Page 62 of Run, Run Rudolph
“Under the sleigh?”
“I don’t fly like the reindeer. I had to make sure the coast was clear before coming out.”
“Santa wouldn’t let you into the sleigh?”
“Santa!” He began marching toward the man in red and white, ignoring me.
“Oh, boy,” Haden whispered. His torso was pressing against my arm and back as he stood close. It was feeling mighty warm in here. “Now I can see why you locked him in the trunk.”
“Yeah. He’s a treat.”
Haden’s hand was rubbing my arm in a soothing, intimate way, and I wished Hugo had stayed out in the storm for at least another five minutes.
Why didn’t I meet you first?
That line was going to be circling in my brain for the rest of the night.
“Santa! Your irresponsible reindeer snuck out. And they got drunk!”
Snarky pulled himself up to his full height in front of Santa, knuckles planted on his hips.
“On, Cucumber!” Santa declared. He cuddled my cat closer. “This is my new number one elf. Meet Sir Fluffball.”
Snarky blinked at Santa, momentarily thrown, his face falling. He cleared his throat. “Sir, we have a number seven issue. As well as an eleven, an eighteen and a twenty-one. Also, a category E problem that could quickly become an F. Not to mention?—”
“That’s enough business for now. Go help Mrs. Claus make oats for the reindeer,” Santa said, patting the elf on the head. “It’s almost Christmas Eve. It’s time to forgive and be happy. So good to have you back.” He began humming Feliz Navidad as he cuddled Boots closer, getting another chin rub from the cat.
“Forgive?” Haden whispered to me.
“Long story,” I muttered to Haden. “Still getting to the bottom of it.”
Haden shed his winter coat, and I noted that it had grown oddly warm in the barn despite there being no heating system. Had I accidentally made a wish to Estelle in the alley to be warm? Or was this simply something about Santa and his presence?
I shrugged out of my own coat, noting that a fully decorated, ten-foot-tall Christmas tree was now in my barn. Where had that come from? I was tempted to run a hand through its branches to see if it was real or just an illusion.
Was the wall between worlds weakening even further? I spun slowly, on the lookout for any other changes.
“Has that always been there?” Haden whispered, gesturing toward the new tree. I shook my head.
Snarky, red-faced, his fists clenched at his side, glared up at me. “What did you have Estelle do to him? I heard you two talking outside his clinic!” He jabbed a finger in Haden’s direction.
“What? Nothing! I haven’t made a single wish!” Even though I’d skimmed a recent text from Char suggesting that I do just that, and to use her credits when I did. It seemed Estelle had visited her, too. But Char was on my side. She told me to do what felt right to me. And avoiding a tangle with more magical creatures—AKA my fairy godmother—seemed like a wise move.
Although maybe less so now, since my big plan to get Santa to fix everything was clearly a dud.
“We hit a tree,” Donner explained, coming over, his hooves making a slow beat on the barn floor. “A couple of trees, actually.” His gaze swung to Blitzen.
“The last one did it, though,” Dasher said cheerfully. “Smashed into it, right good.” He made a prolonged smashing and crashing sound effect that would have delighted a small child.
“The sleigh’s damaged,” I added.
Snarky’s face turned white. “No. It’s just parked funny. I saw it.”
“Did you look at the front panel or runners?”
“Why?”
“They’re broken.”
