Matchsticks and Candy Canes

by C. E. Wilson

  “Right,” Brynne agreed, a bit too quickly.

  She ducked her head and buried her attentions into her smorgasbord of food, trying not to dwell on how different she and Carter were. At least if he was poor, they could have that in common. He was clearly from a wealthy family who could afford to send their son out to try new foods, pay for other people, and not worry about freezing in the chilly air every time he went outside.

  Brynne picked up her glass of water and took a lengthy sip.

  “How is everything?” The smiling waiter stopped short in passing by their table, slapping a hand on the edge to support himself. Brynne flinched from the sound and cold water rushed through her weathered shirt and trousers.

  “Oh, shoot! I’m so sorry,” the waiter gushed. He pulled a spare napkin out of his apron and gripped the back of her chair. Brynne turned to see what he was doing, and suddenly his other hand was there, gently dabbing at her front. “You must not get out much huh, pretty girl?” the question was muttered, but close – he was surprisingly so close. Brynne wasn’t even sure how to respond.

  Carter wasn’t sure either. The whole scene happened so quickly that at first all he could do was bite his lip. He tasted blood as the waiter dipped closer to her and started to pat a napkin over her chest. Was he...

  “A pretty girl like you needs to be more careful,” Alley muttered.

  Carter shot up from his chair. “Stop.” The tops of his ears grew hot and red as the waiter turned away and looked up at him.

  “She spilled water,” he said simply. “I was only trying to help.”

  “I think you’ve helped enough,” Carter said, snapping the napkin from his hand. “I’ll take it from here.”

  “I don’t mind—”

  “I do,” Carter said. “She’s my girlfriend and I think you’re being inappropriate.” His face grew even hotter. There was no way the waiter was going to buy it. Inappropriate? Girlfriend? Who was he? A prince from a children’s movie? Still, he took a step towards Brynne, forcing the waiter to back up. “Thanks, but I’ve got it, Almond.”

  “Alley.” The waiter held up his hands. “I didn’t mean...” he frowned and looked away. “Whatever you say, guy.”

  Carter watched him go until he was on the opposite side of the tiny restaurant. He crouched down, his hazel eyes desperately searching Brynne’s. “Are you okay? Sorry about that. I knew he was trying to help, but it felt wrong.”

  Girlfriend. Brynne froze, too stunned to speak with the word still ringing loudly in her ears.

  Carter’s expression crumbled. “You’re soaked,” he muttered, looking over her sweater and necklace. He held up the napkin and brought it a fraction closer towards her. “Mind if I try to help?”

  “Oh you can. Uh. Sure. Please,” Brynne stammered. Her heart was pounding so fast and hard, Carter must have seen it through her turtleneck. Must have felt it as his hand brought the bunched up napkin to her chest and smoothed it over the soaked fabric. She snuck looks at his face. So intent and concentrated on the simple task. Upon her.

  Her emotions and confusion continued to bubble like water boiling on a stove as Carter stuck his tongue out in concentration so he wouldn’t accidentally hurt her. She was frail looking next to his hands. It was hard to think that such a race existed that was so much like his own other than size. It was a little disconcerting. He grazed across the necklace and its opal charm hanging around her neck and wondered what the story was behind it. It practically shimmered next to her tattered clothing, looking a little out of place. Would she like the snowflake charm from the doll at the Shoppe instead?

  “I’m not your girlfriend!” Brynne said suddenly.

  Carter stopped. He couldn’t bring his eyes up to meet hers. Not when she was so close. Not when he was practically pawing at her chest like he was some pervert out to cop a feel. He suddenly felt dirty for touching her. He was no better than the waiter. He curled his fingers tightly around the napkin.

  “What?”

  “We haven’t. I-I mean...” She gripped the edge of her seat fearfully. “A-am I?” She practically whispered, her disbelief tainted by a barely alive hope.

  “I only said that so he would leave you alone. Nothing else was working so I panicked.” He dropped the napkin on the table and stood up. “Don’t worry, Brynne, I didn’t mean it. You’re safe.” He tried to smile as he rounded the table to return to his seat and plopped down heavily. “I think I got most of it, but there’s still a little on...” he swallowed hard, “... your pants. I think I’ve groped you enough for the day, huh?” He tried to play it off as a joke, when inwardly he was ashamed.

  “It’s not that big of a deal – you were helping.”

  “So was the waiter.”

  “It’s different…” she trailed off and looked at the table.

  “So what’s the story with that necklace?” he asked, hoping to change the subject.

  “Oh. It was a gift from my grandmother.”

  “It’s pretty,” Carter offered as she pulled it out, the small stone sparkling with every color of the rainbow.

  Brynne smiled sadly, letting her pale fingers trail over the opal tenderly before tucking back into her lunch. “She was a generous woman. I miss her every day.”

  Carter nodded, still thinking about the snowflake necklace on the doll at the Shoppe. Was it too presumptuous to assume she’d enjoy his gift knowing that she already had a beloved piece of jewelry around her neck?

  “She sounds sweet,” he offered after a few moments of awkward silence.

  “She was,” Brynne said. “She kept my father in line.” Her words hinted at a deeper meaning, but she didn’t dare elaborate. Truth was, when her grandmother was alive, her father hadn’t the courage to strike his children. Now that she was gone, the only ones there to protect her brother and sister was her mother and herself.

  The two ate in silence for a few minutes and Carter couldn’t help sneaking the occasional look over at his date for the afternoon. From across the table, Carter could really look at her. He could see every curve, every shift, and every delicate movement. She was beautiful but he still couldn’t get a read on her. She said she liked being close to him but seemed relieved when he said that she wasn’t actually his girlfriend.

  He cleared his throat softly. “I have a couple more chores I need to finish up if you’re interested. It won’t be anything exciting,” he said in a low voice.

  Brynne looked up eagerly, her pale cheeks blooming into a happy saturation at the thought of the day continuing on.

  “I could try to show you my baking skills,” Carter said, laughing a bit awkwardly. “Unless you’re ready for the day to be over already.”

  “No, no! I don’t want this day to ever end,” she said quickly.

  Carter couldn’t help raising an eyebrow. “The day has to end sooner or later,” he said, though his tone was teasing.

  “Still, I’d be happy to go back to the bakery.”

  “Good,” Carter said. “I’d be happy to have you back. I thought you’d be running back home after lunch.”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “I was worried you weren’t having a good time.”

  “You don’t need to worry about that. Seriously.”

  Carter dared to smile. “So alright then. We’ll continue our date at Sweet Mix.”

  Her cheeks bloomed anew and her eyes sank lower on his body, and before he could notice, she averted her gaze shyly again.

  She had eaten a great deal for someone her size, but hadn’t eaten half of the food on her plate.

  “I feel so bad,” she said, watching as Carter transferred their leftovers into boxes. “Making you order food I didn’t finish.”

  “Don’t even worry about it,” he said, waving her off. “It’s my treat. And I want you to have some leftovers…” he trailed off as the same waiter returned, “... and this looks like plenty.”

  “I wanted to apologize for the confusion,” Alley said, glimpsing around
the table. “To say I’m sorry, I’ve tossed in a pair of complimentary slices of our candy cane and hot chocolate cheesecake.”

  “Look, Almond – Alley I mean, I appreciate the gesture and I accept your apology, just make sure that you don’t do it again.” Carter gave the waiter a smug look.

  “Two things. One: I’m not apologizing to you. I’m apologizing to her if I made her feel uncomfortable. Two: I realize that this young woman is an elf, but that doesn’t make you better than her. I see way too many people who bring elves in here just to act like big shots to feel better about themselves. I’m not saying you are one of these people, but you’re sure acting like one. I’ll get your check.”

  Carter was reduced to embarrassed, red-faced sputtering, and after the waiter walked away he looked over at Brynne helplessly. Then he lowered his head in shame. “I can’t do anything right today,” he mumbled.

  Brynne had been too afraid to say anything during the waiter’s rant, and had watched the spectacle with wide eyes. Now she looked over at Carter’s downturned face and realized that she would have to do something. She looked at his large hand which lay near her on the table.

  “You’ve done quite a few things right,” she said shyly, closing her hand around his fingertip.

  Her touch was so light and cold that Carter coughed in surprise when their skin touched. She was looking openly into his eyes, not blinking or glancing away. She had beautiful eyes.

  “T-thanks, Brynne,” he uttered quietly.

  “Here’s your check, mister big man,” Alley said, dropping the check onto the table and turning to leave.

  “Mister Alley,” Brynne called out in a loud, yet quavering voice as she suddenly stood and faced him. The waiter turned back, his eyebrows raised. “I want you to know that this man is not anything like the ‘big shot’ you described. He is a very kind, gentle person and I think,” she gulped, “I think you owe him an apology for what you said.” The last few words had come out in a squeak and she sat back down heavily and squeezed Carter’s nearby finger.

  It was the waiter’s turn to go red in the face, and he smoothed his apron as he came back to the table. He turned to Carter, who wore a look of slack-jawed amazement. “I’m sorry about what I said, I just get really passionate when it comes to the treatment of the elves. I hope you’ll forgive me for being presumptuous.” His eyes danced between Carter and Brynne. “I wish you the best.”

  They watched him sheepishly turn and walk back to the kitchen. Carter spoke first. “Brynne…”

  “You don’t have to say anything…”

  “Brynne, thank you for saying that. You have no idea how much that meant to me. I’m serious.”

  She looked over at him and smiled. “I meant it. You’re the kindest person I’ve ever met.”

  Carter smiled back. The room suddenly seemed brighter and he felt his spirits rise. He snapped the fingers of his free hand.

  “What?” Brynne asked. “What is it?”

  “I have an idea,” he said. “Remember how I said I wanted to show you my attempt at baking?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I think I’m going to make scones. They’re my specialty.” He eyed up the cheesecake samples. “And I think I know what flavors I want to try. You mind if we make a quick stop for supplies before we head back?”

  “Not at all! I know a place near here.” She continued to beam up at him until he cleared his throat and gave her a significant look. “Did I do something wrong?” she nervously.

  “I need my hand, Brynne,” Carter said a bit awkwardly.

  “Oh, right! Sure, sorry!” she said hurriedly, releasing him immediately.

  “Not that I mind!” He pulled his hand away and stood up from his chair. “We should get going, huh? Make the most of our time today?” He shrugged on his coat and after a moment’s hesitation tossed down the tip.

  “I um, yeah, definitely.” She turned to pull on her jacket over her damp clothes, unconcerned about the vicious cold outside for the first time in years. Carter would keep her warm. And even better, he didn’t shy away from her touch. That had to mean something.

  “Ready?” she asked, standing on the edge of the table closest to him.

  Carter offered her an arm in reply, ready to set her down on the floor so she could walk on her own, but Brynne only nuzzled closer to him like a cat.

  She hopped off for a moment when he paid the bill, then took his proffered arm and climbed back up.

  And so, as soon as they left the diner, he tucked her back into the crook of his arm and settled her against his chest under his coat.

  Chapter Eleven

  It was with a surprising amount of reluctance that Carter opened the door to the small grocery near elftown. The door was low enough that he had to duck his head to enter, and it made him feel like a huge monster. Without Brynne near him, he never would have had the nerve to enter, but he gulped and stepped inside.

  “Can I help you?” a middle-aged elf behind the register asked warily.

  He fixed his coal black eyes on Carter as though he was an angry bull in a china shop.

  “Looking for some candy canes and marshmallows,” Carter said. The cashier pointed to a colorful display behind him, and Carter wasted no time in snatching up a large box of the striped candies and a bag of marshmallows. He went over to the low register, his head scraping the low ceiling. “That’s all I need.”

  “You don’t say,” the cashier grunted, bagging up the items and barking the total. “Something wrong with your arm?”

  Carter flushed as he dropped a few dollars on the counter. Brynne stiffened in his grasp. “Just sprained,” he lied quickly as elf slid over a bag with a label printed on it from another store. “Thanks,” he said, turning to leave. “Have a good one.”

  “It’ll be good if we get more customers,” the elf grumbled as Carter opened the small door. “The snow needs to let up.”

  “He was pleasant,” Carter said with a relieved laugh after he was back in the street. It was hard to carry all the leftovers with one arm and keep Brynne secure in the other, but he managed as well as he could. “You okay?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “You’re just not very talkative all of a sudden. Are you too uncomfortable under there?”

  “It’s not like that, Carter. If anything, it’s too comfortable. Do you want to talk right now?”

  “No, you’re fine. It’s too cold to talk anyway.”

  Brynne snuggled in tighter, trying to make herself as invisible as possible. “Thanks,” she murmured, running her hands curiously down the fibers of his sweater to pass the time. It was a long walk and winter’s chill was never truly gone, but she couldn’t stop smiling.

  His face felt stiff by the time he got back to Sweet Mix, and the blast of sweet-smelling warmth that hit him as he opened the door felt like heaven. How had Brynne stood outside all day in weather like this?

  “We’re here,” he said, working his jaw and face as he crouched down. “Hope you don’t mind coming out now.” He set down his bag and leftovers and unbuttoned his coat so Brynne could climb out safely. Her face was flushed with color – something he had rarely seen so far.

  “I guess if I don’t have a choice,” she said, turning around to smirk. “It’s like a furnace in there.”

  “I’ll bet. I can see you’re finally warm for once. It’s odd considering we were outside.” He arched his eyebrow as though he was holding in a secret before he stretched and stood up. “We’re going to make candy cane and hot chocolate scones once my hand thaws out. How does that sound?” He started to stride towards the back room, only stopping to drop off his coat near the register.

  Brynne trotted after him to keep up. “I’ve never even heard of those!” she gushed.

  “That’s because I made them up.”

  “Still! They sound incredible.” She continued to follow him, keeping a safe distance from his feet as he set down the bags and started arranging ingredients. Trying not to
feel like a child stranded at his ankles, Brynne patiently watched.

  “We should wash our hands first, right?” she asked.

  Carter smacked his palms together. “Right you are, sous chef.”

  “Sous chef?” Brynne arched an eyebrow and followed him to the sink.

  “It’s a fancy way to say second in command,” Carter commented. He reached over and turned on the hot and cold water until it reached a decent temperature. “I’ll be the head chef and you can be my sous.” He soaped and lathered up his hands before he turned towards Brynne. “Ready to go—oh,” he stopped short and realized she hadn’t washed her hands yet. How could she? The sink alone towered over her head. He started to chew nervously on his lip as he looked her over.

  “Yeah, I’ll uh… I need to clean up too.”

  “I can help,” he said. “If you don’t mind me touching you again. Hold up your arms.” He bent at the waist to pick her up and she experienced a moment of vertigo as he straightened up quickly. He set her down gently by the sink and turned the faucet towards her. She started out by rinsing the heavier grime from her hands, and soon was vigorously lathering her hands from a bead of soap at the edge of the sink. It took a few minutes to fully clean her hands and wrists.

  Carter handed her a napkin to dry her hands, and she patted them dry as he bustled about, gathering spoons and bowls. He really was trying to make her happy, trying to give her a fun day. She was having fun, which was pretty amazing considering that she had started the day by nearly freezing to death on the street. She really owed him a lot.

  Carter was a kind human, even towards an elf.

  Next thing, a hand was waving in front of her face. She jolted, looking up.

  “Brynne?”

  “Hmm?”

  “You okay? You spaced out again.”

  She smiled, forcing down her insecurities and shaking her head. “Just thinking.”

  “About what?”

  “About what’s my first job as your sous chef?” She rolled up her sleeves and clapped her hands together delicately.

  Carter gestured towards the large island in the middle of the room and she nodded. He moved her carefully and set her down next to the kneading board.