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"But I don’t knohat it is I’!" I cried "Do you?"

"I’ve told you all I can for now," said Carter, that sadness returning "The most I can do now is buy you a drink"

I shook h whiskey in the world"

"There isn’t," he said bleakly "There isn’t"

Despite Carter’s pessi He didn’t, but his incredulity was so similar to mine that I took some comfort in it

"What? That’s ridiculous," he told me "It was a et ahold of Jero too, but , he’ll eventually notice the phone" Even though it was still early for the de that he could very well be avoiding ht sneak in where I couldn’t

I was fast approaching the time when I was supposed to meet Seth at the twins’ school I had wanted to run ho to Roman about my potential transfer, but it didn’t seem as important now, not until I had the story confirmed or denied by Jerome So, after a few reater supernatural workings of the universe, I drove up to Lake Forest Park and arrived at the school just as Seth did

Ian got out of the car too, and Seth flashedbrotherly co the jacket Seth had h to be tailored and had strategically placed patches e appearance Ian completed the look with a carefully knotted striped scarf and fedora He also had on glasses, which I’d seen no sign of at Seth’s

"I didn’t know you wore glasses," I told hio with the scarf"

Seth was carrying two huge containers of white-frosted cupcakes that were liberally and sloppily dusted with green and red sparkles I took one batch froned in and were given directions to the classroom

"Looks like you were productive," I said with a smile

"No thanks to Mom," Seth replied fondly "It took her forever to leave She kept offering to help and double-check my work, make sure the oven was set and all that It was a boxed mix There wasn’t thatabout preservatives and high fructose corn syrup

The classrooanized chaos Other parents and fa food and running games The twins ran up to the three of us with quick, fierce hugs before scurrying off to play with their friends I didn’t see Morgan and McKenna outside of the family very often, so it was neat to watch the with their peers They charmed their friends as irls were leaders of sorts Tiny, adorable blond leaders The knot I’d carried inside an to soften as I allowedtheaze as we maintained our post near the food table He nodded tohere Ian was trying to pitch his own cupcakes - organic, vegan, gluten-free creations from a local bakery - to some of the twins’ classmates To be fair, the cupcakes were beautiful They were vanilla, topped with elaborately swirled chocolate icing that was in turn adorned with perfect white frosting flowers They ht have made, but I knew better than to be fooled When you redients found in traditional baked goods, the truth caood a jobthem

"These are so much better for you than all this other junk food," Ian was telling a wide-eyed boy named Kayden Despite the fact we’d been inside the warm classroom for almost an hour, Ian was still completely clad in his scarf and wool coat ensearbanzo bean flour and sweetened with ar crap"

Kayden’s eyes grew ier "Those have beans and rice in them?"

Ian faltered "Well, yesbut, no, I redients in a way that’s totally fair trade and nutritious Plus, I picked a brown and white color scheme, not only to save you from artificial dyes but also to show respect for all holidays and tradition, rather than giving into the mainstream domination of the Judeo-Christian rabbed a red-frosted snowman cookie froave us a long-suffering look "I fear for today’s youth At least we can take the leftovers back to Terry’s"

"We’d better," said Seth "Those cost me a small fortune"

"You mean they cost me a small fortune," said Ian "They’re my contribution"

"I paid for them!"

"It was just a loan," said Ian imperiously "I’ll pay you back"

The party didn’t last too er - seven-year-olds didn’t need to slam drinks for hours likeI had it set to vibrate in my pocket but was afraid I would miss Jerome’s call But no matter how many times I looked, the phone’s display re calls or texts

With things winding down, McKenna"Georgina, are you going to co to have lasagna"

"And cupcakes," piped in Ian, carefully packing up his goods By iven away exactly one cupcake, and that was to a boy who’d taken it on a dare from his friends

I lifted McKenna up, surprised at how big she was getting The years didn’t alter ed by leaps and bounds in such short time periods She wrapped her arms around me, and I pressed a kiss into her blond curls

"I wish I could, baby But I have to work tonight"

"Are you still helping Santa?" she asked

"Yes," I said solemnly "And it’s very important work I can’thow sober Santa would stay

McKenna sighed and leaned her head against my shoulder "Maybe you’ll come over when you’re done"

"You’ll be in bed," I said "I’ll see what I can do for to, and I felt ering a ret for the children I myself would never have

Children had been so denied to me even then The pain of that reality had been driven home last year when Nyx, a primordial chaos entity, had visiteddreay The one that had recurred the hter - stepping outside into a snowy night to greet her father He’d been shadowy at first, later revealed as Seth Nyx, in a desperate bid for help later, had sworn the dreas to come It had been a lie, however An impossibility that could never be mine

"Maybe you’ll come by my house after you’re done ork," Seth said to led away

"That depends," I said "Who’s going to be in your bed?"

"We had a talk He knows to stay out of ht hold of Seth’s hand "I would, but I’ve got soot to hunt down Jerome aboutbusiness"

"You’re sure that’s it?" he asked "You’re sureyou off?"

I’ll adaret Mortensen’s disapproving gaze, but I also couldn’t iood co on withinto his kind, warm eyes, I felt a pit open inat every chance I could get to be with him Who kne many more we had? No, I scolded ht you’ll find Jerome and clear up this mess Then you and Seth can be happy

"Your fa to do with it," I assured Seth "Besides, now that you have extra help, you can use your free tiet soht self-erinned and kissed hiht"

Kayden, passing by for one last cookie, caught sight of ly "Ew"

I parted ith the Mortensens and headed off to the mall It was often a surprise to mortals to learn immortals like me purposely chose to take day jobs, so to speak If you were around for a few centuries and semiith your h to co human employment unnecessary Yet, most immortals I knew still worked Correction - most lesser immortals I knew did Greater ones, like Jerome and Carter, rarely did, but maybe they already had too concrete of a job with their employers Or, e froardless, days like today were clear reainful e but free time onaboutWalter-as-Santa - as absurd as it was - at least gave me a distraction while I waited to hear froave purpose too, which I’d found was necessary todays of ione insane, and hout their long lives

A new elf - one whom Walter had christened Happy - had joined our ranks today, one as certainly helping pass the ti on my nerves

"I don’t think he should be drinking at all," she said, for what felt like the hundredth time "I don’t see why I have to learn this schedule"

Prancer, a veteran elf, exchanged glances with ht," he told Happy "We’re just saying it’s reality He’s going to get a hold of liquor one way or another If we deny him, he’ll sneak it in the bathroom He’s done it before"

"If we’re the ones giving it to hiets This?" I gestured to the schedule we’d drawn up "This isn’t h to get buzzed"

"But they’re children!" Happy cried Her eyes drifted off toward the long line of fah the mall "Sweet, innocent, joyful children"

Another silent e passed between Prancer and me "Tell you what," I finally said "Why don’t you et about the liquor schedule We’ll handle that You go trade places with Bashful at the head of the line She doesn’t really like working with the public anyway" When Happy was out of earshot, I re to report us all to the mall’s HR office"

"Oh, they have plenty of tireen spandex pants "I’ve worked with Walter for three years now, and Happy’s not the first elf to havelit He’s been reported lots"

That was news to me "And they haven’t fired him?"

"Nah It’s harder to fill these jobs than youas Walter doesn’t touch or say so inappropriate, the mall doesn’t seem to care"