Marrying Miss Kringle: Frost

by McConnell, Lucy

  Tannon agreed quickly and pulled the thick rope that lifted the door high enough for the sled to go through. Mr. Kringle met him at the back. Tannon glanced down at his prosthetic. He positioned his shoulder against the back of the sleigh so that he could brace himself with his good leg. “On the count of three. One. Two. Three.”

  They shoved, and the sleigh glided across the snow and onto the concrete floor, drawing the attention of Frost, Zuzu, and Tim, who were putting the finishing touches on the decorations. Frost had outdone herself making paper snowflakes from the large rolls. She’d made them in all sizes and spent hours last night hanging them up. With the white fairy lights draped across the ceiling, the room looked like a winter wonderland.

  “Grandma!” Frost ran across the floor as fast as her heels would take her. She wore a fitted red dress with a ruffle that landed just above her knees and a matching jacket with a ruffled collar. The clothes were simple and yet drew attention. Well, they drew his attention. And the red set off her white hair beautifully. As she hugged her grandparents, he could see the family resemblance in everything except for her eyes—those were unique.

  Tannon was about to shut the door when he heard the jingle of sleigh bells. He ducked down a bit and saw another sleigh park next to the first reindeer. Tannon blinked, wondering if they’d double-booked Santas. Instead of a jolly old elf, out climbed a woman in black pants with a large bow at the waist and a red blouse with a wide collar. Her brown hair was neat and she had a corporate look about her.

  “Mom.” Frost threw herself out into the snow and her mother’s waiting arms. They rocked side to side, laughing and crying and talking about a hundred things at once. Tannon couldn’t keep up with their conversation, but he caught words like Christmas, factory, power conductor, and secret. Finally Frost asked, “Can I come home?”

  Her mom shook her head sadly. “Not yet, sugar.”

  Frost’s face fell. The look only lasted a moment, and then she pulled her smile back up. “You got here just in time; we need to set up the food.” Frost grabbed several pastry boxes and turned to find him watching them. She giggled. “Mom, this is Tannon Cebu, the one I told you about. Tannon, this is my mother, Gail.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Tannon shook Gail’s hand and offered to bring in the rest of the goodies. “We need to get this door shut or our heating bill will double,” he joked.

  Gail joined the group inside, getting right to work. She seemed like the type of woman who jumped right in with both feet, confident she’d land right where she’d planned to land.

  Tannon set the pastry boxes down on one end of the table. “I see where you got your ability to work fast.” He spoke for just Frost, who was stacking brownies in a pyramid. They smelled of rich chocolate and cream cheese frosting and had crushed peppermint pieces on top.

  Frost shook her head, her long white waves bouncing slightly. “If you think she’s fast, you should see my dad.”

  Tannon stepped back to let the ladies get things done. They kept reaching over him to work, and he felt like he was in the way. Employees began to trickle in. They hovered around the edge of the room, looking up at the snowflakes and whispering. He understood how they felt: there was magic in the air, and no one wanted to be the one to chase it away.

  “We’re ready to start. You should say a few words.” Frost nudged him towards the DJ’s station and the microphone.

  Tannon cleared his throat. “Hello, everyone. I’d like to welcome you to Bison Paper’s annual Christmas party.” His words were met with polite clapping. “I know I’m not the world’s most popular boss lately.” Crickets. Sweat broke out on his forehead. “I’m sure the water cooler conversations have filled you all in that the meeting with Winnipeg didn’t go well.” He glanced at Frost, who was standing next to her mom. “But I couldn’t sell the company to someone I didn’t feel would treat the employees here with respect.”

  Tannon looked around the room, at the men and women in worn jeans and faded tees who spent their days among the trees, the ones in steel-toed boots who kept the warehouse running, and the ones in slacks and skirts who sold paper and marketed their product. “I’ve known most of you for a good portion of my life. We grew up together. While I still want to sell the mill, I also want you to know that I care for you. I won’t toss you aside for my own gain.” His mom and dad made their way to the front of the group, Brody standing between them. “We’re a family, here at Bison, and we watch out for one another. That’s what families do, and that’s my pledge to you this holiday season.”

  The room was quiet, but not with the uncomfortable quiet that had met him when he’d first taken the mic—this was a quiet acceptance that warmed Tannon’s heart.

  “Families also celebrate together.” He smiled. “We have all the makings of a wonderful party here; I think we should get it started. DJ—let’s rock.” Tannon handed the mic back to the man in charge of keeping them dancing. A sassy saxophone intro filled the room and the DJ gave him a thumbs-up.

  Frost approached, a huge smile on her face. “You did great.”

  “I sounded like a moron. ‘Let’s rock’? What am I, twelve?”

  Frost giggled. “I liked it.”

  “Hey, Frost,” called Zuzu. “Where’s the extra punch? We’re running through it pretty fast.”

  Frost wrinkled her nose. “I’ve got to go; I’m on party duty. Save me a dance?”

  “Of course.” He didn’t bother to tell her he couldn’t dance, because he had the feeling she’d make him anyway. And for her, he would. For now, he needed to mingle.

  * * *

  Frost worked alongside her mother, reveling in having her family around her.

  “You look happy,” said Mom.

  “I’m so glad you’re here.” Frost gave her a one-armed side hug, her right hand adding chocolates to the three-tiered frosted glass stand.

  “You miss us?”

  “I miss you all so much, I would’ve even been happy to see Max.” Frost laughed. “And I’m still mad at him for abandoning me in the woods.”

  Mom chuckled. “I’m sure he’s sorry.”

  “He will be when I get back and ration his carrots,” Frost teased. After a moment, the fun went out of her joke and she slumped. “I think I’m ready to come home.”

  Mom’s hands stilled. “I asked Ginger before I came down. I wanted to bring you home with me.” She swallowed the emotions rising in her throat. Frost could feel them, the regret, the sorrow, the heartache that came from missing her youngest daughter. “She flew over here the other night and says there’s still something missing. Your job here isn’t done.”

  Frost sniffed and nodded. “Have her fly by again tonight, please? The party will help. I know it has. The town has come together, and after Tannon’s speech, goodwill to men has gone up fifty-fold.”

  Mom put her arm around Frost’s shoulders. “I can feel it too.” She pushed Frost out to arm’s length to look her over. “Look at you. Look at what you’ve done. I’m so proud of you, Frost. You’ve gone from a shy bookworm to a confident, strong woman who is a force for good.”

  Frost leaned her head on her mom’s shoulder. Even though moms were supposed to say things like that, Gail hadn’t said anything like that to her before. Oh, Frost knew she was loved, but maybe sitting in Letters all day—okay, hiding in Letters—hadn’t given her the opportunity to grow and expand. She’d been forced from her comfort zone and, taking in the happy faces and peace in the room, she knew she was capable of more. “I think I’d like to intern with you for a while, Mom. If that’s okay with you.”

  Mom squeezed her once more. “I’d like that.”

  Zuzu ran up, her face as red as her frizzy curls. “We need more divinity.”

  Frost loved the way she said this as if it were a crisis of mass proportions. “I’m on it.” She hurried out to the kitchen, wondering what on earth she could do to kick Christmas Spirit in the pants so she could get home.

  * * *


  Tannon worked his way through the crowd, shaking hands, cooing over babies, and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. People told him how they appreciated his speech, appreciated the fact that he hadn’t taken the easy sell.

  He was floating pretty high when Mr. Cratchit stepped up, his hat in his hands once again. “Mr. Cebu, I need to apologize for my daughter.” His head hung low.

  Tannon clapped him on the shoulder. “I can’t imagine why. She’s done an amazing job. I couldn’t ask for a better assistant.”

  Mr. Cratchit lifted his head, squinting up at Tannon. “But she didn’t show up.”

  “I’m sorry?” Tannon leaned closer, sure he hadn’t heard Cratchit right.

  “I told her all about the job and she said she’d come, but she talked to one of the picketers and decided she didn’t want to work for you. I’m real sorry she left you in a lurch like that, and I hope you won’t take it personal. She’s young and—”

  Tannon held up a hand. The room was spinning, or maybe he was spinning, or perhaps it was just his head trying to process information that didn’t make any sense. “Are you saying your daughter never came to my office?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Tannon put his arm around Cratchit and turned him to face the buffet tables, where Frost was putting out more of her amazing cookies. “That’s not your daughter?”

  Cratchit shook his head. He pointed off to the left at a woman who looked a lot like her father; her ears even poked out. “That’s my Karen.”

  Tannon leaned into Cratchit for support. “Then who is that?” he asked, pointing at Frost. Cratchit looked at him in alarm, and Tannon realized he needed to let the man go—this was not his concern. “Never mind. Merry Christmas, Mr. Cratchit. Don’t forget to get your picture taken with Santa.”

  Cratchit stepped away from him slowly, as if he were afraid Tannon would topple over. He might; he needed something solid to hang on to. Frost, if that was even her real name, had lied to him. Lied from the first day they met. He swiped at the moisture on his forehead just as another employee stepped up to shake his hand.

  Tannon smiled, said the right things—at least, he hoped so—and tried not to think about what else Frost had lied about. The kisses? Loving him? He snorted, drawing attention from a woman holding a baby. Moving to another area, he tried to find a place to disappear. Brody’s mom had said she loved him too, and she’d left. You don’t leave people you love, so he knew she’d lied then.

  He stumbled over a folding chair but managed to keep himself from falling to the floor. That would look lovely: the CEO sprawled out on the floor at the Christmas party. He needed to get a grip. Ducking behind a tree, he took a breath and straightened his back. Realizing he was by the sleigh, he fixed his tie and decided the only thing he could do was have an honest conversation with Frost.

  He found her quickly, but one look at her sweet face and he lost his bluster. “I’m here to steal you for a dance.”

  Frost giggled. “I think I can fit you in—but if we run out of baklava, I’m blaming it on you.”

  His only response was to usher her to a not-so-crowded corner of the room. He put his arms lightly around her, only touching her as much as needed to lead her through the dance. She fit so nicely against him that his heart crumbled thinking that this was all a lie.

  “I had an interesting conversation with Mr. Cratchit.”

  Frost’s body went stiff. “Oh?”

  “Yes.” He looked down at her, wanting to see if the lies were written on her face this whole time and he hadn’t seen them because he’d been a fool. Love had made a fool of him before; he wouldn’t let it happen again. “Who are you, really?”

  * * *

  Caught off guard by the pain in Tannon’s voice, Frost bit her lip to keep from telling him everything. How she longed to tell him that she was his pen pal from long ago, his best friend always, and the woman who loved him with all her heart. She desperately wanted to spill everything from her name to the way the magic worked. He would accept her, and the crazy family she came from, and living at the North Pole and all that went with becoming a Kringle, because he wanted to believe. He was waiting for her to make it all okay, to explain her deception in such a way that his heart could stay in one piece.

  She couldn’t. It was imperative that Tannon, and the town of Elderberry, celebrate the true meaning of Christmas at the light parade, that they feel love for all mankind and a tenderness for their family that they didn’t feel the rest of the year. The light parade was crucial. It was the event that Mr. and Mrs. Cebu had funded out of the goodness of their hearts back when Christmas was important to them. Their participation in the parade was the key that would unlock all the Christmas Magic that had been sealed up all those years ago. Tannon was a part of that now, and Brody too. They all had to be there, believing. Tannon’s parents weren’t quite there yet—but the parade would tip them over the edge.

  If she didn’t wait until the parade to reveal all of herself and Christmas to the Cebu family, she would never get home. She’d never share Thanksgiving dinner around the dining room table, she’d lose movie nights with Lux, designing doll clothes for Stella’s production machines, ice climbing with Ginger, makeovers with Robyn, eating brownies right from the pan with her mom, dressing her brothers-in-law for Halloween, reading in the library with Dad, and babysitting Layla and Oliver.

  She briefly met Tannon’s probing gaze and was overwhelmed with her love for him. Her insides pulled in all directions. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like this,” she whispered.

  Tannon leaned closer. “What do you mean?”

  “I wasn’t supposed to have to choose.”

  “Choose what? I don’t understand.”

  If she could just put him off for a few more days. “Tannon, I can explain everything, but I can’t do it right now.”

  His eyebrows came together. “Because of the party?”

  She shook her head. “No, I need a couple of days.”

  “Days?” He leaned back. “I can’t wait days, Frost. I don’t even know your last name.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut in an effort to block his growing frustration. “I know, and I can’t tell you that either.”

  He dropped his arms. “I’m not sure what to say.”

  “I need you to trust me.” Frost lifted her hands but managed to keep them off Tannon’s chest, where they wanted to rest.

  “Tell me you haven’t lied to me from the moment we met.”

  She had zero words.

  “That’s what I thought.” Tannon went to walk away, but Frost grabbed his arm.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’ve been a fool for love before and I won’t do it again.”

  She dropped his arm. “You can’t possibly be comparing me to Brody’s mother.”

  “I didn’t say I’d been fooled the same way twice.”

  Frost’s heart pounded a frantic beat against her rib cage. The muscle worked so hard it felt like it would give out at any moment. “Tannon, I may have lied about some things, but I never lied about loving you. Please, believe that, believe in me, believe in us enough to wait.”

  “I can’t believe in a lie, Frost.” He walked away, leaving her in the middle of the dance floor while couples swayed around her, dreaming of White Christmases and mistletoe kisses. Their happiness should have went right to her soul, but Tannon’s stricken look had created a fog that blocked everything. For the first time in existence, Frost was numb to all feeling except that of her throat closing over with sorrow. She fought to breathe while navigating the throng of people.

  She managed to make it to the kitchen before the big tears fell. Zuzu came in a few minutes later, carrying an empty tray. “Sweetie, what’s the matter?”

  Frost shook her head. “I have to go. Will you tell my mom I went home?”

  Zuzu wrung her hands. “Now? The party’s still going.”

  “It’ll be fine without me. Just leave the mess. I’ll come in early tomo
rrow morning to clean up.” With Christmas being on Tuesday, and this being Friday night, no one was expected at the mill until Wednesday morning. She’d have time to clean up and clean out her desk before Tannon came back to work.

  Zuzu stepped in front of her. “I can’t let you go without a hug—you look like you could use it.”

  Frost hugged her back. “Thanks, Zuzu. I’ve never had as good of a friend as you.”

  “Oh.” Zuzu rubbed her back. “If you want to talk, let me know. I can be at your place in fifteen minutes.”

  “Thanks.” Frost ducked out the door. The bluesy strains of “Christmas Just Ain’t Christmas Without You” shadowed her down the hallway, cutting off when the exterior door thudded shut. The only sound in the parking lot was the lonely crunch of snow under her shoes. She wrapped her coat tighter around her body, not because she needed the warmth, but because she needed something to hold her together.

  Frost climbed into her car and started it up. She drove back to the rental on autopilot. When she got there, she didn’t bother turning on lights. Instead, she went straight to her room and climbed, fully clothed, into her bed. Struggling with the sheet, she managed to get her heels off and drop them on the side of the bed.

  It was there, in the darkness, that a truly scary thought arrived like an unwelcome holiday guest. If Tannon changed his mind about Christmas because of what she’d done, Christmas wouldn’t recover. The North Pole would continue to tip until it fell apart. The elves would turn to elfin dust, the Magic would fizzle out, and Santa wouldn’t be able to deliver gifts. She’d messed up so much more than her love life. Out there were children in hospitals, many of them like Tannon, who needed to believe in Magic. It shone like a beacon and got them through hard times. She cried harder for them than she did for herself. And as much as she took on the despair of others, breaking Christmas might just break her.

  Chapter 28

  Tannon paced the front room, unable to sit because nothing that happened the night before sat well with him. He couldn’t put two and two together. Frost was the kindest, most giving person on the planet, and yet she had lied to him. He ran his hand over his head and then scrubbed the back of his neck.