Nicholas pushed his uncle away. “What do you mean, she's leaving?”
Tears slipped down Uncle Chris's face and Nicholas could see they weren't the first set. He turned and went to answer the doorbell, letting in the paramedics. Nicholas stood in horrified shock as the paramedics went to his Aunt's bedroom. He watched in silent terror as they brought her out on a gurney. The person on the gurney wasn't Aunt Georgia. It was something that looked like her, but wasn't her. Even thought it wore her Christmas Tree pj's, it wasn't her. There was no light in her. No magic.
“I called your mom,” Uncle Chris said softly as he passed. “She'll come get you and bring you to the hospital. I thought we had more time...”
Uncle Chris went with the paramedics. Nicholas stood rooted to the living room floor, unable to move as he watched them put his aunt in the back of the ambulance and drive away. He looked at the Christmas Tree with the dead lights.
He hated it.
He hated the tinsel hanging on the window. He hated the stockings hung over the fire. He hated the emptiness of the house. The Christmas decorations mocked him with their false joy.
It felt like something was poking him, hard, right behind his ribs.
There was still a week until Christmas, but it didn't feel like something to look forward to anymore. It was just another day on the calendar now.
He could feel the magic of Christmas evaporating like someone had just told him Santa wasn't real. Aunt Georgia loved Christmas but Aunt Georgia was leaving him. If Christmas couldn't save her, then what were Christmas wishes even worth?
He glared at the tree and stepped away from it.
He didn't want Christmas anymore. Christmas wishes weren't real. The whole thing was just a lie to tell children and a way for businesses to make money.
If he didn't care about Christmas, maybe this wouldn't hurt so much. It sounded possible. If he didn't let Christmas in, he didn't have to feel this pain.
So, he chose to make his way out of the living room,walking away from toys, and cookies and cakes and Christmas altogether.
Chapter 12
Nicholas
The next morning at Christmas Wishes, and Nicholas and Molly were busy at work, taking on customers two at a time. Surprisingly, Nicholas found himself enjoying it. It helped that Molly kept making him laugh.
In between their sales and checkouts, Nicholas noticed that Molly was looking over a few sheets of music, her face growing more frustrated the longer she stared down at the loose papers.
When he’d managed to catch a break between the busy flow of patrons, he walked over her, and looked down at the sheets himself. Music notes and lyrics filled the pages.
“You sing?” he asked, pointing to the music sheets.
“No. Well, kind of,” she explained. She sighed. “But not really. I’m the elementary school choir director.”
“The choir director doesn’t sing?” he asked, confused.
“Directing is a completely different job!” Molly defended her position, but sounded a little unsure herself. “Though, to be honest, I may not be so great at that either.”
He hated the way her smile faded as she looked at the music. He hated the slump of her shoulders and wished he could do something to help.
“I’m sure you’re great at whatever you put your mind to,” Nicholas said without a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
Molly looked up at him with widened eyes. “Uh, Nicholas? Are you feeling alright?”
“What? I’m fine.” Nicholas tried to laugh away the moment. “I just think that a Head Elf can do whatever she likes, if she focuses hard enough.”
“Ah, there he is,” Molly said, a smile coming back. She nudged him in his shoulder. “Hey, did you have fun? Yesterday?”
“Fun?” he asked, trying to guess where she was going with this.
“Yeah, with the snowball fight and helping out with the Brownstones...” Molly looked up at him with big eyes that made his stomach start to flutter. “I know the word may not exactly be in your vocabulary, but would you say you had fun?”
“...Yes.” Nicholas admitted, giving Molly a slight grin. “Yes, I’d say I had fun with you, Ms. Molly.”