Page 57 of A Winter in Wonderland
Chapter 26
After Santa had done his bit, including posing for photos and chatting to anyone who wanted a moment with him, it was time for everyone to take their seats for the big, Christmas Eve feast.
I spotted my name on the seating chart and then made my way to the furthest table, along with a few colleagues and a number of guests. I saw with sadness that Esteri was heading in the opposite direction, but I was OK making chit-chat with strangers. What did I have to worry about now, anyway? I’d practically made it to Christmas!
Then, when I reached my place, my eyes fell on the name written on the card next to mine in curly cursive font.
Elf Josh
For a second, I looked at the words, my eyes tracing the lettering. Before I could react, he was beside me, pullingout my chair for me, all rosy-cheeked and in full elf-mode. I looked up at him for a moment, and his smile reached his eyes, which twinkled at me. I think he thought this could be a lot of fun, sitting next to me, who was being a normal human while he was a non-stop elf. He already knew how maddening he could be, but I felt like he might become even more so during this dinner.
When I went to sit down, he sat in my chair. He then began to introduce himself as Adventure Guide Myla to everyone at the table while I stood behind him laughing but kind of wanting him to move.
‘Elf Josh,I’mAdventure Guide Myla,’ I said after a minute. ‘And you’re in my seat.’
‘No,’ he laughed. ‘That can’t be right. You look more like an Elf Josh to me.’
This went on for a bit while I tried very hard not to roll my eyes or shove him out the way until eventually all the nearby kids were shrieking at him with glee thathewas the elf and he was inmyseat.
Eesh, this was going to be a long meal. But when I sat down (finally), Josh’s bare arm brushed against mine, and inside me a tiny flame ignited.
It reminded me of being back on the plane, before I even knew his name.
An aromatic dinner of baked ham with cloves dotting the mustard and breadcrumb coating, salty fresh fish and a rich casserole was served. The band played low Christmas classics, the dangling stars above us twinkled in the candlelight, and while I chatted to the people on my left and Joshchatted to those on his right … our arms kept touching. It was impossible not to, the table was packed, and better that we kept nudging up against each other and gave the guests a little more elbow room. But … I know my right forearm didn’tneedto be resting on the table while we waited for dessert, with his left arm doing the same, as we both turned our heads away from each other to talk to those on our other sides.
But my skin against his, the contact, the knowledge of our fingers so close they could almost entwine, had me struggling to focus on what anyone was saying.
It didn’t mean anything, I told myself, when he shifted away to reach for the sparkling water. It had just been a long time since anyone had touched me physically, in any way, as more than a friend and it was just making my hormones stir. That was all.
‘Adventure Guide Myla, do you like Elf Josh?’ asked the little girl in front of me, and if she didn’t look like a tiny angel, I would swear she was trying to meddle.
‘Um,’ I hesitated, refusing to look at Josh who was theatrically leaning his chin on his hands waiting for my answer. ‘Yes, of course, he’s a very good elf. But he’s quite a naughty elf, you know.’
‘Why?’ asked the little angel.
‘Well once, he threw a snowball right at me.’ The kids looked unimpressed. ‘And another time, I’m pretty sure he laughed at my gingerbread cookie decorating.’
‘You wouldn’t laugh at my gingerbread, would you, Elf Josh?’ Little Angel turned to him.
‘I might eat your candy cane,’ he said, trying to reach over and she laughed and thwacked him with her plastic spoon.
‘Do you like Adventure Guide Myla?’
‘I do,’ shouted out the boy who reminded me of a small Josh.
‘Thank you,’ I said to him, and caught the eye of his mum who chuckled.
Beside me, Josh leant his head on my shoulder and sighed, and for a second I had a view of those dark eyelashes from above, of the shape of his nose, the smell of his shampoo. ‘I do like Adventure Guide Myla, very much,’ he replied. I held my breath. What did he mean by ‘very much’?
I let out a small laugh and added, ‘We’re all good friends here in Lapland.’
At that moment, one of the other elves came over and tapped on Josh’s shoulder. He leant around, placing his hand on the back of my chair for support, while she whispered in his ear and I tried to pretend that his arm around my back wasn’t all I could think about.
‘Excuse me a minute, everyone,’ Josh said, placing his (clean) napkin atop my head, causing more giggles, and I watched as he and the other elves gathered on the dance floor for an impromptu dance-off to ‘Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town’.
As he joked and laughed with the other elves, in full performance for the room, I shook my head. I was just being sentimental and letting all this Christmas nonsense get to me.
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