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I jumped up off the couch as if it had caught on fire. I pushed my cell into my pocket in case she was nearby. I didn’t want her to see me with a cell. I race walked over to the food court and sat at a table facing the fire.
No, no, no. Don’t look. That’ll spoil the mystery.
I was saved from myself when Gunner pulled a chair out opposite me.
“I was thinking about your party this Saturday,” he said. “Are you gonna have Santa’s workshop open for pictures?”
“Funny you should ask. I was thinking about that and I think it would be festive,” I chuckled. “Plus, I can’t wait to see some of our stuffy guests’ faces when they see grownups getting a picture with Santa and the elves.”
“I’ve been thinking about the elf sightings. I think your mind just went to elf because you’ve had a few episodes with the elf.” Gunner looked right at me. “Kinda like dreaming while you’re awake.”
“You’re probably right. What happened with the kids?” I asked. “How wild is it that kids were hiding in a mall?”
“Seems like something a younger Asher would have wanted to do,” Gunner laughed. “And not that much younger.”
“Yeah, yeah. So I like to have fun. You should try it.” I glanced around him when I saw the elf show up at the workshop. “Speaking of elves, how’s her eye today?”
“Why don’t you go ask her yourself?” Gunner turned in his seat to look over to the workshop. “I don’t think she bites.”
“Oh, you’re full of jokes lately, aren’t you?” I leaned back in my chair. “I’ll go talk to her in a little while. I need to schedule them to work the party anyways.”
“Is the family still doing caroling at the hospital Sunday night?” Gunner leaned back.
“Yeah, I think we are. I should call my mother and double-check. Why do you ask?”
“I was thinking about the workshop and having Santa at the ball and it made me think how it might be nice to bring Santa and an elf to the hospital, too,” Gunner said.
“Look at you, coming up with all these ideas. You might have a new career,” I teased, “party planner extraordinaire.”
“You do remember I know where you live and sleep and I can get in anytime I want to.” Gunner glared at me.
“You’re scary.”
Gunner rolled with laughter, then stood and pushed his chair in. He nodded for me to go with him. I knew where he was leading me, but I went anyways. I’ve never in my life had a problem speaking to women, but something about the petite elf with the piercing blue eyes made me nervous inside.
“Hello, I wanted to see how that eye was doing today,” I said to the elf. “I feel really bad about it.”
She turned around, pointing to a doozy of a black eye. No answer was needed. Today she had green hair, and it was then that I realized she’d been wearing wigs. I looked to Gunner then back to the elf.
Interesting. I wonder what her real hair color is. Brunette would be pretty with those blue eyes. Oh geez, what am I doing?
“I have to get to work. You have a good day.” I walked away.
When I got far enough away, I messaged Nicole to get in touch with Santa’s workshop and arrange for the workshop to be open with Santa and all the elves for the ball. Then I sent Apple a text.
“Sorry I had to leave the fireplace. I had to get to work.”
“Not a problem. I was in the middle of a three-way call.”
“You’re doing conference calls without me?”
“These things happen when you leave me alone.”
“I promise to get you back soon. Ttyl”
It was Friday afternoon and the party supplies would be getting delivered soon. I called Nicole to see what time the decorator would be arriving.
“Mr. Hawthorne, there’s a problem. The decorator can’t get there due to weather,” Nicole said. “I’m trying to get in contact with some other decorators, but the weather is getting worse. As a matter of fact, you better get out before you can’t.”
