Chapter 8 - Eve's Christmas Wedding

"Just how long do you think it's wise to keep Santa Claus in the dark about your plans?"

Eve looked up from the lei she was stringing, a small frown marring her features. "I don't like to think of it as keeping him in the dark exactly."

Hunter studied her. "What would you call it then? Because you can't get away with acting like you're being straight with him. The man is under the illusion that his niece is going to wear a long white dress and float down the aisle of the Christmas Central chapel toward her groom. He fully expects Kyle to be decked out in a tuxedo. After the ceremony, he no doubt-"

"Hunter, stop," Eve interrupted him. "I get it. Thank you." She pushed a box of silk orchid petals toward him. "String."

"I'd rather sample a few more of those slushy frozen drinks."

Eve gave a pointed look at the couch on the other side of the room. "Look how that worked out for poor Tinsel."

Hunter smiled. "You have to admire his work ethic, the way he kept going back and forth between the Mai Tai and the Blue Hawaiian."

"Yeah, he was doing great. Right up until he passed out." The last thing Eve wanted to do was harm an innocent elf in the name of putting together the perfect menu for Kris' wedding. "Do you think we should take him down to the infirmary?"

Hunter shook his head. "Nope. Let's just let him sleep it off. But you still haven't answered my question. When are you going to tell Santa about the change in plans?"

Eve didn't answer right away. Honestly, she had no clue how to handle the situation. What had initially seemed like a brilliant solution now felt like a quagmire. She dropped the lei and buried her face in her hands.

"Hey, Eve, it'll be okay." Hunter's voice was soothing. "Look at me."

She did, but the gentle concern and caring she saw in his green eyes, offered no solution to her problems. In fact, it opened up an entirely separate quandary. "Oh, Hunter."

He reached out and gently caressed her cheek with his fingertips. "Eve, sweetheart, you don't have to face everything all alone. I'm here for you. Always. Let me help."

Eve wanted to believe that, more than anything in the whole world. More fervently than children around the world wanted to believe in Santa Claus. But just because Santa had turned out to be real, didn't mean that what she felt between Hunter and herself was real.

They had a past. That didn't mean they had a future.

She drew in her breath as Hunter leaned toward her. She wanted him to kiss her. But enough was enough, they might well be at the North Pole but that didn't mean that they were in la-la land. She held up her hand and her words came out in a breathy rush. "How do I know that you'll be here six months from now?"

His smile was rueful. "I deserve that for all the times I left you to chase after a story. But I'm here now, with you, and won't leave. Unless you tell me that you want me to go."

Eve closed her eyes against the inevitability of what was happening. She was falling in love Hunter Nielson again, and she felt powerless to save herself. Her eyelids fluttered open just as Hunter's lips touched hers. How could this be so wrong, when it felt so right?

"Kissing on the job again?"

Stunned, Eve pulled back and looked around the room. "Who's here?"

But Hunter was a step ahead of her. "Rapz, dude, really?"

Rapz popped his head up from behind the couch. "Sorry, well, not really. You two crack me up. You're like high school kids, always trying to get the smooch on."

Get the smooch on? Eve met Hunter's eye and returned his grin. Rapz might well have the worst timing of anyone she'd ever known, but he was an original. She'd give him that. She waved for him to come over to the table. "Since you're here, I'm going to put you to work." She slid a box of flower petals toward him. "String."

Rapz climbed up on the chair but he ignored the box. "Is it too late to get in on the slushy drinks?"

Eve laughed. "I'm afraid so."

"Tinsel closed down the bar," Hunter told him. "Poor guy's going to be hurting tomorrow."

"Yeah, well, the countdown clock starts tomorrow so he's going to have to pull himself together." Rapz stretched his arms overhead and yawned. "This place is going to turn into Exhaustion Central within twenty-four hours."

Eve didn't doubt that, but it did make her wonder. "Tell me this, Rapz. Why is Santa so insistent on having Kris get married on Christmas Eve if everyone here is going to be crazy busy? It would seem like the worst possible time for a wedding."

"That's not how the big guy sees it." Rapz laced his fingers together and put them behind his neck, looking for all the world to see as if he had nothing to do and no other place to be. "Mr. C. loves tradition. I actually think this wedding is the one thing that's giving him the enthusiasm to make this the best Christmas ever."

Perfect. Nothing like a little pressure. Eve glanced at Hunter. Judging by the look on his face, he was thinking much the same thing.

The sound of Christmas bells ringing emanated from the direction of Rapz's pocket. He pulled out his cell phone and glanced at the screen. "Speak of the devil. It's the big guy." He tapped the screen. "Hey, Santa, you're on speakerphone. I'm here with Eve and Hunter."

"Bingo, just the two people I was looking for," Santa said, his voice coming through the speaker loud and clear. "Are you two knee deep in wedding preparations?"

Eve glanced down at the boxes of leis and paper umbrellas that were strewn across the table. "You could say that."

"Excellent, excellent. Now, I've had a few more thoughts that I wanted to run by you."

"Go ahead, we're listening," she prompted him.

"I think we should bring in a bell ringer to put on a performance before the harp soloist plays. What do you say?"

"Well, I'm not sure-" Eve hedged.

Santa seemed oblivious to her hesitation. "Wait, I've got another idea that will top that one. I was thinking that right after the ceremony, it would be perfect if we have a bagpiper pipe the newly married couple back up the aisle. What do you think?"

"Why not a whole Scottish pipe band?" Hunter asked, his expression mischievous.

Eve reached over and swatted his arm. Santa didn't need any help going overboard.

"I love that," Santa exclaimed. "I should have thought of that myself. Now, if you two need anything, just let Rapz know. Or Tinsel. I'm not sure quite where he is at the moment but he'll go above and beyond to help if you just ask him."

Eve looked over at the sofa where Tinsel was stretched out. "He's already been a huge help, Santa."

Once Rapz ended the call and bid them farewell, Eve turned to Hunter. "Bagpipes? Good grief. How exactly are we going to get out of this one?"

* * *

 

For the next twenty-four hours, Hunter watched as Eve worked her magic. To say she was adept at wedding planning was like saying that Michelangelo knew his way around a paint-by-the-numbers set. No detail was too small to escape her notice.

What didn't escape his notice was the tiny frown that marred her brow. This wasn't like her, and it told him just how preoccupied she really was. He watched as she oversaw a small group of elves raking mounds of sand that had been delivered that morning. Eve, clipboard in hand, stood under the potted palm trees and directed them as if each grain of sand had a particular position it was supposed to be in.

After an earlier consultation with the bride and groom, it was decided that the wedding wouldn't be held in the chapel, but in a small auditorium instead. A stage had been set up along the far wall for a hula performance. Rapz had volunteered to watch a few videos on YouTube so he could demonstrate a Polynesian fire dance but his suggestion had been drowned out before he'd been able to finish speaking. Poor guy. Hunter had to admire the elf's moxie, although he had been one of the voices that had quickly vetoed the offer. The small group of elves that Santa had been able to spare from Christmas duties were enthusiastic about bringing a taste of the islands to Christmas Central. None of the elves looked preoccupied about Santa's reaction, at least not to his eye.

He felt a tug on his sleeve and looked down. It was Tinsel, who still appeared a bit peaked. He held out a paper plate loaded with food.

"What's this, Tinsel?"

"Kris wanted you to sample some of the appetizers she's working on for the reception." He pointed to the plate. "There's Kalua pulled pork tacos, luau ribs, coconut shrimp, and Salmon Poke."

Hunter took the proffered plated and stabbed a shrimp with a toothpick. One bite caused an explosion of flavor in his mouth. "Wow, Kyle wasn't exaggerating about his fiancée being a world class cook. This is unbelievable." He gestured to the plate. "You want some?"

The elf winced and put a protective hand over his stomach. "Thanks but no thanks. I'm still recovering from sampling my way through the drink menu."

Hunter's laugh was kind. "It's going to be a great wedding. Kris looks happy."

Tinsel nodded thoughtfully. "She certainly does. But I can't say the same for your girlfriend."

Hunter glanced over at Eve. The elf was right. Eve looked miserable. "Any idea what I can do to help her?" he asked. "I'm at a loss."

Tinsel didn't waste any time in answering. "You need to make some sort of grand gesture."

A grand gesture? "What exactly are we talking about here?"

Tinsel shrugged. "You know Eve better than any of us so you alone would know what would make her feel cherished. I think that's what makes a gesture grand, don't you?"

"That makes sense." Hunter watched as Eve knelt down to rearrange the coconuts around the base of the makeshift altar. Her attention to every last detail that made a wedding special wasn't because she was fussy or uptight, but because she cared about making sure that every bride and groom had a perfect start to their married life. She was an amazing friend, as well as a business woman. She'd been snapping pictures and constantly texting her business partner. Staci, despite her labor pains, had insisted in being kept up to date on every detail. Hunter turned back to Tinsel. "Thanks for the advice."

The elf gave a half bow. "Best of luck to you. If you can snag the lovely Eve as your bride, you'll be a fortunate man indeed."

Hunter nodded his agreement, truer words he'd never heard. Now all he had to do was come up with a grand gesture.