Page 9 of A Curvy Wonderland

I smiled, saying, “I hope I can be a good example for them.” But I looked over my shoulder and saw they were already at the doorway. “I better leave before they run off without me. See you soon.”

She gave me a wave, and I followed the girls out onto the sidewalk. Eldan was several steps ahead of us, almost to Cocoa Corner on the way back to Emerald Acres.

“Eldan, wait up,” I called. I tried to be positive most of the time, but I was getting so frustrated with him and his brusque manner. Would it kill him to say thank you or goodbye?

He looked over his shoulder at me, almost like he was indignant that I would use his name, but paused his path on the sidewalk anyway.

Continuing to walk toward him with the girls, I got out a few dollars from my pocket and handed it to Tatum. “Take your sister into Cocoa Corner and get three hot cocoas. I'll be there in a second.”

Lucy grinned. “Hot cocoa and cookies? It’s the best dayever!”

I laughed. “I guess it is.”

They ran on up ahead, going into Cocoa Corner. As I watched them, I wondered if Delilah had been right about volunteering. They did seem to be in a better mood today, and it had made Mrs. Banerjee so happy to treat them.

When I got to Eldan, he raised his eyebrows. Could he not even spare a word to ask me why I wanted him to wait?

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down before I snapped at him. “Look Eldan, I know that you have this whole...” I waved my hands in the air around him. “Grumpy Scrooge thing going on, but these girls do not need that energy right now.”

He tilted his head as if asking me to explain.

I grit my teeth. “Their dad is in the military, and they just found out last night that he's not going to be home in time for Christmas. So the least you could do is give them a smile every now and then and not treat them like they're a complete burden.”

I hated that I had to look up to him to speak because I really felt like looking down on him and making him feel small for how crappy he'd been to the girls earlier today. He treated them, and me, like an inconvenience.

“Did I say anything rude today?” he asked softly.

His calmness frustrated me more. “No but—”

“Then it seems strange that you're telling me to be kinder.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You know exactly what you were doing. I don't know what your deal is with Christmas, but I expect you to do better tomorrow, or I'll have to talk to your mother.”

His icy facade fractured long enough for him to say, “You wouldn’t.”

“I would.” I let the words sink in because I definitely meant them. “Now we're going to have some hot cocoa, maybe you should come and have some too. I've never seen anyone as grumpy as you are while they're drinking hot chocolate.”

He smirked. “Maybe that's why I don't drink it.”

Then he turned and walked away, leaving my jaw hanging as he did.

6

ELDAN

The next morning when Holly, Tatum, and Lucy got to the coffee shop at the Christmas tree farm, Holly wasn't wearing ridiculous bright red pajamas. No, this time she had on an oversized green sweater with an overly happy snowman on front, black leggings, and oversized green socks that stretched halfway up her calves. But the most offensive part of her appearance was a winter hat where the bauble on the top looked like a snowman with a tiny top hat.

Bob trotted up to Holly and the girls, much less perturbed by Holly’s festive outfit than I was. Probably because he could only see in black and white.

All three of them bent to scratch him, and Tatum said, “He issocute.”

Holly, like she was talking to a baby, said, “You are the cutest, fluffiest dog, Robert.”

It was kind of cute, not that I’d ever say that out loud. “His names not Robert,” I said instead.

Holly looked up at me. “Then what's his name short for?”

I cringed. I should have just kept my mouth shut. But I couldn't handle Bob being misnamed. “It's short for Bauble.”

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