Billy was faster than she was. He threw his arms around Snowflake’s neck and spoke soothingly. “You’re okay, Snowflake. You promised to stay with me, and you’re doing that. Santa won’t be mad. I’ll write him. I’ll tell him what a good reindeer you are.” He softly stroked her chest as he spoke.
Forest stared.
Mitzi brushed past him to stand on the other side of Snowflake. “Me too.” She stood with the reindeer and cast a withering look at Forest.
Forest pointed from Snowflake to Billy. “Shepromisedto stay with you?” He couldn’t have sounded more shocked if Saint Nick himself stood there in his long johns.
Billy nodded. “She did. She promised. She’s doing what she said, and that means she’s good!”
Forest rubbed his beard. Something shifted in him. Something that moved the tide of argument in their favor—though Mitzi was at a loss as to what that was exactly. She still didn’t have permits and whatnot, but it seemed a reindeer’s promise meant something to Forest.
Weird. Good, but weird.
“Hmm. That may complicate things. Can I have a minute alone with Snowflake, please?”
“No!” Billy yelled.
Mitzi glared. “So you can sneak her out the back?”
“What back?” Forest waved his hand around, indicating the barn and the solid three walls.
Mitzi rolled her eyes at herself for being so dramatic. It was just … “I don’t trust you.”
His jaw clenched. “You’re welcome to lock me in here with her if it will make you feel better.”
Fair enough. It was his reindeer, after all. She moved around Snowflake, who was nudging Billy’s shoulder in a show of comfort. Bending down, she spoke quietly. This was Billy’s decision to make. “Hey, what do you say?”
Billy sniffed.
“We’ll wait right outside, and as soon as he’s done, you can come back in, okay?”
“Why can’t I just stay?” Billy asked.
Mitzi raised an eyebrow at Forest. The burden of proof or evidence or whatever was on him.
Forest lifted a shoulder. “I gotta have a conversation with her, bud. Just her and me. You know how that is?”
Billy nodded, as if he knew exactly how that was.
Mitzi thought about the few times she’d unburdened herself on Snowflake. The reindeer was full of wisdom—which was also weird to think, but there was no other explanation for how she always seemed to understand. So talking to a reindeer wasn’t just a thing for her and Billy.
“Okay then.” She placed a hand on Billy’s shoulder and steered him out of the stall, through the barn, and into the yard. She turned and shut the door behind them, then leaned against it. Billy did the same giving her a conspiratorial smile.
“Is he going to take Snowflake?”
“I don’t know. It’s complicated. I hope not.” She put one arm over his shoulder, and he leaned into her. “But remember, no matter what, I’m always going to be here, okay? You and me are stuck together forever.”
He nodded, his heart right there in the tears on his face. How could Forest not see that these two were meant to be together? And what would she do if he took her reindeer away?
“Come on. If we don’t hurry, you’ll be late for school.”
“But he’s—” Billy started.
“He’s not going anywhere.” Mitzi was pretty sure Forest wouldn’t try and take off with Snowflake without at least giving her some warning. “If he tries, I’ll see him out the window.” She pointed to the window over the kitchen sink.
They headed inside, their shoulders heavy with Snowflake’s unknown fate looming.
Chapter Eleven
