Tales From Christmas Town

by Betty Hanawa, Roni Adams, Allie Standifer

  "These are fantastic. I think it's the best they've ever made.” Chrissy took another bite and then offered it to him, holding it to his mouth. “You have to try these."

  Nick pushed it away. “You know I can't. I told you about the ginger."

  But Chrissy persisted. “Nick, trust me, you aren't allergic to these. You're in Christmas Town."

  "That's ok, I'll pass."

  Chrissy lowered her hand with the cookie. “If you believed, you'd eat the cookie."

  "If I eat the cookie, I could die."

  "Do you honestly think I'd give you something that would hurt you?"

  Nick stared at the cookie and then at her again. The activity in the kitchen seemed to fade away and it was as if the two of them were standing alone.

  "You can't keep thinking this is a dream. It's not. Think Nick. I flew away from you in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. You showed me your drawings of your dream house and you woke up in it on the island. My brother picked you up on a motorcycle and flew you here to the North Pole. The North Pole, Nick. My father is Santa Claus. My sisters are elves and my brother is an elf."

  "Are you an elf?"

  "No, my father found me on Christmas morning. I was lying in a basket under a Christmas tree with a note asking him to take me and raise me."

  "What happened to your parents? Your mother?"

  "My mother was dead. Apparently after giving birth to me by herself, she knew she was dying and asked Santa to take her baby.” Chrissy brushed away a tear. “She was a believer and she knew Santa wouldn't let her down."

  "You believe that if I bite that cookie, nothing will happen. My lifetime allergy to ginger is gone?"

  Chrissy shook her head. “You can't eat ginger anywhere but here at Christmas Town."

  Nick looked into her eyes and remembered the first time she'd told him his eyes reminded her of fresh gingerbread. This was the gingerbread she was talking about. Her mother's gingerbread. Mrs. Claus. He held her gaze, unable to look away. The woman he loved was Santa Claus's daughter? It defied all logic, all intelligent thought. A rationale man would know that this was a dream and just accept it instead of wondering if maybe it was really true.

  "Oh no! Chrissy, come quick!"

  Chrissy spun around at the sound of Joy's voice. Her sister was watching the snow globe intently. “Look.” She pointed to the activity happening on a small roof. Nick ran to join them and watched as the sisters frantically pushed the button, but the globe wouldn't reveal more information.

  "What did you see?"

  Just then a commotion outside had everyone racing from the kitchen.

  "What's happening?” Nick asked, racing along the halls along with Chrissy and her mother and Joy.

  "The sleigh is coming back. Something's wrong. It's way too soon.” Joy yelled and then ran so far ahead of him that all he saw was a blur. Chrissy looked worried and he reached for her hand. He was glad she clung to him instead of letting go.

  "He was sick. When he left this evening, he was sick and wouldn't stay behind."

  "How could he? If he didn't go, who would make the deliveries?” Nick was shocked to hear himself talking about Santa Claus and his deliveries as if he was real. But then he was. Wasn't he? When did he realize he was real? When did he begin to believe?

  Noel met them at the door to the barn and they all watched the sky. “Oh no, not you, lover boy. No one gets to see Santa.” He held up his hands and Chrissy looked ready to argue, but instead she turned to Nick.

  "I'm sorry Nick, he's right. I can't let you come in here with us.” She snapped her fingers and an elf appeared at her side. “Take Mr. Christopoulous back to the guest suite and bring him something to eat."

  "Why can't I come in there? Let me help. You might need me."

  Chrissy looked at him sadly. “You're a mortal, and you're a non-believer. I can't let you in. I'm sorry.” She turned to her brother. “You couldn't just leave it alone, could you? You couldn't just leave him in his apartment."

  "Hey, if you think I wanted to fly all the way to Greece today..."

  "Stop it! Both of you. Quit the arguing.” Mary Claus admonished as she opened the doors. “He can't come in and that's settled. Nick, please go quietly and don't give the elves any trouble. We'll get you back home as soon as we can."

  Chrissy was leaving him again. He watched as she joined her brother at the large door and then turned back to look at him. The look in her eyes was all he needed. He could see it. She was done trying.

  "Did you bring a cookie with you?” He asked.

  Chrissy glanced down at her hand where she still held half a gingerbread man. She looked back up at him. “Why?"

  He reached out his hand for it. She was too far from him and instead of bringing it to him she handed it to the elf at her side. The elf in turn handed it to another and then another until it reached Nick. He took it. He didn't feel any fear. He didn't feel any concern about what would happen. He broke off the arm and popped it into his mouth. The flavors exploded on his tongue, ginger and spices and he chewed and swallowed. Then he took another bite and another until it was all gone. He smiled as nothing happened. Absolutely nothing. But the best part was that he knew nothing would happen. He didn't even expect a reaction.

  "Chrissy, I'll be waiting for you."

  She smiled and started to say something but her brother hustled her along and she was gone. Dutifully, he followed the elves to the suite once more but this time as he went the things around him had a different meaning. The ornate surroundings, the photos on the wall, everything. It was amazing. He was in Santa Claus's castle.

  The Santa Claus. He really did exist. Children all over the world were right and adults were wrong. He'd yet to figure out why so many adults didn't believe in him, but he knew there had to be an explanation. Maybe something to do with growing up or maybe something to do with the hearts of only the innocent, who knew?

  Then it really dawned on him who Chrissy was. She was Santa Claus's daughter. Did that make her a princess or something? Probably. He was in love with the Princess of Santa Claus. How wild was that? No wonder Chrissy had such a problem with his dislike of Christmas. He chuckled as the elves left him once more in his sumptuous room. He had to have driven her crazy with all his anti-Christmas talk.

  Ten o'clock on Christmas Eve. He wondered when Chrissy would come back. He wondered what his family was doing right now. He'd told them he'd be over first thing on Christmas morning. Did cell phones work from the North Pole? Didn't much matter, he hadn't thought to grab his when her brother whisked him away on his motorcycle. Picking up a well-worn copy of “The Night Before Christmas” he settled back into the overstuffed chair and began to read the famous poem with a renewed appreciation for it.

  * * * *

  "Ok, Papa, try to remember, where do you think the cabin was? Was it in the United States? Were you still in Europe? When I checked the globe about an hour and a half ago you were in Ireland.” Chrissy tried desperately not to show her father how concerned they all were for Holly. Tucked back into his bed with healing powders in his hot cocoa, he mumbled incoherently about the reindeer and a guy from TV and something about hiding from weddings. None of them knew what he was talking about. All they knew was that when the sleigh returned an hour or so ago, he was in it alone without the sacks of toys and without Holly.

  Joy raced back into the room. “Still nothing on the globe."

  With their father asleep, Chrissy walked out of the room to consult with her sister while her mother stayed by his bedside.

  "What are we going to do?” Chrissy forced back the panic. It wasn't as if Holly was out in the elements. They knew she was in a heated log cabin—somewhere. Her magical powers would keep her safe from whoever owned the cabin if necessary. Chrissy cringed remembering the skimpy little outfit her sister wore when she went out. “Idiot,” she muttered.

  "We can't do much of anything until tomorrow or the next day. Noel's out taking care of deliveries and he's going to ta
ke a long time. He's not used to this."

  "Where's Krista?"

  "She's gone to find Jackson. She wants to see if he has any ideas."

  Chrissy narrowed her eyes. Krista only went to find Jackson because it was a good excuse for her to talk to the Prince of Popsicles. “Well, there's not much more we can do. I'm going to go back to see Nick, you keep checking the globe. Come get me if you find anything."

  "Should I knock first?” Joy smirked and Chrissy shot her a glare, but then nodded and grinned. As worried as she was about Holly and her father, it didn't overshadow the fact that Nick ate the cookie. He trusted her when she told him he didn't have an allergy to Christmas Town gingerbread men. He believed her. He believed!

  She ran up the stairs towards the guest suite. The doors were closed tight and the two elves that had been appointed guards stood on either side. “Thank you, you can go now,” she shooed them away and without knocking entered the dark suite.

  Nick was asleep in the overstuffed chair. She crossed the room and slipped the book from his hands. She slid into his lap and nestled up against him. He stirred and she smiled up. “Hi."

  "Hmm, Hi.” He lowered his head and brushed her lips with his. Chrissy shifted until she could reach up to wrap one arm around his neck and pull him even closer to her. She put everything she felt in her kiss to him. Nick tangled his fingers in her hair and cradled the back of her head. His mouth was warm and tasted of hot cocoa and candy canes.

  His hand slid down the side of her face to rest against the pulse at her neck and she pressed against him, longing for him to touch her and make love to her again. “Nick,” she pleaded, nipping his lower lip with her teeth and then soothing it over with her tongue. “I've missed you."

  "Not half as much as I've missed you.” Nick pulled away from her lips.

  She took the opportunity to kiss his neck, then slipped two buttons of his polo shirt free and kissed his upper chest. Chrissy's hand ventured lower down over the planes of his stomach to rest against the hardness behind his zipper. “Do you have a candy cane in there or are you just happy to see me?” she teased, kissing the side of his mouth once more before working her way towards his ear.

  Nick growled and pressed her hand harder against his groin. “If we weren't in your father's house, I'd show you."

  Chrissy leaned back. “You're not going to tell me you're afraid of my father, are you?"

  Nick's hand covered her breast through the dress she still wore and teased her nipple until it pebbled. She moaned and wiggled in his lap.

  "Your brother is a pretty scary character even if your father wasn't who he is."

  Chrissy's head came up and she looked into his eyes. “Who's my father?"

  Nick lowered his head and kissed her neck. “You know who he is."

  She placed both hands on his head and tilted it up to look at her. “Tell me who he is."

  "Your father is Santa Claus. The real Santa Claus and your mother is Mrs. Claus and she bakes one hell of a gingerbread cookie."

  Chrissy smiled from ear to ear. “Tell me where we are right now."

  "We're at the North Pole, I have no idea where on the globe that is, but it's pretty damn cold out."

  "What else?"

  "Well let's see, I flew here on a motorcycle, I watched you fly here using magic reindeer and you have elves for sisters."

  Chrissy nodded. “What else?"

  Nick frowned and she could see he was thinking. “You have this amazing thing you do with your tongue on my..."

  Chrissy gasped and slapped her hand over his lips. “Not that! What about what you said to me when I left you in Greece."

  Nick stood up cradling her in his arms. He strode across the room to the large bed and pulled back the curtains that surrounded it. “I hope you locked that door, Ms. Claus because I am about to show you just how much I love you and I do love you, in spite of you being the Princess of Christmas. Something tells me that my years of avoiding the holiday have ended."

  Chrissy held out her arms to him as she lay on the bed. “Do you mind terribly if we spend the holiday with my family every year? I promise we can do Thanksgiving with yours."

  Nick laughed as he wrapped her in his arms. “I suppose, but only if we get to keep the house on the island. It would be a shame to have to build it again, your brother did such a fantastic job."

  "Noel didn't do that. I did."

  Nick pulled back. “I thought you weren't an elf? I thought you didn't have magic powers?"

  "I don't. I have something far better than magic."

  "Oh?"

  "I have connections, lots and lots of connections."

  Nick laughed and Chrissy pulled him down to her for a kiss that left him with no question what she wanted for Christmas.

  About the author...

  Roni Adams currently resides in a tiny hamlet in Upstate New York. Nestled along the Erie Canal, she feels she leads a pretty blessed life. She's been married for 21 years and has three sons, ages 10-18. Although, she's been writing since she was 7 and has the “wonderful” short stories to prove it, she admits that she took a long leave of absence after getting married.

  While she's not busy camping with her boys, caring for the house and pets she enjoys and sharing her stories with her readers.

  Jack's Christmas Spirit

  Allie Standifer

  Chapter One

  Should she do it?

  Could she do it?

  Christmas Spirit looked over the expanse of the large room with its cheery fire and felt her stomach heave. Swallowing hard against the nausea, she wished once again she had the nerve to ask for her heart's desire.

  The tradition in her family was alive and well. Every Christmas Eve, her father would sit all the kids down and ask them the wish of their hearts. Then he'd do his best to grant it, if he felt the wish and the person deserved each other.

  Every year since Krista could remember, she'd wished happiness for the world, peace to all humans and every child to have a perfect Christmas.

  And every year, her father would look at her with those twinkling blue eyes and ask, “Is that all you wish for, Krista? Are you sure that is the only wish in your heart?"

  The answer was the same. “Yes, Father, I truly wish these things from my heart."

  A pat on the head and kiss to her cheek would follow and he'd be off asking her brother or sisters for their wishes.

  This year would be different. Krista would make a stand for herself. She would tell her father exactly what was in her heart.

  If she didn't throw up first.

  * * * *

  The window showed a clear view of the happy family inside. But Jackson Frost wasn't interested in anyone but Krista. She shone brighter than the lights sparkling in the tree behind her.

  Intently, he watched her face, mesmerized by the myriad of expressions flashing across her lovely features. Happiness, hope, and anxiety flicked through her evergreen eyes.

  Nerves twisted his gut and made him wish he could break down the door and protect Krista from whatever distressed her. He'd hold her in his arms, kiss her sweet lips gently and whisper all the things stored inside his heart.

  Unfortunately for him, it would never happen.

  One touch of his frosty cold hand and she'd turn to ice in a matter of seconds. No matter how badly he ached to touch her, learn the taste of her skin and flavor of her mouth, Jack would never come within ten feet of her.

  If it hadn't been for his old friend Nick, Jack wouldn't be here at all. But friendships were invaluable when you're immortal and a walking dry ice machine. He'd stick with what he had and be grateful for it.

  "Jack, my old friend, what are doing standing out in the snow? Come on in.” A cheery voice boomed from his left.

  Nicholas Claus stood in the open doorway. One arm tucked behind him and the other held out to welcome Jack in.

  Contrary to popular belief, Nick didn't always dress in red velvet pants or a spiffy red hat. The hero of all
children's fantasies wore worn blue jeans, a neatly trimmed beard, a faded flannel shirt, and a beaming smile.

  Watching his oldest friend, Jack moved slowly to the open door. “Thanks, Nick, but you know the cold doesn't bother me. I just came by to see what you needed before the big night."

  A devilish glint sharpened the blue in the other man's eyes. “Ho, now Jack, and what would my better half say if I left you out here?"

  A smile broke through the gloom of Jacks’ thoughts. “She'd skin you alive and make you sleep with Donner."

  "Darn right!” Nick agreed with a hearty laugh. “Get in here or else I'll find myself sleeping in the hay pile."

  Both men laughed in companionable humor. Mrs. Claus was known to one and all as the softest touch in town. Her threats were as substantial as one of Jack's snowflakes.

  Even with the warmth of Nick's friendship, Jack had to make sure his friend understood this visit would be brief. “I haven't much time. There's a boat off the coast of Alaska trying to make its way to the States. Damn thing got caught up in the ice drift. If I don't get there soon, nothing will be left of it."

  Nick being Nick patted Jack's shoulder and smiled indulgently. “Not tonight, son. I've already sent a ‘head's up’ to the Coast Guard. The rescue will come off without a hitch and you'll not be needed."

  Jack looked at the other man stunned. “How could you?” he barked, frustration had him raking hands through his long thick black hair. “I'll have to leave right this minute to ensure nothing goes wrong with either ship now."

  And there went any time he could have used to stare at Krista. To store and build up memories for the time when she wasn't there anymore.

  Nick looked shocked at Jack's reaction. “Don't be in such an all fire hurry, boy. I told you Noel would take care of it."

  Jack turned furious frost blue eyes to Nick. “When is the last time Noel did something you asked? Correctly?"