I lick my lips. “I know. It’s just... It’s that everything was going well. Artie and I are used to struggling. We don’t have a lot, financially, but we have each other, and we love the little things. The movies at home, the second-hand shop, playing cards and checkers, doing a jigsaw puzzle together. Before we had each other—we had nothing. It feels like this has ruined that. I was in a fairytale, and even though I’m the monster, I was getting my happy ending. This attack ruined that. No happy ending after all.” I swallow down the bitter bile in my throat as I name what’s been circling in my head.
“My dear,” Mr. Minegold’s tone is amused, and at first, I’m offended. “You aren’t supposed to have the happy ending yet! Notyet! Do you want the story to be over so soon? No more new adventures, no more new characters, no new chances to shower each other with affection?”
I shake my head.
“The story is just starting. Ah—” he stops me before I can protest. “I know the beginning was hard. I know this last week has been hard, too. Life isn’t all happiness, my dear. You know that. True happiness is when you have the ones you love to rise and fall with. You are in the valley, but this,” Mr. Minegold winksand gestures outside, “thisis a place of mountains and high peaks. You cling to your beautiful family. You’ll climb again, and your story will keep going, if you let it.” He kisses my cheek with a gentle pat of my hand, and then he’s gone, a dash of black running to the shelter of the car.
When Alban and Tessa wave, I suddenly remember what is supposed to happen today.
I have to leave the house to make it happen.
I have to leave the house to make the story keep on going, and the happiness keep on flowing. “Hey, Artie? When do you have to work today?”
“I called in sick! I don’t have to work until tomorrow. My boss says I have three more sick days to use before the end of the year, and I get Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day off!” he calls back, trotting down the stairs with Laurel tucked under his arm. “Okay. One poop-free baby for the mama.”
“Mama! Ma!” Laurel puffs her cheeks up at me, and I giggle.
“Well. Want to go out to lunch? Get our Christmas tree? And meet Alban at two?” I ask. “I need to change first.”
Artie nods, happy disbelief in his eyes.
Chapter Nineteen: Krampusnacht
December 5th, 2025
Pine Ridge, New York
“I thought you would like this. Jasper Wainwright, our local reporter, finds interesting new tidbits from across the country for our littlePine Ridge Gazette. I myself occasionally contribute as a guest columnist. Here.”
Mr. Minegold hands me a sheet of printer paper with a grainy photo. The photo itself isn’t poor quality, it’s just that it’s marred by the subject matter—a struggling man in the ocean’s spray and the sleeting, snowing mess that’s Alaska in December. I read the caption under the photo.The Coast Guard reports that a Mr. Barton Bremner was pulled out of the water by several of his crewmates. He had severe injuries and hypothermia and was taken to the James McGuffin Naval Base for a medical evaluation.
My mouth pops open, and I stare harder at the photo.
Barton. Blurry, barely recognizable. His face is dwarfed by horns. Huge curling ram-style horns that block most of his profile. I can just imagine the panic he’s in. Probably screaming that he caught my demon genes somehow.
“Is it a good wedding present, my dear?” Mr. Minegold asks with twinkling eyes.
“I love it.”
“You know, even after he has those things removed, probably at great and painful expense, and most definitely with a lot of awkward explanations—you simply have to put a new slip ofpaper in the compact to—erhm—remind him why he should love others despite their unusual appearances.”
I fold the paper up and tuck it into the bottom of the stroller in front of me. “I do love a gift that keeps on giving.”
“Judge Burns is ready.” Alban Wymmark sticks his head through the wooden door of the courtroom into the lobby, where I’m flanked by a dozen people who have chosen to give up their Friday afternoons—and in Mr. Minegold’s case, risk a nasty burn.
Lesha couldn’t get out of work in time for the ceremony at two, but she’s on her way, and she’ll meet us for a little reception in The Pine Loft Coffee Shop. But Sophie, Libby, Charlotte, and Tessa are here. There are more diaper bags than bouquets, and I giggle as I picture us all walking in, pushing our strollers.
“Marines get to walk in under those sword arches. Motherhood is its own battle, right, ladies?” Sophie laughs, handing JJ off to his grandfather and putting Mary’s pacifier in her mouth. “I think we can have an honor guard of strollers.”
“I would love that,” I rasp, wiping my eyes. Charlotte and Tessa instantly take the right side, and Sophie and Libby grab the left. Alban opens the double doors, and I let out a nervous giggle as I wipe my sweating palms on the bodice of my new white lace dress, thrifted from Chloe’s shop.
These women are my friends. The other moms who are going to help me with teething and potty training, and maybe pregnancy and homework problems. I was afraid they’d never come near me again, never let me see their sweet babies.
And instead, they are here with me on Krampusnacht, so I can make the meaning something new, something for people like Laurel and me. A night to celebrate the krampuses in our community, not fear them.
Celebrate that in a very special way, in my case. I let out a shaking breath and push Laurel’s stroller forward. She has abucket of soft felt flowers in her hands, but she’s not much on the flower girl part of this assignment. She picks up the plastic bucket and gnaws on the handle. Artie laughs and wipes his eyes.
Artie. Artie is so handsome, with a perfect haircut and those wayward bangs gelled back, immaculate in his good interview shirt and a jacket borrowed from Alain Wymark, who is closer to his size.
