Chapter 10 - Eve's Christmas Wedding

"It's not like I burned the place down." Rapz frowned. "I don't know what all the fuss is about."

Eve opened her mouth to speak but was drowned out by a chorus of jeering elves. Under any other circumstances, she'd be able to stand back and find the humor in the situation. She was planning a Hawaiian themed wedding. For Santa's niece. At the North Pole. With elves as her helpers. Whoever would have thought? But even though her heartache made it impossible for her to smile, it wasn't going to stop her from doing the job she'd agreed to do.

She held her hands up over her head to signal that she wanted the floor. Although it took several moments, eventually the group grew quiet. "Now, that's quite enough dissent," she said. She made a point of looking at each elf directly before she spoke again. "This is about Kris. We all want her to have the most amazing wedding ceremony possible so let's make that happen. Agreed?"

The assembled elves nodded in unison.

"Good. Now, the first thing I'm going to need is this room aired out. The smell of smoke isn't helping to create the ambience we want."

Rapz opened his mouth to protest but Eve held up a hand. "Wait your turn, Rapz."

Eve asked six elves to bring in a set of fans, and six more to carry the scorched palm trees outside. A cursory inspection of the damage assured her that a bit of paint would cover any damage. After answering several questions, she consulted her clipboard. "I think we're on track," she told the group. "Let's call it a night. We'll meet back here in the morning, right after breakfast. Jolly, can you please stay here while I speak with Rapz?"

Jolly cast a disgruntled look at the elf in question. "Sure thing, Eve. I'm not convinced we should let him out of our sight anyway."

Rapz scowled. "Three little singe marks and everyone goes berserk? Not fair."

Eve directed the duo to a cluster of folding chairs. "Let's sit and discuss this like the professionals we are, shall we?" Once they were settled she focused her attention on Rapz. "Now, hear me carefully, Rapz. I simply cannot have you going rogue on me. I need your help to make this wedding happen. I know you hold Kris and Kyle in high regard, am I right?"

Rapz nodded.

"And I know they feel the same way about you," Eve continued. "So just the fact that you're involved in the wedding preparation is hugely important. We don't need to add fire eating to the agenda. That is a skill that takes years to master. I want you to promise me that we're done with the whole fire thing."

Rapz gasped. "No tiki torches?"

Jolly groaned. "Of course we're having tiki torches, you nut. It's just that you're not going to be allowed anywhere near them."

"Right, because I really need you to handle something else," Eve hastened to interject. "Something very important."
"Important how?" Rapz eyed her with suspicion. "You're not just trying to placate me?"

Eve lifted her hand. "On my honor, as a professional wedding planner, I am not. I need someone to be in charge of the music."

"Music?" The elf jumped to his feet. "That's the bone you're throwing me?"

"Just hold on a second, Rapz. Hear me out. We're trying to pull off the near impossible here. For Kris' sake we're bringing the tropics to the tundra. How can we do that without atmosphere? And what is atmosphere without the proper music? And who here at the North Pole knows more about music than you?"

Her trio of questions accomplished exactly what she hoped they would. Rapz stood at attention, his shoulders squared, his chin lifted. He saluted smartly. "I won't let you down, Ms. Bennington."

Relief washed over Eve. It was no minor accomplishment to separate Rapz from his box of matches. Handling clients and staff in an efficient yet diplomatic manner had always come easily to her. It was a big part of what made her so successful in her professional life. It was a shame that she wasn't half as skilled at running her own love life.

"I've got a few ideas to run by you," Rapz's voice broke through her reverie.

Eve blinked twice and shook her head. She needed to stay focused. Especially when it came to Rapz and his wild ideas. "As much as I appreciate it, we already know what we need. Your assignment is to find a cd with the sound of ocean waves gently lapping against the shore."

"That's it?"

Eve nodded. "That's it."

Rapz didn't try to hide his disappointment. "No thunderstorm? No rain?"

"Absolutely not." What had she just done? She should have put him in charge of counting silverware. "No babbling brook, no tsunami, and no waterfall. We just want to hear the sound of ocean waves rolling in. Got it?"

Rapz looked less than delighted with his new task. "Yeah, I'm on it."

Eve waited until he was out of hearing distance before she turned to Jolly. "That went well, didn't it?"

Jolly rolled her eyes. "Rapz is a loose cannon. You want me to follow him to make sure that he stays on task?"

"Good idea, but let's ask someone else to do it. I don't want Rapz thinking that you're checking up on him."

"Gotcha. I'll get Tinsel on it." Jolly tapped a quick message on her cell phone. Within seconds, it dinged, signaling a response. As the elf read through Tinsel's message, her face fell and she looked up at Eve with wide eyes. "Tinsel's not going to be able to shadow Rapz." She slid off the chair. "I'll do it."

Concerned by the look on Jolly's face, Eve reached out and touched her arm. "Wait, what's wrong with Tinsel? Is he sick?"

"Nothing like that." Jolly's sympathetic tone warned Eve what was coming next. "Tinsel's just left. He's flown Hunter down below."

Eve closed her eyes. So, he'd decided to go. She never should have hoped, even for a second, that Hunter would choose her over a plum assignment.

"I'm sorry, Eve."

Eve opened her eyes and forced herself to smile at the elf. "Thank you, Jolly, but it's better this way."

"Are you sure? Because you don't look okay."

Eve didn't know how to respond. She wasn't okay. Her heart felt as if it had just been through a blender. Hunter had made his choice, and it wasn't to stay with her. Which meant it was time she gave up any hope of a happy-ever-after with Hunter once and for all.

* * *

 

Hunter stared into the dark night sky, unable to enjoy the brilliant stars overhead or the glistening city lights below. The night was cold, and the air was fresh, but crisp. Had it really only been a few days since he and Eve had been whisked away to the North Pole?

He glanced at the empty seat beside him. On the journey to Christmas Central, with Eve in the seat next to him, the sleigh had felt warm, cozy. Perfectly sized with room for two. But now it felt downright cavernous. Just like the gaping hole in his chest where his heart used to be.

"Hey, Tinsel," Hunter called to the driver. "I have a question for you."

The elf brought the sleigh to a sudden standstill. He turned in his seat to look at Hunter. "What's up?"

Startled, Hunter leaned over the edge of the sleigh and stared into the darkness below. They were suspended in mid-air. He glanced around Tinsel to gauge how the reindeer were handling the sudden stop. All eight stood as patiently and as casually as if they were hitched to a wagon on solid ground. "Are they okay like that?" he asked Tinsel.

The elf nodded. "They're fine. Are you?"

There was the million dollar question. And Hunter, in a moment of startling clarity, had an answer. It was as if all of his doubts had disappeared as completely as the ground below them. He felt energized. Not to mention, filled with excitement about the adventure before him. "Actually, I'm more than fine. How much longer until we get there?"

Tinsel shook his head, a small smile betraying his amusement. "You used to ask your parents that question incessantly whenever you'd drive to your Aunt Matilda's house for the holidays. Boy, some things never change."

Hunter didn't say anything but he knew better. Some things did change. He was proof of that. No longer was he a man torn between two loves. He knew what he wanted. And he didn't want to waste another moment in getting it. "Let's go. I'm anxious to see His Holiness."

Tinsel turned to face forward and snapped the reins. "Just sit back and relax. We'll be in Vatican City in a few hours."

* * *

 

No sooner had Eve turned out her lamp than she heard a soft knock on her door. She switched the lamp back on and glanced at the small crystal bedside clock. It was almost eleven thirty. Who on earth would possibly want to speak to her now? Her breath caught in her throat. Maybe it was Hunter. She fluffed her hair out with her fingers. "Come in."

The door opened. "Eve?"

Eve let go of the breath she'd been holding in. It was Kris. Not Hunter. She should have known. He was probably half way to Italy by now. "Come on in, Kris."

Santa's niece smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry to come by so late, but my uncle asked me to bring your gift."

Eve waved for her to come in and motioned to the end of her bed. "I'm happy to see you. Sit and stay awhile."

Kris did as she was bid. Her gaze was searching and Eve felt herself flush. "So you obviously heard that Hunter left?"

Kris nodded. "I'm sorry. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Eve lied. She was not fine by any stretch of the imagination, but sharing her misery with the bride-to-be was not a sin she was going to commit. "But let's talk about you. You must be excited now that we're in the final countdown phase. Are you getting nervous?"

"I'm actually surprisingly relaxed. Zen isn't a natural state for me, but I feel that way about the wedding." Kris smiled. "Kyle and I have certainly had a long road to travel until this point."

"So your uncle told me. But when I see the two of you together, you just look so meant to be."

"I guess we are, but we were the last two to realize it." Kris paused for a moment, as if she was deciding how much to say. "Just like you and Hunter."

Eve's laugh sounded forced even to her own ears. "Let's not even go there."

"But, Eve, we were in the same situation you two are now. We were both being stubborn and not seeing what was right in front of us. If you and Hunter would only-"

"No, really, Kris, I mean it. I can't do this now." Eve struggled to keep her composure, knowing that any more talk of what could have been was going to be her undoing. "I love you for trying to help but we're beyond that." She pressed her fingertips lightly against her eyelids for a second to warn her tears that they weren't welcome. She managed to smile brightly. "So what's in the boxes?"

Kris picked up a rectangle shaped dress box wrapped in gold foil paper. "This is from Kyle and I. We hope you like it."

Curious, Eve carefully slid a finger under the bottom of the box, gingerly separating the tape from the wrapping paper.

Kris groaned. "You're not a ripper, are you?"

Eve grinned. "Sorry, I don't have it in me." She set aside the paper and lifted the top of the box off. A bright red fabric patterned with large white hibiscus flowers was nestled in sheets of white tissue paper. She reached in and pulled out a lightweight cotton sun dress. "Oh, how beautiful," she cried. She threw back the covers and got to her feet. She held the dress up against her body. "I love it, Kris. It's my favorite shade of red." The dress also had an asymmetrical hem and a ruffle flounce across the chest. In short, it was ideally designed to accentuate her long legs and to compliment her figure. Her eyes met Kris'. "How did you find the perfect dress for me? I mean, this can't be an accident. It's exactly what I would have chosen."

"Chalk it up to Christmas magic."

Eve looked at her reflection in the mirror. Magic was right, the dress was gorgeous. She leaned down and hugged Kris. "Thank you so much. I hadn't yet thought about what I was going to wear to your wedding. This is perfect."

"I'm glad you like it." Kris stood. "Kyle and I hope you know how happy you've made us by planning the wedding of our dreams."

"Don't jinx it, we still have to make sure Rapz doesn't start a blaze." Eve carefully laid the dress back in its box. "Are you at all nervous about Santa's reaction when he sees that it's a beach wedding after all?"

"Not at all. It's a perfect combination of what Santa loves best, the North Pole and the Hawaiian islands. He just has to realize it, that's all. Trust me, above all else, my uncle is a generous soul. He's going to be happy if we are."

"Good. Then I'll stop worrying." Eve fervently hoped that Kris' assessment of her uncle's reaction was accurate. She looked at the larger second box. "This is from Santa?"

"Yes, he said he tried to give it to you earlier when you and Hunter were in his office but the conversation got sidetracked."

It certainly had. Right on to the topic of Hunter's dream interview.

"Uncle Santa would like you to open it tonight." Kris headed to the door and pulled it open. "He said to tell you to keep the faith."

Eve sat and stared at the box for a few moments after Kris left. She reached out and gently ran her fingers over the fabric that covered it. A light pink satin bow graced the top of the box. Regardless of how lovely the box was, she felt an inexplicable reluctance to open it. Why would Santa send a message through his niece that she should open it now? Most likely it was just his generous nature shifting into overdrive.

But whatever it was, it was going to have to wait. Accepting a new dress from Kris and Kyle was one thing, after all she needed to dress appropriately for the wedding. But she couldn't face another of Santa's gifts, not after what had happened earlier in his office. She got up and tucked the box into the closet behind her suitcase. She slid the door closed and climbed back in bed. Here she was, at the North Pole just before Christmas, as a guest of Santa Claus no less, and she felt anything but festive.

She reached over and turned off the light, hoping sleep would swiftly come and rescue her from the sadness surrounding her heart.