Page 5 of A Curvy Wonderland

“Come here, baby.” She came to me, wrapping her arms around my neck and holding on. Then Lucy joined us and climbed into my lap, crying as I rubbed her back. “I'm so sorry,” I repeated to both of them, brushing my hand over Tatum’s hair.

Once their tears were cried out, I said, “We're still going to have a good time together, the three of us.”

Tatum looked at me skeptically. “Do you promise?”

And with two heartbroken little girls looking up at me, I knew I would do whatever it took to make it as good as it can possibly be, even if I had to do it with Scrooge incarnate.

4

ELDAN

Right next to the Christmas tree farm, my parents had built a small café where people could get hot cocoa and snacks to have while they shopped. That’s where I sat early the next morning going through the ornaments as Bob lay next to me, a furry lump on the floor.

The shop was closed down, leaving the space area empty save for me and the ornaments spread out on the table in front of me. Last night there had been a dozen new requests, and somehow, I had to make like a genie and get them to come true. Too bad it wasn't as simple as rubbing a lamp and making a wish and poof, it happened. No, I had to actually talk to people and figure this out.

Each request was pretty different so far.

Several of them were for children’s gifts.

One person had requested help decorating their home for Christmas.

Another one had suggested shoveling snow at an elderly neighbor's house.

Someone else had pointed out a person in the retirement community whose family wouldn't be coming back to visit.

Another person yet had suggested I join the Carol Karens. I rolled my eyes at that one, pretty sure my dad had added it as a joke, and tossed it in the trash a few feet away. Not gonna happen. The last wish would be hardest of all, so I tucked it in my pocket to mull it over later.

Luckily, the requests for toys would be easy—I could go online and order them. Mom and Dad had plenty for that.

I knew my family was lucky—I'd never grown up wanting for anything, at least nothing money could buy. But not everyone was that way. One year I learned that most families went into debt during the Christmas season. It made me dislike the holiday even more.

I got out my phone and put in the orders for the toys, and then I looked at the last three ornaments.

Bob sat up my side, nudging my hand. Absently, I scratched his ears. “I know, maybe you should help me decide which one to do first.”

Just as I was about to hold the ornaments up to him, the door to the café opened, and a girl about my age and two younger girls came in.

“Sorry, the shop’s closed,” I told them. “It opens at two.”

The older one gave me a friendly smile. It touched her eyes so easily, and the first thing I thought wasWow, she's pretty. The second thing I thought was,Why is she so happy? I just told her the shop’s closed.

She spoke in a sweet voice saying, “Delilah told me we were supposed to meet you here?”

I pressed my lips together. “Delilah?” I didn't know anyone by that name.

Just then, the door to the coffee shop opened again, and I let out a sigh. Why was everyone coming in when the sign clearly said CLOSED? But then my mom walked through the door in a matching white outfit. This time of year was always like her personal fashion show. Although these three in matching pajamas could give her a run for her money.

Mom swept past my uninvited guests and said, “You must be Holly and Tatum and Lucy. I remember you two from last night.” She bent down to smile at the younger girls. “How are you doing?”

Tatum and Lucy were shy, clinging about the older girl, but Holly gave my mom that friendly smile and said, “Hi Mrs. Green. Delilah said we were supposed to come and help with the charity.”

My jaw dropped.Help?And my mom knew?

It was bad enough that I was put in charge of playing Santa, but now I knew it had been easy before. Now, apparently, I wasn't working alone, which I would have much preferred.

But my mom nodded happily and said, “We received several requests last night, and I'm sure Eldan would like a helping hand.”

“I would no–”

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