16. Get in Line
16
Get in Line
I couldn’t spend any more time sulking at home, not when I had magic to make. So, I donned my uniform and went to work. I braced myself and said hello to Officer Holland on my way in. Would he call me in right away or wait 'til the end of my shift? He reciprocated the greeting with a smile, then sipped his coffee. The colorful cardboard sleeve around his cup had a snowflake on it. That had to be a good sign, even if it was from Harvey’s place of work. Maybe he wouldn't call me in at all. Maybe I was free to finish the season peacefully.
“Feeling better?” Chestnut asked.
“Absolutely.” No one had called me a freak yet.
It was fairly busy for a Monday since we were nearing Christmas. Further back in line, people were already complaining about someone trying to cut ahead.
A little boy tugged my skirt. “Excuse me, miss.”
“We don’t grab people,” his father reminded him.
I crouched down and smiled. “Hi, I’m Sugarplum. Are you excited to meet Santa?”
The kid gestured to a baby in a fuzzy red velvet outfit with white faux fur trim who was fussing in the stroller at his side. “My sister can't talk yet. How will Santa know what she wants for Christmas?”
I held my hands to my heart. “What a great question. Your sister is lucky to have a caring sibling like you looking after her.”
The little boy blushed and twisted himself up in his fancy button-down sleeves. “That's nice, but it's not as good as a gift.”
His parents laughed. Kids did have a funny way of viewing relationships. So did some people.
I smiled and shrugged. “I think it’s better. But to answer your question, Santa has a knack for knowing these things. Maybe the twinkle in his eye helps him see what we need.” I winked. “But no matter what, I assure you, he’s really good at listening. So be kind and go in with an open heart, okay? I’m sure he’ll see how much you want your sister to be happy.”
The boy nodded and held the edge of her stroller. His sister wiggled around to see him better, her fat cheeks rosy, her eyes just as twinkly as Santa’s should be. They’d have a great holiday. I was almost sure of it.
Chestnut ran up from the end of the line, practically crashing into me. “You will not believe –”
“Of course I’d believe.” I let out a nervous laugh. Those were dangerous words around here.
Hoynes wheeled around. “Chestnut, you’re supposed to be greeting guests. Are you being naughty?”
He rolled his eyes. “I have to tell Sugarplum something.”
“Well, what’s the emergency?” Hoynes poised his pen over his clipboard, his eyebrows raised and toes-a-tapping. This was definitely going to cost Chestnut Nice Points.
“I…ran out of candy canes. I need her help.” He circled my wrist with his hand and started tugging me towards the restock area.
“We don’t grab people,” the little kid recited.
His dad patted his shoulder. “Good job, buddy.”
“Chestnut, you can restock those yourself,” Hoynes said. “Sugarplum is entertaining our guests.”
Chestnut threw his hands in the air. “Fine, but don’t say I didn’t try to warn you.”
“Warn me about what?” I asked, wringing my skirt.
“A polar bear,” he said sarcastically on his way back to his spot.
I shook my head. What kind of code was that?
“A coffee -loving polar bear in an olive cap,” he called over his shoulder, disappearing in the crowd.
Oh, my reindeer. Why was Harvey here? I thought he didn’t want anything to do with me. What could I do? Where could I go?
I had half a mind to scale up a Christmas tree, but Harvey was tall enough he could probably pluck me off its branches. What if I hid inside a present? That seemed kind of suffocating.
I busied myself with showing the guests some of my best ribbon tricks, which was more of a comedy act than a true showcase.
“You’re amazing,” a little girl said.
A familiar, smooth chuckle caught my ear. Harvey clapped, though he might as well have smashed my heart between his hands. He was standing in line behind the next big group, smiling at me.
Did he enjoy the show or was he laughing at me?
Lungs constricting, I turned to the little girl. “Thank you, I’m trying. If I get good enough, they might let me help land the sleigh.” I imitated traffic signals to get the next group up to Frosty Santa in the sleigh bench. “This way, please.” But I did have to come back.
Harvey stuck his hands in his brown jean pockets, accidentally tugging them low enough I caught a flash of his bare midriff.
Ugh, I couldn’t do this.
Despite steeling myself, my voice wavered ever-so-slightly. “Hello, are you here to see Santa?”
He looked down and shuffled his feet. “Not really.”
I glanced over my shoulder. Hoynes had his hands full with the current guests, but he was still keeping an eye on things. Plus, Frosty Santa was way more strict than Jolly Santa. He’d scold me in a heartbeat.
“I’m working,” I said, smoothing my skirt down in the back.
Harvey’s Adam's apple bobbed. “I wasn’t sure how else I could reach out. You stopped coming by The Bern.”
“You wanted to get away from me." I sniffed and set my shoulders back. "I saw you talking to a security guard and gesturing at me the other day,” I whispered, spreading my feet shoulder-width apart. “But I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m really good at my job.”
“I know you are.” He inched closer, but I backed away. “That security guard thought I was trouble," he said.
“Why?” I balked.
He vaguely gestured between us. “I have a pierced face and tattoos. I was staring at a pretty girl.”
Did he really think I was pretty? Partridges fluttered in my stomach much like they would roost in a pear tree. I hugged myself and rubbed my cheek on my shoulder to hide any blushing. He still ran away from me like I was worse than coal in a stocking. “That sounds kind of judgey.”
He hung his head and rolled his lip ring between his teeth. “Yeah. About that day in the car, I didn’t mean–”
“Sugarplum, we’re ready for…” Hoynes eyed Harvey, paling slightly, “the next guest.”
Harvey scooted out of line, shuffling towards me. “Oh, I only wanted to–”
“If you’re not here for Santa, you’ll have to leave,” Hoynes said.
Frosty Santa leaned forward, an arm draped his knees, and stared Harvey down in silent challenge.
The families behind Harvey pressed in. “Isn’t he too old to see Santa? And he doesn’t even have any kids with him," one guest said.
“Hey,” I spread my stance and gave them a stern look, “Holiday magic is for everybody. Bullies will get coal in their stockings for trying to spread misery.”
Harvey stared at me, his eyes lit up from the reflection of all the ornaments–and maybe, just maybe, my ferocity.
I smiled and rocked from my toes to my heels. “So, what’s it going to be?”
Harvey readjusted his olive cap and nodded sharply. “Let’s do this thing.”