Chapter 9: I'll deal with all the stress in another life

With the sweeping open of the large, golden doors, a cool and icy blast hit Molly in the face and she shivered. "I don't know how you elves enjoy the cold so much," she muttered, darting a glance at Bernard enviously. While she was bundled up in her giant winter coat, Bernard was only wearing a light sweater over his tunic.

Bernard shrugged. "We don't feel the cold. Plus, snow is amazing."

"Amazingly awful," she teased as she walked towards the steps on her left. "Seriously though, I'd be happy to move somewhere that it's warm all the time. Like Florida."

It was snowing lightly in Elfsburg, making the entire village seem like one giant snow globe. Molly's stomach fluttered at the sight. For a fleeting moment, it felt as if magic were alive in her own heart. The fresh snow landed softly on the steps, and to Molly' amazement, never became slippery.

Bernard chuckled, following her. "I don't know if I could handle being hot all the time. I feel like it would be miserable, with no ways to cool down."

"That's what air-conditioning and pools are for."

The town was quiet; no sign of the hustle and bustle of the night before. Molly wondered if most of the elves would be catching up on rest today following the night of chaos, or if it was just the way things went here in Elfsburg.

Once they moved past the stores nearest the workshop, Molly was surprised to see that most of the elves' homes looked relatively normal. Gone were the vibrant reds, greens, and golds of the shops encircling the core of Elfsburg, replaced with shades of browns, greys, beiges, creams, and deep reds - everything one would expect to see in a human subdivision. The homes themselves were still of a modest size; nowhere near the size of most detached homes throughout most cities and towns she had visited. They were slightly smaller than most townhouses Molly used to, with neat and tidy exteriors. Christmas decorations hung on doors and windows, and lights were placed carefully along the rooftops.

"It's peaceful here, and surprisingly normal," Molly mused as they continued to walk through town and along one of the residential streets.

"Contrary to popular belief, we're not all sunshine, roses, rainbows, and Christmas every moment of every day," Bernard said with a laugh. "We have a careful work-life balance, and outside of the workshop life is relatively calm. It's only around Christmas that we live and breathe it every waking moment."

"That makes sense."

Bernard led her through the town, taking her past a small grocery store, barbershop, and several other businesses before they reached the intersection where the polar bear directed traffic.

She stood there staring in awe as the polar bear, who was wearing a complete police uniform, paused and waved at them.

"Morning Bernard!" the bear boomed, causing Molly to jump in surprise.

Smiling, Bernard waved back. "I thought that would be something you'd like to see," he told the girl, a twinkle in his eye. "Not everything is completely normal in Elfsburg." He winked, then led her further down the street to a small park.

"You ready?"

Molly took another deep breath and nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Holding out his hand to Molly, he pulled her a little bit closer, then took her other hand. In anticipation – or fear – the girl squeezed her eyes shut tightly, scrunching her nose.

"Don't close your eyes," Bernard said softly. "There's nothing to hide from."

Molly shifted uncomfortably, but opened her eyes again, and gave the head elf a trusting look.

"Just watch around us."

A light snow began to swirl around the human and the elf, glittering snowflakes and flashes of magic weaving in and out of the wisps and wind. A cool breeze blew across their faces, and the scenery around them slowly faded to black. Moments later, a new scene began to materialize around them - Scott Calvin's street and his house. As the swirling slowed and then dissipated, Molly looked around in wonder. Beyond the cool breeze, she hadn't felt anything strange. Magic indeed.

And now – now she stood in front of the house where everything all began. She pulled her hands back from Bernard's and looked over the scene surrounding her. The imprint in the snow outside of the house where the former Santa had passed was still visible.

Following her gaze, Bernard gave a slight wave of his hand, and a wind moved across the snow, forcing it to blow and cover the imprint.

"Scott will have to realize and accept his new reality on his own," Bernard said. "The imprint won't help any, and no-one else needs to wonder why there is a human shaped imprint on his yard."

The sun was peeking over the edge of the horizon, and the world was slowly beginning to come to life.

"It's time," Bernard said, eliciting one more sigh from Molly.

She straightened her shoulders, pulled the manila envelope out of her pocket, and took another deep breath. "Wish me luck?"

"Good luck." Bernard's words sounded more like a whisper in the wind, and when Molly looked back to where he had stood, he was gone. She assumed he was preparing to speak to Charlie while she had Scott distracted.

Making a silent prayer that her acting skills were at the least, convincing, she began moving towards the front steps, then up to the front door. She could hear Charlie babbling excitedly inside, though she couldn't make out exactly what the boy was saying. Silently hoping this was going to work, she raised her hand and knocked on the door.

"Who would be here this early?" she heard Scott grumble as he made his way to the door.

Moments later the door swung open, and Scott, in all his red pajama glory, stood before her, blinking at her in wonder, annoyance, and surprise all at the same time. He scrunched his nose and squinted, then blinked twice.

"I'm sorry, do I know you? And can I help you?"

"Merry Christmas, Mr. Calvin!" Molly said cheerfully, then laughed as sweetly as she could - or at least she hoped it was sweetly. "It's Molly, your new nanny? We agreed on a December 25 start, last we spoke. You asked me to arrive at 7 a.m. to help get Charlie ready to go with his mother." She handed the paperwork over to the confused man, who kept looking at her, then the envelope.

"I don't recall hiring a nanny."

Molly smiled at him. "You really don't remember, Mr. Calvin? We met six months ago when you approached our organization for assistance. You know, the company that specializes in helping divorcees adjust to single parenting and reconnecting with their children?"

Scott pulled out the paperwork and began reading it over, making grunts and 'huh' sounds as he read through the letter and the contract. There, on the bottom, was his signature.

"I'm sorry, I had a really weird night, and I honestly don't remember—"

"Molly!"

Scott was interrupted as Charlie came running down the hall and threw his arms around the blonde.

"Merry Christmas!"

He stepped back and winked at Molly as his father looked between his son and the young woman on his doorstep, even more confused.

"You know her?" Scott said in bewilderment. "I mean… it's weird, I know you too, but you were in my dreams last night and..."

Molly did her best at looking awkward and uncomfortable. "Mr. Calvin, I'm not sure that is appropriate information for you to share." She was fighting as hard as she could not to burst out laughing, particularly with Charlie staring up at her with a grin and another wink.

Charlie glanced up at his dad. "Of course I know her, dad! You took me to meet her six months ago when you first said you wanted to get a nanny. You said I would get to pick someone I liked, and I picked Molly!"

Scott grunted again, then shivered as the cold finally hit him. "I really don't remember any of this, but come inside, it's cold."

Once they were all inside, he took her coat and hung it on the rack, then glanced at the single duffle bag sitting on the floor beside her. "That's all you brought as a live-in nanny?"

Molly shrugged. "I thought it would make more sense to purchase what I need here and just bring the basics. Travel light and all that."

Several feet behind Scott, Bernard was standing and smiling. He winked at her and then vanished again. She hoped that meant she was doing well.

Shaking his head, Scott turned and walked towards the living room, pacing and muttering. "Crazy dreams, not remembering hiring someone… am I losing my mind?"

"They say single parenting after a divorce can be really stressful, especially for someone in a high-stress work environment like yourself," Molly replied, sounding matter of fact. She hoped it would help sell her being there and make it more believable.

Scott stopped and glared for a moment at the unsolicited advice, then shook his head again. "Nothing makes sense anymore," he muttered.

"Hey dad, maybe we should show her to her room? Then you and I can finish opening my presents from Santa!"

Still looking baffled and confused, Scott kept shaking his head and muttering nonsensically. He stopped, sighed, and motioned for the girl to follow him. "We have a spare room in the basement; we don't go down there often so you'll have some extra privacy. There's a bathroom and shower, a small sitting room with a TV. Make yourself at home, and I guess, welcome?"

Molly bit her lip to stifle a laugh as she followed the middle-aged man down the stairs. How he bought it, she didn't know, but decided to send up a prayer of thanks to the Legendary Council in case it was somehow one of their doing that the new Santa believed the lie.

The lights flicked on, revealing a cozy-looking basement. Much to Molly's relief, it was also a finished basement, which thankfully meant no concrete floors, open wires, and hopefully, no spiders.

"Thank you, Mr. Calvin. I'm just going to unpack some of my things, and then I'll be upstairs."

Instead of replying, Scott grunted and returned up the stairs. Once he had completely disappeared, and the door to the basement shut, Molly entered her new room and turned on the light. She jumped in surprise, hand flying to her heart, as Bernard appeared right in front of her.

"Don't scare me like that!" she exclaimed, heart racing.

Bernard smiled sheepishly. "Sorry." He walked over to the bed and sat down, bouncing a couple of times. "Well, at least he believes in high quality furniture." A quick chuckle, and then he looked around the room. "So, he bought it?"

"I don't know that he fully believes it, but he believed it enough to let me in."

"That's the important thing. Once he starts to accept he's Santa, you can tell him the truth."

Molly snorted and Bernard looked at her quizzically. "Good luck with that."

The elf raised an eyebrow. "Should I ask?"

"Probably not - the council might get pissed."

"Good call." Bernard stood back up. "Is there anything else you need before I go?"

"No, I think I'm good. But, maybe once Scott goes back to work, you and Judy could come for a visit?"

"I think that can be arranged." He smiled at her. "I'll see you in a few days." There was a swirl of snow, glitter, and magic, and the elf was gone.

This is my life now, Molly thought, not sure whether to feel excited or sad about it. She dumped the duffle bag on the bed, then hurried up the stairs, just in time to hear Charlie shout "Mom!" and run to the door.

As Molly emerged from the basement, a look of sheer panic spread across Scott's face.

"How am I going to explain you?"

Molly raised an eyebrow and smirked. "You could tell the truth?"

"That a girl I had a dream about taking Charlie for hot chocolate at the North Pole, after I became Santa Claus, is now my live-in nanny? Oh yes, she'll for sure get that. Because why wouldn't anyone believe it?"

He glared at Molly as she snorted back a laugh. "Well, I'd probably leave out the part about the dream. You know. For good measure and all."

He scrunched his nose as he walked away mocking her. "You know, for good measure and all," mimicked as he went to the door.

"Oh, Charlie! Oh, merry Christmas, honey!" Laura Miller exclaimed, crouching down to greet him as Charlie flung open the door. "Did you have a good time?"

Molly watched as Charlie hugged his mom, then tried to look distracted as Charlie babbled about their night and Scott tried desperately to explain it away.

"Gee, thanks for keeping his feet on the ground." Laura's sarcasm was so thick it could easily have been cut with a dull knife.

Molly cleared her throat and stepped forward, cutting off Scott's opportunity to reply and smiled broadly as Laura's attention snapped over, fury building behind the woman's eyes.

"Mrs. Miller! It's a pleasure to finally get to meet you! Mr. Calvin was supposed to arrange a meeting with you before I arrived, but his busy work schedule interfered," she said, thrusting her hand out to shake the woman's.

Laura shot a confused and angry glance at Scott but accepted the young woman's handshake.

"My name is Molly, and I'm Mr. Calvin's new nanny!"

"You never mentioned anything about a nanny, Scott. Is she living here?"

Scott stammered nervously, unsure of how to respond. "Well, I uhh-"

"Dad hired her to help him transition into being a single father," Charlie proclaimed. "I got to meet her months ago and help pick! She's super nice!"

Laura smiled at her son. "Honey, you go wait in the car for a minute, okay? I'll be right there."

Charlie ran over and hugged Molly. "Merry Christmas Molly! See you soon!" After hugging Scott, he thanked him for the night at the North Pole and ran out the door.

Laura closed the door slightly behind her son. "Anyone care to tell me what's going on here?"

Molly smiled sweetly. "I'm sorry Mr. Calvin didn't tell you. I work for a nannying company that specializes in helping divorced parents adapt to co-parenting their child with their exes. Particularly in situations where they have been… struggling… to make the transition while remaining active participants in their kids' lives. We're live-in nannies and help to make the home a safe and welcoming environment."

Although it didn't quite seem like she bought it, Laura nodded and gave the girl a smile. "Well, Scott definitely needs the help." She shot another glance back over at her sheepish looking ex. "Would you mind giving me some time with my ex-husband?"

"Of course, Mrs. Miller. It was a pleasure meeting you." She turned and walked towards the basement door, then stepped down the stairs and closed the door with a click, sitting on the bottom step while she waited.

Their voices got quieter as they moved outside, and once the front door closed, Molly opened back up the basement door and went to the kitchen to busy herself with anything she could. At this point, she didn't really need to eavesdrop to know where the conversation was going but couldn't hold back a snicker when Scott shouted after the Miller's car as it sped away.

"It was a dream, come on! I don't even wear pajamas! Normally I sleep naked. Buck naked! Ha!"