Chapter1
Holly
Christmas carols fill my small bedroom, forcing me from the deep sleep I’d just been enjoying and into the harsh reality of another day. I hit snooze on my phone and snuggle even deeper under the thick, down comforter, not quite ready to face the chilly room and then suffer through what will most likely be a tepid shower. I’ve just managed to sink back into sleep when Perry Como’s smooth voice starts back up on “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and soon my foot starts tapping, and I can’t help but sing along.
“Damn it, Perry, you know I can’t resist that one,” I fake grumble before swinging my legs out of bed and immediately into my giant, fluffy fox slippers. Pulling back the curtains, I let out a big, goofy grin at the snow-covered city. Big, fat flakes are still floating down, and it looks so beautiful that not even hearing my stepsister scream at me to “Turn down that goddamn Christmas music!” can put a damper on my mood.
Ignoring Shelly, I take my phone into the bathroom so I can listen to my Christmas playlist while I shower and get ready for work. We’ve been sharing this apartment for almost a year now, and she never lets me forget that she doesn’t want me here and is just letting me stay until I can afford my own place. I’m guessing that will be a while since the department store I work for pays shit. I save everything I can, but most places want you to make three times what your rent is, and that’s just fucking insane, so shacking up with Shelly it is.
The shower decides to favor me with enough warm water to actually fog up the mirror, and once I’m dressed snuggly in my thick, green-and-white striped tights and red dress, I grab my red, knit hat and head for the kitchen. I’ve been working as an elf in the toy department for most of December, and now that Christmas is right around the corner, it’s been crazy busy. My boss is a giant dick who likes to give all the women leering looks that make you feel dirty anytime you happen to have the bad luck of falling under his gaze. He’s never actually crossed the line, though, so there’s nothing we can really do. I’ve been looking for another job, but so far I’ve had zero luck.
Pouring a bowl of cereal, I scarf it down while standing at the sink, waiting for the ancient coffeemaker to work its magic. It’s still gurgling out a thin, brown stream when Shelly walks in, yawning and looking like she’s still half asleep.
“You look ridiculous,” she says, eyeing my elf outfit.
I return the favor by eyeing her fuzzy monstrosity of a robe but don’t say anything. Instead I fill my travel coffee mug, the one that has dancing reindeers on it wearing plaid scarves and leg warmers, and let out a silent groan when I hear Billy’s voice from behind me.
“Hey, babe, do you have any orange juice?”
I turn around and give Shelly’s boyfriend a smile before dumping a healthy amount of sugar in my coffee and screwing the lid on. It’s not that I hate Billy. It’s more that I hate that he’s such a loser, and that knowing that doesn’t stop me from getting jealous that she has someone to snuggle up with at night and I don’t.
Bitter at twenty-three. It’s all downhill from here, the grim part of my brain screeches at me. I ignore it and start to hum “White Christmas” while I wash my breakfast dishes.
“Off to be an elf again?” Billy teases, pouring himself a large glass of the orange juice I bought for myself the other day.
“Doesn’t she look ridiculous?” Shelly teases, a big, smug grin on her face.
Billy snorts and pulls her onto his lap, making her squeal and toss back her blonde curls in what I’m assuming is a practiced move. I hum even louder and grab my bag before leaving. Fumbling with my scarf, I carefully make my way down the icy stairs that lead to the parking lot and veer to the left after I’ve checked to make sure no one is watching. The forgotten, old room that used to hold yard supplies when the apartment complex housed their own groundskeeper has been vacant since I got here, and when I open the door, I smile at the loud meow that immediately greets me.
“Hey, Nutmeg.” I scoot into the tiny room and squat down so I can pet him properly. I’d found him a month ago, cold, hungry, and so damn cute I couldn’t turn him away. He reaches his head up even higher, rubbing against me and purring like crazy, watching me with his big, green eyes that stand out so sharply against his pitch-black fur. When I’d tried to sneak him into my room one night, Shelly had pitched a massive fit and threatened to throw me out if I ever did it again. I bought him a crate and filled it with blankets, but I still feel guilty making him sleep out here all alone in this cold, dark room.
When he sees me reach into my bag, he meows even louder and circles around my ankles. I pop the top on a can of food and set it down before refilling his water dish with some bottled water. I scratch his soft head while he purrs and devours his bowl of food.
“You know the drill. I’ll keep the door open enough for you to sneak out, but keep it stealthy, Nutmeg. I’ll be back later with more food.”
He looks up at me, which I take to mean he fully understands and will do as I ask, so I give him one last rub and sneak back out the door, leaving it open just enough for him to squeeze through if he wants to use the bathroom or explore for a bit. Looking at my watch, I groan and speed walk as fast as I can on the ice-coated sidewalks to the bus stop at the end of our street. It’s stopped snowing, but it’s still bitterly cold, and by the time I get there to see the bus turning the corner, my lungs feel like they’re on fire, and I’m pretty sure my nose is beet red.
I take my usual seat in the back by the window and watch the city waking up as we head towards downtown. The bus smells strongly of coffee and eggs, thanks to a breakfast burrito that a man is trying very hard to eat without spilling. We’re all packed into our winter gear, making the bus feel even more crowded than it actually is. Even though I recognize most of their faces from riding this same bus five days a week, no one smiles or says hi. They’ve all got their heads buried in their phones or are staring numbly out the windows. I do give a big smile to a happy toddler I see squirming on his mom’s lap. He gives me a big grin before getting shy and burying his head against his mom’s puffy coat.
When it’s my stop, I get off, waving a quick goodbye to the little boy, and then walk to Leeman’s Department Store, giving Frank, the security guard on duty, a big cheery grin.
“Morning, Holly,” he says, making his big, grey eyebrows lift up even higher when he shoots me a broad grin.
“Hey, Frank. Is your wife feeling any better?”
“Yeah, the doctor said it’s just a bad cold, so I’ve been making her stay in bed and bringing her chicken noodle soup.”
“You’re a good man,” I tell him, making him blush and swat my compliment away with a large, hand that’s red and chapped from the wind. “Tell her I hope she feels better soon.”
“I will. Thanks, Holly.”
I give him another smile before rounding the corner and walking into the employee-only area. I manage to clock-in with two minutes to spare and toss my bag and empty travel mug into my locker before pinning on my name tag and giving myself a quick look in the small mirror that’s tacked to my locker door. I don’t linger on my reflection, just give a quick glance to make sure I don’t have anything smudged on my face or too many hairs out of place.
When I shut my locker and turn around, I let out a startled gasp. Mr. Belsky is leaning against his office door, giving me that pervy stare of his and making my skin crawl. His substantial paunch is pushing tight against his horrendous, brown suit, making his olive green tie buckle a bit above the straining buttons. He may look like a pessimistic, old bastard, but anybody who hangs on that tightly to their comb over, must be an optimist at heart. I try very hard to not stare at the poor, scraggily lines of dark hair plastered across his mostly bald scalp.
“Good morning, Mr. Belsky,” I mumble, already making my way across the deserted room, not wanting to spend one more second alone with him than I need to.
“Come see me later, Holly, after your shift. I need to discuss your schedule with you.”