the Angel's Cafe and the people who valued it had come to mean to her over the time she had become a part of Mistle, she was not ready to lose it. She wanted it to be one of the constant things in her new life. She wanted not to have her other chance at a brand new life another thing that could have been.

Alexa did not know when or how she had moved from the table, but she found herself standing in the office where Sheldon stood, staring at the statue where her life had once again changed.

This change she had, however, wanted as it had brought forth her self-confidence, happiness, and a sense to dream. And something else she feared to acknowledge.

She took a deep breath and walked through the door. This was it. It was the time to say the things that he needed to hear and was also the time for him to release all he held inside so that he, too, could be transformed.
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That Shady Stranger, with his stone of chance, has set up a bigger affair...is this his plan all along?

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