18. Yuletide Blessings

Chapter 18

Yuletide Blessings

“ W ake up,” Alice whispered into Hugo’s ear as he slept on the side of his body. The hairs on his arms stood up as the gush of wind and her warm breath washed over their ridges. “Hugo. Wake up.”

He stretched out his legs and tugged at the bedsheets before recalling them back to make himself into a ball. He grunted a refusal at her beckoning siren call.

“It’s Christmas morning,” she whispered before kissing his cheek.

He pulled the bedsheets over his head to ward off any further attempts to wake him from his winter slumber. Alice poked Hugo over the bedsheets.

“Wake up!” she pleaded as she shook his body. “It’s Christmas morning. It finally came. Wake up!” She rocked him back and forth with enough energy to wake the dead.

Maxine let out a soul piercing bark.

“Ahhh,” Hugo shouted as he flew off the covers to see Max’s head resting on the mattress. “Not so close to the ears.”

She wiggled her tail and spun around in circles with excitement. Galahad mimicked her every move, while circling around Alice’s bedroom. It stopped when Maxine stopped.

“I see how it is,” Hugo said to the excited pup. “Betrayed by my own dog. Traitor.”

He rolled over. The face of a purple haired witch gleamed down at him. Her eyes were wide with anticipation, and she had a giddy smile on her face. Her arms were tucked closely to her body as she was ready to spring up from the bed. She was a wound ball of energy ready to set loose on the goodies that awaited them downstairs. She could hardly restrain her excitement.

“I’m guessing it’s Christmas morning,” Hugo said.

“It’s Christmas morning!” Alice yelled as she rolled backward off the bed.

Alice made a mad dash for the bedroom door, nearly tripping on her purple pajama pant leg before she caught herself. The door flew open with a snap of her finger, and she disappeared into the hallway. Maxine and Galahad followed, leaving Hugo alone in the room.

“She really likes Christmas,” Alice’s reflection said from the bathroom. Hugo was mostly alone in the room. “I should have warned you.”

“Thanks for the heads up,” he replied.

“You’re welcome.”

Hugo grabbed his black onyx ring. He spun it around a few times. The ghosts of his Christmas past flew by in an instant.

He whispered in a hushed breath, “Merry Christmas, Elizabeth. I hope you’re having a good one. I know I am.”

He rolled out of bed. He stretched out his shoulders and neck, then entered the bathroom and turned on the lights. Alice’s mirror reflection stared back with a befuddled gaze.

“Merry Christmas,” Hugo said.

Alice’s reflection was at a loss for words, which was unusual for her. She broke the silence after a moment, “No one has ever wished me Merry Christmas before.”

“Glad I could be the first,” he replied. “I meant it. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Hugo,” she replied. “She’s waiting for you.”

Hugo nodded with a smile and left the bathroom.

“Hugo!” Alice’s reflection beckoned him to return.

He popped his head back through the door.

“She loves you, you know?”

“Of course. I do too.”

“Then tell her.”

Hugo lowered his head in thought before nodding back.

Alice’s reflection smiled. “Go on,” she said. “Go join her.”

“On or off?” He pointed to the light switch.

“Leave it on.”

Hugo gave her a wink and disappeared back behind the wall.

The sound of Christmas merriment grew louder with each step as Hugo descended the stairs. The nails on Max’s feet clacked against the hardwood floor. Alice’s giddy excitement as she riffled through wrapped packages. The sound of Christmas music. Nothing modern, but old classics as Alice preferred. Hugo didn’t even recognize some as they were in a Gaelic tongue. The smells of cinnamon, dried oranges, and pine greeted Hugo as he moved into the entryway of the living room.

He stood there and took in the sensations of the moment. The Yule log crackled in the fireplace. Melting wax candles of green and gold adorned the mantle between hanging stockings at both ends. Their bubbly, gnarled, icicle like drippings nearly clawed their way to the floor, like ghostly apparitions of Christmas past wanting to join in the festivities of present day. A large red candle stood in the center; it was large enough to burn for a week. This was the Christmas candle—the symbol of the returning light through the darkest of nights.

The decorated Christmas tree, nearly as tall as the ceiling, was nestled snugly in the back corner of the living room on the other side of the red velvet couch. Streams of gold and silver lined the walls. Greenery of holly, pine cones, and wreathes decorated the room on every surface. They competed for space alongside Alice’s usual assortment of maximalist possessions. Some nearly fell off, but Hugo knew there was enough magick in the living room to keep them in place.

This felt right to Hugo. This felt like home. He burnt the sensations of that morning into his memory.

Max was busy snooping and smelling every present. Galahad followed Max, mimicking her every movement. Alice removed her presents from beneath the tree. She sorted the brightly colored packages in order of the ones that she wanted to open first, alternating between large and small. Alice raised her head away from her duties toward Hugo standing in the entryway.

He pointed to the greenery that hung above his head. “I’m standing under mistletoe.”

“Well, you know what that means,” Alice said with a mischievous grin.

He returned the grin with a come-hither stare. She stood and approached him. She ran her fingers through her hair, pulling it back behind her ears. She pouted her lips. A smolder in her eyes. He stood up tall with his chest out. Alice stopped short and blew him a kiss.

“First. Presents,” Alice said as she tiptoed back to her bounty laid out on the ground.

Hugo didn’t feel disappointed. He chuckled and added this moment to his slideshow of memories.

Hugo joined Alice on the floor. Max wormed her way into his lap.

“Okay. Okay. Merry Christmas to you too,” he said.

Galahad followed suit and laid across Alice’s lap. Hugo and Alice both smiled at each other for a moment. It felt like an eternity passing in an instant. They laughed and rubbed their respective pets.

“Give me. Give me,” Hugo said.

They tore into their presents. They opened their presents one at a time and explained the special meaning behind the gift. Alice snapped up a large package in purple paper with silver ribbon.

“Wait!” Hugo said. Startled, she paused. “Open that one last. ”

“Well, now I want to open it even more.” Alice turned the neatly wrapped gift to examine all sides. It was the only one wrapped in purple paper.

“It’s special.”

“That’s really not helping this situation.”

“Go ahead,” Hugo said with a giddy glee.

Alice’s eyes widened. She wildly ripped the paper as if it was of no importance to her. She dug through the contents inside. The purple paper gave way to a black cardboard box. She flung open the lid. Her jaw dropped as if all the excitement left her body.

Hugo recoiled slightly out of fear that he misjudged his special gift. Alice cupped her mouth. She leaned in closer to examine the contents.

“Do you…” Hugo began. “Do you like them?”

Alice pulled out a stone mortar and pestle. Alice Primrose was engraved in purple letters along the side of the bowl and the pestle. She pulled out six more, each engraved with her name in a different color.

“I thought no one could take them from you if they had your name on ’em,” Hugo explained. “And I got different colors, so you can coordinate them to individual spells.”

Alice’s eyes glistened. A solitary tear ran down her face; she quickly wiped it away. “I love them,” she mustered in a hushed tone.

“For a moment, I thought—”

“This is the best Christmas present I’ve ever received. Thank you.”

Hugo smiled. “I’m glad you like it.”

Alice placed them back in the box. She shoved Galahad off her lap before diving under the tree. She reemerged with a small, rectangular package about the size of her hand. She handed it to Hugo.

“Open,” she commanded. “I was going to wait, but now seems appropriate.”

Hugo carefully removed the tape from the folded corners. Unlike Alice, he wanted to take his time and savor opening his special gift. He removed the paper to reveal a flat, white box designed to hold jewelry.

The air flowed up inside the box as it rushed to fill in the space when the two sides separated. Purple tissue paper stood between him and his special Christmas gift. He peeled back a corner. He relished the anticipation of what could be inside.

“Hurry up and open it,” Alice blurted.

“I’m savoring this moment.”

“Savor faster.”

Hugo pulled back the paper to reveal an antique, brass door key. The toothy end was offset with two open circles merging to form a heart shape. Odd marks were etched into the key shaft. He examined it closer. It was surprisingly heavy for its diminutive size. It wasn’t like any key he had seen before. It was well worn and weathered—it had clearly been used a few times.

Hugo was a little confused. “Is this a key to your wine cellar?”

“Better,” she replied. She motioned to the front door. “That door, when shut, can only be opened from the outside with a special key. There are three of them. I have one. Ez has another. And now you.”

Hugo’s eyes snapped to Alice, wide with shock. He was at a loss for words.

“I hope you like it.”

“I’ll…” he started as he shoved it into his pajama pocket. “I’ll guard it with my life. Thank you.”

“You don’t have to be that dramatic,” Alice said before she tore into a new package. “It’s just a key.” She winked at him.

“Oh, it’s more than just a key.”

They finished opening their gifts.

“I have a gift for Max.” Alice handed Hugo a small round package.

Hugo ripped open the paper to reveal a plush, black cauldron dog toy with a bubbly green top and cloth flames sewn to the bottom. He squeaked it a few times. Max nearly knocked Hugo over as she attempted to take it from him. He relinquished it, and she sprinted throughout the house, squeaking away at her newly acquired toy. Her toenails clacked across the hardwood floor.

“Every witch needs her own cauldron. I called Nick and asked him to make it special,” Alice said.

“Nick?”

“Santa Claus.”

“Oh. Right,” he replied as he dug under the tree. “And I have a gift for Gally.”

Galahad bounced around the room with delight.

“Look at you, Hugo,” Alice said with a smile. “A gift for a broomstick.”

“Honestly, it’s a gift for all three of us.”

Alice ripped into the package as soon as he passed it over. Galahad waited with bated breath at the big reveal. Alice opened the box to find a mountable footrest.

“It’s so I… I mean, we… can catch ourselves before falling off. And so our feet aren’t dangling. Lightweight so it won’t weigh Gally down. It connects right to the seat. I had it specially made.”

Alice removed the footrest from the package. Galahad touched it to more closely examine the Christmas gift. He flew out of the second entryway, down the hall, back through the living room, and down the hallway once more. He increased his speed with every pass.

“Okay. Okay. Okay!” Alice shouted to calm him down. “Come here, and I’ll put it on for you.”

Galahad flew to Alice, bobbing up and down with the patience of an overstimulated child.

“I think he likes it,” Hugo said.

“Stay still,” Alice commanded.

Galahad did as instructed. She attached the footrest to the bolts under the seat and tightened the nuts.

“There. Now go show it off.”

Galahad continued his circuit. Max, excited with the squeaking of a new toy, followed Galahad. The two of them raced around the house .

“Kids!” Alice said as she turned back to Hugo. “So excited at Christmas time.”

Hugo laughed. “Merry Christmas, Alice Primrose.”

“Merry Christmas, Hugo Dodds.”

They leaned in closer and kissed. This was the only Christmas gift Hugo really wanted. He pulled Alice closer to him, but she pulled away.

“I almost forgot.”

“What?”

“Gifts from Santa!” She stood up and rushed over to the mantle. She dug into her purple and black colored stocking.

“Did you do this?”

“Shush,” Alice said as she covered her mouth with her free index finger. “Go check yours.”

Hugo begrudgingly stood and schlepped over to his stocking. He was willing to play along with her little game. Alice pulled out a small cookie box, neatly wrapped with a purple ribbon. With a tug, the ribbon released the box from its protective hold. She opened the flap to reveal the delectable delights hidden within. Alice let out a giddy joyful sound before removing one of the cookies and taking a bite. She moaned with excitement. A moan Hugo sort of recognized from somewhere else.

“Everything okay over there?”

Alice removed the half bitten cookie and shoved it into Hugo’s mouth. “Eat it,” Alice ordered.

Time stood still. For a brief moment, Hugo could see sound and hear colors. With each bite of the cookie, the world came alive with invigorating energy. He knew joy. He knew happiness. He knew fulfillment. He knew peace.

Alice’s aura radiated with a multicolored glow he had never seen before. He chewed and chewed. Each bite brought him new sensations. Shivers ran down his back, and his arms tingled. His hair stood up. He wanted to run a marathon. Every muscle twinged. His body was alive and full of energy. For a moment, he thought he was having a stroke. He swallowed the cookie, and everything returned to normal.

“What was that?” Hugo asked, feeling like he needed to catch his breath.

“That”—Alice began as she wiped away the remaining cookie crumbs from her chin—“was one of Holly Claus’ special cookies infused with the joy of Christmas magick. She sends at least one every year.”

“Do you have any more?”

“Nope. Just the one. The rest are chocolate chip.” Alice pulled out another cookie and shoved it into her mouth. Mumbling though a mouthful of cookie, she added, “Check yours.”

Hugo delved into his. He could feel a square, wooden object down at the bottom of his traditional red stocking with white fuzzy trim. He pulled out the object to reveal a black onyx colored wooden box. The same color as his wedding ring.

The box was masterfully crafted. Chamfered edging all the way around. Perfectly stained wood. Seamless in design. A nearly perfect cube, except for a groove in the middle of one side to indicate where to open the box. Hugo hadn’t even noticed it was cut in half until he lifted the lid.

Inside, a neatly folded piece of paper hid a circular indentation. It had a slightly raised middle as if it was designed to hold something in place. A similar indentation was on the inside of the lid.

“What is it?” Alice asked.

“I don’t know, but I think it’s a storage box.” He unfolded the paper.

Hugo,

Difficult tasks can be accomplished with a little help.

-Nicholas “Santa” Claus

His eyes read the words over and over. He examined the box and the indentation. He studied the perfectly round shape. Smooth to the touch. This was a box made by a master craftsman. So intricate in design that he couldn’t even see where the wooden hinges attached the two halves together. His left thumb circled the indentation. He caught a glimpse of the ring on his hand. He now understood the purpose of the box.

His heartbeat quickened. A bead of sweat rolled down his back. He was short of breath. Memories flooded back. Elizabeth’s name echoed through his mind like he was haunted by the ghosts of Christmas past. The room spun. Alice’s grandfather clock chimed on the hour. Each strike of the bell rang through Hugo’s soul. A voice grew louder after every strike.

The voice chanted his name, “Hugo.”

It was unmistakable. His name. Another strike of the chime.

“Hugo Dodds.”

That voice. That familiar voice.

“Don’t forget me, Hugo Dodds.” It sounded like Elizabeth.

Each strike of the chime chipped away at the happiness that was healing the broken wounds in his soul.

His eyes closed, and he focused on the day. The events that led him to this very moment. The memory he burned in his mind of Alice blowing him a kiss under the mistletoe. The opening of special gifts. He felt the weight of the key in his pocket. The chimes stopped, and the voice vanished.

Hugo opened his eyes and found Alice. She was slowly pulling her index finger from her mouth as she lapped up the melted streaks of chocolate. She paused for a moment, like a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar before pulling her finger out with a loud pop.

“What?” she asked.

Hugo focused on her emerald green eyes, trying to center himself. Restore himself. His breathing slowed. His heartbeat returned to normal. He focused on those emerald eyes.

“You okay?” Alice asked. “You’re starting to worry me. ”

Hugo glanced down to the box. “Can I ask you for one more Christmas present?”

“It’s kind of late for that.”

“For this one, you don’t have to get me anything,” he said before focusing on her eyes once again. “I need you to help me with something.”

Alice squinted her eyes in a puzzled gaze. She placed the cookie box back into her stocking. “Sure. What is it?”

“I need you to help me remove my ring.”

Alice gawked at Hugo, frozen by what he was asking. “Are… are you sure?”

His gaze never wandered from Alice’s eyes. “I’ve never been more certain of something in my life.”

Alice approached Hugo. Each step was soft and slow as if she was giving him time to reconsider, but his mind was already made up.

“You don’t have to take it off if you don’t want to.”

“No.” He held out his left hand. “I want to. I need to. I’m ready.”

Alice grabbed the black onyx ring. She twisted it a few turns as Hugo had done countless times.

Tears formed in his eyes. He had played this moment in his mind over and over. He stopped himself every time he thought of removing the ring. He never had the strength to do it himself. He clutched the note tightly with his other hand. He took in two large breaths to fight back the tears he knew were coming.

Alice whispered, “Are you ready?”

He tried to conjure the words, but they failed him. He simply nodded his head. Alice twisted the ring. It caught on the meaty part of his finger, not wanting to leave the place where it had rested for so many years. She twisted the ring even more, like she was pulling off a cork from a corkscrew.

The ring refused to give up. Hugo wanted to look away, but forced himself to watch. With a few more twists, the ring gave way, and Alice removed it from Hugo’s finger. She held the ring in her hand.

Hugo collapsed his hands together. He examined the smooth skin that molded itself to the shape of the ring. He twisted at the now invisible ring. Tears rolled down his face. He locked eyes with Alice.

He tried to speak, but could only whisper, “Thank you.”

She dove at Hugo and wrapped her arms around him. They buried their heads into each other’s shoulders and cried together.

Alice pulled back first and wiped her tears. “Let me see the box.”

Hugo handed it to her, and she placed the ring inside. It fit perfectly into the indented circle. She closed the lid, sealing the ring safely within.

“I know the best place for this.”

Hugo wiped the tears from his eyes. “Where?”

Alice marched over to one of her bookshelves filled with macabre odds and ends. Crystals, flowers frozen in time, a set of keys, a quill, and pictures of her long-gone relatives. She moved a small crystal ball out of the way and set the black box in its place.

“This is where I keep some of my ancestral remembrances. Things from the past that keep my ancestor’s memories alive. It will be safe here. I hope you don’t mind.”

“No. Not at all. That seems like the perfect spot,” Hugo replied with a smile.

He joined Alice and hugged her from behind. He gave her a small kiss on the cheek and then placed his chin on her shoulder. He focused on the black box now resting on the shelf.

“Merry Christmas, Alice Primrose.”

She touched her head to his. “Merry Christmas, Hugo Dodds,” she replied. “I hope it was a special one.”

“It was. It most certainly was.”