Page 44 of Donner

"What if … why … how?" I was the first to admit most of our flights were easy, but perfect? No flight had been perfect, not in my experience. There was always at least one little hiccup, one house that didn't have a chimney even though the map said it did, or one family that chose the middle of December to move across the country, or worse, across continents. We were fortunate that our Santa could handle most issues on his own by teleporting gifts to the other sleighs, but that sometimes meant he wasn't keeping the closest eye on our team, especially when the other Santas asked for his magical help while we were in the air.

"You spend so much time focusing on what to do when something goes wrong. What if it all goes right?"

I sputtered some more, but I didn't have an answer. Finally, I shrugged.

"You're doing well at preparing the team for weather changes, accidents, and every possible disaster. I asked the rest of the team to prepare their simulations with fewer risks to compensate. If everyone on the team worried half as much as you do, we'd have a team full of bare-antlered grinches."

"My antlers are not bare!" I hoped. I hadn't butted literal heads with anyone this season, so my felt was still in place.

"No, but it's a near thing," Santa said. "I care about you, Donner. I want you to succeed. That means letting the team lead their own simulations. Stop harassing them for following my orders."

"Yes, Santa."

Santa grinned. "Finish your cookie. I don't want the rest to think I'm playing favorites." He winked. "Who am I kidding? They all had cookies to distract them while we had our chat. Bring it along."

The air shifted around me again, and I was back at my seat at the conference table, staring at Comet's simulation plan with fresh eyes. When Santa called us back to order, I thanked Comet for his simulation. When he met my gaze, he looked both hopeful and a little suspicious. He wanted the praise, but he didn't think I meant it. Believe me, I knew how that felt.

I would do better. Our team, and our Santa, deserved better.

Chapter 26

Beau

Finally, it was Christmas Eve eve, and Jax came home from work with a smile on his face. "We're ready," he assured me. "I designed the simulations myself, putting the team through their hardest paces yet. They passed with flying colors. You should have seen Rudolph and Cupid, especially." I could see, thanks to his enthusiastic tone and his brilliant smile. "They were magnificent."

Jax was so adorable, I had to stop him with a kiss before plying him with his candy cane dipped in hot cocoa treat.

"You taste like sugar cookies and milk," I said with a scowl.

He pulled a paper napkin from his backpack and unwrapped the cookie inside. "It's not frosted," he said, which gave me an idea for later.

"It looks delicious," I said. "Who should I thank for this?"

"Dasher's alpha dad made them." Jax grinned. "I can't imagine my dad making anything that didn't look and taste like a hockey puck when it came out of the oven."

Yep, my idea was going to be perfect. I made a list of ingredients I'd need to pick up at the store.

I hadn't met the other reindeer yet, but they were invited to Derek's party tonight. So were my friends Mize and their partner, and Hazel the daycare teacher, and some folks I didn't know as well from The Honeycomb, like the nonbinary maintenance person. They'd asked if they could invite some of the building's shut ins, and of course I said yes.

I was delighted to see them wheel in an elderly dark-skinned elf in a wheelchair, followed by a couple of gray-haired white ladies wearing poodle skirts for the dance. "It's been years since we've had a chance to come to a party," a woman who identified herself as Mabel told me as she latched onto my arm.

"We're glad you could make it to this one." I made a note to start a community program for these wonderful people in our building who wanted more opportunities to get out of their apartments. Mabel and her sister Ethel were hilarious. They played a round of Hearts with Jax and me while we waited for our friends to arrive.

Derek and the others were a little later than expected. He blamed the bus, but Melody blamed Derek's hair, and they teased each other mercilessly while Derek set up his sound equipment on the stage. When Melody got too close with a sports drink bottle, Derek shrieked and told her to go sit down.

She shrugged. "How's your night going?" she asked Jax.

Jax looked across the table with a soft smile that made my insides melt. "Couldn't be better."

"We saw Vixen on the tram. He's waiting at the station for the others." Her hair was once again pulled up on top of her head, and her curls bounced with her every exaggerated motion. "He's got a surprise for you."

"Surprise?" Jax looked adorable when he blushed. "That's unexpected."

"Shh." I tugged his folding chair closer to the corner of the table we shared and wrapped my arm around his shoulders. "They're your friends."

"They're my coworkers," he whispered. "My friends are already here."

I shrugged. "My coworkers are my friends."

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