Nick gave Lux an exasperated look. “Don’t flick my wishers. They’ll wish you to the south pole or something.”
Ethan cocked his head to the side.
Nick spun on him and pointed at his nose. “Don’t even think it!”
Ethan snickered. He had thought it, but apparently, he couldn’t simply think about his wish; he had to say it aloud. He decided to get serious, though, and contemplated what he would wish for if he could wish for anything.
The list got long, fast.
A new work van would be practical.
A new roof on the house would be prudent.
Being free to date Valerie and explore the possibilities that seemed to dance around them like sugarplum fairies was an option.
Nick tapped his black boot impatiently. “You realize we have a world’s worth of toys to make and deliver this month, right?”
Lux snorted. “As if you’re helping.”
Nick looked offended. “I help!”
She pointed at Ethan. “Twisting wishes is not helping.”
“That’s why we’re going to un-twist them.” Nick spun on Ethan, his hands on his hips. “Well?”
“Okay. Okay.” Ethan’s mind cleared, and he knew what he wanted more than anything. When it came down to it, his deepest wish wasn’t for himself. “I wish Collin had a regular family dynamic–one where his mother and father are equally part of his life and invested in him.” Okay, so there would be side effects that would benefit him, but really, he just wanted his son to be happy.
Lux hugged her laptop to her chest. “That’s sweet. Blended families are complicated, but they can be wonderful.” A note of sincerity rang in her words, and Ethan wondered what her relationship situation consisted of.
Nick bobbed his head. “Here we go.”
A chill raced over Ethan’s arms and raised goosebumps on his skin. He shivered.
Before he’d recovered, Nick thrust a business card at him. “If you change your mind, call me. I’ll be around town.”
Lux bounced on her toes. “We’re studying the effect of your wish on the other two. It’s the most fascinating advancements in–”
“Lux!” Nick cut her off. “Family confidentiality!”
She rolled her eyes. “I know. I just get so excited about all this. Wait until Matthew sees the new charts.”
Ethan, still feeling the effects of the cold breeze, looked down to zip up his coat.
Poof!
He jerked his head up to find himself alone. “What in the world?”
A loud stomp on the roof had him ducking his head. A second later, jingle bells rang out.
He straightened. “No way,” he whispered. He’d been caught up in the whole conversation, but now that he wasn’t staring Santa in the face, he felt a little foolish for believing them so quickly. “Pft,” he snorted. “Next thing you know, I’ll compare Christmas notes with Charlotte.” She ran Santa’s fan club.
He adjusted his shoulders and put the whole weird conversation behind him.
CHAPTERFIVE
Valerie parked on Main Street and hurried to The Christmas Shop, a bag of gourmet, chicken-flavored dog goodies hanging over her arm. She was so excited–and scared.
She was excited because her mind came alive with different flavors, shapes, decorations, and packaging ideas. And, probably because of the family entrepreneurial gene, she’d jumped ahead twelve steps and become a gourmet dog-food mogul. Rachael Ray step aside; there’s a new dog mom in town. Tanya and Tucker would be with her through all of it, of course. They’d be the faces of her brand. The happy, pampered dogs every dog yearned to be. She’d set up charities, and 5K dog runs in all the major cities. There would be photo shoots, commercials, television specials, and more.
