1. Ivy

1

ivy

31 days until christmas

I drew a red x through today’s date on the calendar—another day closer to Christmas. Only one month to go. The thought brought a smile to my lips as I swiped another coat of red lipstick on my lips and adjusted my green velvet dress.

This was my favorite time of year. And not just because of the holiday cheer, the peppermint hot chocolates, or the gingerbread cookies. No, it was because this time of year, everything felt truly magical . There was something about the season that I absolutely loved and always had. Ever since I was a little girl, I remember getting excited when Rudolph came on and how holiday music blasted in the car as soon as the calendar flipped to November. I’d dreamed of a snowy white Christmas, for cold crisp air that paired perfectly with a peppermint hot chocolate, as long as I could remember.

Though every day was Christmas here at Santa’s Christmasland .

As one of Central Florida’s premier theme park destinations, millions of people visit the park each year, coming through our front gates to experience a holiday overload. Each park area was themed, from Santa’s Workshop to the North Pole Village. You could ride Reindeer Flight—a roller coaster, the Holly Jolly Train that went around the entire park, or a sleigh ride through Santa’s Village. Plus, there was a skating rink and an entire room filled with artificial snow so guests could have snowball fights and build snowmen. We even had a bakery that looked like a giant gingerbread house where they pumped scents into the air to encourage them to purchase treats.

And, of course, the star on the top of the tree, as they said, was a meet and greet with Santa Claus himself. Not the real Santa, of course, but that didn’t stop parents from purchasing photos with him and kids from whispering their wishes into his ear.

This place was all Christmas, all the time. And it wasn’t just the kids who loved it—it was the adults, too. Maybe that was why they kept coming back, year after year.

I loved walking through the empty park each morning, enjoying the calm before we opened. An instrumental version of All I Want For Christmas is You was currently playing in the background. After guests arrived, it would be non-stop busy until close, so I tried to savor these moments. The entire place was decked out in garlands and red bows, and the thousands of lights that decorated the area were already lit up. The fans on top of the buildings that would blow soap to simulate snow weren’t running yet, giving me a temporary reprieve from that, at least.

Even if none of it was real, it felt like magic to me. It wasn’t the fake snow that was pumped into the air, the decorations that hung on every corner, or the smell of sugar cookies baking across the way. All of it was ridiculously over the top, and I loved every single bit of it.

This was my happy place. After all, I’d never seen actual snow, but I’d always believed in Christmas magic .

Though, if someone had told me when I was younger that one day, I was going to be working at a North Pole themed amusement park, I would have laughed. But that was me. Ivy Winters. Head Elf at Santa’s Christmasland.

I’d started here at eighteen while getting my degree, and now, seven years later, I’d worked my way up to being a manager, overseeing the operation and being in charge of the other employees. It was amazing what it took to keep a place like this running every day.

Though sometimes, it felt like it was hard for people to take me seriously, given that I was a whopping five foot two inches and wore a green velvet dress every day.

Never mind that I was twenty-five and had a management degree from the University of Central Florida. Just because I worked at an amusement park didn’t mean I wasn’t a professional. An elf costume didn’t mean I didn’t deserve to be treated with respect. I blew out a breath as I adjusted my name tag, feeling grateful that at least I no longer had to wear the candy cane striped tights every day. Honestly, I could have opted out of the dress, too, but my employees had to wear it, so I wore it too.

“Ivy!” I turned, seeing my dark-haired friend rushing towards me as I headed towards the employee only area behind the park where my office was located.

Sarah and I had met during property orientation all those years ago, and she was the closest thing I had to a best friend here at work. She held her costume in her hands, which made sense, considering it was a sweltering eighty degrees outside today, even though it was almost December. That was just how it was here, though. I’d long since grown used to it .

This place was as close to the North Pole as you could get in a state where the temperatures barely ever dropped below sixty degrees. When it hit fifty, the locals put on their down jackets.

“Hey, Sarah.” I gave her a warm smile, tugging on the sleeve of my dress.

“Morning.” She beamed back at me. “I thought I was going to be late. The bus took forever.”

Joys of theme park work: having to park in a giant, sprawling parking lot before being bussed to the actual location. It was also why I was chronically early. Sarah, on the other hand, was chronically late.

“Hey, at least you made it.” I looked at the clock. Her shift didn’t start for another fifteen minutes. Everyone would hustle to their spots after they punched in, and then we’d be ready to open at ten on the dot.

She blew a piece of dark hair off her forehead. “Yeah, thankfully. I can’t afford another point on my record card.”

“Ready for another fantastic day in Santa’s Workshop?” I asked her, leaning against a locker. She was one of our photographers for our Santa meet and greet.

A snort escaped her lips. “Oh yeah. Absolutely riveting.”

I jabbed at her with my elbow before Sarah shoved her bag into its spot, grabbing her striped and fur-lined getup so she could change herself.

While she changed into her costume, I went into my office, busying myself with the next round of schedules that needed to go out—thankfully, I wasn’t in charge of the entire park.

I lost myself in my work, too focused on the spreadsheet in front of me, not hearing Sarah until she leaned her hip against my desk, the bells of her shoes jangling.

“Did you hear about the new executive that will arrive tomorrow?” She was fully dressed and had clearly grabbed her equipment from the camera storage room since her camera was now hanging around her neck.

“Oh, God, that’s tomorrow ?” I groaned. It had been on my calendar for weeks, and for the life of me, I couldn’t fathom why the company that owned the park would send someone just a few weeks before Christmas, but then again, this was a company that profited off of the holiday.

“I’ve heard he’s young and really attractive.”

“Sarah!”

“What?” She fluttered her eyelashes. “I’m just saying it would be nice to have some eye candy around here.” My friend held up her camera. “I’m stuck staring at Santa all day.”

“Something you never let me forget.” I playfully rolled my eyes. “I thought you said there were plenty of single dads to ogle?”

Sarah shrugged. “It’s not as fun as it used to be. Besides, the chances of me running into Mr. Right while working as an amusement park photographer? Please. As if. ”

I’d watched enough Hallmark movies to never say never, but she was probably right. The chances of meeting anyone here seemed low. Most of our employees were college students, and I definitely wasn’t into twenty-year-old immature guys who just wanted to party every night.

“How do you even know this new guy is single?” I asked, saving and exiting the document. I’d finish it later.

“Don’t you listen to the rumors?”

I quirked an eyebrow. “No. I’m too busy doing my actual job.”

“Sorry, I forgot you have actual responsibilities these days.”

“Something I tried to remedy.” I’d offered her an assistant manager role over a year ago, though she declined.

“I like my job.” She sighed. “Besides, it’s not forever. Once I finish my master’s degree, I’m out of here.” The company was paying for it, which was an excellent incentive to stick around.

“Still.” I sighed, then looked up at the clock. “You should probably get out there. Park opens soon.”

“Any plans for tonight?” Sarah asked me as she headed towards the door.

I laughed. “You know me. Going to go home and curl up with a good book.” Back to my lonely apartment. I didn’t even have a pet to keep me company, even though I’d always wanted to get a dog. Maybe one day.

She rolled her eyes. “One of these times, I’m going to get you to come out with us. The piano bar is so fun, I promise.”

“Eh.” I shrugged, giving her a small smile. “I’m alright. But thank you for thinking of me.”

I was okay being alone. After all, I had been alone for as long as I could remember.

“Alright, suit yourself. I’ll see you out there?” She asked, knowing I’d come by several times during my rounds. I liked to check in on my staff, making sure they had everything they needed so the operation ran smoothly.

I nodded, waving her off, trying not to look too deeply into the empty spot in my chest.

It was almost Christmas—my favorite time of year—so why was I suddenly feeling so achingly lonely? It had been too long since I’d been on a date. That much was true.

Maybe I needed to remedy that. Maybe one of these nights, I’d actually take her up on her offer and go out for drinks after work. Meet a handsome stranger, let him take me home…

Biting my lip, I realized I’d been staring off into space. I couldn’t afford to be distracted. Not when I had so much to get done. Besides, I couldn’t afford to dream .

In the end, I’d just get my heart broken again.

And that was something I wouldn’t let happen.

Never again.