Page 22 of Christmas Wishes
“Pop, I… I used all my elf magic in a batch of cookies that I sent with Tomas for Rand.” She rushed the words out before she could chicken out. Admitting what she’d done wasn’t as hard as she imagined, but she didn’t know what the consequences would be. Either actual or metaphysical.“When you say all your magic…?
“All of it. Every bit that I could tap into.”
“You love him that much?”
“I think so. I know I don’t want to never see him again. And I love Christmas and what is Christmas without Santa Claus. If Rand is sent away forever, what happens then? What happens to what everyone has always believed in?”
“Oh my little elf with the very big heart.”
“Do you think that’s what’s wrong with me? Why my hands and fingers aren’t behaving?”
“It could be. I’ll have to look into it, do some research. I haven’t come across anything like this before.”
“What do I do in the meantime? I can’t work. I can’t do my job.”
“You go home. You rest. Try to replenish what’s been depleted.”
“Wouldn’t being around others help more?” It was always the belief that if one was down or sad, then time spent soaking up the cheer and happiness of others eased the doldrums and brightened the spirit.
It was said to increase the magic, too.
“In your condition, I’m not so sure, Blix. Go home. Let me look into what’s going on with you and then we’ll go from there.”
She wasn’t sure about her father’s plan. She was even a little worried about being alone, but she didn’t tell him about that. He’d have sent her mother over and much as Blix loved her mother… She shook her head. Nope.
“Blix? In a hurry again?”
“Oh! Blix stumbled to a halt. “Santa!” She had to start paying attention to her surroundings. “I am so sorry to keep running into you like this.”
“You are visiting your father during bakery hours. Are you all right, my dear?”
“Yes, Santa. I…”
“Good. I am happy to hear it. I would hate for anything to be wrong with one of my favorite elves.”
One of his favorites? She was one of his favorites?
“Of course you are.”
Her eyes widened at his words, followed by her cheeks heated by a blush. He chuckled at her dismay.
“Not your dismay. But rather that you seem to forget lately that I can read what you’re thinking when I choose to.”
Blix nodded. “I don’t know how I can forget that,” she said softly.
“Don’t worry. I don’t read every thought. Even Santa has boundaries. I’ll let you get on with your day. Take care of yourself. You’ve been working very hard this season.”
“Th-thank you. Are you feeling all right, Santa?”
“Yes, indeed. I just need to see your father about something for a moment and then I’ll be off to see the new sleigh.”
“Oh. I… Good.”
Santa walked around her and Blix headed toward her apartment building. She didn’t look back, though she was tempted. Something very strange was going on. She’d run into Santa twice so far when it was rare for her to run into him even once. She couldn’t remember the last time he’d been out around town so much. He was often in the workshop, at the paddocks, or at home. Walking around town other than on Christmas Eve was odd. At least in her personal experience. And now he was seeing her father about something?
The points on her ears tingled and heated, much like they did when a new recipe came to her. It happened at other times too. When someone close to her was sad or even when they were happy.
The walk to her place didn’t take long, but by the time she arrived at her front door, the prickling in her legs and toes had increased. Her breath was harder to catch, too.
