Yuletide Blend

by Kennedy Layne

  “Why would that convince the catnip owner to give up one percent of the farm?” Heidi had opted for red earmuffs this morning, but she’d slid them down around her neck so that she could hear me clearly. She’d already added the second scoop of sugar to her cup and was in the process of grabbing one of the wooden stir sticks from the box. “I don’t want to know, do I?”

  “Trust me, all the finagling worked out. Leo’s name will actually be on the paperwork, though that took quite a bit of coaxing on my part.” I rested my elbows on the counter, inhaling the delicious aroma steaming out of my cup. I’d yet to put the lid on, knowing full well that I’d pour myself another refill before heading out into the cold. “Anyway, Barry Mina is definitely off the suspect list.”

  “You said you cleared Karen Finley. That leaves St. Nicholas, though didn’t Liam rule him out as being the genuine article?” Heidi asked, walking around the counter. She motioned with her hand that she wanted a bit of room on my stool. I scooted over a bit so that she could share the cushion. “I have to say that I also find it hard to believe that Santa Claus truly exists.”

  “I haven’t had time to conduct the proper research, but I did manage to look some sites up on my phone when I was getting dressed this morning.” I’d been keeping a close eye on the police station across the street, waiting for Liam to park his truck by the curb. He said last night that he’d flown a drone before, so it made sense for him to be the one to operate the gift I’d been given last night. “I kept coming back to the same truth with every site—magic exists in every form. Basically, Mom was right. Santa Claus does exist, which can only mean that the existence of Krampus is authentic, by the way. That’s for another time, though. We have enough on our plate already.”

  Heidi had turned her head to look at me, her lips parted to ask more about this Krampus figure, but she choose wisely. She even shook her head a bit, as if to remind herself not to bite off more than she could chew. Thankfully, she chose to stay on topic.

  “So, you’re saying that we have the real deal in Paramour Bay.” Heidi paused as if she needed to digest that information. “I might be in trouble, Raven. I’ve never had a lump of coal in my stocking.”

  I laughed, and it struck me in this moment how lucky I was to have those I loved around me again. Heidi moving here and setting up her own business had only fortified our friendship even more, and my mother…well, it was good to have her close by, even if she did have her own motives for doing such a thing. I leaned over a bit so that my shoulder bumped into Heidi light enough that neither one of us spilled our coffees.

  “You’ve got a heart of gold, woman,” I stated matter-of-factly so that she couldn’t argue. “I know that, the town knows that, and now Santa Claus knows that. As a matter of fact, good ol’ St. Nick has gotten to see for himself that this community has come together to help a defenseless animal in need.”

  “Witches, werewolves, grim reapers, and now Santa Claus.” Heidi shook her head, her blue eyes wide with astonishment. “Never in my wildest imagination did I think we could possibly live a life such as this.”

  “Don’t get me wrong,” I warned, knowing that we had quite a lot to do on the agenda today. “I’m still not one hundred percent convinced that we have the authentic Santa Claus in town. I mean, there are things that just don’t add up. Take for instance the reindeer’s names or the fact that Steve Nickels had an actual license with a physical address that is nowhere near the North Pole.”

  “You do realize that we live in a society where skeptics run amuck by the millions, right?” Heidi asked wryly, pointing out the obvious. She took a sip of her coffee now that it had cooled down somewhat. “I’ll admit to being guilty of being one of those cynics once in a while, but I kind of like the idea that Kris Kringle actually exists to bring joy to the world.”

  “Heidi, no one has ever accused you of being a cynic in your entire life,” I said with a laugh. Eventually, my chuckles faded as I thought over our current situation. “I just realized how sad it is that our only suspect in a reindeer-napping case is Santa Claus himself.”

  “Really? Father Christmas is our only suspect?” Heidi sighed, practically sliding off the stool in dejection. “We’re pitiful. I’m beginning to think Leo’s idea to collect piles of steaming brownies might not be such a bad idea.”

  “It’s a little late for that, considering Barry Mina cleans out that pen almost every hour on the hour.” I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the man. I know how despondent I would be if something ever happened to Leo. “Thinking over our lack of leads, I’m beginning to think that maybe Randy did wander off on his own. We made the assumption that Bobby Hurst was the only child who snuck the reindeer their sugar cookies.”

  “It still doesn’t explain the lack of hoofprints,” Heidi pointed out, setting her coffee down on the counter as she readjusted her earmuffs so that they covered her ears. “I mean, it’s like Randy walked right out of town square and trotted down River Bay without anyone the wiser.”

  “It’s possible,” I said, thinking back to that night. “Think about it. Almost everyone had either been in line to visit Santa Claus, was part of the epic snowball battle, or roasting marshmallows around the bonfire. That doesn’t even include the townsfolk listening to the carolers. Who is to say that Randy just didn’t open the latch with his nose and then head out in search of more sugar cookies?”

  The bell above the door rang as Beetle made his grand entrance. As usual, he had a big smile on his face. I did my best not to connect that grin with my mother, because it wasn’t right for a daughter to think of a parent in that manner. Instead, I just assumed that he was happy to see me and Leo.

  Speaking of Leo, I caught the slight signs of him stirring coming from his cat pillow. He had the ability to catch the scent of catnip from miles away, even in his sleep.

  “Good morning, ladies and gentleman,” Beetle exclaimed, his white flyaway hairs still bent back with his momentum. “Good morning. I predict that today is the day that Randy the Reindeer will make his way back home, the winter wonderland can proceed with the delightful holiday spirit, and the town can concentrate on the essence of giving from their hearts.”

  Heidi and I both shared smiles as Beetle’s infectious attitude lifted our spirits. As for Leo, he’d shaken off the remnants of sleep and was waiting eagerly for his special treat.

  I love this man, Raven. Oh, how I love him so.

  “Good morning, Beetle.” I jumped down from the stool a bit more ungracefully than Heidi had a minute earlier, reaching for my jacket that I had laid over the cash register. “I was able to get some various tea samples brewed, along with a carafe full of hazelnut coffee. The tourists seem to love the flavored blends this time of year.”

  “Perfect,” Beetle said, having already greeted Leo with one of those catnip edibles in the shape of a Christmas tree. His gift included a pat on the head, which Leo soaked up like a lapdog. “Just perfect. You two go out there and bring home that reindeer. Don’t worry about a thing. Not one thing. I have things covered here.”

  I might have to stay inside today and keep my BFF company, Raven. We wouldn’t want him to get lonely, would we?

  Seeing as Beetle was walking my way with the intention of storing his coat in the back room, I bit my tongue before automatically replying to Leo’s question. In all the commotion last night, I never did retrieve Elsie’s reading glasses. I wanted to take care of that errand while Liam got the drone working this morning.

  Don’t go ruining my special treat time, Raven. I’ll just tell you where the reading glasses are so that you can collect them. The red-rimmed reading glasses are near the drainage cover next to the curb by the hair salon. You go retrieve them, I’ll go back to sleep, and you can then come back when the good ol’ sheriff is ready to fly the drone. I’d like to see how he uses it so that I might try that type of intelligence gathering on Skippy come spring.

  “Call or text me if you have any problems today,” I said after I’d
zipped up my jacket and began to work on my outer accessories. “I’m running this drone over to Liam before paying a visit to Elsie. Did Mom mention that she was meeting us over at the station?”

  “My sweetheart was enjoying a breakfast of pancakes that I made her before leaving the house this morning.” Beetle had come back through the string of ivory-colored fairy beads, letting them fall behind him in a melodic melody. His green and red bowtie complimented his green cardigan sweater perfectly. “However, she does have every intention of helping the townsfolk search for Randy. I’m sure she’ll heading into town straightaway.”

  “Beetle, did I tell you about my meeting with Cora and Desmond?” Heidi asked, diving into the details while I finished tying my scarf around my neck and collecting the drone case. Heidi had already grabbed my travel mug, putting the lid on it so that the contents wouldn’t spill. “I’ll keep you posted on how things go from here, but I’m really pleased with how things are going. You did a fantastic job keeping records. I appreciate the care you put in making the transition easier for me.”

  “I’m glad to hear it, dear. Very glad,” Beetle replied with vigor, taking his place behind the counter when Heidi and I both began to make our way to the front door. “Be safe out there!”

  “Leo,” I murmured out of the side of my mouth, noticing that he was feigning another nap. “Let’s go.”

  Heidi cradled one of the travel mugs in her arm, opening the door for me as I managed to carry the hard case outside. The cold blast of air was kind of refreshing, but that only lasted a few seconds. A quick look down the block revealed that town square was quiet this time of the morning, and would likely remain so until early this afternoon when the festivities began. I did take a moment to inhale deeply, loving the pleasant scent of burning wood that always seemed to be in the air this time of year.

  “Leo found Elsie’s reading glasses somewhere alongside the curb near the salon,” I said as we walked toward the intersection. “Once I drop this off with Liam, I’m going to go collect them and drive them over to her. Do you want to come with me?”

  “Sure.” Heidi gestured toward the box. “Why don’t I take the box over to Liam, you and Leo collect the reading glasses, and then we’ll meet by your car? I parked down near my office, because I do need to work this afternoon.”

  It took us a few seconds, but we were able to exchange items without dropping anything. Heidi now had the drone case in her possession while I had the two travel mugs in my hands. Leo had finally appeared, though it was clear that he wasn’t happy from the way he was sauntering ahead on the sidewalk.

  “I won’t be long,” I told Heidi, quickly catching up to Leo. “Hey, the reason I wanted to get you out of the tea shop was so that I could ask you an important question.”

  You’re seeking my advice? Carry on.

  I smiled when Leo slowed his pace, always liking when I turned to him instead of my mother. He hadn’t been too happy with her move back to her childhood home. In his opinion, he already had to share me with Ted. Throw in my mother, and it was like a free for all in the magical realm of the Marigolds.

  “Say that Santa Claus actually turns out to be the genuine article,” I tossed out speculatively, concentrating on the palm of my right hand. The travel mug was slightly warm, which was the only reason I had any heat in my skin. “That still doesn’t explain why his presence would cause my ability to go on the fritz.”

  If we are dealing with the authentic Father Christmas from the 1700s, then that kind of magic is more powerful than we’ve ever encountered. You realize that he can deliver presents to close to twenty million houses in under sixty minutes? That’s time distortion.

  “So why wouldn’t I feel more energy rising up from the earth then?” I asked, still not grasping the effects such a presence would have on magic. Then again, I hadn’t been the best student in high school when it came to physics. “You’d think my hand would be as hot as a baking sheet right out from the oven.”

  What energy? All the energy in this area would be attracted to one thing—Father Christmas himself.

  “Wait a second.” We’d finally made it to the hair salon, though Candy didn’t seem to have any early appointments just yet. The shop was still dark inside. “Are you saying that casting spells with Father Christmas around the vicinity would be useless? Has he drained the batteries?”

  Leo didn’t answer right away, which led me to believe that I’d asked him a question in which he wasn’t sure of how to answer. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who had trouble understanding physics.

  Seeing as I’ve never been in the presence of what some would consider royalty among the supernatural, I suggest we have your mother try casting a spell and see what happens. You know, in case it backfires or fizzles and she turns into an elf or something.

  “I’m not having Mom do anything of the sort.” I stepped off the curb and began to look for a set of red-rimmed reading glasses, hoping they hadn’t been run over by a car. We were close enough to town square that parking was off limits, but that didn’t mean everyone obeyed the signs. “She’s been relatively nice since she moved back to town last month. Even you have to admit that she’s been on her best behavior. Leo, where did you see Elsie’s glasses? I don’t see them, so maybe someone else picked them up.”

  By the drainage thingamabob. See? The reddish rims blend in with the rust color of the metal.

  “Found them,” I exclaimed with delight, bending at the knee to retrieve the glasses. I used my glove to wipe off the snow and mud. “Can you believe that there isn’t a scratch on them? Elsie is going to be so—”

  I stopped talking when something else colorful caught my eye.

  Uh-oh.

  “Uh-oh?” I quickly took off my glove so that I could fit my hand down inside one of the slats of the drainage cover. “Leo, this is a bag full of baby carrots.”

  I knew there was something else I was forgetting to tell you last night. Raven, I also discovered a bag of carrots yesterday. I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation as to why there is a bag of carrots caught on the metal of a drainage cover.

  “That explanation would be what we first suspected—that someone lured Randy out of the pen,” I surmised, not liking where my thoughts were taking me. I lifted the red-rimmed reading glasses in proof. “Oh, Leo. This isn’t good. I think I know exactly who took Randy.”

  Look at you, Raven, solving crimes without the use of magic. I should mark down my mentoring in the good column for Father Christmas. Witchcraft or not, we’ve turned out to be excellent in the amateur sleuth business. I do believe this offsets those actions against Skippy and his band of ninja squirrels that might be considered naughty, if you catch my drift.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Raven, I still don’t believe that Randy could have been marched down River Bay away from town square without anyone seeing a thing,” Heidi exclaimed, standing right next to me as we stood in front of Elsie’s house. Sure enough, Wilma’s vehicle sat smackdab in the middle of the driveway. “And by an elderly woman at that.”

  “It makes sense. Think about it,” I urged Heidi, confident in my sleuthing skills. Technically, Leo was the one who had solved this caper. “Wilma bought Elsie those pink-rimmed reading glasses she’d been wanting, but she was still in a funk over the red ones. Then Elsie called Wilma before she could head over, only for me to see her in the pet shop.”

  Upon discovering the bag of carrots dangling from the drainage cover, Leo and I had quickly made our way down to the pet shop. Thelma quite happily talked about the fact that Wilma had bought one of those oversized dog beds, even needing help to stuff the large item into the trunk of her car.

  Now we know why the antlered brute didn’t try to break out of prison. Those old biddies are treating him like a king. Remember, I tried sleeping on that bed of hay, and it certainly wasn’t a picnic. I bet they’re serving him sugar cookies by hand while he lays on that plush material as if he found paradise.

 
“Wilma bought an oversized dog bed with the excuse that she was going to put it outside for the bunny rabbits.” I sighed, not exactly sure how I was going to handle the situation. Heidi had met me at my car, and we drove straight here without telling anyone my theory. This was something that needed to be confirmed first, and I was thankful that my mother hadn’t shown up at the station before we had driven into one of the side neighborhoods. “And don’t forget that I saw Wilma drive past Mrs. Salisbury’s house, heading straight here as if she were on a mission…most likely with the oversized dog bed in the trunk of her car. I’m telling you, Randy is either in Elsie’s house or the garage.”

  “Well, how do you want to play this?”

  You’re going to make me go into that garage, aren’t you?

  “Yep,” I replied, not worried that Heidi would misinterpret my answer. I did clue her in on the conversation, though. “I’m sending Leo into the garage to check on things first. If he finds Randy, then we’ll ring the doorbell and wing it. I have no doubt that Elsie was doing what she thought was right, and Wilma would do anything to protect her best friend.”

  “I get that,” Heidi replied, tossing a smile my way. “Okay, Leo. Strut your stuff, you handsome tomcat.”

  My beloved Heidi does have a way with words, doesn’t she?

  Heidi and I both leaned back against my car, not worried about getting our snow pants dirty. The material was easy to wash. Plus, we had no idea how long we would have to wait. Leo was known to get distracted by the simplest things. I guess we could have waited inside the car, keeping the heat on and staying warm. With that said, this snowsuit I’d splurged on last season was quite toasty.

  “Did I tell you that your mom wants to start coming over once a week to teach me some spells?” Heidi asked to pass the time, no hesitation in her tone whatsoever. “We did talk about me becoming a hedgling or something like that, and I would feel better if I knew something to help with this war that’s brewing between the factions”