by Lynn Crain
“What’s there to explain? You love her.” Santa gestured to the chair in front of his large desk. “Please sit. What I want to know is what are you going to do about it?”
He looked at the old man stunned. “Do? What do you mean, do?”
“Just what I said…do.” Santa laid his hands upon his desk. “Young man, every human woman has been reluctant to relocate here. I had to talk my wife into it. Your mother was different. She knew exactly what she wanted and she took it. And what she wanted was your father from the moment she laid eyes on him.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Well, I do…you can take the sleigh and go get her.”
He looked at the old man again surprised. “Your sleigh? You would let me do that?” Santa’s sleigh was the only sleigh capable of travel outside the North Pole. All the others were just meant for the local hops between workshops and residences.
“Of course, I would. Whether you know it or not, you have already started the process of nor’ahkeem. You really can’t stop it in the middle.”
Jedrick sighed. “I want her to choose me for me. She thinks my magic could keep her here even if she didn’t want to be here. She even asked about your magic.”
“Did you tell her that you loved her?”
“Well…sort of…I think,” he said grimacing.
“What does sort of mean, young man?”
“I gave her a locket.”
“You gave her a summoning locket?” Santa looked at his helper, inwardly applauding his actions. “That took guts, young man.”
“Thank you. My mother suggested it.”
“Well…give Tessa another few days…until then, I want you to take a break. We have a few months before we really have to get back to designing again.” Santa stood. “If she hasn’t called you in a few days then I suggest you go and get her.”
Jedrick nodded and left the office determined to wait until Tessa called. He loved her, he loved her passionately with all his being and he didn’t know how long he could live without her. He loved the looks that crossed her face when he was buried deep inside her. He loved the noises she made when he licked her body. He loved the feel of her mouth upon his body. He loved the way she moved in the kitchen when she thought he wasn’t looking, the way the water clung to her damp skin after a shower and the way that she made every outfit she wore exotic.
He loved the way she smelled after they made love. He loved the fragrance of her hair and body. He loved how she could make the kitchen simmer with the aromatic flavors of the food she prepared. He just plain out loved her…in the morning, in the evening and even when he slept. Slowly, he got into his own sleigh confident that the reindeer would take him home.
* * * *
Janice gazed out the window of the shop at her son. With a determination, she rapidly walked to the old man’s office and slammed the door.
“Hello, Janice,” he said without even looking up at her.
“You have made my son miserable.”
“It would seem that way.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
The old man looked up then. “He gave her a summoning locket.”
Janice’s eyes opened wide. “I know…I suggested it…it’s been two weeks already,” she said incredulous. “This is serious.” She sat down heavily in the chair. “Did he tell you what they talked about before she left?”
“A little. What did he tell you?”
“She said she wanted to make sure it wasn’t the magic. And she wasn’t ready to leave the woman she considers her sister. Angie is all alone except for Tessa.”
Santa sighed. This was more complicated than he had originally thought. “I didn’t realize she had anyone she was that close to at home. I only thought they were roommates. You do know Jedrick and Tessa have already started nor’ahkeem.”
She looked up, startled. “You can’t do that without a ceremony!” she cried.
“Hardly. Two people can start it with the magic they share.”
“But she has none. You said so yourself.”
“I could be wrong…this woman’s love has given her magic, I believe…she just doesn’t know yet.”
“When she does?”
“The tug to be with Jedrick will be satisfied by nothing but him.” He rubbed his chin. “I always thought that it could happen to others.”
“Other? What others?” she asked.
“Janice, do you really think that the elves let you stay only because Bevan loves you?”
She shook her head. “Of course, what else?”
“Janice, Janice.” Santa sighed. “This place has to have its magic boosted through the love and good feelings of others. That’s the only reason the magic works at all. In case you haven’t noticed, the real world doesn’t take us very seriously anymore. At least, most of them don’t.”
“I know.”
“Janice, your love for Bevan rejuvenated this place more than all the good will of the other elves ever could. You two truly love each other, and your magic together gives this place a zest that it hasn’t had in a long time. In the thirty years you have been with us, you have blessed us with children whose capacity for love is also unbounded.”
She sat there stunned. She didn’t know…had never known. “I…I don’t know what to say. But what about the others?’
“They love and have babies too, but their numbers dwindle each year…they need help and I am trying to provide it the only way I know how.”
She squinted her eyes at him. “Are you saying that you planned all this? Starting with me and Bevan?”
“No. You two were a bonus. You love each other more than I could even have hoped. I never thought you two would fall in love. ” He shuffled a few papers on his desk, attempting to keep the tears out of his eyes. “Tessa does love Jedrick. She just hasn’t realized it. Yet. But she will.”
* * * *
Tessa slammed the door. If she had to go and work one more day with that crappy Jason Howell, she didn’t know what she would do. Since her return from the North Pole, the man had tried to get into her pants more than once. She couldn’t believe she ever thought she loved the little creep. Added to the fact he was newly engaged, she just wanted to scream every time he tried to caress her intimately.
She missed Jedrick, and couldn’t make it through a day without longing for his presence. She loved the sound of his laughter in the morning and the way his hair laid across his forehead while he slept. She loved the way he looked in the firelight and when he was buried inside her. She loved him, period.
But she just didn’t know if she could make the transition to the North Pole. It was a big step…true she wouldn’t be cut off from her conveniences but she would be cut of virtually from the rest of the world. Even though she really didn’t have any family to speak of, she wasn’t ready to give it up. After all she did have Angie.
The door slammed again as Angie walked in.
“Hi,” Tessa said trying to look happy.
“I wish you wouldn’t do that,” Angie replied peering at her friend closely. “Have you seen the dark circles under your eyes?”
“Ang. Don’t,” she pleaded. “Don’t make it any worse than it already is.”
“Worse? Tessa, how can I make it worse?” She flopped down on the couch. “You’ve been back two weeks and Jason gropes you, or tries to grope you, every day from what I hear. You’ve practically stopped eating and you hardly sleep. Now you have this aura about you that I just can’t fathom.”
Tessa scrunched her face, wondering if she now had some of the magic that she knew Jedrick possessed. “An aura? Angie…really…I’ve told you before I don’t want to discuss it.”
Angie stared at her friend. “Look, you disappeared for a week after the Christmas party…I had to make up some crap about you visiting a dying relative that you don’t have. The least you can do is to tell me what happened…you can tell me, can’t you?”
Tessa stood and watched her friend
for a minute before flopping down beside her. “Okay…I guess you’re right. I owe you that much…but you’re never going to believe me…promise you won’t lock me up in the loony bin. Okay?”
Angie stared at her friend curiously then but quickly made the promise. “There is nothing that you can say that would make me want to send you there…trust me.” Angie shuddered in a telltale sign that told Tessa she knew more about the loony bin then she was willing to let on.
“Okay.” Tessa blew out a big breath. “I saw Santa Claus that night.”
Angie’s eyes got big. “After the party?”
“Yeah…remember, I came home by myself…and decided I was going to bake and have margaritas.”
Angie smacked her head. “I thought I told you not to do that any more…you could burn the house down…and now you’re seeing Santa!”
“Well, I didn’t burn it down and it is my house, after all. You’re the one who tells me that I don’t believe enough in magic.”
“Okay…okay…so what happened next?”
Tessa began to fidget in her seat. “Well…we talked a little…and he was really nice and all.”
“And?”
“He sprinkled some dust on me, he said, and I went to sleep.”
“You went to sleep? Are you sure it wasn’t the margaritas?”
She looked at her best friend. “Don’t you think I would know the difference?”
“Sorry…just asking…so what happened next?” Angie put up her hand in a defense mode.
Tessa rubbed the side of her face. “I woke up next to the most incredible being I have ever seen.”
“Really?”
Tessa turned on the couch toward her. “Yes, really. See, I thought he was a gift from you, especially with those pointy ears.”
Angie tried to keep the shocked look off her face. “Pointy ears. Hey, that’s not fair.”
“What’s not fair?”
“You don’t even believe in them,” she huffed. “And why in the world would I need to buy you a man?”
Tessa touched her knee. “I thought you were trying to cheer me up.”
Angie shook her head. “So, would you do the same for me?”
Tessa chuckled. “Now why in the world would I need to buy you a man?” she questioned her mockingly.
“Touché.” Angie looked at her blond friend. Tessa had always been the better looking of the two but still, she had no shortage of men. “So what happened?”
“Well, I touched his ears,” she answered and broke out into a big smile. “It did the most amazing things to his body.”
Angie threw up her hands. “I don’t want to hear any more. You had an Orlando Bloom type in your hands. Why on earth did you leave?”
Tessa looked at her in shock. “What do you mean? My life is here.”
A heavy sigh erupted from Angie’s mouth. “Good God, girl. You get up every day and go to a cubbyhole of an office where you work in total solitude doing God knows what for God knows who. What kind of life is that? Like a veal in a cage?” She reached over and took Tessa’s hands in hers. “You rarely go out and when you do I have to drag you there. You spend more time with yourself and your house than you do people. You thought you fell for an absolute loser with no potential. And now you are telling me that you left the most gorgeous man you ever met. Where was he, girl? The North Pole?”
Tessa tried hard not to smile. “Actually. Yes. Yes, he was.”
“Oh. I guess that might be a problem, then.” Angie scowled at her. “So how did you get there?”
“In Santa’s sleigh. He took me home as a present for one of his elves. You know…the guy with the pointy ears.”
“Really? Now that sounds like it has potential.”
Tessa laughed. “How can you say that?”
Angie rubbed her friend’s knees where they were touching. “Look…do you love him?”
“Well…”
“It’s not a ‘well’, Tessa. Either you do or you don’t.” Angie looked at her friend. She’d seen the way her eyes had lit up when mentioning this elf. “Does the elf have a name?”
“Jedrick. His name was Jedrick. And I think you’re right. I love him. I love him very much.”
Angie smacked her thigh. “Well, there you have it then. So what are you doing here?”
Chapter Ten
Angie was thoroughly disgusted with her best friend. After all the discussion they’d had two nights ago, Tessa remained here in Reno. She just didn’t get it. She knew she would be gone in a hot flash if she loved someone as much as Tessa loved Jedrick. She had to figure out how to get those two back together.
And she knew exactly how to do it. Tessa could never resist Mexican food and margaritas. She had gotten off work early to get ready for this evening and this time she would pry what she needed from her best friend…she would figure out how to get the man of Tessa’s dreams to come and take her home.
* * * *
Tessa shut the door, her sense assaulted by the smells of cooking.
“Hey. Something smells good,” she yelled as she put her things on the desk in her small home office.
Looking around it, she’d never made too much use out of it. She’d had a dream once of becoming a writer. Writing was something you could do and not have to worry about being in the real world. That might have potential, she thought as she took off her coat. She could always write the scripting for new computer games for them. She had never really like programming anyway.
Tessa fingered the locket Jedrick had given her the night she had left him. Strolling toward the small dining room, she thought about the discussion she’d had with Angie a few nights ago where she’d confessed her love for him. She didn’t know how she could leave Angie. She was alone in the world, too. And needed a friend in the worst way. Tessa didn’t know where she would have ended up if her parents hadn’t taken her friend in when the girls were young. She sighed knowing that this was all ancient history. Angie would absolutely have her hide if she knew that was the reason she was still here.
Soon, she thought, soon. She rubbed the locket absent-mindedly.
“Hey. You ever coming into the dining room?” Angie yelled.
“Sure. I’m on my way.” She entered the dining area, surprised by the festive air of the small space. “What’s up?”
Angie came out of the kitchen carrying a casserole dish in her hands. “I got the promotion.”
“You did?”
“I did,” Angie beamed, happy that she could make this announcement. She had been working for a few years as a nurse and didn’t think she’d qualify for the managing position. Her new position created a perfect excuse for what she had to do.
“Good for you. I am so happy. You found out today?” Tessa pulled out her chair, sat down and received a yes nod from Angie. “So, I guess that’s why we’re having Mexican.”
“Isn’t that how we always celebrate?”
Tessa smiled. “Indeed it is. Margaritas?” she questioned lightly.
“Of course.” Angie went back into the kitchen and returned with a pitcher in her hands. Filling their glasses to the brim, she raised hers in toast. “To a wonderful future for both of us.”
“To a wonderful future. Let’s eat!” Tessa pulled the casserole dish over to her, eying one of her favorite things--enchiladas--and took two of the drippy, cheese-filled corn tortillas.
Angie followed suit and dished herself up some. And even though they didn’t talk for a few minutes, there was a camaraderie that wasn’t found in many relationships. “How can you reach this Jedrick character?” she finally asked.
Tessa looked up from her meal. “Why?”
“I just wondered. I mean…it’s not like you can pick up the phone and call the man…is it?”
Tessa laughed then. “No…if it was, we would have a horrendous phone bill…he gave me this locket.”
Angie eyed the intricate piece of gold and silver. “That’s one nice piece of jewelry. May I see it?”
&n
bsp; “Sure, why not? I’m the only one that can operate it any way.”
“How so?” Angie asked and reached for the piece.
“Well…I have to put my thumb on the picture…and think about him.”
“Oh,” she lifted her head in understanding. This might be a little harder than she had thought. “How do you know it even works?”
Tessa lifted a finger, shaking it at her friend. “You’re not going to trick me into it.”
“Okay…wasn’t what I had in mind, actually,” she said and opened the locket. “You left this?”
“Umm…yes.”
“Are you nuts?”
“I think we’ve covered this before.”
“This man is the most gorgeous man I have ever seen, Tessa.”
“He’s an elf, Angie. At least he’s half. If I remember that’s one of the prerequisites. They are the most beautiful people on the face of the earth.” Tessa took the locket and put it back around her neck.
“I just don’t understand why you’re still here, Tess?” Angie questioned using her old childhood endearment of her best friend.
She looked down at her plate and pushed her food around. “I need time…I’m not ready.”
“Well, I hope he waits for you,” Angie said and poured them another margarita.
Soon both were sitting in front of the fireplace, sipping their fourth glass of the potent brew.
“God, did you have to make it so strong?” Tessa said swaying a little bit.
“I didn’t make them any stronger than I usually do,” Angie answered, her dark hair gleamed in the firelight. “Let me see that locket again.”
Tessa pulled it from around her neck and handed it to her friend for the second time that evening. Taking a large drink, she tried hard not to think about making love with Jedrick in front of the fire in his home.
A smirk appeared on Angie’s face. She knew exactly what was on her friend’s mind. “When’s the last time you were in front of a fire?” she asked casually.
Tessa blushed and tried to hide her face.
“Ah,” Angie murmured.