16. Now Bring Us a Figgy Pudding
Now Bring Us a Figgy Pudding
Delilah frowned at her reflection. She’d already changed outfits three times, and she still wasn’t a hundred percent sold on her choice.
First, she’d tried on a red dress, but it was way too “Dunder Mifflin Christmas Party.” Next, a green jumpsuit that made her look like a deranged elf.
Finally she’d tried a black cocktail dress that screamed “I’m mourning the holidays,” which, okay—accurate. But perhaps not the vibe for tonight.
She’d finally settled on a midnight blue velvet number that Scarlett had conjured up before surrendering her powers. Simple, elegant, and made her feel like she belonged in one of those old movies where everyone spoke exclusively in witty one-liners and the telephones were always white.
“Come on , Del!” Scarlett’s voice carried from the hallway. “Quit stalling. Saturnalia waits for no witch!”
“I’m not stalling! I’m having a fashion emergency.”
The door burst open and Scarlett stormed in, a vision in emerald. “Oh stop it, you look perfect. Let’s go!”
Delilah looked her sister up and down, then let out a whistle. “Look at you. Nate’s going to lose his mind.”
“For all the good it does me. Hang on, do you have that buttoned correctly?” Scarlett didn’t wait for an answer, just reached for the back of her sister’s dress. “Ugh, you messed this all up in the back. Let me fix it.”
Delilah knew better than to argue; Scarlett had always been the most fashionable of the Melrose girls.
If she said your dress needed fixing, all you could do was stand there and take it.
“So what’s going on with you two, anyway?
I’ve been gone a year, I can’t believe you aren’t hitched by now.
Unless you were waiting for me to come back, of course, which would be awfully sweet? ”
“ Hardly . No, the issue is, Nate doesn’t want to get married until we can go on a proper honeymoon. Which we can’t, of course, because of the forgetting spell.”
“Weren’t you all working on a forgetting-spell loophole when I left? Something with studying trivia?”
“Yeah well... Suck in your breath a little for me... ugh, more , Delilah, c’mon.
.. The trivia loophole has not been effective thus far.
And so, I wait. And wait. Okay, you’re set.
You look gorgeous, big sister. Now can we please get going?
There’s a praying mantis in a tuxedo downstairs who keeps nervously checking his watch. ”
“ Mean . Jasper’s just nervous because you asked him to address the whole damn town.”
“Sure, that’s what he’s nervous about.” Scarlett’s eyes twinkled. “Not a certain witch he can’t stop staring at.”
“Oh shut up.” But Delilah couldn’t prevent the flush in her cheeks.
“He likes you. And you like him. Which makes total sense, since you’re both huge nerds.”
“You don’t know that.”
“That you’re both huge nerds? Are you kidding? That man has never met a filing cabinet he didn’t want to marry and have little manila folder babies with. Trust me, anyone can see you’re both huge nerds. Aliens can see it from space. Blind people can see it. The dead can see that?—”
“Cut it out. I meant, you don’t know that he likes me.”
“Silly girl.” Scarlett wrapped her arm around Delilah’s. “He looks at you like you’re the pen-and-pencil set he’s been searching for all his life.” She gently steered her sister toward the door. “Now, we have a feast to attend, a town to save, and a romance to kindle. ? ándale !”
They hurried down the hallway, but Delilah abruptly stopped. “Scar, I miss Luna. This doesn’t feel right without her.”
“Yeah . . . I know. I miss her too.”
“I wonder what she’s up to.”
Scarlett shrugged. “Probably marking the holiday with a coven of telekinetic yak herders. Can we go now?”
“I just hope she’s okay.”
“She’s fine, Del. Luna will turn up—she always does. She’s probably just waiting to make the most dramatic entrance possible.”
The sisters paused at the top of the grand staircase that swept down to the lobby.
Below them, the inn hummed with activity.
Staff hurried to and fro; Mama directed traffic.
The oak banisters had been wrapped with evergreen garlands and twinkling lights.
And there, at the bottom of the stairs, stood Jasper and Nate, deep in conversation.
They were still in their casino-inspired tuxedos.
“ Look at my guy,” Scarlett whispered gleefully. “I’d never get Nate into a tux under normal circumstances.”
Nate’s face split into a wide grin as he caught sight of his girlfriend bounding down the stairs. “Hey, look at you! Best Christmas present ever!”
Then Jasper looked up.
When his eyes met Delilah’s, something in the air shifted. And that insecure voice in Delilah’s head? That voice that kept whispering “ Girl, better change your dress one more time ”? That voice fell silent. In the warmth of Jasper’s gaze, the dress was perfect. She was perfect.
But as she descended the stairs, she thought, Don’t be an idiot, Del. To him, we’ve just met.
“You look amazing,” he said simply.
“Gosh, thanks,” she replied, and then cursed herself internally. Gosh?! Since when do I say gosh ? “You clean up pretty well yourself.”
“Technically, I haven’t changed since last night. Or this morning. However time works around here.” He adjusted his glasses. “I mean, I don’t actually own a tux. I don’t know where this even came from.”
“Fits you nicely,” Delilah said.
“Another mystery. My proportions are all weird, nothing fits me... and yet this does. Plus, I’m still not sure why I’m at a magical banquet in a town that technically doesn’t exist. But um... well, looking at you now? I’m certain that I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
“That’s... that’s a very nice thing to say.”
“It’s the truth,” he replied. “I thought I’d better tell you before I forget.”
“Do you have your notes for the speech?”
Jasper patted his jacket pocket. “Right here. Though I’m still not convinced anyone’s going to listen to the guy who just rolled into town yesterday. Or was it today? I’ve never been less certain of what actually happened to me or when.”
“Trust me, a stern lecture from a visiting historian might be exactly what this town needs.” She touched his arm gently. “You’ll do fine. Just wait for my signal during Maximillian’s act.”
“What’s the signal?”
“Swift kick under the table.”
“Ah. Subtle.”
“Melroses aren’t known for their restraint.”
“I’m getting that.” His smile was warm, and for a moment, Delilah allowed herself to imagine how things might be different if they’d met under normal circumstances.
If Oak Haven wasn’t hidden, if Jasper wasn’t going to forget her every time he went to work, if magicians weren’t threatening to destroy everything she loved.
“Come on, you two!” Scarlett called from the doorway to the banquet hall. “They won’t serve the boar until everyone’s seated, and I’ve been starving myself all day for this!”
As they approached the entrance to the banquet hall, they were greeted by Aphra, stationed beside an enormous basket.
“Io, Saturnalia!” Aphra called out when they approached. She pronounced the traditional greeting with a clear “EE-oh” but, when shouted, it sounded remarkably like “YO, Saturnalia!”
She handed each of them a cone-shaped felt hat. “A pileus for each of you.”
“Oh, Aphra, you’ve outdone yourself. They’re beautiful.” Delilah examined the intricate embroidery, with oak leaves, stars, and tiny symbols of protection stitched in golden thread.
“That’s me and my crafting circle.” Aphra beamed. “Every weekend since Thanksgiving they’d come by the shop to make hats and chew gum, and you know what they say...”
In unison, Delilah and Jasper offered, “You ran out of gum.”
“Got that right.”
“In Rome, these were worn by freed slaves,” Jasper said, admiring the craftsmanship. “They symbolized liberty.”
Aphra’s eyes lit up. “Look at you! Someone’s been doing their homework.”
“Occupational hazard.” Jasper placed the hat on his head. He should have looked ridiculous—a grown man in a tuxedo wearing a cone-shaped party hat—but somehow he made it work.
Just inside the hall, Jerusha and Candace were tending bar, but they seemed more focused on some sort of silent turf war, each trying to claim more counter space than the other.
A line of thirsty guests had formed, all looking slightly apprehensive about their chances of receiving what they’d ordered.
Delilah swept past the line and around to the far side of the bar. She grabbed two bottles of champagne from the fridge and rejoined Jasper with a wink.
“Oh dear,” he cried in mock alarm. “Delilah, what have you done?”
“Ah ha, the privileges of hosting are many. Let’s find our table. Oh but first, grab a little plate and check out the pièce de résistance.”
She ushered him over to a massive table beside the bar, an edible diorama stretched across its surface.
The entire town of Oak Haven had been recreated in cheese, meat, bread, and various garnishes.
Tiny houses made of aged cheddar with prosciutto roofs lined miniature streets.
The town green was a bed of arugula dotted with cherry tomato “ornaments.” A river of blue cheese wound through the center, crossed by a breadstick-covered bridge.
“I present to you,” Delilah announced with a theatrical flourish, “the Oak Haven Charcuterie Tableau.”
“My God,” Jasper breathed, leaning in to examine the detail. “Is that... Is the town hall made of brie ?”
“I’m told it’s Gruyère, actually. Structural integrity issues with the brie.”
Zahir appeared beside them, surveying his creation with a mixture of pride and embarrassment. “Behold my masterwork: Cholesterol Heights. Three days of work for something that will be run through by an army of hungry wolverines in approximately twenty minutes.”
“You’re a marvel,” Jasper said.
“You are correct, my friend.” Zahir clapped him on the back. “Thanks for all the help. Couldn’t have done it without you.”