by C. E. Wilson
“Thank you,” she whispered, leaning forward and kissing him. She pulled away, and then kissed him once more on the cheek. As she pulled away, she became aware of the open-mouthed gaping of the gang of onlookers they had drawn. Let them watch, she thought.
“Thank you so much, Carter.”
He set her back down at her doorstep and she hurried inside. There wasn’t much to grab, just a few belongings that she held dear and that her brother and sister hadn’t taken along with them. The house was empty, abandoned now, but her soul was ringing with the merciful knowledge that she wasn’t alone.
Someone was watching over her after all.
Still waiting outside the shack, Carter was deep in thought. His cheeks and lips were still warm from Brynne’s touch. She was incredible. Stronger than she could ever imagine. He tried to picture how he would react if he came home and his family was gone... he blinked.
He couldn’t actually imagine it.
“Are you going to take Brynne away?” a timid voice asked from a house next door.
Carter lifted his head from his kneeling position and noticed one of the children from earlier shifting back and forth on her tattered shoes. From such a distance, Carter was shocked that her voice could actually carry so far. He shook his head. “This will always be her home, but I’m going to borrow her for a little while.”
“Until her family comes back, right?”
Carter lowered his head. “Yeah. Just until then.” He nodded seriously at the child. “I’ll take good care of her until then. I promise.”
The toy-sized girl shivered a little, both from cold and the sheer size of Brynne’s apparent rescuer.
“So you’ll bring her back, right?”
Carter nodded. “Probably. When it’s a bit warmer.”
The girl looked shyly at her feet before twirling a lock of her frizzed auburn hair around a finger. “Can you bring some more cookies when you bring her, too?”
Carter’s expression softened. “Of course I will. Do you like scones?”
“Cookies?” she tried again.
Carter tried not to laugh. “Scones are like cookies and I can bring some next time when I bring Brynne back. They’re my specialty.” The girl nodded again, seeming less sure. Carter had to wonder how much trust these children could have in someone like him. He remembered how Marvin wanted to chase Brynne away with a broom, and Carter couldn’t help wondering if he would he have the nerve to do the same thing if he believed the breathless stories of witchcraft and charmings and had feared those things. Would he have done the same thing to an elf child?
The mental image left a bitter taste in his mouth and he was grateful when Brynne’s front door opened again. She was clad in a thin sweater and the same tattered coat she always wore. Her necklace shone dully on her chest and he couldn’t help feeling a certain pride about the strength within her.
“I know this isn’t the best time, but you look beautiful.”
Brynne glanced down at herself, more aware than ever of her run-down appearance with Carter and his splendor looming over the low, jagged skyline of the elf slums.
“You might need glasses,” she teased gently. She walked through the slush to place her hand over top his, “but thank you.”
She put up no protest as the hand shifted to wrap around her, cradling her close to his chest in the crook of his arm.
“Would it be lame to say I feel like a princess?” Brynne said softly, fingers latching onto a fold of his coat.
Carter couldn’t help chuckling, relieved she was able to find some humor hidden in the darkness of her life. “Are you serious?”
“Is that weird?”
“No, just a little surprising.”
He bent over to pick up Brynne’s blanket, which was now a knotted bundle, and placed it in his pocket. He could feel the children of the slum looking at him and it made him a little self-conscious. How would they see this? What would they tell their parents? That a human had stormed in and left with Brynne? Kidnapped her?
Not that anyone would try to save a kidnapped elf.
He was ahead of schedule, so he took a slight detour on his way back to Sweet Mix. He walked slowly by the window of the toy shoppe and looked for the Chasing Winter doll.
ON HOLD.
The bright red and green ink made him smile for a moment.
“Good.”
“What’s good?” Brynne called up.
Carter flushed. “Nothing. Just a pretty holiday advertisement.”
He got back to the bakery with time to spare, and after checking for customers, opened the door and stepped inside. As he banged off his shoes in the doorway, Brynne was hit with the smell of fresh bread. She hadn’t realized how much she associated Sweet Mix with warmth and safety.
Carter and Sweet Mix smelled exactly the same.
“Uncle Jeremy,” Carter called. “I’m back like I promised.”
Jeremy stepped in from the back room. “You work things out with elf—” he cut himself off short when he noticed Brynne sitting quietly in the crook of his nephew’s arm.
“Hello there,” he stammered, taking in Brynne’s fluffy brown hair, curious gray eyes and the tips of her pointy ears before he dared to look at Carter. “I take it the visit went okay, then?”
Brynne smiled nervously, leaning back into Carter’s chest. She glanced up at him, practically begging him to do the talking. Carter bit his lip and looked up at his uncle, opened his mouth as if to speak, then looked down at the elf on his arm.
“Carter?” Jeremy asked, growing serious. “I told you she could be in here, so why the theatrics? Is something going on?”
“Yeah,” Carter said, “you could say that.”
“Might as well start talking. I find it works better than standing around and gaping like a fish.”
Carter felt Brynne squirming slightly under the level gaze of his Uncle Jeremy. He could see how others would find him large and kind of intimidating, but to Carter, he still looked like a modern day Santa Claus. He draped his free hand over her and rubbed a thumb against her arm.
“Why don’t you start from the beginning—”
“Her family left her.”
Uncle Jeremy’s salt and pepper eyebrows shot up into his matching hairline. “Whoa, whoa. Slow down,” he muttered, wondering if he needed another cup of coffee to swallow the news. “What do you mean, they left her?”
“After I dropped her off last night, she walked in the door of her house and there was a note.” Carter’s look softened as he glanced down at Brynne in the nook of his arm. “Her father was offered a steady job in another town, the catch being that they had to leave right away. And so they all left her. Her mom and her dad. Her brother and her sister. They’re all gone. The house is empty, Uncle Jeremy.”
Jeremy’s blue eyes trailed down to the bedraggled elf in Carter’s arms, her face both ashamed and proud. She would not meet his eyes.
“I’ll be damned,” he muttered, slumping back to lean against the counter. His mouth was dry and he had a sudden desire to take a long pull from his coffee mug, if not something stronger. “You got any friends you can go to, girl?”
Brynne looked at the baker’s huge, rough hands and shivered. “Sir, I…” she trailed off.
“Her name’s Brynne,” Carter said, giving her an encouraging prod.
“Brynne, then.”
“I’m not looking to make trouble, sir, and I thank you for allowing me inside of your store.” She gulped heavily.
“Brynne, Jeremy’s okay. Please just answer him. He’s trying to understand what happened,” Carter said, nodding to her. “He’s a good person, Brynne. You can trust him.”
Jeremy reddened. “Well, now that introductions are done, let’s get the story before the lunch rush hits. Do you have someplace you can go? You look a bit young to be living alone.”
Brynne shook her head. “I doubt it, sir. M-most households in the shanties can’t even afford to feed their own this time of year. Be
sides, my father wasn’t the best at making neighborly acquaintances, either. I doubt anyone would be willing to take in a Mirren this close to Christmas. Just another mouth to feed.”
Jeremy’s expression darkened. “I see.” He looked at Carter helplessly, as though expecting him to come up with a solution. “You know you’re welcome to stay here as long as you need until you’re back on your feet.”
Carter cleared his throat, finally voicing the idea he had come up with somewhere between seeing the doll in the window and entering Sweet Mix. “Actually Uncle Jeremy, I was wondering if she could stay with Aunt Heather.”
Jeremy’s face contorted. “You want her to stay at my house?”
Carter treaded carefully. Just one wrong word could burn his idea to the ground. “Just for a little while. Until winter ends or until we figure something else out. Aunt Heather has clothes Brynne can wear, and she loves to sew. I was thinking it would be a shame to let all those good clothes go to waste.”
“That is not your place, Carter,” Jeremy said with a frown. “Did you mention any of this to my wife?”
Carter’s ears grew warm. “Not yet. I wanted to run it past you first.”
“You’re asking a lot of me, Carter. And of my wife in such a vulnerable position.” He ran a heavy hand through his salt and pepper hair and looked over at Brynne. “You really don’t have anywhere else you can go? I mean, I’m sure you’d be more comfortable with… your own kind.”
“Come on!” Carter said with exasperation. “You’re talking like she’s an animal. She’s like us, Uncle Jeremy. Just smaller. Come on, it’s Christmas.”
Jeremy drug a floury hand through his cropped beard.
“I suppose I should earn my way onto the nice list, eh?” he muttered. His blue eyes watched Brynne closely. Waiting for something to let him know that this was a bad idea, but nothing came. She finally dared to look back and his expression softened. Elf or not, he didn’t like the idea of sending such a scrawny young woman to spend the winter by herself. And as much as it bothered him to realize it, his wife would probably enjoy the company.
“So what do you think?”
“She can stay on with us till the snow stops, I suppose.”
“Seriously?” Carter couldn’t mask his shock while Brynne came to a sudden realization.
She would not be staying with Carter, but with a stranger. A large, gruffy, scary stranger.
Tugging at Carter’s jacket lapel, she whispered, “Are you coming too?”
“I live at my own house, Brynne,” Carter explained gently. “You’ll be fine, I’m sure.”
Brynne looked down. “Do you think I could at least stay at the shop with you until you’re finished?”
“Oh, uh.” Carter looked at his uncle. He was pushing his luck. From the forty dollars burning a hole in his pocket, to bringing an elf back to Sweet Mix to practically guilting him into letting her to stay in his home until winter was over. He brushed Brynne’s arm nervously with his knuckles. “Uncle Jeremy, I don’t want to push anything else on you—”
“I think we’re already a little past pushing,” Jeremy said. He looked down uncomfortably at the elf woman in his nephew’s arms. “Tell you what girl, you hang out in the back with me while Carter handles the front of shop for a while.”
“Are you sure?” Carter rested a large hand over Brynne’s nervous ones, smoothing a thumb across her palms.
“I’m not finished,” Jeremy continued. “You know, you’re right to be nervous, girl. Despite the flattering things my nephew said about me, you don’t know me and I certainly don’t know you.”
“R-right,” Brynne stammered.
“Carter?”
Carter stood up straighter. “Yes?”
“You’re finished with school until after New Year’s, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to call your mother and tell her you’re staying with me tonight and tomorrow, understand? I do need you to show me that scone recipe, and it’s not fair to your friend to throw her into an unfamiliar house all at once. This way you can help her adjust so she doesn’t feel overwhelmed.” His eyes glanced over the two of them as though expecting an argument. “Does that work?”
“It works for me,” Carter said, completely shocked. He glanced down. “What about you, Brynne? Stay here with me during the day and I’ll spend the night at my uncle’s for a few days so you can get used to things?”
Brynne took a deep shuddering breath and released it slowly. An avalanche of change was happening all around her, and she was struggling to keep from being swept away.
Humans.
She would be living with humans and not all of them Carter. Finally, she nodded and looked skyward at the kind, handsome face tilted down at her.
“That’s more than I could have imagined. I can understand now why Carter is such a kind person,” she announced shyly.
“Yes, well, you’re welcome little lady,” Jeremy stammered, his ears turning red.
Brynne blushed. “I can’t ever thank you enough for all you’ve done for me, all you’re still doing.”
“That’s settled then,” Jeremy said, his voice suddenly gruff. “After work, we’ll all head over to my house and you can meet the wife, girl.”
“Brynne,” Carter promptly corrected.
“Brynne,” Jeremy said, looking down at her. “Right. Brynne. You mentioned that. After work, we’ll head over to the house and you can meet my wife, Heather. She’s a good woman. A strong woman for raising four boys and—she’ll probably fall in love with you. And you,” Jeremy said, pointing a finger at Carter’s face. “You’re going to show me how to make those scones and help me prep things. I think you owe me after the money I lent you.”
Carter blushed. “Right, right. Of course, Uncle Jeremy. Whatever you want.”
“Good.” He nodded and looked away. “Now, grab the heater from out front and bring it back here so the girl can warm up.”
“Sure thing.” Carter started to walk away, but Jeremy grunted.
“You can leave her here with me, Carter.”
Brynne swallowed hard, exchanging nervous looks with Carter. To her surprise, he seemed to be asking permission from her with his eyes. Carter nodded, lowering her to the floor first, then changing his mind and setting her on the counter. Then he walked out to the front of the store, and she was left with Jeremy.
Alone with a massive stranger who reminded her of the very man who was solely responsible for elves transitioning into Santa’s Rejects.
“You have a lovely boy,” Brynne blurted before hastily remembering that Jeremy wasn’t Carter’s father. “I-I mean a lovely bakery, sir.” She pulled her hair over her shoulder and needlessly started to run her fingers through it. She kept her gaze angled down shamefully, an old habit.
“Heh, he’s not my boy, he’s my brother’s,” Jeremy said. “But thanks for the compliment. It’s been a dream of mine to own a place since I was in high school.” He beamed with pride. “I take it you’ve been sampling some of my baked goods?”
Brynne flushed. “Y-yes, sir. Carter’s been kind enough to let me try some of your food.”
“Has he now?”
“Yes, sir. And I have to say that it’s impressive to have a bakery of your own. I love it here.”
“You like it that much?” Jeremy tilted his head for a moment, trying to catch the woman’s eyes.
She nodded. “I do. It’s incredible here. The sights and the sounds. It even smells like a dream. I love being here.”
Jeremy looked momentarily satisfied. “What about Carter’s creations? I heard you tried some of his scones. The candy cane and the hot chocolate. What was your honest opinion on those?”
“I don’t know how much my opinion is worth,” Brynne mumbled.
“Then humor me.”
She looked him directly in the eye. “They were the best things I’ve ever tasted.”
He raised an eyebrow as she lowered her eyes again. “That’s qu
ite a bold statement.”
“He must have learned a lot from you.” As she spoke, he turned his attention back to a large ball of dough.
“You seem to be important to Carter, so your opinion is always valued,” Jeremy said simply. “Can’t understand for the life of me what hold you have on him, but that’s not my place.” He shrugged it off. “I’ve been working with Carter since he was a little boy. He’s always had an eye for cakes and cookies. I’m surprised he’s not as big as me.” A surprisingly warm chuckle erupted from the large man as he looked over at her. “Carter’s always been good at everything. He’s a well-rounded boy, and I know his heart lies in baking. I hope his mother realizes that one day.”
She didn’t answer, but instead shifted nervously on her feet. “Heather’s gonna like you,” he said gruffly. “She’s always had a soft spot for girls. She wanted one all her life, you know. We have four boys. They’re all grown up now. We had a little girl as our fifth, but...”
Brynne looked up quickly and saw hurt flash across the large man’s face.
“I think she’ll be happy to have a young woman in the house again.”
“I promise I won’t be any trouble,” she said carefully. “And if you need any help with the housework, I’d be happy to help.” She paused, thinking for a moment. “I don’t suppose you’d be interested in some matchbooks?”
Jeremy broke out into loud, rumbling laughter. He continued to laugh as Carter staggered into the room with a confused expression on his face.
“Something wrong?” Carter asked as he set up the heater on a small side table next to the kneading board. “Uncle Jeremy?”
“Oh, yes, yes,” Jeremy said. His laughter died down. “This one.” He laughed again. “It’s nothing.” His look softened as he looked down at Brynne. “No, sweetie. I’m afraid I don’t have a need for matchbooks right now. Thank you for the offer, though. Oh, Heather is going to like you.” He dipped his hands into a large bowl of flour. “Selling me matchbooks. She’s not bad.”
“She tried to sell you matchbooks?” Carter arched an eyebrow. “Always the saleswoman, aren’t you?” His voice was teasing as Brynne blushed.
