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    Joy to the Office: A Soul Searching Romance
    Joy to the Office: A Soul Searching Romance
    Joy to the Office: A Soul Searching Romance
    Ebook211 pages2 hours

    Joy to the Office: A Soul Searching Romance

    By Nicole Schroeder and Aunna Schroeder

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    About this ebook

    Joy Bell loves working remotely, especially during Christmas. She was always busy throughout the day; when she wasn't working on the project, she might choose to shop for presents for family and friends, volunteer at her local church, unwind with her best friend while watching Christmas movies, or perhaps satisfy her creative side by baking delicious cookies. This Christmas, she unfortunately had to forgo her plans and return to the office full-time in order to finish a demanding project that had an inflexible deadline. She wasn't the only one with Christmas plans,many others also had plans, which resulted in a lot of sad faces being present throughout the office. This inspired her to think beyond herself and bring a little joy into the office. She baked cookies, ordered food, and created a space for everyone to commune during their breaks.

    Returning to the office full time, Nicholas Rudolf had one objective! Complete the project so he could get home for Christmas. He did not want to connect with his coworkers, especially Joy. With her baked goods, ugly Christmas sweaters, and store bought Christmas cheer, she represented everything that was wrong with Christmas. He couldn't have someone like her in his life; he needed someone who understood that Jesus was the center of their joy, not cookies and milk. 

    Yet, there was a spark between them and a shared history, thanks to his family's Christmas tree farm. Is it possible that a union between them could be a part of God's plan this Christmas?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBookBaby
    Release dateDec 24, 2024
    ISBN9798350989755
    Joy to the Office: A Soul Searching Romance
    Author

    Nicole Schroeder

    Aunna Schroeder is an award-winning author. She won first place in the 2023 and 2024 Alabama Youth Ministries' Fine Arts Festival, in the Book Chapter category. She is also a contributing author on Nicole C Schroeder's Gifted series. Aunna is a senior in high school who is thankful for the gift God has given her.

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      Book preview

      Joy to the Office - Nicole Schroeder

      Chapter One

      Friday, November 29

      Black Friday shopping was a time-honored tradition in Joy Bell’s family. Every year, their alarm clock would sound off at the crack of dawn, literally and figuratively. As Christmas carols filled the air, her mother, Dawn Bell, would run around the house barking orders like a drill sergeant.

      Her father, Albert Bell, or Al as her mother called him, sat at the kitchen table. He’d sip his coffee while he watched what he believed to be the best show of the Christmas season.

      Hurry girls! I just received an alert on my Black Friday app! One hundred and fifty people are already in line! Her panicked voice cut through the Christmas carols like a knife.

      What happened to long lines being a thing of the past on Black Friday? Joy’s younger sister, Patience asked, as she strolled into the kitchen, and poured herself a cup of coffee.

      She was named after their great-grandmother; however, their father jokingly said the name Patience was selected as a constant reminder for her to exercise patience with her boisterous high maintenance mother and older sister.

      Patience, I don’t know what happened. According to an article I read, people were planning to stay home and shop online.

      Joy ran into the kitchen. We have to go. They’re only giving away two hundred gift cards this year. I’m on a budget. If I don’t get a card, I don’t think I’ll be able to purchase a nice gift for the Christmas toy drive at church. Joy said as she tossed a few candy canes and granola bars in her bag.

      It never fails! Someone’s stomach always growls halfway through the shopping trip, breaking their mother’s concentration. Suddenly, her motherly instincts would kick back in, and she would insist on cutting their shopping trip short so they could meet Noelle and her mother, Virginia, at Betty’s Best Bakes for a late breakfast. Joy refused to miss out on a great deal this year. She was on a mission. She needed clothes because t-shirts and yoga pants were unprofessional.

      Oh, Joy! It’s only ten dollars—

      For each of us, Patience! That’s thirty dollars. We could purchase at least three gifts for the children’s toy drive this year at church.

      Well, we won’t purchase anything if we don’t get going, girls. Come on. Dawn said, as she grabbed her purse and headed toward the door. Don’t forget the ornaments, Al! They won’t get themselves out of the attic. Mr. Rudolf will be here with our trees soon. Don’t forget to give him the tin of cookies on the counter for his wife and tell him I’ll see him on the fourteenth when he brings our second order of trees to the park.

      Anything else? He asked, dryly.

      No. I don’t want to give you too much to do this morning. I want you to enjoy yourself, dear. We’ll see you a little later. I love you.

      I love you too, dear.

      Bye dad.

      Bye, Joy!

      Patience took a deep breath. Bye, dad. Pray for me.

      I do it every year, honey. I do it every year.

      ***

      When they arrived, the line was wrapped around the building. Noelle and her mother, Virginia, were somewhere in the middle. As soon as Joy spotted them in line, she hurried toward them.

      Joy, what are you doing? We can’t cut in line. Patience whispered.

      What are you talking about? We’re not cutting in line. We’re saying hello to Noelle and Ms. Virginia. You don’t want to be rude.

      Of course, not—

      Well, come on.

      Dawn hurried past them. She greeted Noelle and Virginia with hugs and flattery. They were both annoyingly beautiful and well dressed.

      I don’t know how you do it. You two always look so cute first thing in the morning.

      Noelle was wearing a cream sweater, a pair of dark denim jeans, and a comfortable pair of cream and tan boots. Virginia was wearing a winter blue sweater, a long flowy blue jean skirt, and a pair of blue and white tennis shoes.

      As they turned to look at each other, Noelle and Virginia smiled brightly. Their resemblance was uncanny, even for mothers and daughters.

      Before long, the line was moving, and the sales associate was handing out the gift cards.

      This is so exciting. She’s getting closer to us, Joy said, as she looked toward the woman behind them.

      She was on the phone, so she didn’t seem to mind their presence in line until they received the last three gift cards. Her speaker phone was activated, so they could hear her entire conversation.

      I swear! I could run them over with a buggy full of designer boots right now, Nicholas. I can’t believe they got the last three gift cards. I’ve been standing here for two hours. It’s not fair. I’m so mad that I might need a lawyer after this—

      Patience nudged Joy, but she was completely oblivious. She just kept going on and on about how blessed they were to receive one of the gift cards.

      A few seconds later, Patience looked at Noelle. She was just as embarrassed as she was. Her face was as red as her hair and her eyes were twice their normal size.

      Once the line started moving and they could get inside, they sprinted toward their favorite stores and tried to forget that whole uncomfortable scene.

      For the next three hours, they walked through the mall being weighed down by the bags hanging on their arms. At one point, Joy even had a small jewelry bag clenched between her teeth while she fished her wallet out of her bag.

      Noelle, what do you think about this tie? Do you think my dad would like this? Joy asked, as she reached around a woman to grab a candy cane necktie off the shelf.

      Taken aback, the woman said, I was looking at that. I wanted to buy it for my brother as a joke.

      A joke? This is a great tie!

      Noelle recognized the woman from the line. Joy, why don’t you let her have it? Your dad has tons of Christmas ties—

      He doesn’t have this one, and—

      The woman pointed at Noelle accusingly. Wait. You were in front of me in line… you let those people take my gift card.

      Noelle’s eyes widened as the woman stormed off.

      Joy shrugged. What’s her problem? I’m taking it. Dad will love it.

      Noelle didn’t even bother to explain. She just continued to enjoy their shopping trip. They purchased everything from designer suits to not-so-ugly Christmas sweaters.

      Their last stop was the toy store. Joy saw a beautiful African American ballerina doll in the window with a ten-dollar sales sign beside it. Suddenly, she remembered the gift card in her purse. A woman was admiring the doll when she walked over and snatched it out of her reach.

      Ma’am, I was looking at that.

      How wonderful! I hope there’s more just like it in the back. I’m donating this one to the church. Merry Christmas. Joy said, as she waved to her.

      The woman stood there, her mouth hanging open in shock.

      Joy didn’t even look back. She clutched the doll in her arms and hurried toward her mother. She was standing in the next aisle, admiring a train on the shelf.

      Joy, what do you think? It’s always hard for me to choose the right gift for little boys.

      I think it’s seven dollars. Let’s—

      A man put his hand on the train box and Joy snatched it out of his grasp so fast that he didn’t even know what happened. Sorry. This is being donated to the toy drive at church. Come on mom. Let’s find Patience.

      Dawn turned and wished the man a very Merry Christmas.

      He mumbled something a little less than merry as he hurried toward the manager.

      Patience had a fluffy white teddy bear in her arms, with a ten-dollar price tag hanging on it.

      What do you think? There’s an additional ten percent off.

      You had me at an additional ten percent off. Let’s get it.

      After they paid for their items with the gift cards, the remaining balance was seventy-five cents, so each one of them paid a quarter.

      I don’t know about you, but it really did my heart good to get those gifts. Let’s drop them off at the church on our way home, Joy said, as her stomach growled.

      That’s it! We’re going to Betty’s Best Bakes after this. We just have to wait for Noelle and Virginia. They went back to the ornament store. They have new gingerbread themed ornaments this year.

      Mom! It’s fine. I have granola bars.

      Don’t be silly. You need to eat more than that.

      A few minutes later, they met Noelle and Virginia near the mall Santa Claus. He had a small shiny gold bell and a red donation bucket. Joy walked over to give him a dollar, but all she had left was a candy cane and a smile.

      Merry Christmas!

      Ho, ho, huh?

      Patience looked back, and Santa Claus had a perplexed look on his face. Then he shrugged, pulled the paper off the candy cane, and licked it.

      When they made it to the car, their mother had to stop and find her phone, which was buried under a pile of receipts in her purse. Their father was calling for the fifth time.

      Hi, honey, we’re wrapping things up here, no pun intended.

      Good. Mr. Rudolf just left. He had to get back. His son was home, and he wanted to spend a little more time with him.

      Well, that’s understandable.

      All the trees are set up, by the way, but I can’t remember which ornaments go into the kitchen.

      It’s the white storage bin, marked eight maids a milking.

      He snapped his fingers. That’s right. I remember now. Thanks! Talk to you later, dear.

      As she stuffed the phone back into her purse, she laughed and said, He’ll call back again soon. Let’s get these bags in the van, so we can head over to Betty’s Best Bakes for breakfast.

      ***

      The smell of fresh cinnamon rolls and gingerbread cookies wafted through the air at Betty’s Best Bakes, making their mouths water, and their stomachs beg for service.

      Did everyone decide to come here this morning? Joy asked as she looked around the restaurant.

      Apparently. Patience mumbled.

      There was a fifteen minute wait, so they grabbed a few menus and took a seat near the door. As soon as they sat down, Dawn and Virginia resumed their conversation about the festival.

      The Holly North Lane Festival was another time-honored tradition. Everyone who lived on Holly North Lane decorated their houses for Christmas, and they planned activities for families to enjoy during the festival.

      Mr. Rudolf just dropped off the trees. Al said he had to get back to the farm. His son is in town, and he wanted to spend time with him.

      Virginia sighed happily. They’re such a wonderful family. I would love for Noelle to marry their son.

      Which one?

      Does it matter?

      Mom!

      What? It could be great for the festival. We could get the trees for free. She said teasingly.

      Noelle’s face and neck turned red.

      Dawn put her hand over her mouth to suppress her laugh. When she looked at Joy, she had a faraway look in her eyes. What’s wrong, sweetheart?

      I just wish I could be here to help you this Christmas.

      Oh, sweetheart, look on the bright side. You get to bring a little joy to the office. No one could do that better than you.

      ***

      Chapter Two

      Sunday, December 1st

      The Rudolf Family Farm played a pivotal role in establishing Angel Point, Alabama as one of the most enchanting towns in the country, particularly during Christmas. Every year, families travel for hundreds of miles just to experience the majestic beauty. It truly is a sight to behold!

      Tall and stately, their Blue Spruce trees formed a perfect line, and modeled their vibrant blue needles for the world to admire. Just beyond their runway was a greenhouse. It seemed to stretch for miles, with over one million Christmas lights draped around every pole. It cultivated exquisite bright red poinsettias and Mrs. Rudolf’s favorite, the jingle bell poinsettia, which is a popular evergreen shrub.

      People ordered trees and flowers months in advance. They relished the opportunity to bring a bit of the farm’s charm into their homes and offices.

      I can’t believe I won’t be here this season to help you and dad. He said as he looked around the farm.

      We understand, son. Duty calls.

      He sighed heavily. This farm means everything to me. Sometimes I wonder if I did the right thing accepting this job and moving to Nashville. It was easy during the shut down. I could work remotely from here and work on the farm when you were short handed. Now it feels like I’m letting you down.

      Are you kidding me? We knew that wouldn’t last forever. Besides, this farm was started, so the people in this family could have choices. Your dad and I couldn’t be prouder of you and Marley for spreading your wings and flying. You couldn’t waste your talents here at the farm.

      Standing a few feet away, Axel’s heart sank. He was their oldest son and the only child still working on the farm. "Is that what you think I’m doing here on the farm? Wasting my talents. He dropped the Christmas lights and walked away before either of them noticed him.

      Nicholas thought he heard something, but he didn’t see anyone or anything when he looked around the farm.

      Son, don’t forget to take your sister the sweet potato pie. She’s expecting it tonight.

      Of course. She promised to share a piece with me after dinner.

      Evelyn Rudolf grimaced. I wish she could have been here. Thanksgiving wasn’t the same without her.

      Being an entertainment attorney is hard work, but she missed us just as much as we missed her. When I talked to her on Friday, she was at the mall trying to buy our Christmas presents. She said she was one person away from getting some sort of gift card, but an overzealous family cut in line.

      Oh boy, I bet that didn’t go well.

      Nicholas laughed. She threatened to run someone over with a cart. I think?

      What?

      "Forget it. She didn’t do it,

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