Matchsticks and Candy Canes

by C. E. Wilson

  “So long as you’re sure.” Carter sounded less confident than usual.

  “I’m sure.” The massive rooms of the home passed by in a blur of long strides, and soon they were in the familiar bedroom.

  “Do you know where my clothes are?” Brynne leaned forward in his arms, searching the nightstand. “Didn’t I leave them right there last night?”

  “Oh. Aunt Heather probably wanted to wash them for you,” Carter said. “It’s fine, she brought a bunch of dresses and stuff that should be about your size. Heightwise at least.” Carter bent over and set Brynne on the floor. At the foot of the bed, he pulled over a big black garbage bag filled with Ethel’s old clothes, and began to pull them out one by one.

  Brynne picked up a plaid jumper, holding it out in front of her. The length was right, but far too wide. Her heart sank. Ethel must have been so young, just like the elf children who never made it through the cold, dark winters every year.

  “Do you like that one?” Carter asked, surprising her out of her thoughts. “S-sorry,” he said sheepishly.

  “It’s okay,” Brynne said quickly. “I was looking at this dress, and it made me think of… things.”

  Carter hummed. “She was cute,” he said. “Aunt Heather was so happy to finally have a little girl of her own. After four boys, she definitely earned one. If you like the dress, I’m sure we can belt it off so it won’t hang so much off your hips.” He leaned over to touch the fabric. “This would look good on you, I bet. I think I have something I could use to tighten it around your middle.”

  “Like what…”

  He pointed towards the bathroom. “Try it on first,” he said before he leaned over her a bit to grab an onesie. “Hmm, this would work as a shirt. Here!” he reached into his pocket and pulled out a knife and sliced off the lower half of the onesie. “Now you have a t-shirt and a jumper. Give these try and we’ll see how we can make it fit, okay?” To his relief, Brynne threw a flustered smile over her shoulder.

  “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to hurry me,” Brynne teased as she walked into the bathroom. She pushed the door so that it was almost closed, then let out a long sigh.

  From living in a human home to wearing human clothes.

  She dropped the pants that had barely held to her waist in the first place, exchanging the pajamas for the big shirt and small tent of a jumper.

  “Carter.” She stumbled out of the bathroom, dark hair fanning down her back and her arms out at her sides. “I look like a baby doll.” She pouted.

  “Maybe a little bit.” Carter looked her up and down. In clothing her own size, she didn’t look so small, but in one of Ethel’s old outfits, she was shockingly scrawny. With a nervous chuckle, he motioned for her to turn around. “Let’s take a closer look.”

  “No. I look like a fool. It doesn’t fit right. Nothing does.”

  “Come on, Brynne,” Carter said, sliding up closer. “It doesn’t look as bad as you think. It needs to be taken in a little bit. Aunt Heather can help out with that.”

  “And until then?” Brynne said, picking up the heavy fabric and dropping it to her ankles. “What am I supposed to wear tonight? I don’t have anything even the slightest bit pretty.”

  “That’s not true—”

  “It is,” she said, feeling ridiculous in the massive plaid dress. “Not to mention your cousin hates me.”

  Carter stopped suddenly, blinking a few times. “He doesn’t hate you,” he muttered. “He doesn’t know you.”

  “I don’t think he wants to know me,” Brynne said.

  Carter hesitated visibly. He fidgeted with his hands as she continued.

  “It’s okay. I’m not blaming you. I just don’t want to start any trouble around here. You promised it wasn’t going to be a big deal for me to stay here. You never mentioned there was going to be this huge family party with people from all over the country!”

  Carter looked at his hands. “I hate to say it, but I didn’t think of it as a big deal, you know? I mean, Evan is usually so easy-going. I never imagined for a moment that he wouldn’t fall in love with you.”

  “It’s not a big deal—”

  “Yes, it is,” he interrupted as harshly as he dared. “He was rude to you and I didn’t even stand up for you. Some of the things he said, he made you sound like you were trying to take advantage of Aunt Heather and Uncle Jeremy! He treated you like an animal and I just sat there. It wasn’t right.” He shook his head angrily. “I hope the twins and Shane are a little more open-minded.”

  “I’m sure it’s going to be fine,” Brynne said doubtfully.

  “Whether it is or isn’t, what he did still wasn’t right. The way people treat you. The way they look at you. That’s not okay. And I’m no better because I didn’t say anything to stop his way of thinking. I never had reason to in the past, but that’s still no excuse.” Carter palmed his face before he dared to inch his hand closer to Brynne’s. He gently grasped one of her hands between a finger and thumb and squeezed it gently. “I should have stood up for you.”

  “You shouldn’t have to.”

  “Yes I should, if someone treats you like that. You’re a person and you’re smart and pretty and kind.” He licked his lips as he moved his hand from hers to her cheek, cupping it as securely as he could as he leaned forward. “You are beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” Brynne said, conflicting emotions raging through her as he leaned closer. Did he really like her for who she was, or did he like being her savior more? Kind, good-hearted Carter, taking in mangy strays like her. She looked up at his pleading eyes. They looked sincere. She would give him the benefit of the doubt, at least for now.

  “I should have stood up for you,” he whispered. “And I’m sorry, I didn’t. When Evan comes back, I’ll talk to him, okay? He’s a good guy. I know he can see how good you are if he takes the time to look at you as a person and not an elf from the stories. I’ll make him see. Please don’t be mad, okay? This is all new for me, too. Liking an elf. It’s still a little strange for me.”

  A flash of sadness passed through her eyes. Her lips parted, but she swallowed the words and leaned out of his grasp to press a slow kiss to his cheek.

  “There’s no pressure, Carter. Not from me. There’s no getting around how bizarre it is, I’ll admit that much.” She found that she couldn’t meet his gaze. “You’re doing your best, which is more than I can say for most humans I’ve encountered.”

  “I hate that,” Carter grumbled. “It shouldn’t be like this for you. You’re not bad. You’re just small.”

  “To people like your cousin, they might as well be the same thing.”

  “Argh,” Carter groaned. He bit his lip. He had to go soon, or he wouldn’t be able to give her the gift. Hopefully he could be back before anyone else arrived. “Look, though. I’m sorry. I have to go.”

  “Now?” Brynne croaked.

  His resolve shattered and he stumbled to gather the pieces. “Amy and Aunt Heather are here,” Carter said, trying to soften the blow of his departure. “You can cook with them. Hey, ask Amy to make her famous holiday cocktail. I think you’ll like it.”

  “I’ve liked everything else you’ve asked me to try, so okay.”

  “You’ll have a chance to bond with Amy. She’s nice, Brynne.”

  “She does seem polite.”

  “She’s awesome. More than Evan deserves.”

  “I thought you looked up to Evan.”

  “I do. That doesn’t change the fact that Amy is completely and utterly awesome.” His gaze shifted towards the door and then back to her. “Brynne, I want you get along with them. My Aunt Heather and Amy… even my cousins. I want you to get along with them.”

  “Why? What does it even matter?”

  His gaze lowered. “I can’t say it without sounding cheesy.”

  “Try,” Brynne said, imploring him with her eyes. “I think I need to hear something cheesy right about now.”

  Carter dropped his
hand from her face so he could drape it around her hips. “Promise not to laugh?”

  “I swear on Santa Claus himself.”

  Carter dared to laugh. “So long as you promise over Santa.” He inhaled and exhaled deeply, steeling himself to say the words. “I want you to get along with everyone because despite barely knowing you, I think there’s something here. With us. Something special.”

  “R-really?” Brynne swallowed hard. She could barely lock eyes with him as he brought her closer.

  “Yes, really,” Carter said. “I don’t see this as a temporary thing. I want you to stick around as long as you can with me by your side, okay?” He smiled carefully, hoping he wasn’t unloading too much on her. He couldn’t deny his feelings. In the short time he had known her, Brynne had become very important to him, and sending her back to that cold, dilapidated slum was something his heart wouldn’t stand for. “But for now I have to run down to Sweet Mix. I’m going to talk to Evan.”

  It wasn’t a complete lie. He was going to go to the shop to pick up the doll, but he also wanted to have a few words with his cousin.

  The way he had treated Brynne was not okay. And if he wanted to be with her, he was going to have to stand up for her. Probably a lot.

  “You think you’ll be okay making some holiday punch with Amy?”

  “I suppose so. I don’t know anything about it.”

  “You’ll be fine,” he replied before an important memory of Amy’s Holiday Punch occurred to him. “Promise me you won’t be drunk by the time I get back, okay?”

  She shook her head. “I’m not going to get drunk!”

  “It’s surprisingly easy with Amy’s punch. You have to watch yourself.” He laughed at a memory and grinned to himself.

  “I’m sure I’ll be fine, Carter.”

  “Though I can’t deny seeing you drunk would probably be one of the most adorable things I’ve ever seen.” He tried to picture her and Amy stumbling around the house with drinks and Aunt Heather begging them to focus on cooking. It was almost too funny to think about. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have a few drinks. It is the holidays, after all. And it might loosen you up a little.”

  “Carter, please don’t take this the wrong way, but I am not planning to get drunk in a house full of humans. Besides, I don’t really like drinking. My father—” She stopped and turned red. Carter suddenly found lacing his boots very interesting.

  “R-right,” he muttered.

  She watched him for a moment. “Carter, I’m sorry I snapped. I’m just nervous about tonight and it’s making me testy, I guess. Hopefully some time with your aunt and Amy will calm me down. Before you leave, do you mind giving me a ride back to the kitchen?”

  Carter couldn’t deny her that, or deny himself such a thing. He scooped her up with an extra squeeze, leaving Brynne short of breath. “And you sure you’re okay in this outfit? I thought you were worried you looked like an elf.”

  “I still do,” Brynne said, giving his finger a squeeze, “but I’ll ask Amy or Heather to tie up the middle like you said. I think they’d be happy to help.”

  “More like they’ll be honored,” Carter couldn’t help saying. “You have no idea how much people are drawn to you.”

  Brynne fumbled to find words. Carter always made it difficult when such kindness spilled from his lips. “Stay warm out there. It’s crazy cold outside, in the snow.”

  “No need to worry about me in the cold. I’ll be fine. I want you to try and have fun, okay?” He stopped in front of the doorway before he opened it and brought her closer to his face. Their noses almost touched and he closed his eyes. “Remember, Aunt Heather and I are on your side. Uncle Jeremy is too,” he whispered.

  Brynne struggled to follow his lead in closing her eyes, but she couldn’t. Such a close proximity to a human should have been terrifying, but not with Carter. It was almost comforting. “I feel like saying thank you is going to get stale,” Brynne said in a low voice. “Regardless, thank you so much.”

  Her voice dropped to a grateful whisper as she rested her forehead on his. He was as warm as ever, both body and soul.

  “You’re welcome. Try not to get too drunk.” He finished off with a soft laugh as he opened the door and stepped out.

  “I won’t!”

  He deposited her in the kitchen and said his farewells and promised to be back soon. Then he turned, nodded to Brynne, and walked down the hall.

  Once Carter had closed the door behind him, Amy slapped her hands together with a grin. “Finally! All the boys are gone! Time for us girls.”

  “Don’t get carried away,” Heather said, trying to smile. She gave Brynne a weary look. “We’re not as crazy as she’s making us sound.”

  “Oh please!” Amy giggled as she ran to the refrigerator. “I seem to recall a certain woman having a little too much of my holiday punch last year and threatening to go caroling around the neighborhood.”

  “I did not!” Heather’s voice rose to a surprisingly shrill squeak as she diced the onions and garlic. “Brynne, please. Don’t listen to her.”

  “She won’t need to,” Amy teased. “The results speak for themselves. Now, what do I need?” She started to pull out various bottles and cans, setting them close to Brynne on the countertop. “Cranberry juice, spiced wine, orange juice and hmmm... we’re missing something. A little rum to warm everyone up this year, perhaps?”

  “Young lady, you are going to get us all into a lot of trouble,” Heather said, shaking her head, grinning nonetheless. “I’ll let you make the punch, but add some lemon juice. Your recipe needs something to cut the sweetness.”

  “Sure, Heather,” Amy said before shifting her attention towards Brynne. “Do elves even celebrate Christmas anymore, Brynne?” she asked politely, pouring juice and rum simultaneously into a huge basin. “I hear you guys have a different twist on the holiday since....” she let her answer hang in the air.

  Brynne shrugged as she hoisted bread rolls into inviting baskets for the table. “Not so different. Just less holly and jolly. Shortbread was my mother’s specialty.”

  “Must be hard for you guys.” Amy said, stirring a spoon into the mixture. “Christmas belonged to the elves, but then that whole thing with Santa—”

  “We get by.” Brynne said, shrugging again. No reason to upset them on a holiday. “The holidays are different in our neighborhoods. That’s all.”

  An awkward silence fell over the trio, and Amy and Heather exchanged concerned looks over Brynne’s head. There were a few clunks and shortly after a Dixie cup was shoved under her eyes.

  “First cup of my punch means good luck till New Year’s. Go on,” Amy goaded.

  Brynne took the cup, inhaling the sharp smell of rum, juice, wine and spices. It smelled delicious. Delicious and strong.

  She wrestled with herself for a moment, then decided. She was too uptight, and these women had been nothing but friendly to her. A little drink would loosen her up, and that would be good for everybody.

  “Bottoms up,” she said, lifting the cup to her lips.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Carter couldn’t decide whether the man who worked at the toy shoppe was happy or annoyed to see him walk in with the rest of the money. Disgruntled like before, he mumbled something about the doll being a steal and threw it into a paper bag without too much showmanship. Carter was in too much of a rush to care either way about the grumpy old man. The doll was his and the clothing would look amazing on Brynne. That was all that mattered. He could only hope that Amy and his Aunt Heather were being as kind to her as he hoped. Jogging through the slush with a skip in his step, ‘Chasing Winter’ rattling around in a paper bag, Carter decided to make a quick stop and have it professionally wrapped at the pharmacy.

  Gold and silver wrapping paper.

  It gleamed and shown as brightly as her smile did when she was truly happy.

  And there something amazing about knowing he could make her smile that way sometimes.

  He sudd
enly wanted to get back to his aunt’s house and see her, and for a moment, he strongly considered going back home. There was no reason to stir up Evan at the moment. Really, his attitude towards elves wasn’t exactly unheard of. To many people, the elves were freaks, animals to be shunned and ignored. The way they saw it, elves had been made small for a reason. Someone – and he didn’t like to think about greater powers – must have been punishing them.

  That wasn’t Brynne’s fault.

  He frowned deeply as he concluded that he needed to make things right and took the next street, deciding to head to Sweet Mix rather than back to the house. The wrapped package suddenly seemed gaudy so he tucked it back into the paper bag along with the naked doll, some sweet peppermint chocolates and a bunch of mini poinsettias. He would never hear the end of it from Evan so he figured this would save a lot of time and distraction. And though he didn’t want to dwell on it, there was always a possibility that this arrangement couldn’t last forever. And if anything happened to Brynne which meant she had to go back to her home, he wanted her to remember this Christmas. He wanted Brynne’s first human Christmas to be unforgettable.

  And that meant confronting Evan.

  The smell of baking bread hit Carter’s nostrils even before he pushed the door open and to his surprise, Evan wasn’t his only cousin there. The two youngest twins, Tyler and Taylor waved from the stock room. They were only a year older than Carter, having finished up their first semester of their freshman year in college, and both sported the ‘freshman 15’ due to a steady, balanced diet of wings and beer. They were both smiling.

  “Carter!” they cried out in unison.

  “We were hoping you’d stop by,” Taylor said.

  “Yeah we were,” Tyler tacked on.

  “Dad said you would,” Taylor said.

  “Yeah he did,” Tyler said. “How are you?”

  “Yeah, man? How are you?”

  Slightly overwhelmed, Carter put on his best smile. “Good.” He held up his bag. “Did some last minute shopping.” He glanced around the shop. “When did you guys get in?”