Dear Kacey,
Your organization makes a world of difference to the many lives you touch. I hope this new headquarters helps expand and strengthen your mission.
With love,
Mr. C
Kacey’s puzzlement gradually shifts to understanding. Tears speckle the edges of her chestnut-colored eyes.
“I, um—” I stammer.
Kacey stops me with an upturned hand. “I was raised not to question the gifts of angels. Weirder things have happened, right?”
“Right,” Veronica and I say in unison.
Back on the street, the news reporter runs up to us.
“Miss Ortega, Miss Ortega, what can you tell us about this mysterious building?” the eager journalist asks. She pushes a microphone into Kacey’s face.
Kacey stops for a second, looks straight into the camera, andsays, “I can tell you that today of all days, I firmly believe in miracles.”
The house isn’t as quiet as I left it.
After I hang up my coat and slip off my boots, a rustling coming from our living room makes my heart skip several beats. That’s where the Christmas tree I put up is, so I’m not totally surprised when I find Santa Patrick standing there, waiting for me.
No matter the anger I felt last night or the disappointment I felt this morning, I’m lit up with delight to see him. “I thought maybe you’d forgotten.” My voice is meek, but my stomach flutters.
“I could never,” he says certainly. “Sorry I’m late. I was just saving the best stop for last.”
I beam, sensing my center of gravity lurch toward him. “Kacey’s workshop looks incredible.”
“Oh good,” he says, almost bashfully. “We assembled it quickly in the cover of night. I’m glad it’s nice in broad daylight.”
I inch farther into the room. “So, what’s the verdict? Have I been naughty or nice this year?”
He chuckles, eyes roaming up to the ceiling. “Nice. Very nice. In fact, so nice that I have a special present for you.”
I’m expecting a kiss. Not an envelope. “More letters?” I ask, only a smidge disappointed as I accept it.
“Open it and find out.”
What I find is way more than a letter. I think it’s a decree from the Council of Priors.
Addendums to North Pole bylaws Article 25, Subsections 11 and 12.
Subsection 11. Santa’swifespouse automatically fulfills the role ofMrs. ClausMerriest Mister/Missus/any such moniker they so choose and all the duties that come with that role.
Subsection 12. The presentMrs. Claus must reside alongside the present Santa in the North Pole for the present Santa’s tenure.spouse may reside wherever they choose so long as they spread love and Christmas cheer to every soul their life shall touch.
*Addendums effective immediately as ruled by the Council of Priors and Santa Patrick
“What does this mean?” I ask, still jumbled from all the commotion this morning.
“It means that the magic in the North Pole didn’t need us to be married and in one place,” Patrick explains, “it needed us to love each other fully and without expectation.”
An overjoyed sigh saws out of me. “That’s wonderful, so for us that means…?”
“It means I’ll send the sleigh for you on weekends. I’ll start delineating responsibilities better so that I can take time off to come visit you in the less busy months at the workshop,” Patrick says. “And from the twenty-sixth to January first, I’ll come here, and you and I will laze and love and rest and just be Patrick and Quinn. Simple. You always said you didn’t want a traditional marriage. Would this arrangement bringourmagic back?”
