Page 103 of Run, Run Rudolph
“Okay.”
Haden turned down my driveway, and the wind let up as the trees lining the gravel trail protected us. The storm was dying.
As we moved toward the barn, I caught sight of a faint red glow. Something was burning. The original sleigh? It looked like it had burned down to embers, occasionally letting out a burst of flame, as if fighting against its untimely murder.
“I guess we have some North Pole relationships to save on top of a holiday,” I muttered, the small fire bringing my attention back to our present task—to save Christmas.
“Is this what it’s like having kids?” Haden asked.
“I think there are significantly fewer crises.”
“Thank goodness. Having a family isn’t something I’m ready to give up on yet.”
“You want a family?” I asked.
“Of course.” He said it nonchalantly as he parked near a drift that hadn’t been there yesterday morning, and we hopped out with our stash of goggles.
Haden wanted a hobby farm and kids? And he wasn’t freaking out over this magical business, and didn’t like big loud parties, either. Was it possible he was truly perfect?
“Where’s the broken sleigh?” I asked, stopping in front of the barn.
“Do you think they fixed everything and left?” Haden asked.
“That would be nice.”
“Hey.” Haden caught my hand, his expression dark and serious. “Whatever we meet in there, be careful, okay?”
“You, too.”
He pulled me closer, giving me a very lovely, deep kiss that made my whole body sing and sigh. Kissing Haden, I felt so light I could fly. If there was a way to bottle this feeling, there wouldn’t be a problem with the added weight, or a lack of aerodynamics, with a poorly repaired sleigh. I’d just sprinkle some of this over it, and the reindeer would be off.
Haden released me, then opened the barn door, nearly dropping his stack of goggles at the sight of utter chaos that greeted us. Santa was shouting at Mrs. Claus, and she was wagging her finger at him like she planned to divorce the man if he didn’t come around to her way of thinking. The reindeer were cowering in a cluster near the back corner of the barn, kicking and braying. The broken sleigh had been brought inside and was resting close to us, not looking any better than it had an hour ago. Hugo was standing between the married couple, his neck swivelling from side to side as he tracked each participant in the argument. He looked close to crying.
We hesitated on the threshold. There was no sign of Estelle.
“Um, we have night vision goggles for the reindeer,” I said quietly.
Nobody noticed us.
I ventured over the threshold, but Haden grabbed the elbow of my coat, holding me back from going further. “Maybe we should let them be.”
I’d stopped just inside the doorway, and Sparkles, the timid fixer elf, appeared beside us, arms raised to take the boxes.
I shifted half of my load of goggles into her arms, holding on to the rest.
“How is fixing the sleigh going?” I whispered.
“Not good. And Santa is mad that Mrs. C. burned our backup plan.”
“How’s he doing?”
“Getting better.”
“And Rudolph?”
“Getting better.”
“Where’s Estelle?”
