Tales From Christmas Town

by Betty Hanawa, Roni Adams, Allie Standifer

  Chapter Nine

  "You want to run this by me one more time?” Chrissy glared at her brother. Her hands were on her hips and she didn't know how she was holding back from strangling him.

  "I brought lover boy here; he's in the south wing.” Noel tossed a few more provisions into the sleigh. Walking to the front, he tightened the reins again.

  "Why is he here? How the heck did you explain to him who you were?” Chrissy marched around the front of the reindeer, pushing their heads aside as she glared at her brother.

  "He thinks he's dreaming. He's not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, is he?"

  "Of course he thinks he's dreaming. He doesn't believe in any of this. How could you do this to me? How could you have brought him here? How am I going to explain it all to him?” Her brother ignored her ranting and she followed him around the back of the massive sleigh. “Put him back. Put him back right now and he'll think it really was a dream."

  "In case you hadn't noticed, sister dear, I'm a bit busy tonight.” He dodged a nip from one of the reindeer and he turned to point his finger at the huge animal in warning. “First you want him, now you don't. I wish you'd make up your mind."

  Chrissy pressed her fingers to her temples to try and stop the pounding. Was she coming down with the same flu the rest of Christmas Town had? No, she felt fine, it was her brother giving her a headache, not a virus. “Noel, he's a mortal. You can't just pluck him from his apartment and zap him here."

  "He wasn't in his apartment."

  "What?"

  Noel handed her a small snow globe. “Have a look."

  She was almost afraid to, but slowly she shook the globe and looked inside. Her eyes widened as the view of Nick's island cleared. There was the house just as he showed her on the blueprints. She turned the globe slowly and the interior of the house came into view. “This is Nick's dream house. Why are you showing me this?"

  "That's where he was when I brought him here."

  Chrissy looked up. “You built it?"

  "I never said that. Look, mortals aren't normally that smart anyway, well except for my wife of course, but this one, he keeps muttering about this being a dream. He doesn't get it. Why don't you let me fix you up with this new elf friend I have."

  "Cut it out. I have to go see him. Poor Nick, he probably thinks he lost his mind.” She paced the floor restlessly, unable to imagine what he must be thinking “You took him directly to the South Wing? He didn't run into anyone else did he?"

  Noel climbed up into the large sleigh and she could hear him rearranging things in the seat. “Where the heck are they? If Holly doesn't get out here soon..."

  "I'm coming, I'm coming.” Holly came running through the door. “Papa's putting his boots on right now. Everyone at their posts.” She hit a buzzer on the wall and those that weren't in bed with the flu came running. It was time for the big event. The reindeer pranced in place and excitement mounted.

  "Go on, we've got this covered.” Noel yelled to Chrissy from the top of the sleigh.

  She hesitated. No one had convinced her father not to go, but Holly would be with him. Chrissy had supervised the installation of the new GPS tracking system just that morning so if anything should happen they'd be able to locate him in an instant. They'd taken every precaution. There was nothing more for her to do.

  She hurried from the barn to the castle. Her shoes echoed in the hollow halls and on the wooden stairs as she raced up them. Suddenly nervous she paused and instead of going all the way to the top, she headed to her room to freshen up. Nick was here. If he thought it was a dream, she better make it a good one.

  * * * *

  Nick paced the sumptuous suite of rooms restlessly. He'd already tried to leave but there was some type of barrier that stopped him. He couldn't see it, but as soon as he reached the door there was a feeling, a strange unpleasant feeling that pushed him backward and kept him from going any further. Then he'd hear the giggling, and he knew that even though he couldn't see them the elves were there, watching him. He sighed and turned back towards the center of the room. The furnishings were what could only be described as the very finest. No expense had been spared to keep the guests of this suite completely comfortable.

  "Hmm, guest or prisoner?” He had to wonder if he wasn't the first person taken hostage and held in this strange place. He'd even started doubting whether this drama he was in was really a dream. Until he tried to explain the house on the island and the flying motorcycle and oh yeah, the little details about being in Santa Claus’ castle.

  A sound on the other side of the door drew his attention. He expected to see the goofy blond biker when the door opened, but it was Chrissy who walked in. She looked different. In Greece she was beautiful, magnificent but here she looked almost regal. She walked across the carpet softly, as if she were gliding. Her long dress flowed with her and he thought she looked like the angel from the top of a Christmas tree.

  "Hello, Nick,” she said softly.

  "Chrissy.” Nick walked across the room to stand in front of her. After she'd left the island all he wanted to do was find her and take her in his arms and never let her go. Now here she was, right in front of him and he was as shy as the first time he'd met her.

  "I hope things haven't been too unpleasant so far. My brother can be pretty intimidating at times."

  Nick searched her face, eager to see anything in her eyes that would encourage him to touch her. “He is, uh, different."

  She laughed softly and glanced towards the door. “And the elves? I trust they were polite."

  He nodded and not knowing what else to do he shoved his hands in his pockets. “Yeah, they were great. I didn't really talk to them. This is some place."

  She smiled and looked around. “It's one of our guest suites. Actually if I'm not mistaken you're the first one to use it since we redecorated."

  "Chrissy?"

  "Hmm?"

  Nick leaned in closer. “This is a dream, right?"

  She looked disappointed at him. She reached for his hand and he struggled to get it out of his pocket. Their fingers linked, she tugged him to follow her to the small settee across the room.

  He sat down, but wouldn't release her hand even when she tried to pull away. After a moment, she stopped and he lifted their joined hands to his lips. “If I'm dreaming, I don't care, I need to hold you again. To kiss you.” He stared at her, not bothering to hide the pain and longing he felt inside. When she left him that night, she'd taken his heart with her. “I have nothing to lose. Tomorrow I'll wake up and you'll be gone again."

  "Oh, Nicky.” Her eyes welled up.

  He started to pull her into his arms, but she stiffened and he stopped. “I miss you so much. I love you. I do, I know it's too soon and too fast but I know I love you."

  "Nick, listen to me. This isn't a dream. Don't you remember that night I left the hotel? You watched me climb into a sleigh pulled by reindeer and I flew. You remember, right?"

  Nick stared into her eyes trying hard to find some logic in all of this. He knew he had been wide-awake that night. He knew she'd done exactly what she'd said but the logical part of his brain still wouldn't accept it. “I saw you leave in some type of ... something."

  "I flew Nick. I flew in a sleigh. Up into the night. Those weren't just ordinary reindeer; they were part of my father's magic fleet. We breed them special and it takes years for the magic to set in."

  "Magic? Santa?"

  Nick's head was whirling. Maybe he should try to wake up. This was crazy. She was making him crazy. “Yep and I'm here in Santa's castle at the North Pole and those are real live elves out there and your brother drives a magic motorcycle and you are...?"

  "His daughter."

  "Whose daughter?"

  "Santa Claus."

  Nick jumped to his feet and couldn't stop laughing. “This is the weirdest dream I've ever had. First the house and the flying motorcycle, and now you're Santa's daughter."

  He knew he was babblin
g but he couldn't seem to stop. It had to be a reaction to something. What did he have to eat last night? Nothing. Maybe that was it. He hadn't had much of an appetite since he lost her. Chrissy. He whirled back around. She sat watching him and a tear slid down her cheek. He came back to her side and grabbed her hands.

  "Don't cry. Please. Not in my dreams. I can't stand it. What did I do? Tell me and I'll fix it.” He pressed her fingers to his lips and kissed them over and over.

  "Its nothing you can fix, Nick. Don't you see?"

  "What, I don't see what?"

  "I'm Santa Claus’ daughter and you're a non-believer."

  "A non-believer?"

  "Yes, you don't believe in Christmas, you don't believe in Santa or reindeer or anything."

  "Most adults don't."

  She nodded her head. “I know, and I knew that when we ... when this all—” She let her breath out on a long sigh. “I can't be with you, Nick. I can't be involved with you."

  She pulled her hands free, but when she went to walk away from him again he couldn't bear it. He grabbed her arm, desperate to make her stop. “If you're telling me that the only way to have you is to believe in elves and fairies and Santa Claus then that's fine, I'll believe. I swear I'll believe."

  She knew he was lying, he could tell by the look on her face. She pulled her arm free. “I'll talk to my brother about getting you back to your apartment sometime tomorrow afternoon. We're all a bit busy right now, but I'll get you back in one piece, I swear.” She reached the door, looked back and her eyes were full of hurt and disappointment. “Then I'll have my father take care of your memory so that you really will think this was all a dream. All of it."

  She pulled the door open and he panicked.

  "Wait!"

  He strode across the room. “Convince me! If what we shared in Greece meant anything to you, make me a believer."

  She whirled around, her eyes wide as if he amazed her. “You can't make someone a believer, Nick. It has to be inside. In here.” She put her hand over her heart.

  Nick walked up to her not letting any space come between them. He laid his hand over the top of hers where it rested on her breast. “You know what I believe? I believe that there's a reason why we met five years ago. I believe there's a reason why we were both in Greece this month. I believe that we were meant to be."

  Without giving her time to break free he slid one hand around the back of her head and pulled her to him. He put everything into the kiss; he had to make her believe. Believe in him and how much he loved her. He couldn't let her go again. He wasn't going to let her go again. Dream or no dream he was going to hear her say she loved him and wasn't going to leave him.

  He felt her relax in his arms with a small moan of surrender and returned his kiss. Fire coursed through him as their tongues reunited and their mouths meshed together. Chrissy's hand slipped out from under his so that his rested on her breast. She twisted around to wrap her arms around his neck.

  "Good thing Dad just took off."

  Chrissy tore her mouth from Nick's and felt her face go bright red under her sister's stare. “Joy!” she hissed in disgust.

  Her sister lounged against the upstairs railing, watching without looking a bit ashamed. “Mama was wondering where you were and I offered to come find you. Figured this would be the best place to start looking. Yum, yum,” she said, raking Nick from head to toe.

  Chrissy glanced at Nick, who seemed amused by her little sister's antics.

  "Where is she?"

  "In the kitchen. She said you were supposed to help get those gingerbread men packed up for tomorrow."

  Chrissy was conscious of Nick's arm snaking around her waist. “It looks like you get to meet my mother. Are you ready for that?"

  He smiled. “Would that be the infamous Mrs. Claus?"

  Chrissy reached behind her and took his hand again. “The one and only. I hope you're up to it."

  She pulled him along behind her, ignoring her sister who smirked as she watched them descend the large staircase. Nick didn't say a word but she watched his eyes bug out as they walked down the long corridors to the back of the castle. The noise level increased as they went. “With my father gone..."

  "Gone?"

  Was he kidding? “Its Christmas Eve. He's gone out on deliveries."

  "Oh yeah, right, sorry. I've lost track of time."

  "Anyway, my mother will spend the better part of the night in the kitchen with her crew putting the finishing touches on candies and cookies that will be part of our own celebration day after tomorrow."

  "Tomorrow?"

  Chrissy nodded once more and pushed through the large swinging door that led to the main kitchen. It was noisy and warm; with a blur of activity. “Because Santa will be exhausted when he returns, we let him sleep until the twenty-sixth and then we all come together to talk about his trip and open gifts and eat. Mostly we eat,” she laughed.

  In the center of the room, sat the large snow globe. Chrissy pressed the button on the side and the snow inside the glass began to swirl as if she'd shaken it upside down. “Watch this,” she instructed Nick.

  He came to stand close to her side and together they waited for the snow to clear. “There. See him?” Chrissy pointed to her father's sleigh as it landed easily on a rooftop. She glanced at the text print out that appeared above it. “He's just reached Ireland.” She smiled, watching her father as he grabbed a sack. “He must be arguing with Holly cause she's pouting, see.” Chrissy watched her sister cross her arms over her chest and toss her hair. “Yeah, she's miffed.” The picture went away and Chrissy looked up and met Nick's smile. “What do you think of that?"

  "Pretty fancy."

  "Chrissy!"

  She turned to face the woman bustling down the long corridor of the kitchen. “Yes, Mama?"

  Mary Claus joined them at the counter and smiled up at Nick. “Hi Nick, welcome to Christmas Town. Sorry for the craziness around here, but—” She shrugged and brushed her hair back. “Chrissy, I've just taken the last tray out. Can you be a dear and get me some more cinnamon candies?"

  "Ok, I'll be right back,” she told Nick and walked away.

  Nick looked at Chrissy's mother and couldn't help but smile. She was the spitting image of every storybook picture of Mrs. Claus from her white hair to her glasses to her dress, complete with apron. She smiled back at him and he felt a rush of warmth wash over him, as if someone had draped a large blanket about his shoulders. He glanced around but couldn't see anywhere that heat would be coming from. Mary gestured to the table nestled in the corner. “Come sit down here and talk to me. It's going to take my Chrissy a while to find those candies."

  "Why is that?” he asked, but obediently settled into one of the overstuffed armchairs.

  Mary's eyes twinkled. “Because they're actually up here. I wanted to get you a alone for a moment."

  "I see."

  "Do you?"

  Nick shook his head. “No, not really. When I wake up I'm going to find out what it was I ate that's caused this wild dream."

  "You still don't believe, do you?” Mary shook her head and then sighed. “Nick Christopoulos, you know, when you stopped believing Santa was very disappointed. He really thought you would be one of the ones."

  "One of the ones?"

  "Yes, the ones who believe in him even when all logic says not to. When everyone around you tells you otherwise, Santa had this feeling you'd be one who believed."

  "I see."

  "You don't believe me?"

  "What's not to believe? I can't help that I grew up, kids do that you know, or is Peter Pan around here somewhere too and the lost boys?"

  Mary's eyes lost their twinkle for a second and then she pulled a folded list from her apron pocket. “Maybe this will help you."

  She handed him the folded paper and Nick hesitated a moment before touching it. When his fingers brushed hers he could swear the taste of vanilla flooded his mouth. Weird. But then he was almost starting to get used t
o things being weird. He unfolded the paper and read the tidy handwriting.

  Nicky Christopoulos age 9, wants water skies, a toy train, and Leggos, but most of all he wants a puppy. Parents completely against the idea. Nick swears if he gets a puppy he'll believe.

  "That was it, wasn't it? That was the year you stopped believing.” Mary Claus took the paper from Nick's hands.

  Nick remembered that year as vividly as if it was only yesterday. All his friends had dogs. All of them, but he never was allowed to have one. His little brother was allergic and his mother said she was sorry but she couldn't risk his health. But Nick had been certain Santa would have heard him and brought him the puppy he so desperately wanted. As an adult he understood, but the nine-year-old boy hadn't. He crossed Santa off his list from that time on.

  "I didn't stop believing in Santa simply because I didn't get a dog. I stopped believing because I grew up."

  "I see, then how do you explain all this?” Mary waved her arm around the kitchen but then shook her head. “That's right, I forgot it's a dream. Tell me Nick, have you ever dreamed this vividly before? Ever dreamed this long before?"

  Chrissy came back up the aisle and once again Nick was enchanted with her beauty. Had she been this incredibly gorgeous in Greece? It was as if there was some type of glow about her that hadn't been there before. She smiled at her mother. “I couldn't find them. Are you sure they aren't up here?"

  Mary rose from her chair and gestured to one of the several elves scurrying about. “I'll get them. Give Nick one of those fresh cookies. They're always best right out of the oven."

  At her word another elf came running over with a plate of cookies. Nick reached for one and then realized they were all gingerbread. He drew back his hand.

  "It's ok, Nick,” Chrissy said, picking up one of the gingerbread men. She took a large bite. Nick cringed. Now he couldn't even kiss her. Even one taste of it and he would break out in hives. The last time he ate something with ginger in it, he almost died when his throat closed up.