Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Holly Frost loved snow and everything about the winter season. She sort of had to, with her name. If she didn’t show anything but pure joy at the first snowflake or accept the umpteenth mug of steaming cocoa from a rosy-cheeked neighbor, well—she grimaced before plastering on a practiced smile—he would find out. Everyone knew that he was always watching. One little mistake and…she shook her head. No use dwelling on that awful scenario.

Now, arms loaded with gifts for friend and neighbors, she bumped Carol Bells’ shop door open with her hip and crashed into something tall, dark, and handsome. Her stack of festive boxes flew into the air and she face-planted in the snow.

“Are you okay? I’m so sorry! You…you materialized out of nowhere!” The voice was apologetic. And masculine.

Holly didn’t want to get up. She knew this trope and she refused to play along. She would just lie here in the snow until she turned into an ice—

“Here, let me help you up!” Two strong hands lifted her to her feet before she could bury herself in the drifts and hide. He gallantly brushed the snow from her fallen stocking hat, as expected, while she blinked past snow encrusted eyelashes.

His chocolate colored eyes met hers.

“I don’t know you,” she blurted out without thinking. Her face flamed but he merely smiled.

“I’m new to Christmas Valley.”

Not another one, Holly inwardly groaned. No wonder she didn’t recognize him.

“Visiting family?” she asked, even though she knew better. Nobody here had family.

“Um, friends,” he said. There was a hesitation in his voice, a moment where he seemed uncertain, and she had a spark of hope that maybe he could see past the magic. But then he grinned and shrugged. “My name is Nicholas Snowden, by the way. Friends call me Nick. I live in Big City, but some of my friends decided this Christmas would be a good year to spend on the slopes and since we heard Christmas Valley has some of the best—”

“Good backstory,” Holly interrupted. Her hands were shaking as she plucked her packages from the slushy ground. “Though, don’t you find it strange that our town has the best ski slopes? I mean, we’re in a valley.” She was being too bold, but the brief spark in his eyes made her risk the expected story line.

“Well, um, actually, now that you mention it,” Nicholas frowned. She watched as he scanned the flat horizon and tapped his lips with a gloved finger. “Isn’t that odd…?”

Holly shuffled her parcels into the crook of her arm before leaning closer to Nicholas. She was practically mumbling into the neck of his bright red Christmas sweater. The intimacy made her blush, but she had to say something, and he was potentially chosen to be her ally.

“Look, I know this sounds weird but…do you remember traveling here?” She glanced up to catch him frown and purse his lips. “Thought so,” she whispered. “You’re not supposed to be here, Nick. Neither am I. Every single person here has been abducted and trapped in this town by an alien that goes by the name of…” she trailed off. His jaw had dropped open in surprise; his eyes had dulled into a familiar acceptance. She was losing him. Taking a deep breath, she changed tactics. Their story had just started; she could use that. She would take it slow and steady and use the plot to show him that all wasn’t as it seemed.

“Since you’re new to town, maybe you’d like to come decorate cookies at Town Hall with me tonight? It’s tradition. The couple with the best decorated cookies wins a sleigh ride around town. Not that, you know, we’re a couple, but—”

“Sounds interesting,” he said with a grin.

“I’ve never won, but it’s been my dream to beat Noel Winters,” Holly said, forcing her voice to sound wistful. “She wins every year.” If their tale was still on course and he didn’t think her completely insane, he would have no choice but to accept the date.

“I’d love to go. And we’ll cream your arch nemesis with our amazing frosting skills.” Nicholas winked.

Noel wasn’t her arch nemesis, but there was no way Holly could tell Nick who the real enemy was, not yet.

Nick handed her the last, damp gift, plucked from the snow. “See you tonight,” she smiled.

“With jingle bells on,” he laughed.

Holly reluctantly turned her back to Nick’s charm. She had to shake her head to focus on her mission instead of dwelling on the memory of his gorgeous eyes.

“It’s not a real romance,” she reminded herself as she stomped through the snow down Angel Ave and turned toward Candy Cane Way. The sun was starting to set as she muttered to herself, “It’s not real, it’s not real, it’s not—”

Distracted, she bounced off something red, round, and jolly. Her gifts flew again but she didn’t bother to retrieve them. It was him. She should have been watching out. She should have known he would notice that all was not right in the meeting between her and Nick. She wanted to cry for help as he gazed down his spectacles at her, but there was no point. Nobody would come to her aid. He owned this town.

“Holly,” he shook a playful finger at her, “It seems you’ve been a naughty girl. I’ve checked my list twice and, well, I’m disappointed at the ungratefulness that’s been reported about you. Why are you trying to destroy the Christmas spirit?”

Holly fought the ball of fear in her belly. “This isn’t real,” she whispered.

“Oh, ho, ho, ho! On the contrary, it’s more real than you realize!” Holly flinched as he leaned closer. The smell of cookies on his breath made her feel dizzy. “There is a spark of remembrance in your mind,” he noted, stroking his white beard. “I should have fixed that three Christmases ago.” He sighed and snapped his fingers. A man dressed in green, no higher than Holly’s knee, bounced out from behind a snowman. He offered her a mug filled with a creamy drink that smelled strongly of nutmeg.

“Be good, for goodness sake, and drink up,” he demanded.

“And if I refuse?” Holly dared to ask, crossing her arms over chest.

“It’s your choice.” He hooked a thumb on his black belt. “Drink and immerse your mind, body, and soul in this beautiful winter wonderland, where every Christmas wish is granted or,” he frowned, “I can exert some yuletide magic and add you to my herd of reindeer. Though shouting ‘On, Holly’ doesn’t quite fit with the rest of the team. I might have to change your name, if you don’t mind…”

Holly reluctantly took the mug of eggnog from the pointy-eared minion. Her lips trembled as she considered her choices. She couldn’t see a way out. No matter what she chose, she would be trapped. There was no escape from this holiday horror, where every day she lived was Christmas.

It only took one sip for the memories of her past life to melt away. A comforting warmness spread through her. Holly blinked.

“Santa?”

“There you go,” Santa grinned. “But remember, I know when you’re sleeping and when you’re awake. If I see another relapse…”

Holly leaned forward and gave the jolly old man a hug. “I knew you were real!” she squealed. She could hardly wait to tell Nick she’d actually met Kris Kringle himself!

Under the brightening stars, Holly dashed through the snow and back into town, full of holiday cheer. Snowflakes gently fell from the sky, baptizing the world in a coat of fresh, gleaming powder. For the first time, her mind felt whole. It was finally beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

“Ho, ho, ho!” Santa’s laugh echoed behind her. “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Holly didn’t know why, but she shivered.



Frosty Facts ▼

1336 words
Written for "Santa, Elves, and Reindeer Contest"