by Helen Allan
“What operation?” I set my wine glass down on the carpet and sit up straight.
“Didn’t Dad tell you?” she murmurs, “oh that’s right, I was supposed to tell you…well, never mind. Mum is going to have the operation, the tumour has been shrunk small enough – but don’t worry, I’ll be there, right by her side, every step of the way.”
In my haste to stand up, I kick the wine glass over, spilling the contents onto the carpet.
“Stacey! You know Mum asked me. You know she said she wanted me by her side if she ever had the operation. I only agreed to manage the shop on that stipulation.”
“Now, Holly, this is not the time for petty jealousies,” she starts.
“Stacey, you fucking listen to me, and you listen well,” I enunciate every word clearly, my voice ice, “it was always agreed that if there was to be any operation, I would be there. Mum doesn’t need your drama, and Dad needs someone with a cool head.”
“I have a cool head,” she virtually screams down the line.
“Stacey, you catch the first flight back here to spend Christmas with your daughter, or I swear I will fly to New York and knock your block off,” I spit, the wine and my fury getting the better of me.
“How dare you? I mean, for God’s sake! You calm down, Holly, and do as you are told. You need to stay and run things there, stay where you are needed. You calm down right now.”
“Oh, I’m perfectly calm,” I whisper, my voice deadly, “and for once I’m not going to do what I am told. I’m needed most by Mum’s side, and I need to be there. I’ll have someone pick you up from the airport tomorrow night.”
“It takes me at least a day to pack,” she whines.
I hang up and scream my rage to the ceiling.
After a few minutes of punching cushions and calling my sister every bad word I have ever heard, I put in a call to Dad to tell him I am on my way, and, lastly, place a call to Kris.
“I’ll come over,” he says, his voice calm, reassuring, “give me a few minutes.”
I hang up and walk to the kitchen to pour myself another wine.
“You don’t need to worry about the shop,” he says gently, taking the glass from my hand where I stand in the kitchen, and placing it on the bench, “and you don’t need to worry about your mother – she will pull through, you’ll see.”
I nod and swallow hard. I’d updated him on the fact I need to go, that I need him to look after the shop, that Stacey was on her way to look after Sapphire - who was happy at the Monroes’ in the meantime. But I’d skirted around the main point – and his mention of that point, my chief worry, the one I try not to think about or talk about for fear of breaking down, undoes me.
I put my hands to my face as the sobbing begins.
“Holly,” he sighs my name, folding me into his arms.
I stand, leaning into his hard shoulder, his strong arms tight around me. And I allow all my fears for my mother and the operation she is about to face, my grief over my lost relationship, my sorrow over not going to Europe, my worries and stress from managing the shop and my parents’ finances, to finally all escape in one long, crying fit.
I’ve cried many times in the days since Louis had left, but nothing like this – it feels like I might never stop. Minutes go by, long minutes, and I don’t struggle as Kris eventually lifts me and, cradling me in his strong arms, carries me to my bedroom.
Placing me down on the bed, he gently loosens my arms from around his neck and sits beside me, stroking my hair as I turn to sob into my pillow.
“Let it out,” he murmurs, “and then sleep, Holly. Fly out tomorrow rested.”
I feel his weight leave the bed, and reach out, clasping his hand.
“Kris,” I look up, my eyes still blurred by tears, “could you, I mean, I know I’m no Tracy Upshot, but would you tonight, please, just forget I’m your boss? Would you stay the night with me? I don’t want to be alone.”
His eyes search mine as I wipe my fingers across my lashes to clear my vision.
“Holly,” he sits back down and looks at me, and I see indecision in his eyes, then warmth, as he leans over and presses his lips gently to mine, whispering against my lips, “you’re worth a thousand Tracy Upshots. Haven’t you worked that out yet?”
I look away from his earnest gaze and shake my head, my breath still hitching with little, leftover, sobs.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked, I’m sure a man like you would have made a move by now if you found me attractive, I …”
“Woman,” he groans, shaking his head, “I keep reminding you that I’m not a man. And as for moves,” he kisses me again, this time more firmly, “I have some moves I’ve dreamt of showing you for some time.”
“You do?” I breathe.
“Yes,” he sighs, indicating I should scoot over so he can lay down beside me. Leaning upon his elbow, he looks down into my eyes, “Holly, beautiful Holly, it’s not that I don’t find you attractive, exactly the opposite in fact.”
“Huh?”
He sits back up, shaking his head and taking his hat off to run his hands through his hair, and I pull myself up to face him, as he takes my hands in his and looks down, his thumb moving slowly back and forth across the top of my hand.
“My time here is limited,” he says gently, “you had a boyfriend, and I know you are not the cheating kind. And you are my boss. But more than that, I’ve come to know you. You are selfless, generous, kind; you always put others before yourself, too much so in fact. You are the kind of woman who should be cherished,” he shakes his head as though he’s said too much.
“Really?” I smile shyly at him.
“Really,” he murmurs, looking deeply into my eyes.
I lean in, kissing him on the cheek, and as I do, I get my first glimpse of his ears.
“Oh,” I pull back, my eyes wide, “your ears.”
He raises an eyebrow, watching my reaction.
“You really are an elf?” I breathe.
“I told you I was,” he chuckles.
“With magic?”
“It diminishes the longer I stay in the human world,” he says quietly, “it will return when I go home. But I still have a little, yes.”
I reach across and gently rub from the top of his pointy ear to the lobe, in wonder, as he shudders under my touch. As I shift my eyes back to his, I see they have darkened and, glancing down, I see my touch has had another effect on him too.
“I’d like to see some magic,” I whisper, as my fingers leave his ear and run down his arm, and onto his hard thigh.
“Holly,” he shakes his head as though warring with his better judgement.
I wait, still, holding my breath, as he makes some unseen decision and draws me into his embrace, kissing me hard.
My body reacts to his as it always does when he is close, and then some, and I cling to him and deepen the kiss. Every nerve ending in my skin feels like it is tingling, and my stomach tightens in lust as he groans and lowers me to the bed, covering my body with his.
I wake to find him watching me, or rather studying a curl of my hair where it’s wrapped around his finger and gleaming auburn in a ray of light streaming through the bedroom window.
“Good morning,” he murmurs.
“Morning,” I blush, “I didn’t think you would still be here.”
“And miss this?” he raises one eyebrow and slides his eyes down my body where I lay, naked, the white sheets twisted around my legs.
“Oh,” my face turns scarlet, as I reach down hastily to cover myself.
“No,” he stills my hands with one of his own. “You are beautiful, Holly - and I did tell you I wanted to see you out of the elf suit as much as in. If I’d know this was how you would look, I would have offered to help you out of it much earlier.”
I laugh and shiver as he runs his fingers from my hip bone, up my side, trailing across and circling my nipple.
“I have to b
ook a flight,” I whisper, as his mouth follows the trail of his fingers, and then reverses and heads in the opposite direction.
“I’ve booked it,” he murmurs, “we have another three hours.”
I gasp and arch my back.
13
HOLLY
I lean my head back against the first-class seat and smile.
Although my head is full of worries about the operation my mother faces tonight, I can’t wipe the grin from my face. My body feels so relaxed and slinky, it’s like I’ve had the best all-over massage of my life, and then some.
‘Yeah, a night of sex with an elf will do that – an elf!’
I almost want to shout it out to the cabin, just so I can share my joy as, once more, my mind dwells on the delights of last night, and this morning, and late this morning, before I finally managed to drag myself out of bed, and his arms, and get to the airport.
At the same time, I know saying I had sex with an elf doesn’t really sum up what we had shared. It was wonderful, beautiful, mind-blowing and amazing – I’ve never had anything like it with any man before, even Louis. The way Kris had held me, moved me, whispered and made me laugh…
‘God no wonder women were lining up along the street.’
As I think this, a wave of hot jealously sears through me, and I have to take a deep breath to dispel it.
‘What will he be doing while I’m away?’
I shake my head and try not to think about it.
‘He’ll be minding the shop. You know that. And there will be women, likely lots of women, as per normal. So just stop!’
As I berate myself, my phone rings; an unknown number, and frowning, I answer it.
“Hello, beautiful human woman.”
“Kris,” I smile widely, his voice sending shivers down my spine.
“I just wanted to reassure you that everything is under control, and to tell you I’m thinking about you.”
“I’m thinking about you too,” I whisper, blushing.
“Any particular part?” he chuckles.
“No,” I roll my eyes, “well, uh, yes.”
His laughter rings out across the line.
“I’m thinking about all of you,” he murmurs, his tone making me think he has one particular part in mind too.
“Stop it,” I laugh, “I’ll spontaneously combust, and the plane will crash.”
“It better not,” he laughs, “I still have to show you my magic.”
“I’m pretty sure I saw that last night,” I giggle, looking up and quickly lowering my voice as I see a flight attendant smirk as she walks past.
“Not at all,” he drawls, “that was barely an introduction.”
“Holy Hell,” I breathe, “I guess I know how Tracy Upshot feels now.”
“No, you don’t,” he says suddenly serious, “last night was nothing like that. And in case you haven’t noticed, I parted ways with the nubile Ms Upshot and the townswomen in general some time ago.”
“Really?” I frown, “it seemed to me you’ve been quite uh, occupied, these past few weeks.”
“Yes,” he says gently, “but more and more I found myself working on hardware related projects, rather than working on, shall we say, extracurricular projects – I have a slave-driver of a boss.”
“Indeed?” I squirm in my seat and smirk, my heart backflipping at the thought that he was thinking of me, rather than dating other women, “and when might this change of heart, this desire to please your boss, have occurred?”
“Oh,” he drawls, “I believe it was around the time a certain elf costume was donned.”
I laugh loudly.
“You are such a perve.”
He joins in my laughter.
“I’m going now,” he says, when we both stop, “I believe your sister flies in this evening, presumably on her broomstick, and I will be happy to pick her up.”
“Don’t listen to anything she says about me,” I blurt.
“Holly,” he murmurs, “I know you.”
“Must you make everything sound so sexual?” I whisper, shivering.
“Does it?” he chuckles, “perhaps that’s just wishful thinking.”
“It could be,” I laugh.
“I’m in the business of granting Christmas wishes,” he says, his voice full of promise, “so hurry home.”
“I will.”
After he hangs up, I lean back in my seat and turn to look out the window. His mention of Christmas wishes has made me feel anxious, but I can’t quite put my finger on why. It only occurs to me later, as I eat my in-flight meal, my fork hovering mid-way to my mouth.
‘He said he has to leave, that his time here is limited. He told me that he wouldn’t be here beyond Christmas Day – he’s been clear about that the whole way along.’
I put down my fork, my appetite gone.
I sit, head in hands, and wait.
There is no point continuing to look at the clock, it’s been eight hours and counting, and still, no news from the operating theatre.
I don’t look up as someone sits in the plastic seat next to me, but the smell of coffee makes me take my hands from my eyes, as I see a Styrofoam cup being held out in front of me.
‘I recognise that fraternity ring!’
Turning, I groan.
“Louis! What are you doing here?”
He shrugs and indicates I should take the proffered cup.
I grasp it gratefully, despite my anger at him being here. I’ve been dying for a coffee since I’d sent Dad out to get one an hour or more ago, telling him to stretch his legs. We are taking turns in the waiting room, ensuring one of us is here all the time, in case a doctor or nurse comes in with an update.
So far, that hasn’t happened.
“Met your old man in the cafeteria,” he says quietly, as I sip my coffee, too tired and stressed to ask him to leave, to start another argument. “He told me about the offer on the store.”
“Yes,” I give a half-hearted laugh, “it’s hard to believe.”
“Harder to believe he’s going to take it,” he shrugs, “didn’t think he’d have the good sense.”
I frown. While it was true that I was surprised Dad had accepted the offer too, it had nothing to do with my father’s lack of sense.
“Louis, in case you haven’t noticed, my parents are both in their seventies, and my father has no son to take over the store. Neither Stacey nor I want to run it - it makes perfect sense that he sells, especially given how much he’s been offered – it’s easily four times its value. My guess is the multinational company that opened in town wants to close us for good. One way or the other they would have, Dad is making the best of a bad situation – he’s no fool.”
“I didn’t mean it that way,” he frowns.
“Well, how the hell did you mean it?” I spin to him.
“I, look, Holly, I came to tell you I made a mistake. To ask you to come back.”
“How did you even know I was here?” I scowl, his words sending panic shooting through me.
“Stacey phoned,” he shrugs, “she said you were in a bad way, had flown off the handle – she was worried about your mental state.”
“Stacey,” I spit, “and did you tell Stacey about your little French girlfriend, while you were gossiping about me?”
He shakes his head, stares down into his coffee. “There was no French girl, no other girl but you,” he sighs, “I just said that.”
‘Oh my God, Kris was right.’
“Well, I’m sorry to hear that,” I sigh, looking into my coffee too, and hoping a whirlpool will open up and take me somewhere far, far away from here, “because there is someone else in my life.”
I see his jaw clench.
“The elf.”
“Yes,” I nod.
“Did you sleep with him when we were together?”
“You know I didn’t,” I grumble, “you ass.”
“Then as fa
r as I’m concerned it never happened,” he says quietly, reaching over to take my cup from my hands where I had been twirling it round and round, “we don’t need to mention it again.”
I frown as he puts both our cups on the floor and reaches for me.
“What? Louis?”
I’m about to break free of his embrace, tell him it’s over, I think, I’m not sure, I’m so tired, so confused. But I don’t need to say anything, as Dad enters the room from one door, and the doctor walks through the door on the other side of the room.
14
KRIS
“He’s there, you say?” I murmur to Sapphire as we restock the paint shelves, anger suddenly coursing through my body, jealous rage, I realise with a start.
“Yeah, but don’t worry, she won’t go back to him, not if he cheated on her. She’s not like Mum,” she whispers her last comment.
“And if he didn’t cheat on her?” I don’t want to ask love advice from a child, but the news that Holly’s long-time boyfriend, Louis the dickhead, was flying to be by her side during her mother’s operation, had thrown me. She was at her most vulnerable when it came to her mother, and he knew her well, he especially knew how to manipulate her, or so it seemed.
“Don’t know,” the child shrugs, “but if I was an adult, I’d rather date an elf any day than a normal man.”
“Well, that’s reassuring,” I smirk, “and yes, as to your question, I have several brothers, all much younger than me.”
She blushes.
“And any would be lucky to know a lovely young woman like yourself.”
“You’re just saying that so I don’t poison you again,” she sniggers, as I laugh out loud.
“You could be right, diabolical human girl.”
“How will I meet your brothers, though, if you return to the North Pole?” she asks now, cocking her head to one side, “or have you decided to stay?”
I frown and pause in my restocking. I hadn’t consciously made the decision to stay, but all my actions, including my anonymous offer to the Goode’s for this store, had bent my future in that direction. More than that, I hadn’t told anyone, not the sprites, not Sapphire, and not Holly. I’d left the door to both realms wide open, and I was going to be forced, come Christmas Day, to jump through one of them.
