Someone touched his elbow and he glanced to his left. The elderly man he’d met on the train stood at his side, grinning from ear to ear.
“I was told to give you this.”
He handed him a sealed envelope with his name printed on the front in black letters.
“Thank you,” Christopher said, taking it from him.
The man peered at Samantha. She stood on her tiptoes, focused on the display at the front. Fairies glided over the animals, glitter dust tumbling from their nimble fingers and creating a curtain of sparkling colors.
Christopher contemplated his mate. Rosy, with sparkling eyes, an inner glow radiated from her. Heat blossomed from his core to his limbs.
“Legend, eh?” the old man said, nudging him in the ribs.
“Well—” Christopher began.
A swarm of golden birds he didn’t recognize flew over their heads and the throng surged.
“Careful,” he said, losing sight of the elder.
By the time the multitude quieted, the man was gone. Christopher scanned the area, spotting him further ahead, mingling and eventually disappearing among the press.
Abruptly, a roaring cheer spread through the multitude like a tidal wave.
“It’s Santa,” Samantha squealed, pointing to the edge of the gathering.
Saint Nick, Santa Claus, Father Christmas, appeared dressed in his traditional red and white garb, and waving at everyone. He stooped to give Mrs. Claus a passionate kiss, which brought a new round of applause from those present, before climbing the five steps to the platform and onto his sled.
The lights dimmed and little by little, the music and the voices fell silent. With a resounding click and whirr, the dome opened, revealing the light of more than a thousand stars.
“Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now—” One by one, Santa called his reindeer to the sky, his voice loud and clear throughout the whole area. “Merry Christmas to all,” he said, disappearing into the sky. Everyone cheered. Samantha threw herself into Christopher’s arms.
“That was incredible,” she said.
“I agree.”
Christopher buried his head in her hair, inhaling the scent of her fragrance. His heartbeat quickened and he smiled. He could spend the rest of his days here, entwined in her arms, melting into her warmth and the sweetness of her touch.
“What have you got there?” she asked, pulling back to glance at him.
Christopher blinked. He’d forgotten all about his mysterious letter.
“An old friend delivered this to me, but I don’t know who it is from.”
“Well, open it.”
Christopher slid his finger under the flap. He shook out a Christmas card, with a beautiful picture of a traditional tree decorated in red and gold on the front. He turned to the inside of the card. Printed in red it read:
May your heart be filled with joy this season and always.
And at the bottom, written in neat cursive handwriting:
Told you she wasn’t here to steal your job.
You’re welcome,
Santa.
They glanced at each other. Mirth danced in Samantha’s eyes and mingled with an I-told-you-so, expression.
“All right, so you weren’t here to take my job, but I’m sure you thought about it,” he said, lifting her into his arms and twirling her. Her hat tumbled to the floor and she burst out laughing.
“I only managed to steal your heart,” she murmured, threading her fingers into his hair, and pressing her lips to his. Christopher groaned. Samantha’s tongue touched his and the world exploded into color behind his closed lids. Everything around him disappeared and all that remained were feelings, emotions he couldn’t even begin to describe. The organ in his chest pounded full of endless joy and love.
“No, my love, you brought my heart back to life. Merry Christmas, doll.”
The End
www.inadreambeyond.blogspot.com
Other Books by Elyzabeth M. VaLey:
www.evernightpublishing.com/pages/Elyzabeth-M.-VaLey.html
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The Beauty of Forever Page 9
