Page 40 of Donner

The more I thought about the job at the community center, the more I lost myself in daydreams about our children. I could keep an eye on them at the daycare once Jax went back to work. I could keep them safe.

I called the number on the screen, and a rich tenor answered. "The Honeycomb."

I gave them my name. "Santa told me to call about a job?"

"Beau, yes! When would you like to stop by for an interview?"

"Whenever works for you." It was still an hour and a half before lunch and well before Jax would text me to meet him at the grocery store.

"Does fifteen minutes give you enough time?"

"That would be perfect."

"Great! See you then. I'm Mize, by the way, they/them pronouns if you please."

I hastily stammered my pronouns, too.

"I'll be at the front desk just outside the elevators," they said and ended the call.

When I arrived on the main floor, only one person was waiting, thankfully wearing a nametag so I could recognize them. Mize was a tall redhead with brown skin and pointed ears. Elf, I supposed, though I'd never seen a full elf before Jax's friend Derek. Mize wore thin wire-framed glasses and black metallic nail polish. Their nails clicked on their keyboard as they walked me through the interview questions.

When I mentioned my experience as a soldier, EMT, and bouncer, they smirked.

"You're going to use each of those hats on any given day, trust me. These kids are a handful. I hear you have your own coming soon?"

It surprised me how quickly the news spread. "Yes. With Jax."

"Donner?" Mize's professional smile melted into a real one. "That's wonderful. He's a longtime resident. Loves the place. It takes a certain someone to want to live that far underground." They narrow their eyes at me. "You're not stealing him away, are you?"

"Of course not! We might need to move into something bigger as our family grows, but I watched the sunrise from bed this morning. That sticks with you."

Mize grinned. "The projected walls are a nice perk. Though I can't blame you if you do move to a house. Some people don't like the idea of raising children below ground."

I shrugged. "I know so little about raising a family here. Until two weeks ago, I thought this place was a fairy tale."

Mize nodded. "Fair enough. Well, I've made up my mind. You're hired."

I blinked. "What?"

"Santa 30 recommended you, you're mated to Jax Donner, and you're ready for any situation. This will probably seem boring compared to your other jobs. If we have you in our back pocket to break up a fight or patch up a wound … you're just what we need."

They grinned and offered their hand. I shook it and took the packet of paperwork they handed me to a small table in the corner of a side room full of empty tables and chairs and a blank television screen.

I soon learned I was sitting in the break room, since it was almost lunch and the daycare and rec room employees filed in. Mize handed out sandwiches, and then brought one over to me. "Jax said you like hamburgers."

"You reached out to Jax instead of asking me?"

"You looked busy!" Mize winked. "We like surprises around here. It's all part of the Christmas spirit."

"I love roast beef," I confessed, taking the offered sandwich and nodding toward the chair beside me. "You're welcome to sit with me."

Mize glanced down at the chair and blushed. "Thanks, but I'm waiting for my partner."

I finished the paperwork before I opened my sub, not wanting to get greasy mayo on any important documents. It was even better than I'd built it up to be in my mind. The lettuce and tomatoes tasted fresher here. Even the mayo seemed less greasy.

Once Mize and their partner, a dark-haired white elf with a high ponytail and a high and bright laugh, had finished eating and they kissed goodbye, I handed them my paperwork.

"Fantastic," they said. "Let me show you to your office."

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