The Elves and I Read online

  Okay, so maybe I wasn’t imagining it...

  Marni grinned, catching sight of Elise’s red, lacy thong. Mister and Missus Claus definitely weren’t an old, staid couple.

  They were young at heart.

  Marni wished she could feel that way, too. Sometimes, she felt exactly what Judge Saint said he was—older than dirt.

  She was suddenly very tired of feeling that way.

  But what could she do to turn back the hands of time? Could she really change anything now?

  She cleared her throat, announcing her arrival.

  Santa stepped away, pushing his wife’s skirt down.

  “Ho, ho, hooooooooo. Good morning, Marni. Did you sleep well?”

  “Yes, thank you, Santa, I did.”

  He walked over to her, stroking his long, white beard.

  “I’ve discussed your toy ideas with Eldan.”

  She raised a brow. “Y-you have?”

  “I had no idea you owned Sands Toy and Game.”

  “I inherited the company from my father when he passed away.”

  “Yes, I was sorry to hear about that. He was a good man who helped me out plenty of times.”

  Her mouth hung open. She snapped it closed. “Y-you knew my father?”

  “Of course. There were several years when we ran short and your father generously donated several thousand toys to my bag.”

  “I don’t believe it.”

  Santa angled his head. “Why is that?”

  He was a cheap, miserly bastard who detested everyone...he had no holiday spirit.

  “Never judge a toy by the packaging, Marni. You must open it, and play with it, to get the real joy. Now, your ideas on toy production are sound. I told Eldan to confer with you this morning.”

  Eldan wouldn’t give me the time of day. Not after the way I acted.

  “Eldan, Kip, Noel and the rest of the elves are expecting you—I told them you’d do a presentation of your ideas at ten a.m. sharp.”

  Marni’s eyes widened. “A-a presentation?”

  “I have a feeling you know toys like the back of your hand.” He patted hers. “Now, I’ve got some work to do. Christmas will be here before you know it, and I’ve got to be ready.”

  He walked out of the kitchen, his jolly laugh echoing down the hall.

  Marni shook her head. “Is he always this happy?”

  “Always.” Elise beamed. “Now, how about some cookies and tea?”

  “Tea?” Marni screwed up her face. “I was hoping you had coffee.”

  “Oh dear me, no. We have green tea or white tea.”

  “I’ll take white tea.” Marni flopped into a chair.

  “My dear, I’m so glad you volunteered to come to Christmas Town. We appreciate all your help and ideas.”

  Marni’s heart beat a staccato rhythm in her chest.

  Elves don’t lie...

  I’m not a damned elf! There are no such things as elves. What do I care if she thinks that I’m here voluntarily? Let her believe what she wants.

  But elves don’t lie...

  Marni took a deep breath. “Elise, I think you’ve got the wrong impression.”

  “Oh, no dear, I couldn’t possibly. I’m never wrong about people.”

  “Yeah, well, there’s a first time for everything.”

  She raised one white brow while she put a plate of cookies and a small pot of tea in front of Marni. “Why do you say that?”

  Marni reached out and grabbed Elise’s hand. “I’m here because Judge Saint ordered me to do community service. I was arrested for speeding and drunk driving.”

  Elise gave her a long, level look. “The reason you came to Christmas Town doesn’t matter. It’s what you do with the time you’re given here that counts.”

  Marni chewed and swallowed a cookie, but it tasted like sand. Tears clogged her throat.

  “I’ve seen what you’re capable of. You fit right in with all of our female elves here—and you’ve made them so happy with your new wardrobe ideas.” She beamed at Marni. “And you’ve made me and Santa very happy.” She winked. “I’ve noticed how Eldan, Kip and Noel look at you. You’ve made them, happy, too. They didn’t have it easy when they first came here. They share a special bond because all three came to us when their parents died in a tragic accident during the holidays. The boys were holy terrors when they arrived.” Elise grinned. “Three little ‘curtain climbers’. But soon, with love, they grew into the fine, strong elves they are today.” She took a seat next to Marni. “And they adore you. I can tell.”

  Marni squirmed in her chair, shifting her right butt cheek, then her left. Her ass still stung.

  Elise patted her hand. “Sometimes, when we’re naughty, we need to be punished. But it doesn’t make us bad people.”

  “I don’t think Eldan sees it that way.”

  “He did what was best for you, Marni. Eldan looks out for everyone here at Christmas Town. So do Kip and Noel. Especially now that Santa and I are getting on in years.” She rose from the table. “Why don’t you go speak to Eldan?”

  “I doubt very much that he wants to speak to me.”

  “Elves never carry a grudge.”

  Marni sighed. “Is that more elf legend?”

  “It’s fact. Now go and do what you feel in your heart.” Elise patted her chest.

  Marni got up from her seat.

  She wasn’t sure she had a heart, never mind feelings, but she would give it a shot.

  * * * *

  Sometime later, Marni stood in front of the elves, all eyes on her.

  “What I want each of you to understand is that you have unique talents. We have to put those abilities to good use and not waste them.”

  One of the elves piped up. “Why change what we’ve done these last few hundred years?”

  Marni bit back a smile. “May I ask you something?”

  The elf nodded, folding his arms across his chest.

  “First, what’s your name?”

  “Pepper.” He grinned.

  Marni scratched her head. “That’s an elf name?”

  “My full name is Pepper Minstix.”

  The other elves giggled.

  “Silence!” Eldan’s voice boomed. The walls shook. “Ms. Sands is making a special presentation on behalf of Santa Claus. We owe her our attention and respect.”

  She blew out a breath, wondering how she would manage to get through this without throwing up.

  “Pepper, haven’t there been years when you’ve felt rushed to meet the holiday deadline? Years when there hasn’t been enough toys, and Santa had to scramble to fill all the orders of every little good girl and boy?”

  Pepper scratched his head. “Well, sure, but—”

  “All I’m asking is for you to try my production line idea. Instead of picking one toy and creating it from start to finish, you work on one specific aspect. Like you.” She pointed at Celyn. “You’re very talented.”

  “Me?” Celyn looked around. “What am I good at?”

  “Adding hair to the dolls’ heads and styling it. I saw you do it. You fashioned curls and waves on some of those dolls that would make the world’s greatest hairdresser jealous.”

  Celyn beamed.

  “So, you should do the hair and Pepper can dress the dolls.”

  “Only the male dolls!” One of the elves called out.

  There was a round of giggles.

  Marni laughed, too. “Yes, perhaps Pepper should only dress the male dolls, but if we take it one step further, we can set aside a group of you to work on dolls only. Then another group of elves can work on toy trains, a group can work on toy cars, etc. The work will go much faster with each of you specializing in one toy, and one part of that toy’s completion.”

  “Will the toys still be made with love?” Eldan’s voice rang out.

  The room became quiet. Marni licked her dry lips.

  “Always.” She replied, her voice steady. She wouldn’t let Eldan rattle her.

  “This w
ill guarantee we meet our deadline?” Kip asked.

  “Yes.”

  Noel spoke. “More toys in less time, is that what you’re saying, lass?”

  “Precisely.”

  Eldan rose to his feet. “Now, if you all will be so kind as to visit the tables where you can sign up for the special group you want to work with. We have them all labeled—dolls, trains, cars, blocks, etc. Then we’ll see you all back here bright and early tomorrow morning, when we begin our new assembly line production.”

  Marni blew out a relieved breath.

  She watched the elves linger by the tables, chattering about the ‘new way’ of making toys, signing up for the different groups.

  Marni felt something besides relief—pride. She’d actually contributed something worthwhile.

  She couldn’t remember the last time she felt pride in something she’d done.

  “Marni.” Celyn tugged on her sleeve. “We’ve got to get going.”

  Marni followed Celyn out of the Toy Shop. “Where?”

  “This is the day we visit the sick children who are in the River’s End hospital during the holidays.”

  Marni stopped dead in her tracks.

  “I-I can’t.”

  Celyn angled her head. “Why not?”

  “I’ve uh, I’ve got to get started on this ‘assembly-line’ thing, I’ve...”

  “Celyn, will you excuse Marni for a minute?”

  Eldan stood directly behind Marni. Strange, but she felt his presence even before he spoke.

  “Sure.” Celyn curtsied then walked away.

  Eldan took Marni’s hand.

  “We’ll have more privacy in here.”

  He opened two large gold doors that led into a solarium where tiered fountains spilled water from one level to another. A giant Christmas tree made of individual red poinsettia plants stood in the center of the room. White doves flew overhead, landing on the tree, the sound of gentle, running water filling the room.

  Eldan shut the door then turned and faced her.

  “I wanted to say...” They both spoke at once.

  Marni’s heart raced, Eldan’s presence made her feel like she was five.

  “I should go first,” she said, “before I lose my nerve.”

  He nodded.

  “I’m sorry, Eldan. I’m sorry for the way I behaved. Sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you.”

  He held up a hand.

  She stepped away. “You’re not going to use that on me again, are you?”

  That made him laugh, but he sobered quickly.

  “It pained me to have to punish you.”

  “Yeah, well—” She rubbed her backside. “You weren’t the one getting spanked.”

  He grinned.

  “Wow, you really can smile.” She walked up to him, dipping her finger in the cleft of his chin.

  He stepped away. “You shouldn’t do that. Not unless you mean it.”

  “You think I’m not sincere?”

  “You’ve known many men—men who haven’t given a damn about you, except for your money. Here, we care about one and other. Truly care. If you’re not ready for that, then I’m not the man for you.”

  She swallowed back tears—and his rejection.

  “Can’t we be friends?”

  He looked like he wanted to say something, but then simply nodded his head.

  She bit her lower lip. “Celyn mentioned something about going to a hospital.”

  “A group of us go each holiday season to the River’s End Hospital to bring cheer and happiness to some very ill children.”

  Her heart raced. “That’s really not my forte, if you know what I mean. I’d rather—”

  “Sit in your room and smoke? Nurse your emotional pain with liquor?”

  Her eyes widened. She’d kill Celyn for ratting her out, she’d—

  “Don’t look so surprised. It’s all on Santa’s naughty list.”

  She blew out a relieved breath, but fear returned quickly.

  She hated hospitals. Hated their smell. The stark white rooms, the...despair.

  “Come.” He held out his hand. “Give it a try. Help children who can’t help themselves.”

  She walked with Eldan, holding onto his hand as if it was a lifeline.

  I can do this...I can do this...

  “It will be all right, Marni. You’ll see.”

  Elves don’t lie.

  Right.

  Now, if she could only tell that to her sweating palms and knocking knees.

  Chapter Six

  “...and so, the little dog brought good cheer and happiness to everyone, reminding them of the real meaning of Christmas.”

  Celyn closed the book, placing it on the table next to a little boy lying in bed. She stroked his hair, giving him a sip of water from a cup.

  “Did you like that story, James?”

  Marni clenched her hands in her lap. Her stomach roiled, the smell of antiseptic filling her nose. Machines hummed and clicked, people strode in the corridor outside where holiday decorations lined the stark, white walls.

  PING!

  Doctor Sloane, paging Doctor Sloane...

  The boy yawned. “I like when you read to me, Celyn.” He shut his eyes, his breathing deep and even. “I like it a lot,” he murmured, his voice sleepy.

  “Let’s go.” Celyn whispered. “I think he’ll doze for awhile. We’ve got another child to visit.”

  Outside in the hall, Marni slapped a hand across her mouth. Tears filled her eyes. She gagged, nausea rising in her throat.

  Celyn grabbed her arm. “What’s wrong?”

  “I-I have to get out of here.”

  “Why?”

  “I-I don’t feel good.”

  Celyn patted her arm. “I’ll find a doctor.”

  “No!” Marni shouted. “No.” She shook her head. “Drive me back to Christmas Town. Please.”

  “But—”

  “Celyn, please.”

  Celyn led Marni down the hall and out of the hospital. They boarded Santa’s sleigh.

  “Hold on, Marni. I’ll have you back at Christmas Town in no time.”

  Celyn cracked the whip in the air. The reindeer moved, their hooves sliding across the snowy pavement. Soon, they lifted high into the sky.

  A few minutes later, the sleigh touched down at Christmas Town.

  “Marni! What are you doing back so soon?”

  She ran past Elise and Santa.

  Elise looked at Celyn. “What’s wrong?”

  “She doesn’t feel well. She said she needed to come back to Christmas Town.”

  “Oh my. Santa!” Elise called. “Please drive back to the hospital—go get Eldan, Kip and Noel.”

  “Why?”

  I have a feeling they’re the only ones who can help our Marni.”

  * * * *

  The setting sun cast a warm glow in the solarium. Marni watched it, her heart aching. She couldn’t get that little boy’s pale face or his bald little head out of her mind.

  He has a rare form of leukemia...

  The doctor’s pronouncement rang in her ears.

  Her head pounded, her stomach cramped. She hadn’t felt this sick in years.

  Huddled in the corner of the solarium, she drew her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms across her shins, squeezing them tight. She bowed her head, laying her cheek against her knees, wishing she could blot out the painful memories tearing her heart into pieces

  She heard a creak then the door opened.

  “Marni, lass, are you in here?”

  Her heart pounded. She swore it beat through her chest.

  Footsteps echoed in the room.

  “Ah lass, there you are.”

  Noel squatted on his haunches, taking one of her hands in his. “You’re freezing.” He rubbed her hand. “It’s warm as toast in here, and yet, you’re cold.”

  She shivered violently. Glancing upward, she saw Kip’s face through a watery veil of tears.

  His usual, playfu
l tone vanished. “Celyn told us you were upset.”

  “Oh God, please, just get me out of here.” She scrambled to her feet, but fell against the hard wall of Noel’s chest. He steadied her.

  “You’re not well enough to go anywhere.” He held her against his chest. “It will be all right, lass, if you’d just let go of all those painful memories.”

  She beat her fist against him.

  Her eyes flew to his. They were filled with sadness, mirroring her pain.

  Marni tore away from him, only to collide with Kip.

  “Whatever it is that’s upsetting you, we can make it better.”

  She lashed out, hitting Kip in the chest. “You can’t make anything better!”

  She buried her face in her hands.

  Kip eased her into his arms, stroking her hair.

  “Have a good cry.” He whispered.

  She looked past Kip’s shoulder to see Eldan. His tall frame filled the high back of a large, ornate gold chair decorated with an intricate pattern of cherubs dancing in the clouds.

  For a second, she thought one cherub’s face resembled Trevor’s.

  It can’t be!

  “Come.” He held out his hand.

  She needed a drink...and a cigarette.

  Marni walked over to him on shaky legs. She crawled into his lap, settling her head against his chest.

  Kip and Noel followed. They sat at her feet, reaching up to stroke her hair, her back.

  She buried her face in Eldan’s chest, her voice muffled.

  “D-did you ever love someone so much, that you’d do anything for them?”

  He grasped her chin with his thumb and index finger. Lifting it, he replied, “Yes.”

  “That’s how I felt about Trevor.”

  Kip ran a hand across her shoulder, kneading her tense muscles. “Who was Trevor?”

  She sucked in a breath. “My brother. He was six years younger than me.”

  Tears welled in her eyes.

  Eldan lifted the hem of his tunic, using it to wipe the moisture from her cheeks.

  “Did something happen to him, lass?” Noel laid a hand on her knee. He gave it a gentle shake. “You can tell us.”

  “He died.” Her voice broke. “He had cancer. He suffered so much, and then, he died, wh-when he was only six years old.”

  She settled against Eldan’s shoulder, absorbing his strength.

  “I felt so helpless when Trevor got sick. When he died, I felt so alone. Our mother died a few years before—we hardly got a chance to know her. And I was left alone with a father who hated me. My father wished that I died, not Trevor. ”