Chapter 4
Chapter
Four
EVIE
Evie tugged at the hem of her elf costume, wishing the skirt were just a few inches longer.
The bells on her pointy shoes jingled with each step as she made her way through the crowded town square, proclaiming her presence to excited children and harried parents as she dodged her way through them to get to Santa’s Grotto.
Frostvale's annual Christmas festival was in full swing, transforming the quaint main street into a winter wonderland of twinkling lights and festive decorations.
Posy was manning her booth - a favor she’d demanded of her friend as restitution for being the ‘elf’ instead of her.
Jane, the high school senior who worked Saturdays for her, was at the shop, which Evie expected to be quiet today, since many of the locals were attending the first day of the festival.
And her parents were minding Ollie and bringing him into town a little later on.
Evie plastered on a cheerful smile, determined not to let her self-consciousness show, especially since the run-in with Victoria had done a number on her confidence.
This costume was for him, she reminded herself.
Her little boy's eyes had lit up when she'd emerged from her bedroom decked out in green and red, a pair of pointy ears and stripey tights, proclaiming her the ‘bestest elf ever.’ He was thrilled that she was going to be Santa’s helper, his young mind interpreting it as the biggest accolade a person could receive.
And of course, at five, he still thought Santa was real.
A gust of frigid wind cut through the thin fabric of her costume, and Evie shivered.
This outfit was not made for cold weather!
And to think she had another two weeks of this.
She pulled a face, then smoothed her expression when she noticed a couple of small children looking at her in alarm and reminded herself that today was important.
It was the only day of the festival Ollie was going to see, since Adrian was arriving this evening to collect him for their holiday.
She needed to put on a brave face, no matter how she felt inside.
Closing in on Santa's Grotto, Evie quickened her pace, the bells on her shoes jingling more insistently.
As she approached, she caught sight of a familiar figure that made her already frayed mood plummet.
Adrian was standing near the entrance with his glamorous girlfriend, Brandi.
Dastardly donuts! Victoria was with them as well.
The three wicked stooges. And so what if she was muddling her characters.
Evie's stomach clenched. What was Adrian doing here already? She couldn’t imagine he’d come to enjoy the quaint, traditional ambience of Frostvale, since he’d always hated it. Evie forced herself to keep walking, plastering on a cheerful smile even as anxiety churned inside her.
"Well, well. If it isn't Santa's little helper," Adrian drawled as she drew near. His eyes raked over her costume with poorly concealed amusement. "That's quite an... interesting outfit, Eve."
“Interesting is a polite way of putting it, Adrian,” Victoria sniped. “But I’m sure Evie knows she looks like the chubby cast-off from a nativity play.”
Brandi and Victoria tittered to each other like the clones they were. It was no surprise those two were best friends. They might have been cast from the same mold.
Evie felt her cheeks flush hot despite the chill. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, a deep voice cut in from behind her.
"I think she looks great. Very festive."
She turned to see Gabriel striding towards them, an imposing figure in the three-piece suit he always seemed to wear, no matter the occasion.
He was a man who turned heads, and Evie was conscious of how Victoria immediately subsided, never wanting to look bad in Gabe’s presence.
Even Brandi gave Gabe a look of frank appreciation as he greeted Adrian and her ex made the introductions.
Great! All she needed was Adrian and his best buddy ganging up on her and making her feel more of a fool than she already did, but it answered the question as to why Adrian was here early, at least. He must have allowed a couple of hours to catch up with his local friends.
Wait a minute… Gabe’s words finally filtered through the snark that clouded Evie’s brain. Did he just defend her?
Or was that some kind of backhanded compliment?
Before she could wonder, Evie realized Asher and even Shepherd were hot on Gabe’s heels, closing ranks around her - just enough to make her feel supported, but without being blatantly obvious.
Evie's pulse quickened at their sudden appearance, a mix of relief and something warmer flooding through her. Why weren’t they minding their own stalls?
"Thought you could use this," Shepherd said gruffly, holding out the ‘to-go’ cup he was holding. “The wind’s cold today, and that fabric’s pretty thin.” He glowered at Adrian, but that was Shepherd’s usual countenance.
“Thank you.” Evie took the hot chocolate trimmed with cream and mini marshmallows gratefully, her cheeks pinking even more at Shepherd’s unexpected thoughtfulness. She prayed everyone mistook it for the cold… same for the way her nipples had peaked at being surrounded by the three handsome men.
Even if they weren’t hers, it certainly bolstered her confidence… well, until Adrian opened his mouth.
“Of course, if you weren’t dressed up in some idiotic costume, you might be warmer. You look ridiculous.” His words bit more than the chill, and like usual, Evie couldn’t think of a snappy reply.
“She looks like someone who’s supporting their community and the businesses that benefit from the huge numbers of tourists who flock into the town for this festival,” Shepherd responded, his voice acidic, and while Evie was grateful for the reprieve, there was barely a moment to enjoy it as Shepherd turned on his heel and stomped off, leaving the rest of them standing awkwardly watching his retreat, and Brandi eying his butt…
not that Evie could talk, since she was doing the same.
Adrian looked like he was about to spout another mouthful of abuse, but Asher jumped in. “Anyway, I was just looking for you, Evie. I have to get changed into my own ‘stupid costume’ since I’m playing Santa. Are you ready to roll?”
Evie nodded, grateful to get away, and said her goodbyes, only to be embarrassed again when her ex-husband’s caustic voice carried insults towards Asher even from behind them.
“Of course he is - a fool and his toys.”
“Sorry,” she mumbled to Asher, wondering if this day could get any worse.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Adrian? Was any of that really necessary?” Asher and Evie shared a surprised look as they heard Gabe confronting his friend.
“Jesus, talk about a lot of nonsense,” Adrian responded, causing Evie to press her lips together.
“Good grief, man. This event puts money in the pockets of businesses. Christmas accounts for over a quarter of revenue - more than that with an event like this. Never mind that you have a young son.”
“And I’ll be making sure he doesn’t become as ridiculous as his mother.
” Evie stiffened as Adrian scoffed, fighting the urge to look back over her shoulder, but she found herself calming when Asher took her hand into his and gave it a squeeze.
She allowed herself to soak up his quiet support, even as her heart raced, a mix of embarrassment and gratitude swirling inside her.
"Don't let him get to you," Asher murmured, his grip on her hand warm and reassuring. "Adrian's just being a jerk."
Evie nodded, not trusting her voice. She focused on the crunch of snow beneath her feet, the cheerful jingle of her elf shoes providing a stark contrast to her tumultuous emotions. The hot chocolate Shepherd had given her was a comforting warmth against her palm.
As they neared Santa's Grotto, the excited chatter of children grew louder. Evie took a deep breath, steeling herself to push aside her personal drama and focus on spreading holiday cheer. She had a job to do, after all.
"You okay to do this?" Asher asked, his blue eyes searching her face with concern. "I can find someone else if you need a break."
Evie shook her head, managing a small smile. "Thanks, Asher," she murmured. “But no, I'm fine. This is for Ollie. He’s so thrilled his Mama gets to be Santa’s helper, and my parents will be bringing him by soon. I won't let Adrian ruin it."
Asher squeezed her hand one last time before letting go and giving her a crooked grin. "That's what friends are for. Now, let's go spread some Christmas cheer, shall we?"
Evie squared her shoulders and forced a bright smile as they entered the grotto, and Asher went to change. She wished she’d chosen to get changed here herself, but Ollie had been excited to help her dress in her special outfit, so she hadn’t been able to deny him.
The festive music and children's laughter helped lift her spirits slightly, though Adrian's cruel words still echoed in her mind. She pushed them aside, took a deep breath and allowed the scent of pine and cinnamon to envelop her. Twinkling lights cast a warm glow over the scene, and Evie felt the rest of the tension leave her shoulders. This was why she was here - to create magic for her son, the children of Frostvale, and to help local businesses have a bumper season, her own included. When you lived in a place like this, it was all about community. The community that had pulled together to support her when Adrian left, and she had to juggle being a single parent while running her own business. She’d never have managed without that community spirit; this was a way for her to give back.
Evie took her position next to the grand chair where Asher, now transformed into a jolly Santa, would soon sit as the first group of wide-eyed children approached, their faces lighting up at the sight of her pointy ears and jingling shoes.