“Evil Elfie.”
“Wait, you said that before,” Immy said with alarm. “You really have an evil elf?”
“Uh-huh and I’m just making sure he’s not spying on me. That’s why we were meeting in the closet before. So he couldn’t listen in on our conversations. He sends everything back to Santa, you know. Papi thinks I might get coal in my stocking this year.” Cat sniffled. That was so mean. Surely Santa wouldn’t do that?
“Have you been that naughty?” Immy asked with alarm.
“Of course not! And none of it was my fault.”
“Of course not,” Maeve agreed. “And we have to be careful that Santa doesn’t hear what we’re up to. None of us want coal in our stockings. I’m glad I don’t have an evil elf.”
“That would be terrible,” Immy said. “I asked Santa for a unicorn. I hope he brings it.”
“I asked for some new shoes,” Maeve said.
“I asked him for a jet pack and a ticket on a rocket ship to the moon,” Cat told them.
They both gaped at her.
“It’s gonna happen.”
She had faith in the jolly old, white-bearded man.
9
FAITH AND REUBEN
23rd December
Faith woke up and looked around the strange room, feeling disorientated. Where was she? Where was Daddy?
“Reuben?” she called out in alarm.
Then he stepped out of the bathroom. He had his phone to his ear and spoke into it while giving her a concerned look.
“Faith is awake now and I need to check on her. Yeah. Yep. I don’t know if we’re going to make it back out of here. The storm dumped an unprecedented amount of snow on Minneapolis last night.”
Oh, that’s where they were.
Now it was coming back to her. They’d hit a storm in the plane and Ralph had decided to land in Minneapolis. She’d worked herself up into such a state that she’d actually fainted.
What an idiot.
Well, you’re the one that said you wanted the plane to land. Now look what you’ve done.
Oh no!
Look at what she’d done! They were stuck in Minneapolis when they were meant to be headed to Wishingbone to spend time with Juliet and her men.
“Thanks, Alejandro. Yes, I’ll keep in touch.” Reuben ended the call and headed toward her. “Hey, Little Blossom.”
“I’m so sorry!” she cried.
He gave her a surprised look. “Why are you sorry?”
“Because we should be in Wishingbone right now with Juliet, Brick, and Xavier. And instead we’re stuck here.”
He tilted his head to the side. “I know. But that’s not your fault. You don’t control the weather. We’ll get to Wishingbone, even if we have to hire a car and drive. As soon as this storm passes, that is.”
