13. Sparkle

THIRTEEN

SPARKLE

Heaving around a pregnant belly was no joke. Ha, no joke. My previous life was one big joke. But now I divided my life into two parts: before Dan and with Dan.

"Are you sure this is the same room?"

Dan stood in the doorway, and I tried to see it through his eyes. Arnold and I had gone through the boxes, keeping what he needed and his mementoes and either tossing or donating the rest. The room had been cleaned and dusted. But as the dust, or some of it, was responsible for clearing Dan's sinuses, I swept up a little and put it in a shiny box that matched my bracelet.

The shelves were cleaned and the fabric displayed as it should be. I'd recovered the sofa, found a table and chairs at a second-hand store, a lamp, changed the light fixture, and added some potted plants.

And there was a photo of Dan and Sushi on a side table. And a separate one of Dan's wolf. Arnold had been so kind to me, and he hadn't asked why I was in Winterwood Bay. He respected me, I might say he even loved me like a son, but he sensed when I didn't want to talk about or expand on a topic.

"You like it?"

"I can see why you enjoy spending time here." His wry smile pulled at my heart and filled my eyes with tears. My mate, the shifter I adored and who was already a loving father to our baby, wanted to spend every free minute with me. And I did too, but… I needed this space just for a few hours a week… to be me.

After living with Dan, the need to pull pranks had vanished. Growing up surrounded by people who could do magic, I felt the need to prove I was as talented as they were and that led to my mischief-making. Without it, what was I? Maybe I'd had an empty space inside me, needing to be filled with love. And now that it was, those jokes were a distant memory.

I pondered how to apologize to the reindeer shifters I'd upset or to Dasher and Santa #1. I had an idea. Maybe Arnold could help.

Arnold had always closed his shop on Sunday but was now closed on Mondays as well. We worked our butts off the other five days, and customers came from the small towns around Winterwood Bay to have suits made.

Monday morning was when I planned to come to the store and contemplate my life. Though as the baby was probably due in about ten days, I might only have one Monday to myself for a few weeks or months.

It was fine. Life rolled on, sometimes in huge waves and in others tiny ripples. It was wacky thinking that me being naughty and breaking the rules had brought me true happiness. But it had a purpose, not just mating, but getting me to reevaluate my life.

Arnold flipped the door sign to "Closed" and lowered the blinds, the same blinds I'd made because we'd learned customers banged on the windows begging to let them in if they could see us.

"The end of a successful week. I'm ready for bed."

"Don't forget you're coming to us on Christmas Eve."

His eyes lit up, and he put a hand on my shoulder. "I wouldn't miss it."

But there was an elephant in the room, or rather a bump, one that was more prominent by the day. I hesitated bringing it up because we'd both been avoiding it, pretending it didn't exist.

"Arnold, about my belly…"

He didn't look up from the computer screen. "Your beautiful pregnant belly?" He clicked the keyboard and shut the laptop. "I was wondering when you were going to mention it." He rubbed his chin. "My guess is you're due in about ten days or less."

My heart swelled with love for this man, who along with Dan, had changed my life.

"You're not weirded out by the fast-tracking of my pregnancy?"

"I've lived on this earth and in Winterwood Bay long enough to understand not to be shocked or surprised by what happens."

I chewed the inside of my mouth, something I did when I was thinking about how to respond or what to do.

"I used to work for Santa."

Arnold sat on the sofa and indicated for me to join him. "I suspected. No one sews like you do and hasn't worked for the man—or one of them—who needs skilled seamsters or tailors."

Seamsters? The male form of seamstress. I liked that. I was going to embroider that on a shirt. A seamster and proud of it .

I took a chance that my boss knew a lot more than he was letting on. "I'd like to let Santa know I'm sorry and that I found my mate. I don't suppose you can contact him?"

It was a long shot, and I hadn't mentioned it to Dan. There was still that doubt in my mind that the spell or curse or legend was going to turn me into a figurine on Christmas Day, and I was begging the universe to have me give birth on December 24 so if I disappeared, Dan would bring up our child.

"Hmmm. That's difficult, but I believe you have to send a memo."

Not a damned memo. Who sends memos these days?

"But there are a couple of people who might be able to help. Let's see what happens Tuesday when we open the store."

I had to be content with that, as I couldn't get into Merry Elf Toys.

Dan and I spent Sunday painting Riley's old crib, chest of drawers, and changing table, and I made a new changing mat. We stood back and admired our work. My energy levels were a little depleted, and I was eating a ton, but I went to my room at the store Monday morning, wanting to meditate on the past and the future.

My mate arrived with lunch, and as we sat on the sofa, chatting about all things baby, there was a sharp rap on the front door.

"Did you hear that?" It was kinda silly asking a shifter that question because my mate's hearing was much better than mine. But I did tease him on his inability to scent when we first met by saying he was "sense-less."

He always laughed at that. It felt good to make a joke that was funny, not just to me but to the other person.

"Stay here." He got up, his wolf at the forefront of his gaze, but I grabbed his hand. If it was just an enthusiastic customer, they'd have to return tomorrow.

"No, I'm coming with you."

The outline of a man, his hand cupped around his face, was evident as we walked toward the door. Dan cocked his head. "He reminds me of someone."

No matter who it was, I was confident my mate's wolf would frighten anyone intent on no good.

Dan yanked open the door and the bell tinkled, reminding me of the bell on my elf hat.

"Lou, what are you doing here?"

The man asked to come in, and my mate opened the door wider and checked there was no one else around before closing it. The guy studied me and my huge belly.

"I was trying to get hold of you last week?" Dan said. "About my mate."

"You were?" the guy replied.

"You were?" I echoed. The name was familiar. Someone from the factory.

"Perhaps I'm wrong, but I sensed you knew more than you were saying about elves and the toys we produce," Dan said.

"What?" I cast my eyes over my mate. "You didn't tell me that."

Dan studied his feet before lifting his head. He nibbled his bottom lip. "I thought if Lou could contact Santa #1, I could make sure the curse was no longer in force."

"But… but… but…" I waved my fists at my mate. "I was doing that. I asked Arnold to help me."

Lou glanced from me to Dan. "I've found it's best to share concerns with my mate."

Thanks, Lou. When I needed relationship advice, I'd be sure to contact him. But I kept those snarky thoughts to myself, something I wouldn't have done a few weeks ago. He was probably just trying to help.

"We have to send a memo."

"A memo?" Dan and I echoed. "Who sends memos these days?"

I snuck a look at Dan, a barely-there smile on his lips. Laughter bubbled out of me, and he joined in.

"What a pair," my mate snorted in between giggles.

"A couple who thinks the same because they adore one another." We smooched.

"Okay, enough with the mushy stuff." Seemed as though Lou was getting impatient.

"All I can do is try. There's no guarantee we'll get a response, especially this close to Christmas."

Goosebumps marched in formation over my arms, and I shivered. My destiny was hurtling toward me and I couldn't avoid it. I had to meet it head-on, and with Dan at my side, I was confident I'd get through it.

But behind me, whispering in my ear, was the little voice that said, Maybe. Maybe not .

"We might need your help, Sparkle, just for a day or two. We're a little behind at the factory," Lou said.