Page 21 of When the Snowman Whispered
I pretended not to hear him and burnt Santa’s legs too. The ice melted. Water spilled out of broken limbs. Santa’s head fell away. The legs broke apart and the whole sculpture crashed to the ground. “Okay.”
“Faith?” Worry crossed Daniel’s face. He extended his hand my way. “I think you better give me the torch. That was weird.”
“What was weird?”
“You were burning him like he was going to come alive and kill you.” He took the flame torch from my hands. “I think you might be in shock.”
I should get the others.
“I’m fine.” I looked around and only the elves remained. The mermaids and snowman had disappeared. “Where did they go?”
“Who?”
“The snowman and the mermaids.”
“What?” Daniel looked around. “Wait a minute. It did seem like there were more.”
My body shook. “There were more.”
Now what am I going to do? They know I’ll melt them. Will they try to pay me back for their friend?
Eddie showed up ten minutes later. Daniel and he walked the whole property with flashlights. I heard them mumbling about something. It was probably things about me, but I couldn’t care less. Of course, they found no one around. Not even the snowman or mermaids which I kept asking them about over and over.
Thirty minutes later, Eddie looked like I’d lost my mind and Daniel appeared deeply concerned.
Maybe, I am crazy.
Determining that no one was on my property, Eddie left.
Daniel stood around a little more, but pity shone on his face. After he checked my house and walked around the land again, I told him that I would be fine and kindly asked him to leave.
I explained that I wasn’t insane or in need of emotional charity, and that I would be okay.
Still, he stayed.
For several silent minutes, we sat next to the fire.
Wood crackled in the flames.
Daniel held my hand. Warm flesh entangled in cold fear. For some reason, sitting in silence with him gave me more peace than I’d had in the whole year.
Cool air tussled with the blazing fire.
Near us, some of the snow began to melt into the earth.
“How are you, Faith?” Daniel squeezed my hand and touched me with his eyes.
I relished in his attention. “I’m fine. This is all probably silly.”
“No. If you heard something, then you did.” He traced his thumb along mine. “I’m glad you called.” Daniel turned his attention to the full moon above us. “I hope you call more often.”
“You want me to dial 9-1-1 more?”
“No, I want you to lean on me more, when you need too.”
“I will.”
“Good.” And there came that look from him again. Hotter than the fire in front of us. Searing me from the inside.
