Page 15 of Make You Mine This Christmas
“Or did he love you so fucking much he felt he had no choice but to leave like that?”
I tilt my head to rest on the back of the chair, turning over Cole’s question in my mind, wondering if he’s right. Did Brody’s explanation have more to it I didn’t give him time to share before I kicked him out of my car? Why didn’t he make me listen?
I break the silence after a few minutes. “At some point, we’re going to have to start watching our language, or their first word is going to be one that Blaire will fucking kill us for.”
We both laugh, breaking the heavy feeling hovering over the room.
“You know you need to talk to him again. When you’re ready.”
I nod. “Yeah, when I’m ready.” But can you ever be ready to give someone the chance to break your heart again?
* * *
The next two days don’t find me in a ready state of mind. I keep my role switched with Minh, stationing me by the front door. Facing a blast of arctic air every few minutes feels more appealing than having to look into Brody’s sad eyes after every child hops off his lap. And this air is extra frigid—the polar vortex the weather people kept predicting is firmly swirling around us. Blaire’s best friend, Charlotte, who I claim as one of my best friends too, sent me a video this morning. Her future sister-in-law is a meteorologist in Washington, DC, and has an online video explaining what they mean by polar vortex. The center of this one seems to be right over Holly Ridge and Winterberry Glen.
Soon enough, the first Saturday of my short career as an elf is winding down. We had to force Brody to take his breaks. He wants to get through as many kids as possible. But no one wants to be responsible for scarring children because Santa passes out from dehydration or lack of food.
The door shuts behind the last family at 5:30, thirty minutes later than we’re supposed to close, but Santa Brody won’t let anyone feel rushed. I want to be annoyed with him, but I can’t be. Even when I’m mad or hurt or whatever emotions I feel toward him at any moment, I still have to admire how good he is at this.
We’re resetting everything for tomorrow when there’s a sudden pounding at the back door.
“Think that’s a kid trying to see Santa to tell him his family disappeared?” I joke.
Minh gets my Home Alone reference right away. “I think this Santa would ask a few more questions and call CPS or something.”
Someone must have answered the door while we were yapping, and suddenly Susie is in Santa’s Workshop, looking flustered. I hope something didn’t happen to the big delivery she’s supposed to get for the sugar cookie decorating event tomorrow. Blaire worried the trucks wouldn’t be able to start in the cold.
“We... we have a problem,” she says looking at Brody. Shit, it is the delivery. Susie knows Brody isn’t really Santa, right? He can’t send reindeer to go fly and pick up the supplies?
“What’s up, Susie?” Brody asks. “Is everything okay?”
“No. Well, yes. No one’s hurt, but the pipes in the crawl space above the studio apartment burst.” Everyone’s stopped what they’re doing by now to listen, and a unified gasp emits from at least half of us. “Jitters is okay. There are some wet supplies and boxes. We’re able to keep the water on for the shop and turn it off to the apartment, but the unit flooded before we got it shut off. Brody, I’m so sorry, but you’re not going to be able to stay there.”
“It’s okay, Susie. These things happen when it gets so cold. I’m sure there’s a hotel?—”
Jasmine cuts him off. “No way, especially not on the first festival weekend in December. Everything within thirty miles has been booked since June.”
Brody’s face falls. It does something to me to see Santa look so lost. The fact that it’s Santa Brody is even worse. The urge to offer to take him in rises, but I try to tamp it down. He stomped all over my heartagaina few days ago. I cannot bring him into my space.
“Austin, don’t you have a spare room?” I look around, bewildered, wondering if my subconscious grew its own voice. I find Jimmy standing to my right, looking smug.
“Oh, Jimmy, great idea,” Susie says, giving Brody a meaningful look. “I know you werefriendswhen Brody lived here before.”
Somehow, I’m the one who’s blushing now, everyone looking my way. Well, everyone except Brody. He’s looking at the floor, like he expects me to say no.
“Yeah, sure, I do have a spare room,” I say, my eyes on Brody so our gazes meet when he lifts his head.
“Oh wonderful.” Susie claps her hands, and that’s enough to break the spell over everyone, setting them into motion to get out of here and get home—probably to check on their own pipes.
I turn to Jimmy, who looks very pleased with himself at what’s happened here. “I thought you said nobody else knew?”
He has the balls to look innocent. “I said everyone didn’t know. I didn’t say no one knew. It’s Susie. Susie knows everything.” He has me there.
Jimmy claps a hand on my shoulder and heads back to his post to shut down the computer for the night. I walk my way over to where Brody and Susie are talking.
“... run up and grab a few things, there’s still a laundromat in Winterberry Glen where I can wash stuff, right?”
An indignant noise escapes before I can stop it. “You can use my laundry if you’re staying with me, Brody. I’m not a monster.”
