“Mom says wishes don’t work…can you help mine?”—Said the Girl to the Single Dad CEO at the Toy Aisle
A Wish Fulfilled and a Future Transformed
Marcus saw the moment Jessica made her decision. She nodded slowly, wiping her eyes.
“Okay but I’m paying you back when I can”
“I will pay you back if that makes you feel better we can arrange it,” Marcus said though he had no intention of accepting repayment.
“But first let me give you my business card.”
He handed her his card: simple, elegant, with his name and company. Jessica’s eyes widened as she read it.
“You’re the Marcus Brennan the CEO of Brennan Technologies”
“I am and we’re always looking for good administrative staff and bookkeepers”
“If you’re interested call my office after the holidays we can discuss positions that might be a fit.”
He paused.
“No guarantees just an interview your qualifications will speak for themselves”
Jessica stared at the card like it might disappear.
“I I don’t know what to say”
“Say you’ll call emma deserves to see her wishes come true and you deserve a chance to build something stable”
They returned to Emma, who was still examining her $20.
“Emma,” Jessica said kneeling down to her daughter’s level.
“Mr Marcus is going to buy that doll you liked and save it for us we’ll pick it up before we leave is that okay”
Emma’s face transformed from sad resignation to dawning hope to pure joy in the space of seconds.
“Really really really really really”
Jessica confirmed, and Emma threw her arms around her mother’s neck then around Marcus’s legs, hugging him with the unself-conscious affection of children.
“Thank you,” Emma whispered, “thank you for helping my wish.”
Marcus felt his throat tighten.
“You’re very welcome Emma.”
He checked out separately, buying not just Emma’s doll but a significant haul for the actual toy drive plus Riley’s Lego set.
He arranged with customer service to hold Emma’s doll, prepaid and waiting under Jessica’s name. As he left, he saw Jessica and Emma at the checkout.
Emma was clutching her $20 and talking excitedly about how she was going to save half and spend half on her mama. As Marcus drove home, he found himself thinking about wishes and circumstances.
He thought about pride and grace and about the random encounters that changed trajectories.
He’d gone to the store for Legos and left having possibly changed two lives or at least opened a door that had seemed closed. Riley was already asleep when he got home.
Patricia was dozing on the couch with a book. He thanked her, paid her extra for the holiday, and carried his shopping bags to his home office.
He looked at Jessica’s information on her card, at the email address she’d written on the back when he’d insisted on getting her contact information.
He sent a quick email to his HR director: “Priority interview after New Year single mother experienced in administration and bookkeeping make sure we find a fit if she’s qualified”.
Then he sat at his desk looking at the photo of Riley on his wall. She was his fierce, funny, wonderful daughter who’d taught him that success meant nothing if you had no one to share it with.
Tomorrow morning she’d wake up to her Lego set and probably spend hours building while he made pancakes and coffee.
But tonight he thought about Emma, who’d asked a stranger for help with her wish because her mother had taught her that wishes didn’t come true.
He thought about Jessica struggling to maintain dignity while drowning in circumstances beyond her control. He thought about how easily he could have walked past them.
He could have focused on his own mission, too busy to notice. 3 days after Christmas, Marcus was in his office when his assistant buzzed him.
“Mr Brennan there’s a Jessica Hartley here to see you”
“She doesn’t have an appointment but she says you told her to come in”
Marcus smiled.
“Send her in please”
Jessica entered his office looking professional in a borrowed suit, her hair neatly styled, her resume in hand. But it was her eyes that struck him: the hope there mixed with determination.
“Thank you for seeing me,” she said.
“And thank you for what you did at the store emma hasn’t put that doll down since Christmas Eve.”
She named her Hope.
“That’s perfect,” Marcus said, “please sit down tell me about your experience.”
The interview lasted an hour. Jessica was qualified, intelligent, and motivated.
By the end Marcus knew his instinct had been right. He offered her a position as executive administrative assistant with benefits, reasonable hours, and a salary that would change her life.
“I’ll pay you back for the doll,” Jessica said again, “with my first paycheck”.
“Use your first paycheck to get Emma those shoes that fit properly,” Marcus countered.
“And maybe take her somewhere fun the doll was a gift Jessica sometimes we have to let people give us gifts”
Jessica’s eyes filled with tears.
“Why are you doing this really”
“Because Emma asked me to help her wish come true,” Marcus said simply.
“And because I believe that when we have the power to help we have the responsibility to do so”
Also, he added with a slight smile, “you’re genuinely qualified for this position i’m not creating a charity job i’m hiring someone who will make my life easier”.
“I won’t let you down,” Jessica promised.
“I know you won’t”
6 months later, Jessica had become invaluable: efficient, organized, and anticipating needs before Marcus knew he had them. She and Emma had moved into a better apartment.
Emma was thriving in a good preschool. Jessica had even started taking online business courses, talking about getting her degree.
Riley and Emma had become friends after Marcus arranged a play date.
He watched with amusement as his 8-year-old taught Emma the finer points of Lego construction while Emma showed Riley how to care for her doll collection.
One evening after a particularly long day, Jessica knocked on Marcus’s office door.
“Do you have”
