Page 21 of Naughty Elf: Aster
He didn’t sound mad. That was a good sign.
We went into my place, and I put on a pot of cocoa. He set down the cookies. He was right; they weren’t as good as mine, nor were they as good as Noel’s, but they were decent. We sat down, and I asked him if my magic was back and why. Santa assured me it was back because I found my true mate and was accepted by my true family.
“I don’t know what to do,” I told him honestly. “I love Wolfe. I love Noel. I love Snowball. But their life is there, and my life is here. How do we make it work?”
He set down his mug. “Aster, listen to me. Your home isn’t there, and their home isn’t there. Your homes are together. Wherever you are, when you’re together, you’re home.”
Santa stirred his cocoa with his peppermint stick. “Now, where the physical location of your abode will be, I don’t know. And the thing is, it doesn’t matter. If he wants to live there, and you want to live there, do it. If you all want to live here, do it. If you want to go back and forth, I’ll make it happen. But don’t let location get in the way of your happiness. I didn’t go through all the trouble to turn you into that figurine for nothing.”
“I thought it was the law.”
“The law—my interpretation of it, to get you where you needed to go. Potato—potahto.”
“Did you tell Ernie to switch the sugar with the salt?”
“No, but I had plans.” He tapped the side of his nose. “I always have plans.”
We ate the rest of the cookies and drank our cocoa. He told me about the elves who’d been working in the bake shop, and about Ernie, and how badly my friend felt about the situation. Ipromised him that I’d stop by on my way out to let Ernie know that everything was great.
After talking to Ernie and eating far too many gumdrops, I went back to my place one last time to grab a couple of things to bring with me for decorating the Christmas tree. That’s when I found that Santa had left a bunch of presents for me to bring back. Because, of course, he did.
I pulled forth my magic and ended up back in the living room.
“When you said you were going to leave, I guess I thought—I don’t know, not that.” Wolfe indicated my magic with a swirl of his hand.
“I’ll have to show you how I do it one day.” Santa assured me my family could know everything, much to my relief. “But first, I have to put these presents under the tree—from Santa.”
I pulled a box of ornaments out of what he probably thought was nowhere but was my pocket, fitting in there only by magic.
“I brought some of my favorite Christmas ornaments. I thought we could put them on the tree together tomorrow.”
“I’d love that.” Wolfe crossed over to me for a kiss. “And I love you.”
“I love you too, Wolfe. I love you, too.”
Chapter Fifteen
Wolfe
“Just one. Come on, Dad. Just one.”
Noel’s begging had become relentless since the moment he woke up. His eyes lit up as soon as Aster went into his room to sing “Jingle Bells.”
Aster wasn’t helping either. I swore, he was as excited for Christmas as I was and more than Noel even.
“You know the rules, Noel. One present tonight. That’s it. Anyway, I don’t have anything else for you. Santa takes care of the rest.”
Aster winked at me as he stirred a big pot of oatmeal.
“That’s just pajamas and a wooden car.”
I gasped and turned as Aster did. Despite my shock, I think Aster was completely struck and somehow hurt personally. His sugar cookie scent got a bit tangy. “Noel, did you peek at your gifts? I can’t believe you, little pup.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks as I heard him call to my son the same way I would.
Noel’s shoulders relaxed. “No. Yes. I get pajamas every Christmas Eve, and I saw Dad get the wooden truck in a package.”
I knew having things delivered might be a mistake. Noel was a curious one. The last month or so, I’d had the packages delivered to the drop-off center in town, but apparently, I hadn’t done a good enough job hiding everything.