Hello everyone! This is just a fun little story for the upcoming Christmas story that was inspired by a meme that lemacd sent me. The meme says "Looking forward to Hallmark's holiday offering A Very Covid Christmas, when a big city lawyer and a country candle maker accidently meet when they go to the wrong Zoom meeting". The chapters won't be very long, but I do hope you'll enjoy this little story!

A Very Covid Christmas

"But I don't understand, Mummy," Drew said, glancing up at his mother and then back at the paper in front of him. Anna inhaled sharply. Teachers needed all the raises. When they had ended up in their second lockdown and needing to do school from home, Anna had wondered how difficult Year One work could be. Well, now she knew. Teachers were saints as far as she was concerned.

Anna lifted up the paper. Her brows knitted. It was only a page where they were supposed to color the letter R. It seemed easy enough.

"Drew, you just have to color the letter R," Anna told him again. She placed the paper down in front of her son and checked her iWatch. It was getting close to her new meeting with a business man.

"I did!" Drew stated, exasperated.

Again, Anna snatched up the paper.

"No, you only did one R. You have to color all of them." Anna set it down back in front of Drew and he looked flummoxed.

"But you said to color the letter R. That's one R. So I colored one."

Anna sighed. Her son took things very literally.

"Sorry, Drew. I meant you have to color every R. Do that and then go to your room and play on your tablet, quietly. Mummy has a very important meeting."

"But I don't want to play on my tablet! Can't we go to the park?"

"No, honey, we can't. Maybe we can go on a walk after my meeting," Anna then added with a smile. She knew that Drew was growing agitated with the newest lockdown.

"When is Daisy coming back?" He then asked with a whine. Daisy was Anna's nanny, who helped to take care of Drew when she, a single mother, needed help.

"Ten days," Anna reminded him. "Ten more days until she's out of quarantine."

"Because she got the Covid?" Drew asked very seriously. His brows had risen up and his lips pursed together worriedly. Anna brought her hand over to ruffle his hair.

"Well, she was exposed to it. She never did get tested. She's just staying home for two weeks to make sure she doesn't give it to anyone else."

"And that's responsible of her," Drew added.

"Yes, it is. But now Mummy has to balance this all on her own," Anna said. "I need you to be very good for me and do as I ask."

"Okay, Mummy," Drew considerately answered. He nuzzled his nose against Anna's, making her laugh. He was the sweetest little boy. She was so fortunate to have him. It was just her and him against the world.

Her watch dinged, reminding her of her Zoom meeting.

"I have to go," Anna murmured to her son. "Remember, be very quiet for Mummy."

"I will!"

Anna quickly got up from her seat at the table and walked down the narrow hallway to her bedroom/office. Their flat wasn't large, but it was the perfect size for the two of them. Anna worked very long hours as a corporate lawyer and she was saving up the funds to buy them a nice house right outside of the city, soon. She had been saving up for years. Having to pay for a full time nanny and other necessities as a single mother, had made buying a house difficult. But soon, she would be able to have that dream for her and her son.

She made sure her room was straight and then went to her laptop. She combed her fingers through her hair and threw on the jacket that was tossed over the seat, to make herself look more presentable. Her pajama pants were still on, but hopefully she would be remaining seating for this entire meeting. Even though this was the second time they went into lockdown, Anna was still struggling to keep it all together.

Sitting down, she sat herself up straight and clicked the link that was provided to her. Immediately, a face filled the screen. She needed to be quick.

"Good afternoon," she started. The man opened his mouth to speak, but Anna had already begun her next sentence. "We need to speak about the name of your business. I'm afraid you won't be able to use it. You see, we have the rights to that name."

"Wait, what?" The man asked on the screen, clearly confused. Anna flipped through her file.

"We're paying for it. You can't use it."

"What do you mean I can't use the name? It's my name," the man stated. Anna glanced up from the paperwork on her desk, adjusting the glasses against her nose.

"Your name is DataSys?" Anna asked, incredulously. The man shook his head.

"No, my name is John Bates," he replied. Anna grabbed her paperwork, lifting it up and searching for the name she was given.

"John Bates? You're not, Mr. Clemons?"

"No," John now chuckled. "I am not. I am afraid this might be the wrong call?"

Anna relaxed slightly. She took her glasses off and set them down next to her.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Bates," she replied. Her watch dinged. Looking down, she saw she had a message from her boss, Robert Crawley, saying that the meeting had been moved until tomorrow. "Looks like my meeting was canceled."

"It's alright," John said with a smile. "I was supposed to be meeting with a lawyer about setting up my own online business. Apparently, I was given the wrong link."

"Should I let you go so that you can sort that out?" Anna questioned him. The skin beside his eyes was creased from his bright smile. Around him looked as though Christmas had thrown up in his store or home, wherever he was. She had to hold back an eye roll. He was one of those people where Christmas became a personality trait come November 1st.

"No, she hasn't returned my message," John answered, his lips now curling into a frown.

"Well, perhaps, I could help you. What kind of store do you own?"

"A candle store."

Anna laughed. "Really, a candle store?"

"Why is that so funny?"

"It's just…you don't seem the type, I guess," Anna quickly stated. John crossed his arms, sitting them on the table before him.

"You don't seem the type to believe in male and female stereotypes," John pointed out. Anna grew slightly huffy and in need to defend herself.

"I'm not. I'll have you know that I bought my son a doll," she said.

"You have a son?"

"I do. Now, tell me more about this candle business. You want to move it online?"

"Yes, I have been wanting to make it an official business: Bates' Candles. But with the lockdown, it seems more necessary."

"Right," Anna agreed. "The lockdown is definitely changing the way we all do things. How about you email me the information about your business and I will look it over."

"Are you sure?"

"Why not? Unless you've already paid the other…"

"No, I haven't. This was just supposed to be a first meeting, so I can change course." At that, Anna smiled.

"Good. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Bates."

"It was nice to meet you too, Mrs…"

"Ms," Anna quickly corrected. "Ms. Anna Smith. I'm going to type my email in the chat box for you. Email me the information about your shop and we can schedule another meeting for tomorrow or the next day."

"Thank you, Ms. Smith. Have a good afternoon."

"You too."

To be continued...

More soon! Please let me know if you'd like me to continue :)