Page 13 of The Grumpiest Elf

I actually don’t mind working the special events as much as the ChristmasFest, especially these kind with rich tourists. They generally tip us really well on top of the extra pay from Mom and Dad. Plus, it’s only a handful of kids instead of the constant churn of the long lines at ChristmasFest.

I think Dad enjoys those kinds of events more too, because he gets to spend longer talking to each kid, reading them stories and really engaging with them, which is his favorite part. Which is yet another reason he’s so happy when Sarah and Shane come over, because he gets to dote on Sophie now that his own kids are all grown up. He might be a bit young to already be a grandpa, but he’s the best grandpa a kid could ask for. And I know Sophie loves bragging to her friends that her new grandpa is Santa, even if she’s nearly to the age where she’ll learn the truth soon if she hasn’t already.

Usually I end up working extra events with Nora or Sarah. We’re the easiest for Mom to schedule for extra hours since she can just tell us we have to do it. It’s interesting that she’s choosing Lydia instead. Maybe she already knew Nora had plans?

But the conversation has moved on, so I decide not to worry about it. Lydia’s good at her job, even if she doesn’t like me that much. I’m sure we’ll be fine.

* * *

I don’t see Lydia again for a couple more days. I’m off on Sunday—Mom tends to give us each at least one weekend day off—and then she and I split a shift on Monday. We pass briefly as I come in, but don’t speak. In fact, she barely even acknowledges me, instead passing the camera to Nora, where she says something that makes Nora laugh, then she waves—at Nora, not at me—and leaves.

So it’s not until Tuesday that we work together again. Nora and I open, but Lydia takes over at lunch. Once again, she’s warm and friendly with Nora while giving me the barest of greetings, polite and perfunctory, but far from the happy, smiling creature she is with literally everyone else.

What’d I do to deserve this?

I mean, I know she accused me of nourishing myself by sucking the Christmas spirit from young children—to keep me young and beautiful, she said. Which means she thinks I’m good looking. “Beautiful” isn’t the first word I’d choose for a compliment, but I’ll take it. It’s definitely not an insult.

As much as I want to find out what I said to make her treat me like a stranger instead of a coworker, I don’t have time. We’re slammed all afternoon, and I’m stuck watching her do her silly faces and dances to make kids smile—and I can’t keep the smile off my own face at her antics either—wishing the kids and their parents Merry Christmas and genuinely meaning it.

CHAPTEREIGHT

Lydia

Mrs. Claus comesup to me as I finish with the last kid of the night, giving me a relieved grin. “Another one for the books,” she says.

I return her smile as I finish shutting off the camera, checking to make sure everything’s in order for the morning. “Yup. It was a good day, though. Busy, but that’s all part of the fun, right?”

Mrs. Claus beams. “Exactly. Now, I wanted to catch you before you leave. There are a couple of things coming up I want to make sure you know about.” She hands me a red envelope, my first name written in cursive on the outside. “We host an open house Christmas party the weekend before Christmas every year. Well, technically not exactly this year, since Christmas is on a Monday.” She leans in close, setting her hand on my arm, like she’s sharing a secret. “We couldn’t do it on Christmas Eve eve, after all. That would be cutting it too close, wouldn’t it?” She pats my arm and takes her hand away. “So it’s the weekend before that, the sixteenth, after we’re done here, we’ll all be heading to our place for dinner and cookies. We’d love to see you, even if you can’t stay long. And I know you’re living with your mother while you’re here, and she’s welcome as well!”

I slide a finger under the flap of the envelope, freeing it from where it’s sealed just at the point. “Oh, thank you,” I say sincerely. “That sounds lovely. I’m sure we’d both love to come. I don’t know Mom’s schedule—I know she’s busy this time of year too—but if she’s free, I’m sure she’d enjoy it as well. It’ll give us both a chance to get to know some more people here.”

“Oh, wonderful.” She clasps her hands in front of her chest, and while I know she’s a normal person and Dylan and Nora’s mom, when she’s in costume and acting like this, it’s hard to see her as anyone other than Mrs. Claus. “That’s exactly what I was thinking. And that brings me to the second thing I wanted to talk to you about. On Thursday night, there’s a party out at Hudgins House, some out-of-towners and their families, and they’ve hired us to make an appearance for their children.”

I nod, knowing exactly what group she’s talking about. “They’re having several events while they’re here. They’re keeping my mom busy organizing all the things they want. I’m sure she’s the one who contacted you about Thursday night.”

Mrs. Claus’s face brightens. “Oh yes! I knew her last name sounded familiar, but since you’re both so new in town and this time of year has me so distracted, I hadn’t put it together.” She pats my arm again. “Oh, this is perfect. We need two elves to help with the event, and I put you down since you mentioned when we hired you that you’re saving up and want to work as many hours as possible. Since it’s an extra event, you get time and a half. And”—she leans in close again, and this time I think the information is more low key than her party planning tidbits—“these types of groups tend to tip very generously.”

My heart leaps at this information, because with Dad saying he won’t support me if I take a break, I’m putting away as much money as I can. Mom’s not charging me rent or anything, but I won’t want to live with her forever, and I want to be able to chip in on groceries and cover my own clothes and extras. Plus, if Dad’s going to use money to try to control me, the sooner I can remove that leverage, the better.

“That sounds wonderful,” I gush. “I’d love to.” I realize she’s informing, not asking, but still.

“Oh, good. Perfect. When we have extra events, I usually give the elves time off after, since they can run a little late sometimes. So the only other question I have is if you think you’d like the whole day off or just the morning?” She pulls out her phone and frowns at it. “I gave you Saturday off last weekend, so if you take the whole day on Friday, you’ll work both Saturday and Sunday. But if you take a half day Friday, then you can have all day Sunday off. Do you have a preference?”

My brows crimp. “Umm, I think I’ll do the half day Friday.” I’m pretty sure Mom’s off Sunday, and it’d be nice to spend a day with her.

Mrs. Claus’s face brightens and she taps on her screen. “Perfect! I’ll get the schedule finalized tonight and post it tomorrow so everyone can plan accordingly.”

As she’s turning away, it occurs to me that she didn’t say who else will be working the party. “Oh, Mrs. Claus?”

She pauses, turning to glance at me over her shoulder, amusement lighting her face at my calling her that instead of her real name despite the fact that no children are still around, the space nearly empty, with only a few vendors still here closing up. “Yes, dear?” A thoughtful look takes over. “You know, I’ve given all my children elf names. Should I give you one too?”

Surprised, my brows wing up. That must be where “Elfie” came from. I’ve wondered about it for the last week, but asking Dylan is definitely off the table, and the one time I asked Nora, she laughed so hard she couldn’t answer and then we got busy. “Sure. If you want to.”

That makes her grin. “Sorry. Did you need something?”

“Oh, right. Yeah. You said there’d be two elves. Who else will be at the event?”

Her gaze shifts over my shoulder, and I turn to see Dylan standing there, his expression not quite a scowl, but not exactlynota scowl. “Dylan will be helping you that evening.” She turns all the way around to face us, realizing she hasn’t given me all the details I’ll need. “He’ll drive the truck with the set.” She gestures at the Workshop around us. “It’s not this elaborate, but it does take some time and teamwork to get it all put together and taken down again.” She leans in close, a conspiratorial smile on her face. “But I know you love this kind of thing as much as I do, so I’m sure you’ll have no trouble helping Dylan set it up perfectly. You’ll need to leave straight from here so you have time to get it all done, though. Will you need a ride, dear?”

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