“The White Hart?”
“Yes. What, you don’t like it?” Hollis asked, holding the heavy wooden door open for them. The White Hart was where the Rein Dears and their helpers came to drink, relax, and make merry. Jack had spent enough time in here with Rudy to know the place and its guests quite well.
“I’m just surprised, that’s all. I would have thought you’d avoid it.”
“Why? They’re still our friends, even if I have yet to wrap my head around you sleeping with one of them.”
With a groan, Jack walked in behind Vale and headed straight for the bar. “I’m in a solid, healthy relationship for the first time in hundreds of years, with someone I’m madly in love with, and all you can focus on is the sex?”
“I’m sorry, but I just don’t understand. With all the beautiful sugarplum fairies out there, why choose elves?”
Jack was quickly growing weary of this conversation. “I don’t know, Hollis. Why do you choose sugarplum fairies?”
“I don’t choose sugarplum fairies. That’s—” He caught himself and gave Jack a withering look. “Yes, all right, I get it. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“No offense, cousin, but however you feel about my relationship is irrelevant.”
“Fine.” Hollis gave a huff and held a hand up to the elf behind the bar. “Plum pudding, let’s get some drinks in you before you get grumpier and snow us all in.”
Jack chose to ignore that comment. “I need to call Rudy.”
“Wow, he’s really got you wrapped around his little finger.”
“Hollis, honestly.” Vale took a seat on one of the red-and-gold barstools, looking nearly as miserable as Jack felt. Maybe he should be more worried about Vale than Hollis. At least Hollis was being his usual obnoxious self, whereas Vale was acting… odd. It wasn’t like his cheerful cousin to be so down in the dumps. Perhaps after his phone call he could convince Hollis to go off and play conkers or something to give Jack some time alone with Vale.
“It’s called common courtesy, Hollis, something you clearly know little about.” Jack made his way over to the bright red telephone booth in the corner and dialed Rudy’s office number. On the third ring, Rudy’s melodious voice came over the phone and Jack’s heart swelled. His cousin was all too right. He was wrapped around Rudy’s finger. Not that he minded, and if someone felt the need to press the matter, Jack wasn’t about to deny it. He wasn’t ashamed of his love for Rudy.
“Hello?”
Jack edged closer to the booth, his voice coming out husky. “What are you wearing?”
There was the deep rumble of a chuckle on the other end. “By your estimations, too much, but then I can hardly fly my plane naked.”
“Ooh, now there’s an image.”
“One I’m quite sure you’d rather not have me share with everyone else on the causeway.”
“You’re right, though it does give me a few ideas for the bedroom.” Namely Rudy in nothing but his flight jacket and goggles.
“All you have to do is ask, Your Highness.”
A crash echoed behind Jack, along with a round of catcalls for whoever had just stumbled into a poor waiter.
“Where are you?”
“That’s why I’m calling. My cousin was giving me a lovely little guilt trip about not having a few drinks with him and Vale, so I’m at the White Hart. I’m afraid I may not make the test run.”
“Don’t worry, darling, you enjoy yourself. Thank you for calling, and say hi to the boys for me.”
“I will. I love you. Be safe.”
“You know I will. I love you too, Jack.”
With a dopey grin stretching from ear to ear, Jack returned the receiver to its cradle and rejoined his cousins at the bar, where his grin swiftly departed along with his good humor.
“Can he survive the test run without you?”
Ignoring his cousin, Jack turned to the bartender. “Vodka on the rocks, please.”
“Make it a double,” Hollis added, followed by what Jack assumed was meant to be an innocent expression. “You look like you need it.”
“I’ll tell you what you need,” Jack muttered, nodding a thanks to the bartender as he scooped up the glass placed in front of him. All he had to do was survive one evening. Of course Rudy could fly without him. He’d been doing so for hundreds of years, but that didn’t mean Jack didn’t like to be there to guarantee some clear skies, even if at times he had to be a little sneaky and usurp control over his father’s winds. What his father didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.
Jack looked around at the tables occupied by countless helpers, some well on their way to being merry already. It looked like the Rein Dears were all still at the Claus Causeway. He imagined they’d be crowding in sometime later in the evening. They were nice enough elves, if not a little arrogant—some of them anyway—but it was to be expected, with the amount of adulation and affection they received from enchanted creatures across the globe, not to mention knowing an entire city depended on them for its livelihood.
The Big Flight was the most important event of the year for North Pole City, but it was the other 364 days the Rein Dears earned their keep, doing everything from publicity work to helping build gingerbread houses for less-fortunate elves. Being a Rein Dear required more than being a darling celebrity. Kringle worked them hard and kept his flyboys humble. Any Rein Dear who thought himself above his unofficial brothers or any other elf, or who tried to use his position for personal gain, behaving in such a manner as to bring disgrace to the reputation of the others, was out on his ear. Kringle was as understanding as they came, but he wasn’t as jolly as many believed him to be. Not when it came to running North Pole City and his Rein Dears.
All nine Rein Dears were ace pilots, top of their classes, handsome, charming, and generally good elves, even if some of them were a little loose with their affections, like Vixen. Each one had been handpicked by Kringle himself, and no endorsement came with more clout than that of an enchanted spirit. Their helpers, on the other hand, had less than desirable reputations, but everyone was willing to turn a blind eye if it kept the Rein Dears happy.
“There’s the bastard,” Hollis growled.
“Who?” Jack followed Hollis’s narrowed gaze to a small group of rowdy helpers, one of whom Jack recognized.
“Fig.”
Jack couldn’t help but notice the way Hollis all but spat the name out. “Oh. His resignation was unfortunate, but within his rights. Rudy doesn’t want to force anyone to work for him who doesn’t want to be there. I would hardly go as far as to say he’s a bastard for it.”
“Really? After everything he said to Rudy? You’re too forgiving, Jack.”
“Hollis,” Vale hissed, shaking his head in warning, a warning that went unheeded.
“I mean, after all those years of loyal service in such a prestigious position, to go spew vitriol at someone who had supposedly been his hero? I wouldn’t have been as kind. Not if he’d talked to my lover that way.”
Jack’s glass slammed against the counter. “In what way?” The moment Hollis took a step back, his eyes wide as saucers, his mouth hanging open, it became clear his cousin had believed him aware of the situation. “In what way?” Jack demanded, aware of Vale gulping down the contents of his drink.
“Well, it was very unpleasant. Maybe we should keep it at that.”
“I want to know what was said.”
“Why, Jack?” Vale asked, his hand going to Jack’s shoulder. “What’s the point? That was almost six months ago. Fig resigned, Rudy has a fantastic new mechanic who accepts him for who he is, why rock the boat now?”
“He has a right to know,” Hollis insisted.
Vale turned to his brother with a look of disbelief. “And what about poor Rudy? You think he really wants to relive that whole sordid affair? He’s over it. Let him move on for holly’s sake.”
Sordid affair? Over it? How horrible had this mess with Fig been, that Rudy would suffer from Jack’s knowing, and
why wouldn’t Rudy have told him? There was nothing they didn’t share. A part of him was hurt, but his rational side told him why Rudy hadn’t said a thing. He wouldn’t have wanted to upset Jack. Bah humbug to that. Isn’t that what couples did? Share the good and the bad? If Rudy hurt, Jack would rather be hurting with him than be blissfully ignorant and content.
Jack reached over and grabbed Hollis by the collar, forcing him to sit on the empty stool in front of him. “I want to know every word that was said.”
“Well, a good deal of it is conjecture. There were so many whispers and rumors from helpers who had supposedly overheard the argument. Who knows how much of it is true?”
“I’m losing patience,” Jack growled.
“Right.” As Hollis recounted every horrid word that was said, every slur concerning Jack and Rudy’s intimate lives, every sordid, filthy accusation, every ghastly name Rudy had been called, Jack was left speechless. He stood for a moment, uncertain of how to react. Anger was obviously the first emotion that came to mind, but when he thought further on it, he found himself feeling somewhat… numb. He slowly sat down, an unfamiliar emotion constricting his throat and chest.
“Jack?” Vale was at his side immediately. “Jack, talk to us.” When he received no reply, Vale asked the bartender for a pitcher of icy water and a couple of glasses, one of which he filled and put in Jack’s hand. “Have a drink.” Dazedly Jack did, before blinking a few times and looking up at his cousins, their stunned expressions alerting him to the presence of tears in his eyes. He’d never felt this before. Never felt so… crushed.
“How… could someone say such horrible things to someone so… wonderful? Rudy’s nothing but kind and generous to everyone.” All he could think of was his beautiful lover, standing on the other end of such vileness. Rudy had been deeply wounded by someone who had been his friend, which Jack imagined was what made the attack so much worse. In the end, he was certain all Rudy had done was ask Fig politely to resign, before giving in to his emotions once he was alone.
“I’m such a fool.” Jack placed the glass gently on the bar, cursing himself for being so blind.
Vale and Hollis exchanged worried glances before replying in unison—one of their quirks. “What are you talking about?”
“I assumed because no one approached me, and Rudy hadn’t mentioned any incidents, that everything was fine. Obviously, no one would say anything to me. They’re too scared. Nor would they say anything to Rudy if I was in his presence, but I never imagined what he might face on his own.” How many similar instances had Rudy kept to himself in order not to worry Jack?
“What would you have done?” Vale came to stand before him, his expression gentle. “You know Rudy would never allow you to lay a hand on them, no matter how terrible they had been to him. It would have made you feel helpless and angry. What good would it do either of you?”
“So he’s to suffer alone in silence?” Jack got to his feet. “Absolutely not. I need to go. I need to talk to him. He can’t keep doing this.” He turned toward the door. Suddenly, Hollis leapt into action, tackling one of the helpers to the ground and delivering a punch across the elf’s jaw.
“You little son-of-a-witch!”
It was only when Jack and Vale rushed to Hollis’s side that Jack saw who the helper—or rather ex-helper—was.
“Fig,” Jack growled, snatching his cousin up off the haggard-looking elf and depositing him beside his brother. With one hand, he grabbed a fistful of the younger elf’s waistcoat and lifted him off his feet so they were at eye level. “You have something you want to say, how about saying it to me.” Everything went white, the pub doors and windows slamming open as the winter winds howled and blew in, bringing a flurry of snow. The temperature around them dropped drastically and the helpers crowded together anxiously.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.” Fig squirmed in his grip, his expression one of sheer terror. “I was angry and stupid. I didn’t mean all the things I said.”
“A little late for regrets now, don’t you think?”
“Jack!” Vale tugged at Jack’s arm. “Please, don’t do this. You know Rudy wouldn’t want you to.”
Rudy had kept his heartache to himself in order not to involve Jack for more reasons than he wanted to think about at the moment. With a heavy sigh, he reversed the winds, drawing the snow and cold out with them as they retreated from the pub, the doors and windows gently closing. Vale was right. Rudy would be awfully sore at him if he witnessed such behavior, even if it was in his defense. Jack narrowed his eyes at Fig.
“If you utter one foul word about him, go anywhere near him, or even step foot inside this pub again, I will make you suffer. Understand?”
Fig nodded vigorously. “Yes.”
After dropping him roughly to the ground, Jack kept his gaze on the horrid little elf as he made tracks out of the pub. The day had started out so well before swiftly spiraling into spectacular unpleasantness. Something told him it was going to take a great deal of restraint on his part to tackle this particular conversation with Rudy. For all of his lover’s sweetness, the Christmas elf could be exceptionally stubborn when he didn’t want to discuss something. Maybe he should have another one of those double vodkas.
Chapter 6
“She looks beautiful, Ginger.”
Rudy stood back to admire his baby, a Beechcraft Model D17W Staggerwing biplane that was the envy of the tarmac and his fellow Rein Dears. Built during his years at the Rein Dear Academy, every part of his precious aircraft had been installed by Rudy himself, from her bright cherry-red steel frame to her gleaming propeller. She was streamlined, lightweight, with a supercharged engine—400 horsepower—able to reach speeds of two hundred and twelve miles per hour with room for three passengers and one pilot.
“Thank you, Captain. She’s in tip-top shape.” The young, white-haired sugarplum fairy beamed up at him. Ginger was the first Rein Dear mechanic who happened to be a sugarplum fairy. The other Rein Dears had wrongly dismissed her the moment they saw her, believing she didn’t possess the skill or fortitude necessary to do the job, simply because she was a pretty sugarplum fairy. The other helpers looked down their noses at her, thinking she believed herself too good to join their ranks. Rudy, however, had seen the way she looked at their planes, and he had quickly requested to see her qualifications.
Impressed by what he saw, he called her in for an interview along with a handful of other elf mechanics who showed promise. He put them all through the wringer, as he did everyone he considered hiring. Ginger had knocked them all out of the water. She was swift, accurate, skilled, and knew exactly what she was doing. Most importantly, she had backbone, refusing to let anyone break her spirit. Hiring her would let loose another wave of rumors, but he was past caring about gossip. Ginger was the best mechanic he’d ever had, social convention be damned.
“Wonderful job. Let’s get her in the air, shall we?” Rudy climbed into his seat behind the wheel and closed his door firmly behind him. He switched on his radio, put on his headset, and fastened the heavy straps of his harness, one padded strap over each shoulder that clipped into the thicker one around his waist. Once secure in his seat, he started his preflight preparations. “Tim, can you hear me?”
Tim’s gentle voice came through his earpiece. “Loud and clear, Rudy.”
“Noel?”
“Loud and clear, Rudy,” Noel replied in his curt yet polite tone.
“Ginger?”
“I’m here, Captain.”
Rudy smiled. Ginger was the only one who called him captain. He appreciated her formality, even if it wasn’t necessary. He understood her need to keep things professional. The only reason the gossip regarding her hiring hadn’t turned sordid was due to Rudy’s inclinations. Had his nature favored sugarplum fairies, who knew what manner of nonsense would be circulating? Ginger had something to prove, and he had no doubt she would teach them all a thing or two. It was time for North Pole City to leave some of its outdated habits behind
.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Rudy concentrated on making certain everything was in working order for the second time that day, from his gauges to testing the flaps. The inside of his plane was as shiny and new as the outside, with its red control panel and black interior. It was no secret Rudy was partial to red, but seeing as how everything on his person was red, including his flight jacket, he thought it best he make the interior a different color. He had chosen black because it reminded him of Jack.
Rudy had waited as long as possible to start the test run, in the hopes Jack would make it. After Jack’s phone call, he had busied himself in his office for several hours, catching up on paperwork and whatever else he could. When it became clear Jack wouldn’t be returning until far later in the evening, Rudy resigned to carrying on without him. It was silly, really, but Rudy had grown accustomed to seeing Jack smiling at him from the tarmac as he took off.
The roar of the propeller was music to his ears, and he couldn’t keep his dopey grin off his face. Next to Jack, there was nothing he loved more than flying. After giving everything a final once-over, he spoke to his team.
“Ready?”
“You’re clear for takeoff, Captain.”
“Roger that.” Only a few weeks left until the Big Flight. There were plenty of test runs to do in the meantime, some on his own and three with the rest of the Rein Dears. There was a great deal of work involved, but no matter how many years he’d been doing it, he still found it exciting and exhilarating.
Above him the skies were blue, the winter winds calm and blowing with him rather than against him. His heart did a little flip knowing Jack was helping him despite his absence. Before he knew it, his plane’s wheels left the tarmac, and he rose up toward the clouds. Once he achieved altitude, it was just him, his plane, and the lulling sounds of his engine. The peace that washed over him, the freedom he experienced while soaring through the air, was unlike anything else he could think of. Ever since he was a tiny elfling, he’d known he wanted to fly, and his mother, who had raised him all on her own, had encouraged him, whittling the most beautiful airplanes for him out of pine, which they would paint together. Whenever he got the chance, he would visit her and take her for a ride in his plane.
North Pole City Tales: Complete Series Page 9