17. Merry

Chapter 17

Merry

“Where are we going?”

Hernan insisted I wear my warmest clothes. I didn’t have many, as we’d only been on one shopping expedition. Other than organizing for the festival, which was mostly done at home, I rarely went anywhere that required a lot of outdoor time.

That was a little weird to say or think, but it was my choice. Sure, I could have gone out for coffee or lunch, but I was busy, and Hernan’s workshop was on his property. I wanted to be where he was.

Maybe that would wear off a little as I got more comfortable in this new life. Perhaps that would be healthier, but in the first bloom of new love couples wanted to spend every minute together. And we did.

“You’ll see.”

It was my understanding that most dates involved movies or restaurants, art galleries or museums, or like the one we went on—a class. But ours was going to be cold, probably outside. Coming from the North Pole, lower temperatures didn’t bother me. I could toboggan with the best of them, ice skate, or build a snowman faster than anyone in Christmas Village.

It was odd thinking of a dragon living amidst the snow. I always imagined dragons living a solitary life in a cave tucked into a mountain cliff, not in the middle of a town. His scales and thick veiny skin kept him warm I supposed. He could melt snow and ice with his flames, so did he enjoy the cold?

Wherever we were going, a lot of other people were headed in the same direction. We congregated at a park in the center of town, and a man I recognized as the mayor made a speech about the festive season and how fortunate we were to have Santa with us.

“Huh? Santa’s here?” I stood on tiptoes, straining to catch a glimpse of which Santa was about to appear.

“Not one of your Santas,” Hernan whispered.

“Someone’s impersonating Santa?” People around us shushed me, and a couple with children put their hands over the kids’ ears and glowered at me.

What’d I do? I couldn’t allow people to think that the pretend Santa was real.

Hernan slung an arm around my shoulder. “You told me we had to keep it a secret that there’s more than one Santa.”

“Yes, but?—”

He put a finger to my lips. “And all the Santas are frantically busy preparing for Christmas Eve, right?”

“Of course.”

“So people who dress up as Santa help the real Santas do their job. If all the Santas had to sit in city malls and attend tree-lighting ceremonies, no one would get their stockings filled on December 24.”

I reluctantly agreed. “I guess so.” It seemed like cheating, but it probably made people happy.

“Let’s begin the countdown,” the mayor yelled into his microphone.

“Ten, nine, eight…”

The huge pine tree behind the mayor lit up, and everyone cheered and clapped. I had to admit it looked good, with its pink, blue, and silver lighting.

“Santa!” the crowd shouted as a sleigh drawn by horses slid over the tamped-down snow.

Children crowded around the sleigh as “Santa” handed out presents and yelled, “Ho, ho, ho.”

“He needed ho, ho, ho-ing lessons,” I told Hernan.

“But no one else knows that.” He held me close, maybe because he thought I was going to blurt out that “Santa” was fake.

I wouldn’t, and I didn’t. The kids were excited, showing their parents their gifts. I sort of understood Hernan’s reasoning in that the person dressed up in the red-and-white suit and fake beard brought joy to a lot of people this evening. And maybe not everyone was as happy as we were and needed Christmas cheer in their lives.

“Have you ever tried eggnog or mulled wine?” We crossed the street to a bar where lights were blazing and people were milling about near outdoor heaters.

“Nope.” They weren’t a thing in the village, though maybe the Santas kept that for themselves. There was a Santa who enjoyed one too many drinks in the evening.

Hernan ordered eggnog, and we found an unoccupied booth in the corner. I sniffed the drink when it arrived. Yum.

“Cheers!” We clinked glasses.

I took a tiny sip. “Tastes like a dessert with vanilla and cinnamon.”

“This is a Christmas tradition on the tree-lighting night. Everyone stays up late and celebrates the beginning of the festive season.”

I took another sip of the delicious drink and my head tingled. I liked it. Made me think I could do anything and be anybody. But I pushed my glass to Hernan.

“I thought you liked it.”

“I do, but Santa #1 always said elves couldn’t drink much ‘cause we’re so small.”

While it made my insides all melty, I wanted to be me and not stand on the table and sing a Christmas carol or smooch and fondle Hernan while everyone cheered.

Though people shouted over the music playing, I was adjusting to the noise level outside of the North Pole. I didn’t want to stay here all night, but Hernan and I chatted about the festival and what he had planned for his next pottery project. We held hands under the table, but I was pleased to get out of the stuffy room and into the biting air that nipped at my skin.

“Is it very different to Christmas at the North Pole?” He held me close as we wound our way among the crowds on the sidewalk.

“Oh, yes.” While we had lights strung in trees, we weren’t much for Christmas caroling. “Christmas was more about making the children of the world happy than celebrating amongst ourselves.”

“Maybe that’s what we should do. You and me. Volunteer on Christmas Day and help out kids who don’t have much.

I pulled myself out of his grasp and walked backward in front of him. “You’re a good man. I’m so glad fate led me to you.”

We weren’t mated. There was no mark on either of us, but I was happy to wait. I never wanted to be anywhere except with this dragon shifter.