AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why?” Cinnamon Stick jumps in.
“Cause I’m gonna be Santa one day like my daddy.” She tilts her chin up.
“You’re a girl.”
“And?”
“Santa is a boy,” Cinnamon Stick points out, making Noelle roll her eyes at him.
I only smile, knowing anything is possible if you want it bad enough.
“Don’t mind him, Noelle. No matter what anyone tells you, always remember that girls have all the magic.” She smiles up at me before we both turn and stick our tongues out at Cinnamon Stick.
Mac lets out a hearty ‘Ho Ho Ho’ from high above, and magic swirls around us, making our Christmas bright, merry, and full of love.
EPILOGUE 2
“I’ll have an extra shot of rum in that cocktail, if you don’t mind.”
“Sure thing.” The server hurries away, his footsteps silent in the white sand.
The ocean plays its calming tune of waves and seabirds as I relax into my chaise. I close my eyes, just enjoying the sun and the palm trees gently swaying overhead.
My jingle phone wakes me, and I realize I dozed off for long enough that the sunset is blazing bright over the cerulean waters. Reaching for my drink, I take a sip before I stop the jingling by tapping the Answer button.
“How’s it going?” I ask.
“You left me in the lurch bigtime.” Cinnamon Stick fumes. I can see him now, glaring at me as the little bell on his hat tinkles.
“Look, I saw an opportunity, and I took it.” I take another big gulp of my drink.
“Playing dead and leaving your hat like that was a dire breach of protocol. You know the rules.”
“I know.” I sigh. “But I was tired of the gig, and you know it. Besides—” I look up as Cindy, the love of my life, walks over, her beautiful gray hair swept up in a bun beneath her wide-brimmed sun hat. “I had some important business to attend to.”
“Relaxing in the Bahamas isn’t important business,” he huffs.
“Maybe not to you.” I pat my lap and Cindy sits, then takes a sip of my drink. She’s so beautiful, her eyes just as bright as the first time I saw her many, many years ago on Christmas Eve. A single mother hoping for Santa, hoping for the magic of Christmas. I delivered more than just the gifts that night, if you know what I mean. Then I waited for her for years. She couldn’t come to the North Pole and leave her children behind. So I had to bide my time.
When that expert tinkerer Jocelyn thought she’d killed me, I took the out. I disappeared, found Cindy, and both of us started a new life where we could be ourselves. Somewhere away from the winter chill. Somewhere warm.
“I know you’re angry, Cinnamon. But you’re going to have to get over it. It’s done. And from what I hear, the new Santa did a great job this Christmas.”
“He did. He and Mrs. Claus are absolutely perfect together. She runs the workshop; he embodies the soul of Christmas. They are a dream. All the elves are in love with them. In fact, there’s so much love in the air that the Christmas spirit is the strongest it’s ever been.”
“Then what do you want from me?” I pat Cindy’s ass, admiring every bit of her.
“I was only calling to inform you that this Jingle Phone will be deactivated in short order. We wish you well from the North Pole. Of course, you’re aware that you may never reveal the nature of your role as Santa. If you do, I’ll send Elf Team Black to take care of you for good.”
“I’m aware of the rules.” I sigh and finish my drink. “It was good working with you, Cinnamon, and I’m glad the new Santa is filling my shoes even better than I did.”
“Thank you for your service. Goodbye, Santa.” The line goes dead, and the phone melts into a burst of snowflakes that melt in the tropical heat.
“Trouble?” Cindy raises a brow.
“No. We’re free, and I’m exactly where I want to be.” I cup her cheek and pull her in for a kiss.
HER CHRISTMAS SPY
