Page 106 of Elf-ish

“You’re dumb,” I counter.

“Jude,” Angelica shrieks.

But I see the twitch. The way the corner of Lulu’s lip starts to curl. Arguing with a child is a skill; fighting with a sibling is an art, and from somewhere in my brain, a disagreement with Julia comes forward. One where only those you really care about can get away with calling you a name.

“Your pants are sassy,” I comment, keeping my eyes on the young girl.

“Your name isn’t classy.”

“Good one.” I step forward and hold out my fist. To my surprise, she bumps mine with her rounded knuckles.

“I take back what I said. You’re rather smart.”

“And you smell like fart.”

“Lulu,” the nurse scolds, but Lulu breaks into a fit of giggles.

“Alright, girl with the sass in her pants, are you going to take this present or what?” I hold out the last gift, which Ed was supposed to pass to the child.

When she reaches forward, I tug it back, teasing her once more.

She laughs again, and I press the present toward her one more time. This time, I let her take it from my hands.

“Well, open it.” I urge, glancing at my watch like I haven’t got all day.

Hesitantly, she asks, “What is it?”

“That’s classified information, miss. You’ll need to open the gift and find out for yourself, should you choose to accept the mission.”

She stares at me like I’ve lost her, and I don’t care as long as she keeps smiling. She takes her time to open the present, like she’s savoring every pluck of tape and rip of paper until finally the toy is exposed.

In her hands, she holds a doll that looks just like her only with long blonde hair and a pink bow tied on top of her head.

“How did you know?” she glances up at me, her lower lip quivering again.

I hitch my thumb toward Ed. “Wasn’t me. It was all him.”

Ed really has been remarkable today, and I’m certain my little stunt of calling a sick child dumb will get me cancelled. But seeing the joy on Lulu’s face as I help her unwrap the doll from the packaging is worth every second of this experience.

“Alright, Lulu,” I begin. “This elf is out of here.”

I hold up my hand for a high five, but Lulu shifts among the cords attached to her beneath a nightgown. She holds out her arms, and I glance at the nurse.

With a subtle nod of permission from her, I awkwardly embrace little Lulu.

“Merry Christmas, baby girl,” I murmur, recalling what Tucker sometimes called Julia as a child.

“Merry Christmas, big elf.”

Releasing her, I catch Angelica watching me. The tears welling in her eyes clash with her soggy smile.

This moment was worth a mountain of presents.

chapter 34

[Angelica]

After Jude volunteered for The Giving Tree, he returned to work, but that night this sexy little elf made a second appearance at his condo wearing the felt pink dress with candy cane tights and let Mr. Grinch have his way with me on his kitchen counter like I was a peppermint treat.