Matchsticks and Candy Canes

by C. E. Wilson

  “About an hour ago,” Taylor said.

  “Yup. About an hour.”

  “And where’s Uncle Jeremy?”

  Evan lifted his head and jerked a thumb towards the kitchen. “Dad’s finishing packing up a few of the ‘perishables’ for the long weekend. You’d think he’d come up with a better code for moving the last few gifts out to his car.” He shook his head.

  Then his eyes scanned his smaller cousin and an eyebrow found its way higher on his face. “You got your little pocket friend on you, there, Carter?”

  Carter ran his lips together, bracing himself for an argument. “No, she’s back at the house,” he replied curtly. “She’s helping your mom with the dinner fixings.”

  Evan harrumphed, shrugging his broad shoulders and glancing away as if to change the dull subject, but he couldn’t quite keep his mouth shut.

  “Does she come with accessories or do you buy them separately?” he muttered.

  Carter’s face grew hot with anger. “Why would you say that?” He dropped the bag and started to rush up to his larger cousin.

  “Whoa, whoa, there tiger!” Evan chortled, holding up his hands.

  “What’s your problem?”

  “Don’t start a fight. We’re in a place of business. My dad’s, so show some respect.”

  “Don’t ever talk about her like that,” Carter growled. “She’s a person.”

  “She’s an elf,” Evan growled. “This loaf of bread is closer to a person than she is. And now you’re dragging your little fetish into my parent’s house. Do you think this is a good idea for my mom, Carter? You know how she gets around the holidays.”

  “She’s the one who wanted her to move in.”

  “I highly doubt that.”

  “It’s true! Besides, I think it’s helping her move on.”

  “Look, stop trying to justify your little toy.”

  “She’s not a toy,” Carter said, frowning as he turned to look at his twin cousins. “Taylor? Tyler? A little help here?”

  The twins exchanged uneasy looks.

  “Don’t put us on the spot or anything,” Taylor muttered.

  “Yeah,” Tyler tacked on.

  “I haven’t even met her yet.”

  “Me neither.”

  “Obviously.”

  Tyler nodded immediately, shooting Evan a reproachful look. “Still, you’re getting a little crazy about the whole thing, Ev.”

  “That thing has no right living in our home wearing her clothes!” Evan grumbled stubbornly, clenching his jaw.

  Taylor stepped forward. “We all miss Ethel, Evan, but she certainly wouldn’t have wanted you to act like this.”

  “Don’t tell me what Ethel wanted,” Evan grumbled. “You hardly knew her.”

  “That’s funny for you to say,” Taylor snapped. “Seeing as that you weren’t ever at home when she was around.”

  “Yeah seriously,” Tyler said.

  Evan practically snarled. “I was in college, ass. What do you think I was supposed to do?”

  “Come home?”

  “Yeah, Evan.” Tyler stepped in for his twin. “Maybe come home for Christmas break? Spring break? Anything?”

  “You know I visit Amy’s,” Evan said. “That’s hardly the point.”

  “Let’s just give her a chance,” Taylor said.

  “Yeah. Let’s give her a chance,” Tyler said.

  “If she’s good for Mom, then who are we to complain?”

  “You want Mom to replace Ethel with some elf off the street? Are you serious?” He took a step towards Carter, his face growing red.

  “That’s enough!” Jeremy strode in with a fifty pound sack of flour slung over his shoulder as though it weighed nothing. Dropping it to the ground, white powder filled the air for a few moments as he dusted off his hands. “Carter, that’s enough.”

  “He started—”

  “Serves you right,” Evan grumbled.

  “You too, Evan,” Jeremy warned. “That’s enough.”

  “Dad. You heard—” Evan said.

  “That girl,” Jeremy interrupted as his dark eyes scanned over the large group, forcing one by one to lower their heads. “That girl is part of the family for now. She hasn’t got one of her own, so she’s staying with us. She’s polite and a good worker. And most importantly, Heather’s happy.” He narrowed his eyes and landed on Evan. “Your mother is happy, and until further notice? That’s all that matters.”

  “Dad—”

  “You think this is my first choice? To have that young elf lady living in my home?”

  “Uncle Jeremy—” Carter started, but his large uncle held up his hand.

  “It’s not. Regardless. My first concern is to keep my wife happy. And for whatever reason, having that elf there as a guest makes her happy. So Evan, you find a way to deal with this or find a way to deal with me.”

  Evan glared at his father, seething in the face of this betrayal. His eyes darted all around the group, finally landing on Carter. They glinted especially for him, letting him know that this was entirely his fault.

  “If anything goes missing, I’m calling the police. And you know how they handle elves,” Evan muttered. He shouldered past his younger cousin, grumbling something about waiting in the car. As it was, he stood in the doorway and gazed out the frosty windows.

  The twins exchanged a hushed conversation that made Carter bristle.

  “If you two have something else to say, say it to my face,” he snapped at them.

  Taylor looked a bit startled, but scratched his nose and spoke his mind. “We’re wondering what the deal with the elf is. You’re a little young to be adopting a kid.”

  “She’s not a kid,” Carter said immediately.

  “How old is she?”

  “Sixteen.”

  “So what are you doing with her?” Taylor asked.

  “Yeah, what are you doing with her?”

  “She’s sorta my girlfriend.”

  “Girlfriend?” Taylor and Tyler choked out simultaneously.

  “You can’t be serious,” Taylor said.

  “You can’t date a Christmas elf!” Tyler quickly tacked on.

  “Are you out of your mind?” Taylor asked.

  “Yeah, Carter,” Tyler added. “Are you out of your mind?”

  “Listen to me,” Carter said, holding up his hands. “And you!” Evan snorted as he stared out the window. “I want you to listen to what I have to say.”

  “I’m not changing my mind,” Evan grumbled.

  “Please,” Carter said. “It’s Christmas. Do you want to drag your bad mood back to your mom and Amy?”

  “Leave them out of this,” Evan said in a low voice.

  “Evan,” Carter said, softening his tone. “Please. I need you to listen.”

  “Say what you have to say and then I’m outta here.”

  “Brynne’s my girlfriend,” Carter said again. When Evan’s face reddened he squared his shoulders. Carter wasn’t a small man by any means, but he was still almost a head shorter than his cousin. He looked up to him in more ways than one.

  But for Brynne, he was willing to say what he had to.

  “She’s not a doll, and she’s not a pest. She’s not a problem or a thief. She’s not a reject and she’s not a witch. She’s important to me. She’s a girl who lost her family and is trying to get by without bothering anyone. She’s sweet and innocent. And it would mean the world to me if you gave her a chance, Evan. Don’t do it for me and don’t do it for Brynne. Don’t even do it for your mom. Do it for yourself. I’ve always looked up to you, man.”

  “Carter, I can’t—”

  “And I kinda hope I still can.”

  Evan’s expression changed. He looked across at Carter, for a moment seeing him in a different light. Whatever his thoughts, he kept them to himself. Without a word, he turned away from the others and barged into the cold outside. Carter flinched when the car door slammed.

  As his car pulled away, silence permeat
ed the bakery, and Carter felt the sting of disappointment.

  He had let Brynne down.

  Tyler exchanged an awkward look with his brother, feeling the desperate need to fill the quiet. “So you’re dating an elf?”

  Carter faced the twins with a weary look. “Yes.”

  “That’s gotta make for some weird macking sessions, huh?”

  Carter rolled his eyes. “I’m not gonna talk about it.”

  “Still though,” Tyler said. “I can’t even imagine. Kissing her has gotta be weird, right?”

  “It’s gotta be weird,” Taylor added.

  “Stop saying weird,” Carter grumbled.

  “How big is she, anyway?”

  “Yeah, how big?”

  “I don’t know, guys. An elf’s height, I guess,” Carter said sheepishly.

  “So like…” Tyler pursed his lips as to kiss the air. “Huh.”

  Carter arched a brow at Taylor for the display. “But all that stuff. Physical, I mean. It’s not about that.”

  The twins furrowed eyebrows matched perfectly.

  “So what’s it about?” Taylor dared to ask.

  “Yeah, Carter. If it’s not about the physical, what’s it about?” Tyler added.

  It was hard to explain his feelings for Brynne. The kisses were strange, but they felt right in a way. And though hugging her was awkward, he liked how she felt in his arms. There must be something wrong with him. His brain simply didn’t work correctly – after all, he was attracted to a Christmas elf.

  He stooped over to pick up the bag holding Brynne’s gifts.

  “I want to protect her,” Carter said, hoping his twin cousins would understand. “Not like an elf, and not like a child. I care for her, and I’d like her stay by her side until...”

  “Until what?” Taylor asked, leaning forward.

  “Until she falls in love with me.”

  No one spoke for several minutes after that. The twins helped their father close up while Carter swept the floor and muttered to himself. The car ride home was a long one, the silence broken only by the occasional bickering of the twins in the backseat.

  As the house came into view, Carter noticed Evan sitting on the porch with a cigar. He put it out and stood up as the car pulled into the driveway. Carter sprang out as soon as they stopped, but Evan was already reaching for the doorknob.

  “Evan! Wait up!” Carter hollered. He caught up to his cousin as he was taking his coat off.

  “Carter, I don’t have anything to say,” he practically groaned, ducking his head into the kitchen. The room was extra bright, and the lights seemed to flicker like candles. His fiancé was laughing to herself in the middle of the room, swaying slightly with her arms cradled near her chest. Carter stopped dead and stared at Amy’s arms as Evan went over and pulled her to him.

  “Babe! Baby, baby, I love you, baby!” Amy squealed as his thick arms wound around her and ushered her into his embrace. “R-rough time at the shop?”

  “No, it’s my kid cousin, saying all this crap about... What the?” He pulled away abruptly as he felt something squirming between them. With his hands on her shoulders, he peered down at what she held in her arms. To his utter shock, a pink-cheeked Brynne lay there looking much more smiley than he remembered.

  “I’m getting so many hugs today!” she giggled.

  “What?” Evan shouted, stumbling back a few feet. “What are you doing?”

  “Hangin’ with my girl Brynne,” Amy said proudly. “Isn’t she a total cutie?”

  “Are you two drunk?”

  “Just a littttttle bit,” Amy said, pinching her two fingers together. “Don’t worry, babe! We’ll sober up before the party.”

  “Did she put you up to this?” Evan asked, pointing an accusing finger at Brynne.

  “Nope!” Amy beamed and hugged Brynne more tightly. “It’s the holidays, babe! Lighten up and have a drink with us. No more for you!” she said to the elf in her arms. “You’ll be fast asleep if you drink anymore.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Evan grumbled, running a hand through his hair.

  Brynne hiccupped lightly and promptly slapped her hand over her mouth, eyes wide. A second hiccup that rocked her dainty frame cast a fit of giggles over both women.

  “He’s a goood hugger,” Brynne suddenly yelled, brandishing a finger towards Evan’s retreating figure. “I can see why you’d – HIC! – wanna marry him.”

  “You shouldn’t be holding her,” Evan grumped, throwing distracted looks over his shoulder. “She’s Carter’s age, you know. Would you hold him like that?”

  “You know I would!”

  “I shouldn’t have even asked,” he muttered, shaking his head.

  “Don’t be grouchy, babe. It’s fun! She doesn’t even mind!” Amy gushed. “You should try, sweetie.”

  “Try what?”

  “Holding her!” Amy stepped closer and Evan nearly knocked over a chair trying to lean away from her.

  “Over my dead body,” he scoffed.

  “Awww, come on, babe! Don’t be such a stick-in-the-dirt!” Amy squealed, holding Brynne out towards him.

  “I’m serious, Amy,” Evan said firmly. “Knock it off. Now. You’re embarrassing us – er – yourself.”

  “I’m not embarrassed!” Brynne squealed. At that moment the twins pushed past what seemed to be a statue of Carter in the doorway and trampled in with curious looks in their identical brown eyes. They stopped and stared in amazement.

  “Whoa, that’s her?” Taylor asked, stepping forward.

  “She’s cute!” Tyler said. “In like, a miniature way. I thought they had tails!”

  “Or scratchy nails!”

  “Or pointed noses!”

  “Or pointed ears!”

  “Ooh, she does have those,” Amy said. “Her hair shifted and I saw them!”

  “They’re not that bad, are they?” Brynne asked, blushing.

  “They’re cute, babe. Don’t even worry about it,” Amy assured her.

  Both boys broke out into chuckles as they shoved past Evan to look at her more closely.

  “And she’s letting her hold you like that?” Taylor asked Amy.

  “I want to try!”

  “Yes! And I want to try too!” Taylor added.

  The twins both held out their arms.

  “Have you all lost your minds?” Evan growled, storming towards the porch. “I need a—”

  “Didn’t you just have a cigar?” Amy called.

  “I’m having another,” Evan called over his shoulder. “I need one if I’m going to deal with all of this.”

  He shouldered past Carter, which broke his trance.

  “What are you doing with Brynne?” he squeaked as Amy handed her to the twins.

  “She’s so little!” Taylor said, hoisting her to his shoulder. “She is an elf!”

  “Definitely an elf,” Tyler said, looking at his brother. “Carter, she’s way cuter than I thought she’d be! I’m next!”

  “D-Don’t! Don’t pass her around!” Carter called, trying to get closer. He locked eyes with Brynne as best he could. “Brynne? Are you okay with this?” She smiled broadly.

  “Carter!” she yelled, holding up her arms. “I loosened up like you said!”

  “I can see that.”

  “Look! Look how tall I am!” She waved a hand at him, only to wobble and clutch Taylor’s neck. The boy laughed nervously when her little arms slid around him, the side of her face nestling against his golden-brown hair. “A human house looks so normal from up here,” she laughed. Taylor laughed nervously as she squirmed. “From the floor it looks really weird,” she whispered loudly into his ear.

  “Don’t hog her!” Tyler huffed, making to grab her.

  Brynne laughed, covering her blushing cheeks as she was passed over and leveled in front of a new face. These hands were a bit rougher than Carter’s, and sweatier.

  “She’s so light!” Tyler exclaimed as he held her nervously.

  �
�Is that bad?” Brynne asked, her big eyes widening unnecessarily as she leaned forward in his grasp.

  “Uh, nuh-no! I mean, I don’t know,” Tyler stammered. Brynne looked suddenly stricken and the room seemed to grow darker and colder. “It-It’s great!” he blurted out.

  Brynne lit up like a wildfire. “Rrrrreally?” she cooed. The room grew bright and warm again.

  “Yeah, yeah. Makes it easier to pick you up and stuff,” Tyler said, plucking up one of her hands and pulling her arm out to the side, looking her over.

  Amy sidled up next to Carter and leaned close.

  “Carter,” she whispered sloppily in his ear, “I think your girlfriend is magic.” She backed away, nodding seriously for moment, then burst into laughter.

  He just looked at her, then at Brynne. She really was enjoying herself, and he had Amy to thank for that. He bowed theatrically to her, then hefted his bag with the doll and stepped out of the room.

  Normally, all gifts went under the family tree, but he wanted this one to be special. He didn’t want anyone else to see her face when she opened up the package and saw the outfit. The expensive outfit. About as expensive as human clothes would have been, all wrapped in gold and silver. It was worth it.

  By the time Carter returned to the kitchen, it was dim and empty. He followed the sound of laughter to the living room where he found Tyler and Taylor sitting on the floor, flanking a much smaller Brynne on the couch. Aunt Heather was smiling tiredly from her chair.

  “Carter!” Tyler called. “We’re in here!”

  “Yup, in here,” Taylor said, holding up a glass of Amy’s special punch. Neither of them were drunk, in fact, it would take quite a while for either of them to feel anything, but their smiles were wide and genuine. “Where were you?”

  “Uhhh, just putting something away.”

  “Ahh! The gift for your girlfriend,” Taylor teased.

  “Yup, your little elf girlfriend,” Tyler added.

  The boys smirked. “He got you a gift,” they said simultaneously.

  “A Christmas present?” she squealed, looking up at Carter. “You got me a present? Where is it? Is it a surprise?” She pushed off the side of Tyler’s head in a fruitless attempt to get to her feet. Instead, she ended up falling flat on her bum on the seat cushion. The twins stifled their laughter into their punch. Now wearing a dizzy expression, Brynne waited impatiently for Carter to come closer.