19. Ivy

19

ivy

7 days until christmas

T eddy was working with his dad today—something about the factory that I’d tuned out—so I’d decided to go into town by myself to explore. Teddy had given me a house number where my grandma lived, though I hadn’t decided what to do with it yet. It was one thing to know that you had family and another to actually show up and introduce yourself.

Would she not want to see me because of my mom? It seemed like they’d been estranged after she left. Did my family know I existed? Would they want a relationship with me?

Throwing my hair up into a high ponytail, I pulled on a cozy sweater dress and a pair of tights I’d brought with me, as well as my new pair of fuzzy boots with little pompoms. I’d spent the morning lazing around Teddy’s house, trying to work up my courage to do the thing .

Finally, I gave in and wandered into town, which was luckily only a few minutes walk from Teddy’s house. The Christmas Market was still set up, so I wandered through it, enjoying a nice mocha while browsing the different stalls. I’d already had a warm, fresh waffle drizzled with chocolate and caramel, which I was pretty sure was one of the best things I’d ever eaten.

It felt like everyone who lived here must have had some sort of skill or craft, making the selection of handmade items absolutely incredible. Not to mention all the food stalls. I imagined myself set up, selling things I’d made with my own little booth next Christmas. It was a nice dream, warm and fuzzy, with Teddy by my side. If only it was real.

Because it was just a dream.

“Ivy!” Someone shouted my name, and I turned. I was surprised to see Scarlett, our waitress from the diner when I’d first arrived. I’d seen her around, but hadn’t had too many chances to talk to her.

“Oh! Scarlett. Hi,” I said to her, stopping on the sidewalk as she hurried to catch up with me. “I didn’t realize anyone would recognize me.”

She looked shocked. “Of course! How could we not? How have you been settling in?” she asked, giving me a warm smile.

“Oh, I’m not… I’m just visiting for Christmas.”

“Really?” Scarlett frowned. “I thought… Well, it doesn’t matter.” She looped her arm through mine. “What brings you into town?”

“Teddy went to help his dad with something at the factory, so I thought I’d take the time to explore.”

Her arm was looped through mine like we were best friends and not practical strangers. But maybe that was the way it was up here. We walked through the market, her pointing out different stalls and telling me about the people who worked there, and me asking her questions about the North Pole.

“Can I ask you a question?” I asked, fiddling with the piece of paper in my pocket.

Scarlet nodded.

I pulled it out, showing her the piece of paper with my grandma’s name on it. The backside had her address. “Do you know her?”

She made a weird face, raising an eyebrow. “Ivy, that’s my grandma.”

I froze. “No way.” Of all the people in the North Pole, that meant… “Did Teddy tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“My mom passed away when I was younger, and I never knew my dad. Until this week, I didn’t even know I was from here. But I… Teddy’s dad gave me the address to my grandmother’s house. Which means we’re…”

Cousins. She was my cousin?

“Oh.” Scarlett’s eyes widened, and then she squealed. “No, I had no idea. Oh my gosh! This is so exciting.” Her arms wrapped around me, and then I was being hugged. By my cousin.

It was a little crazy how the world worked.

“I can’t believe this,” I said, laughing. “All this time, and I had a cousin.” My eyes filled with tears as she held me tighter.

When we pulled away, she was also a little teary-eyed. “Wow. Do you want to go meet her?”

“Oh, I…” Was I ready for that? This was already a little overwhelming.

“We can go another day. I’ll go with you.” Scarlett squeezed my hand.

I nodded. “Yeah, I think I’d like that. Thank you.”

She winked. “No problem, cousin. ”

“That’s going to take some getting used to,” I said with a laugh. “I’ve never had a cousin before.”

We continued walked through the stalls together. Since I’d already done a decent amount of shopping, I was just taking this time to appreciate all the work that went into the market.

“Is that your husband?” I asked, watching as the red-haired elf beside me’s eyes lit up as they landed on a dark-haired man. He was working at one of the booths, selling hand-carved items.

She smiled. “Yeah. That’s my Jack.” Scarlett blew him a kiss. “He’s my mate.”

“Huh?” I asked, not sure I’d heard her right.

“Elves don’t just marry,” she informed me. “We mate for life.”

“They—what?” My eyes felt like they were bulging. “ Mate?”

Scarlett nodded. “I’m sure you know by now that magic runs through these lands. It’s how, well… this place came to be. Our magic strengthens the barrier surrounding the North Pole, keeping out those who do not understand.” She blew out a breath. “The same magic ties us together. Those bonds of fate provide us with our mates. Like a shimmering, golden thread, tying us together.”

“Soulmates,” I breathed out.

“In a way, yes.” She cocked her head to the side. “You didn’t know? Teddy didn’t…”

“No.” I was sure my cheeks were pink, but I hoped I could blame that on the cold nipping at my face instead of the embarrassment I felt at not knowing my own background. “It’s not like that between us.”

It wasn’t, though. Teddy and I weren’t soulmates, and we definitely weren’t fated to be together. After all, he’d told me about his family, how every Santa had found his Mrs. Claus outside the North Pole… it couldn’t be me. Just another reminder that he wasn’t for me. I sighed.

She gave me a reassuring pat. “I see.”

As if summoned by my thoughts, I spotted Teddy walking towards us. I was surprised to see how close he was standing to a dark-haired woman, having a deep conversation. Looking at them, it was obvious how much they fit like there was a closeness there that couldn’t be forced.

Why was it so unsettling? He wasn’t mine . Sure, we were sleeping together, but what was this discomfort bubbling up in my chest?

“I should go,” Scarlett said, giving me another squeeze. “Tell Teddy I say hello.” I gave her a nod, and my new cousin left, heading towards the booth where her husband—her mate— stood.

When she approached him, he wrapped his arms around her, swaying them softly back and forth. He looked at her with so much love, and I… I wanted that.

Wanted to know what it was like to be loved so deeply.

My cheeks flushed as I watched Teddy approach.

We couldn’t be, and yet…

The girl he was with peeled off, waving goodbye, and then it was just Teddy and I standing in the middle of the street. I wrapped my arms around my middle, watching him. Was it stupid to feel insecure? Yes.

But I did.

“Who is she?” I asked, biting my lip.

“Why? Are you jealous?” Teddy asked, a big stupid grin curling over his handsome face.

Damn him. Why did he have to be so hot?

“What?” I said, feeling my cheeks warm. “No, I’m not jealous. Why would I be jealous? I don’t care who you talk to or where you’ve?— ”

His warm hand slid into my hair, his thumb resting against my jaw.

“She’s my cousin, Ivy.”

I blinked at him. “Your…”

“Yes.” He nodded.

“But…” I scrambled, my brain running at a hundred miles per hour. “How?”

“What do you mean, how? Do you need me to explain how genealogy works?” He tilted his head to the side like there wasn’t a smirk glued to his lips.

“No, I just… She’s an elf. You’re… human.”

“I am. But her mother and my father are siblings. She’s half, just like you.”

“Oh.” I bit my lip. “So you’re not…”

“The only woman I’m interested in spending time with is you, my Poison Ivy.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Now, what were you up to in town?”

“I thought I’d explore while you were busy with your dad. I ran into Scarlett from the diner.”

“Oh?” He cocked his head to one side.

I frowned. “You knew.”

“Knew what?”

“That she was my cousin.”

“Oh.” Teddy brushed a piece of hair off my cheek, tucking it behind my ear. He ran a finger down the point, making a shudder run through my body. It was incredible how sensitive they were, and his touch just reminded me of last night. “I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”

I looked away, trying to hide my blush.

“Ivy.” He interlocked our fingers, tugging me towards him and distracting me from my thoughts. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”

“Okay,” I agreed .

Maybe it was time to admit to myself that I’d follow him anywhere he asked. Even if that scared the hell out of me.

My eyes widened as I took in the sight in front of me. From the top floor of the factory, as far as the eye could see, there were toys and little workstations.

“No way .”

He hummed. “I thought you’d appreciate it.”

Wandering around, I picked up a little soft baby doll from the station next to me. “Yeah. This is wonderful.”

He smiled, and I moved towards him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “You’re wonderful,” I admitted.

“Oh? I thought you didn’t like me, my sweet Poison Ivy?”

I punched him in the shoulder, though my fist didn’t even seem to phase him because he just kept grinning at me.

“Why are you still smiling?” I frowned.

He leaned down, his lips close to my ear as he said, “Haven’t you learned by now that I like when you’re feisty, sweetheart? When you have those little claws out?”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re insufferable.”

“Nah. You like it.”

I did.

Shrugging my shoulders, I turned to the toys, running my fingers over the little details the elves had created.

Teddy seemed to read my mind, watching me inspect the space. “The elves who work here are all paid well.”

“I always just imagined elves were all children.” But that was the farthest from the truth.

He laughed. “The kids up here are more focused on playing with toys than making them. ”

“As they should be,” I muttered. “Kids back home are so focused on growing up I think they miss out on being a kid.”

“Was that how it was for you?” Teddy asked. When I turned to look at him, I found him leaning against a table, watching me.

I bit my lip. “I don’t know. Maybe it was. My childhood definitely wasn’t typical.” A sigh slipped from my lips. “Sometimes I just can’t help but wonder what it would have been like if I hadn’t lost my mom. If she would have brought me back here and raised me with my cousin and my family. Or would we have stayed in Florida? I don’t know what brought her there or how she even met my father. But I can’t imagine how she loved him enough to leave this place. It’s magical .” Wonderful. I never wanted to leave.

Teddy stood, wrapping his arms around me. “It really is.” There was a twinkle in his eye, and I leaned up, pressing my lips to his.

“Come on.”

“Where are we going now?” I whispered, even though we were alone inside the factory.

He turned, a little smirk on his face. “You’ll see.”