Nick kicked the floor. “She’s stabilizing the North Pole.”
“Why?” Charlotte’s voice cracked.
“Earthquakes.” Robyn threw back her glass and finished off the milk.
Charlotte considered her explanation. Since she’d said Kringle’s couldn’t lie, it had to be true. Perhaps global warming affected them. Who knew what kind of issues they had up there?
“Can you explain the wish situation you referred to in your text?” Robyn asked, changing the subject.
Charlotte refilled Nick’s milk as she told them about Lizzie’s wish and her wish acting like angry toddlers. She finished and asked, “Do all wishes do that or what?” She looked back and forth between them.
Robyn bit her lip and became super interested in folding her napkin. Nick ran his thumb up and down the side of his cup. He cleared his throat. “This is … new?” he said it like it was a question instead of the answer to her question.
Charlotte considered him for a moment. “But you know why it’s happening?”
He nodded and spoke fast. “You and Lizzie wished for the same thing.” He drew his cup to his chest as if he was afraid she’d rip it away from him in a fit of anger.
Charlotte wrinkled her nose. “Lizzie wished for my house?”
Nick nodded.
“Isn’t that a little … strange for a little girl to–.” She cut off as both Nick and Robyn raised their eyebrows expectantly.
She held up her hands. “I know I wished for it when I was a kid, but I’ve spent years building up my wishing bank. How did her’s get granted so quickly?”
“Wishing bank?” Robyn asked for clarification.
Charlotte tucked her hair behind her ear, feeling self-conscience. “I thought that by asking for the same thing every year, the magic built up, and when I had enough of it stored away, the house would be mine.”
“That’s not how Christmas Magic works.” Robyn wrinkled her brow. “At least, I don’t think it does. This isn’t my area of expertise.” She drew in a breath as she typed out a text. A second later, her phone beeped. “Lux says she doesn’t think that’s how it works, but to ask Nick.”
Nick held up both her hands. “Like I would know.”
Robyn gave him a dubious look. “It’s your gift. You should document these things.”
He grumbled something under his breath.
Charlotte rolled her eyes. Whatever the issue–they needed to take care of it pronto. “Obviously, Lizziecanget a house with one wish.” She threw her arm in the direction of the wish house. “A heads up would have been nice a few years back.” She folded her arms and glared at the ground, thinking of everything she’dnotput on her list over the years while saving up for the house. “Could have had a new car,” she mumbled.
Nick brightened. “Do you want to change your wish?”
“No!” she snapped. “I’m invested in this house.”
Nick snapped his fingers in an ah-shucks motion.
Robyn sat up straighter. “I think I have it.” She typed furiously, her brow lowered.
Nick snuck another cookie. How many could this guy eat? “This really doesn’t weird you out?” he asked as an aside, his finger wagging between him and Robyn.
Charlotte tipped her head. “What? You guys? Christmas Magic? Prancer on the roof? And the fact that she smells like vanilla bean?” She hooked her thumb at Robyn.
He nodded.
She scoffed and swatted away the question. “Why do you ask?”
He scowled at his cookie. “Most people freak out.”
She thought of Nickpoofingin on her brother and chortled. “I’ll bet they do.”
