Abby
“Shall we?” Karl asks, nodding his head toward the sidewalk.
| nod, and follow him away from the shop, away from the little shoes that warm my heart and break it at the same time. Our feet
continue to carry us along the bustling streets of the holiday market, the scent of hot apple cider still wafting through the air.
The sight of those adorable little shoes in the shop window and the sad implications behind them still lingers in the back of my
head, but | try to focus instead on the festive atmosphere and the taste of the hot apple cider on my tongue.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.
Karl must sense my quiet contemtion because he nudges me gently with his elbow as we walk. “Hey, you seem lost in
thought. Something on your mind?”
| offer a small smile, appreciating his concern but not wanting to share my true thoughts: thoughts that maybe, just maybe, | do
wish we could have had a baby together, even to this day. “I’m fine,” | say, holding up my cup of hot apple cider. “Just enjoying
the walk.”
Karl’s gaze softens, and | can tell that he knows I’m lying. But he doesn’t press the issue any further, and we continue walking in
silence.
I return his gaze, and we continue walking until we stumble upon a charming Christmas shop. Itsrge disy window is filled
with an array of sparkling ornaments and twinkling lights. | smile a bit beneath my mask as we pass by, looking at all of the little
kids running around excitedly.
Karl’s eyes light up with excitement too, and he tugs gently at my arm. “Abby,e on. Let''s go inside.”
As we step inside, the soft sound of holiday music fills the air. There must be a candle burning nearby, because everything
smells like peppermint and cinnamon.
“This ce is new,” Karl says as we walk around and look at all of the ornaments.
| nod. “I’ve noticed that there are a lot of new shops around here. The town seems to be bustling more than usual.”
In response, Karl lets out a slight chuckle and runs his hand through his hair. “Yeah,” he admits, “that’s true. | was finally able to
allocate some funding to tourism in this town. It’s been really helpful.”
We continue browsing, looking at all of the decorations and trinkets. At one point, someone stops Karl—an older man and
woman—and the man shakes his hand. I’m standing a little ways away, so | can’t hear what’s said, but the man seems to be
apuding Karl.
It definitely seems that, despite Karl’s approval ratings supposedly taking a dip, people still like him. As they should; he’s a good
Alpha, albeit a little misguided sometimes.
As we round a corner, we stumble upon a scene that brings a smile to both of our faces. A small area has been set up with a
cozy armchair, a backdrop of a snowy winter wondend, and, of course, Santa us himself.
Aline of excited children and their parents snakes around, waiting for their turn to sit on Santa’sp and share their Christmas
wishes. Karl chuckles as he watches the adorable spectacle. “Look at those kids. They''re so excited to meet Santa.”
| follow his gaze, a chuckle escaping my lips. “Well... most of them,” | say, pointing to a little boy who''s currently bawling his eyes
out on Santa’sp while his mother tries to take a picture.
Suddenly, Karl gets a mischievous glint in his eye, and he turns to me with a sly grin. “Abby, how about we join in on the fun?
Let''s take a picture with Santa.”
| blink in surprise, not expecting his suggestion. “Are you serious?” | ask with augh. “This is for kids!”
He nods, his grin only widening. “Aww, c’mon,” he presses. “It’s not just for kids. And besides, it’ll be fun.”
It''s shocking for Karl of all people to suggest something like this, but | can’t deny his enthusiasm. “Alright,” | finally agree with a
chuckle. “But I’m keeping my Jane Doe disguise on.”
“Deal,” Karl says with augh of his own. “Let''s get in line.”
We join the queue of excited children and their families, blending in with the crowd as best we can. Even though I’m wearing a
facade of adultlike indifference, | can’t help but feel a sense of childlike excitement building up inside of me as we inch closer to
Santa''s chair.
Finally, it’s our turn, and we step up to Santa us, who greets us with a heartyugh. “Ho, ho, ho! Well, look who we have here.
It''s Alpha Karl and...?” Santa’s eyes fall on me, and he gives me a quizzical look.
“This is my elf,” Karl says, eliciting a punch in the arm from me. He smirks and rubs the spot where | punched him before he
turns back to the man ying as Santa. “Jane the Elf.”
Santa smirks beneath his own fake beard. “Well then,” he says, “have you two been naughty or nice this year?”
Karl and | exchange amused nces, and | reply with a grin, “We’ve been mostly nice, Santa.”
Santa chuckles warmly and motions for us to sit on hisp. | take a seat, and Karl stands beside me, slinging his arm around my
shoulder yfully.
As we pose for the photo, | can’t help but smile beneath my mask. It’s times like this that reminds me that Karl and | did share
some good times together, and maybe we can create even more.
After the photo is taken, we receive a
small printout of our picture e
Santa. | ana atihilnalbte to contain
rhyth er at the sight of myself in
my disguise, sitting on Santa’sp
like a big kid. Please read the original
content at NovelDrama.Org.
Karl, seeing myughter, snatches
the photo from my hands as we walk
away and snortsSKhis be Kiko
downantnshistory books,” he says.
“I''ve never taken a picture with Santa
and Jane Doe all at once.” Please
read the original content at
NovelDrama.Org.
| yfully roll my eyes as | slip my
mask down momentarily to take
last sip of my piacidttwhich has
almosngohe cold. | toss the
cardboard cup into a trash can as we
stroll out of the Christmas shop.
Please read the original content at
NovelDrama.Org.
“Yeah, well, I''ve never had a mystery sous chef before,” | add with a chuckle of my own. “So | guess we''re even.”
“You know, that reminds me,” Karl says, “I never got the chance to say this, but... That cook-off was actually a lot of fun.”
| quirk an eyebrow and nce at him. “You really think so?”
Karl nods, kicking a small ball of snow down the sidewalk and watching it break up into tiny pieces. “It was,” he admits.
“Despite... well, everything.”
His words warm my heart, and without thinking, | find myself momentarily resting my head on his shoulder as we walk.
“I''m d that we got to experience it together, then,” | admit, feeling oddly emotional after our picture with Santa.
Karl pauses, his brown eyes meeting mine beneath the warm glow of the holiday lights.
“Me too, Abby,” he says with a soft smile. “Me too.”