by Krista Lakes
Aunt Georgia watched him go with a smile before turning to Nicholas.”Well, want to watch some Christmas movies while we wait?”
“I was actually hoping we might be able to make some Buche de Noel?” Nicholas asked hopefully. His mouth watered at the thought.
Some of Aunt Georgia's light dimmed. “Not tonight, Nicholas. I'm too tired.”
“That's okay, Aunt Georgia,” Nicholas quickly told her. “We have plenty of time. Movies sound great.”
Aunt Georgia fell asleep half way through the movie without taking a single bite of her dinner. Uncle Chris carefully carried her to bed and told Nicholas that he could stay the night.
When Nicholas woke the next morning, the house seemed eerily still. Snow fell in big clumps outside his guest-room window. It wasn't strange for him to stay the night here, and to be honest, he almost liked the guest room at Aunt Georgia's better than his room at home.
Except this morning, it was colder than usual. The sky outside was gray and dark. The Christmas lights still twinkled in the dim snowy light, casting magical colors across the perfect white landscape.
“Aunt Georgia's going to love it today,” Nicholas said softly to himself as he got out of bed.
He shivered, pulling one of the throw blankets from his bed around his shoulders as he went out to the kitchen. There was no Christmas music playing. Usually, Aunt Georgia was up and already had the holiday chorus playing softly as she made pancakes or worked on one of her many craft projects.
Only, the kitchen table was empty. There was no coffee brewing or cookies left out for the next day. Nicholas checked his watch to make sure he hadn't woken up strangely early, but it was actually later than he expected.
Nicholas shivered again and wandered back to the living room. The Christmas tree was turned off, so he went over to plug it in. Only the lights didn't turn on. When he put the electric light plug in, nothing happened.
He checked it on a different socket and found that the lights still didn't work. He frowned and checked the bulbs, finding one loose one near the end of the light string. Yet, the lights still didn't turn on.
Nicholas frowned at the Christmas tree. He wasn't sure what could be wrong. He'd have to ask Aunt Georgia what to do next. Without the lights, it was just a tree with strange things hanging on it. It didn't have the sparkle and magic that Christmas trees are supposed to have.
“Is that you, Nicholas?” Uncle Chris called.
Nicholas turned to see Uncle Chris standing in the hallway leading to their room. Dark circles ringed his red eyes. His clothes were the same ones as the ones he'd worn to the doctor's appointment yesterday. He looked ten years older and like the world had exploded around him.
“Are you okay, Uncle Chris?” Nicholas asked, straightening from the lights. Uncle Chris gave a small shake of no. His eyes went to the front window and he swallowed hard.
Nicholas followed his gaze and saw an ambulance pull up. Their red and blue lights flashed garishly against the white snow. The siren wasn't on, and the paramedics moved slowly out of the cab and up the walk to the house.
“Uncle Chris?” Nicholas's voice trembled. Something was very wrong. “Where's Aunt Georgia? Why are they here?”
“I'm so sorry, Nicholas,” Uncle Chris whispered. He came over and wrapped the boy in a hug. “She's leaving us.”
Nicholas pushed his uncle away. “What do you mean, she's leaving?”
Tears slipped down Uncle Chris's face and Nicholas could see they weren't the first set. He turned and went to answer the doorbell, letting in the paramedics. Nicholas stood in horrified shock as the paramedics went to his Aunt's bedroom. He watched in silent terror as they brought her out on a gurney. The person on the gurney wasn't Aunt Georgia. It was something that looked like her, but wasn't her. Even thought it wore her Christmas Tree pj's, it wasn't her. There was no light in her. No magic.
“I called your mom,” Uncle Chris said softly as he passed. “She'll come get you and bring you to the hospital. I thought we had more time...”
Uncle Chris went with the paramedics. Nicholas stood rooted to the living room floor, unable to move as he watched them put his aunt in the back of the ambulance and drive away. He looked at the Christmas Tree with the dead lights.
He hated it.
He hated the tinsel hanging on the window. He hated the stockings hung over the fire. He hated the emptiness of the house. The Christmas decorations mocked him with their false joy.
It felt like something was poking him, hard, right behind his ribs.
There was still a week until Christmas, but it didn't feel like something to look forward to anymore. It was just another day on the calendar now.
He could feel the magic of Christmas evaporating like someone had just told him Santa wasn't real. Aunt Georgia loved Christmas but Aunt Georgia was leaving him. If Christmas couldn't save her, then what were Christmas wishes even worth?
He glared at the tree and stepped away from it.
He didn't want Christmas anymore. Christmas wishes weren't real. The whole thing was just a lie to tell children and a way for businesses to make money.
If he didn't care about Christmas, maybe this wouldn't hurt so much. It sounded possible. If he didn't let Christmas in, he didn't have to feel this pain.
So, he chose to make his way out of the living room,walking away from toys, and cookies and cakes and Christmas altogether.
Chapter 12
Nicholas
The next morning at Christmas Wishes, and Nicholas and Molly were busy at work, taking on customers two at a time. Surprisingly, Nicholas found himself enjoying it. It helped that Molly kept making him laugh.
In between their sales and checkouts, Nicholas noticed that Molly was looking over a few sheets of music, her face growing more frustrated the longer she stared down at the loose papers.
When he’d managed to catch a break between the busy flow of patrons, he walked over her, and looked down at the sheets himself. Music notes and lyrics filled the pages.
“You sing?” he asked, pointing to the music sheets.
“No. Well, kind of,” she explained. She sighed. “But not really. I’m the elementary school choir director.”
“The choir director doesn’t sing?” he asked, confused.
“Directing is a completely different job!” Molly defended her position, but sounded a little unsure herself. “Though, to be honest, I may not be so great at that either.”
He hated the way her smile faded as she looked at the music. He hated the slump of her shoulders and wished he could do something to help.
“I’m sure you’re great at whatever you put your mind to,” Nicholas said without a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
Molly looked up at him with widened eyes. “Uh, Nicholas? Are you feeling alright?”
“What? I’m fine.” Nicholas tried to laugh away the moment. “I just think that a Head Elf can do whatever she likes, if she focuses hard enough.”
“Ah, there he is,” Molly said, a smile coming back. She nudged him in his shoulder. “Hey, did you have fun? Yesterday?”
“Fun?” he asked, trying to guess where she was going with this.
“Yeah, with the snowball fight and helping out with the Brownstones...” Molly looked up at him with big eyes that made his stomach start to flutter. “I know the word may not exactly be in your vocabulary, but would you say you had fun?”
“...Yes.” Nicholas admitted, giving Molly a slight grin. “Yes, I’d say I had fun with you, Ms. Molly.”
“So, if you had fun...” Molly coughed, as if she was clearing her throat. “Then one might say that Christmas could be fun, too?”
Nicholas shook his head. “I’m not sure how that follows, Ms. Molly.”
Molly leaned away from the counter, her fist now resting underneath her chin. “You don’t think we had fun because it was Christmastime?”
“I think we had fun because—”
Because we were together.
Nicho
las caught the rest of his sentence before it made its way out of his mouth. Luckily, before he had to finish the sentence, another customer arrived at the counter.
Molly quickly checked out the customer, as they seemed to be in a rush themselves with a tired toddler cradled in their arms. He secretly timed her and found she did it in less than a minute. He chuckled softly. She could go quickly when she wanted to.
When Molly turned back towards Nicholas, it seemed as if she’d forgotten all about their previous conversation. “What are you doing for lunch today? Salad on salad?”
“No, I don’t have any salad-related plans,” Nicholas informed her with an eye roll. “Why do you ask?”
“Would you want to come with me to help Liam practice for the kids’ recital?” Molly asked. She gave him a hopeful smile that quickly faded. “He’s pretty much my star singer. But he’s got awful stage fright. He likes you. I'm thinking maybe having you there will give him some confidence.”
A small burst of pride filled his chest and Nicholas wanted to laugh. He was proud that a seven year old liked him. Still, it felt good.
“Sure. I’ll come with you,” Nicholas told her. “If Liam’s okay with it, of course.”
Molly then brought her hands to her mouth, imitating the shape of a megaphone. “Liam!”
“Yeah?” Liam called back from across the store where he was sorting through various shades of tinsel.
“Can Mr. Kerstman come practice with us at lunch?” Molly yelled.
“Okay!” Liam called back again, wrapping a few lines of tinsel around his head as a colorful, makeshift crown.
“You heard the king,” Molly said with a grin to Nicholas. Her shoulders seemed less slumped now. “I'm going to go help with that tinsel.”
“See you at lunch,” Nicholas said with a nod. He looked away from her, pretending to concentrate on the register in front of him and not on her hips as she walked away.
Deep down, Nicholas already knew that he wouldn’t be able to focus on that register for his life.
He ended up checking his watch several times throughout the morning, impatiently awaiting his scheduled lunch break. He kept glancing to the back, wishing there were less customers so that he could help sort tinsel too.
And he tried to ignore the fact that the idea of tinsel sounded better than making money.
Chapter 13
Molly
How to get kids to like math: Make it seem worthwhile.
“Sing out, Liam. From the diaphragm,” Molly reminded the boy as she played rising notes on the piano in the elementary school’s rehearsal room. She stopped playing and looked at him. “I feel like we’re losing you in the third verse.”
“Sorry, sorry,” Liam apologized with a groan. He brought the music sheet closer to him. “I just forgot what comes next after ‘truly He taught us to love one another...’”
“It’s okay, Liam. Take your time with it. You can even bring the music sheet up with you, if you want,” Molly said with a smile. “And if anyone says anything about it, you tell them that Ms. Carmichael said it was okay.”
“Okay.” Liam nodded, still unsure. “Can we do it again?”
Molly nodded and began to play the notes once more. All of her concentration remained on the keys in front of her. She was trying very hard not to think about Nicholas sitting next to her on the bench.
Liam sang through the first chorus with confidence, but his voice began to waver when he reached the second. He stopped singing and just stood there with his mouth open.
Molly stopped playing, looking over at Liam and trying to figure out how she could help him. He'd been so excited to have the solo a few weeks ago. She noticed that his fingers were shaking as he held onto the music sheet.
Before Molly could say anything to Liam, Nicholas patted her on the shoulder.
“I have an idea,” Nicholas whispered to Molly as he stood up from the piano bench. He crossed the rehearsal room floor and crouched down in front of Liam so their heads were at the same height. Nicholas lowered the sheet music from in front of Liam's face.
“Hey there, Liam,” he said gently.
“Hi, Mr. Kerstman.” Liam shuffled his feet a little, not meeting his eyes.
“You nervous?” Nicholas asked. His tone was light and friendly.
“Yeah.” Liam nodded and let out a big sigh. “Sorry.”
“You don’t need to say sorry,” Nicholas told him. He got a little closer and smiled up at Liam. “I used to have stage fright, too.”
“Really? You had stage fright?” Liam sounded surprised. “But you’re so tall.”
Nicholas grinned. “Even tall people get scared sometimes.”
“If you say so,” Liam replied, but he didn't sound like he believed him at all.
“You want to know a secret?” Nicholas kept his voice low, like he was sharing a secret. “For getting over stage fright?”
“Yeah,” Liam said, a light coming back into his eyes.
“Never look anyone in the audience in the eye. You should always look past them. For example, look at Ms. Molly—” Nicholas turned to look back at Molly, who offered him an eager wave. “If you look at the wall behind her, she’ll still think you’re looking right at her. Go on. Try it out.”
Liam stared over at Molly.
Or rather, at the wall behind her.
Nicholas subtly motioned for Molly to begin playing Liam’s song again. Molly kept her focus on Liam this time as she played the familiar notes.
“Go for it, Liam,” Nicholas whispered from his spot on the floor.
Liam’s eyes were still stuck on the wall, glued to the same spot behind Molly.
And the words came out in his sweet voice. All of them. He didn't even need the sheet music in his hands. He knew the words already, but for the first time since he'd agreed to have the solo, he sang out.
A huge bright smile spread across Liam’s face as he realized what he was doing. He sang the rest of his song, while seemingly keeping eye contact the entire time.
“I did it! I did it!” shouted Liam as Molly played the last notes of the song.
“You did it! You did it!” Molly couldn’t hide the pride in her voice as she ran from the piano bench over toward Liam. She pulled him into a happy hug.
Molly looked over at Nicholas where he still sat crouched on the floor. “Nicholas, where’d you learn how to do that? That wall thing?”
“Eh. It’s just something I learned back in business school,” Nicholas said with a shrug, rising gracefully to his feet. “The key to solving stage fright is pretending you’ve solved it. Pretending to make eye contact. A shy kid’s workaround to succeeding in New York.”
“Thanks, Mr. Kerstman!” Liam smiled up at Nicholas. “I’m gonna go call my mom!”
And he ran out of the room with a huge smile on his face.
“Don’t forget to tell her that the choir goes on at seven, but you need to be there by six!” Molly shouted after Liam as he ran off. She turned back to Nicholas, folding her arms against her chest. “Huh.”
“Huh?” Nicholas repeated her expression with a shrug.
“Yeah. Huh.” Molly gave Nicholas a small smile as she took a step closer to him. “I never would’ve guessed that you had stage fright. You seem pretty confident. Maybe even a little overconfident.”
“Let me remind you for a second time, then. You do not know me, Ms. Molly,” Nicholas said with a grin. “But if you’d like to get to know me, maybe over dinner, I wouldn’t mind.”
Molly's heart started racing. Her mouth went dry and she hoped her sudden blush wasn't too obvious. Was he asking her out on a date?
No way. Nicholas wouldn't be interested in a small town, Christmas loving, head elf. That would be rediculous.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Molly asked, taking a step back and frowning. What was he trying to do?
“It doesn’t mean...” Nicholas seemed flustered as he took a few steps away from her. “I don’t even know why I as
ked.”
Molly floundered for words, trying to figure out if she was excited or disappointed that the dinner offer wasn't a real one.
“Hey, Mr. Kerstman! Are you coming to the show tonight?” Liam shouted, poking his head back inside the room. He hurried over to Nicholas and peered up at him.“Please come? Please? I might need your help backstage.”
“Oh, Liam. I don’t know if that’s a good idea...” Nicholas said, looking unsure.
“Please?” Liam's lower lip stuck out and he did his best puppy-dog eyes. Nicholas looked over at Molly unsure of how to respond.
“He’ll be there, Liam. Don’t worry. You’ll have your stage fright lucky charm,” Molly assured him.
“Nice!” Liam looked relieved. He grinned at Nicholas. “See you tonight, then, Mr. Kerstman!”
Liam waved at them both one last time before running out the door of the music room.
Nicholas cleared his throat.
“What exactly happens at this concert?” Nicholas asked, his eyes still watching the rehearsal room’s now closed door. “Is it all jingling, ringing, Christmas music? Or do you at least perform a few hymns acapella?”
“What’s the matter? Worried you might actually enjoy yourself?” Molly asked, leaning against the piano. She was just glad she wasn't blushing anymore.
“No, I just... You know. Christmas music...” Nicholas winced. “All the ringing. All the jingling.”
He made a face of pain that had Molly laughing.
“Then we better pick you up some earplugs,” she said, picking up her sheet music and putting it under her arm. “Come on. I know a place we can get some. It's even on our way back to the shop.”
Nicholas followed behind Molly and soon they were walking side by side on the snow-covered pavement.
* * *
Molly and Nicholas browsed the aisles of a small, mom-and-pop electronics store.
Molly focused on a section filled with airplane sleeping aids, including bright orange earplugs.
Nicholas stood beside her, holding a giant tablet in his hand. “Do you have one of these? A tablet?”
