Page 24 of When the Snowman Whispered
Remy leaned in closer as if reading my thoughts. But still I couldn’t take my eyes off Santa.
Yes. I did melt him.
Somehow, Santa must’ve healed himself. He didn’t have the distorted look anymore. His arms and legs were still attached. His face too. He rushed after the mermaids as they swam away from him.
“Wait a minute.” I pointed at them. “Something is wrong with all of this—”
“Don’t worry about them,” Remy said. “Make the wings.”
Far off, Santa roared and let out a huge laugh. “I’ve finally got you two.”
“Oh, Santa!” The mermaids’ giggles shifted to moans. “Oh! Yes!”
“So pretty,” Santa groaned.
I glanced behind me, but didn’t see them. “Well, I guess Santa caught the mermaids.”
“That’s not Santa. He’s a spirit. The others are too.” Remy stepped to my side, leaned close to my face, and inhaled me. “Make my wings, please. And I’ll explain the things that I know. We don’t have much time. I want this to be special.”
“What to be special?” I sliced into the huge snowballs. They formed easily, almost as if it knew the direction I would take seconds before I decided to do it. My hands blurred in a quick motion as I carved the wings.
Shards of ice sprayed around us.
Remy whispered in my ear, “You’re amazing.”
My body prickled with excitement. He made me feel young again. Innocent and unsure of the future, but bold and ready to take it on. No fear. Not the fear that came with age. I felt safe and sure that, with him, only fun would meet me.
The snow easily shaped into wings. I lined the ice and gave it a feathered effect. “Who are you?”
Remy touched some of the snowflakes that dangled from the waist of the gown. “I live on this land.”
I glanced at him. “You’re a ghost?”
“No.” He got behind me and ran his fingers through my hair. A tremor of pleasure waved through me.
“What are you?”
“I’m a spirit.” His cool breath brushed against my neck. “I’ve watched you. Sometimes, it’s hard to see your world from mine. Sometimes, it’s hard to see anyone. Lots of hollow faces and echoing hearts. And then, on days like this, with the magic so high in the air, I can see you just fine.” He wrapped his arms around me. Although he was hard, ice against my warm flesh, I melted in his embrace. “And I can touch you like I’ve always dreamed.”
“Dreamed.”
“Why are you on my land?”
“Technically, it’s mine.”
“Technically.”
“I never left it to anyone, when I killed myself.”
I stiffened. “I don’t understand.”
“We don’t have time for you to understand.”
“Why not?”
“We only have until you wake up.” He let go and walked over to the wings. “Your fingers are enchanted. They make the most stunning creations.”
I stared at him in shock. “Wake up?”
