Sweet Inspiration (10 page)

It seemed to Lucy that as soon as she and Nicholas entered the shop, the elves began to work a little faster, eager to please their boss. Not one of them smiled or said hello, however. Lucy thought that a little strange. In fact, the elves seemed to be studiously avoiding all eye contact with Nicholas.

"Lucy, I'm going to check in at the office and make sure our holiday orders are on track. Would you like to join me, or continue exploring the kitchen?"

"Actually, I would love to stay here in the kitchen. I've never seen anything like it. Is that okay?"

"Of course. If you have any questions, the elves will be happy to assist you." Nicholas gave her a soft kiss on the lips before heading off.

As Lucy slowly investigated the shop, the elves seemed to relax. A bit hesitant at first, they slid glances and timid smiles her way, and finally they began to speak and introduce themselves.

"You must be Nicholas' new lady friend we've been hearing about. Would you like a tour of the facility?" a serious-looking elf inquired.

"I would love a tour! I'm in heaven in this kitchen. It simply has everything, doesn't it? My cafe back home is much 90

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smaller, but we still manage to crank out some yummy treats."

"Oh, you have a cafe in the Sudenwelt! We didn't know you were a baker, Miss...?"

"Brewster. Lucy Anne Brewster. I'm from Eston, New York.

It's a really tiny town. My shop is called Sweet Inspiration."

About half a dozen elves had gathered around her looking quite curious.

"Nice to meet you, Lucy Anne. I'm Max, in charge of the gingerbread men, women and children." He had spoken so seriously, so sincerely, Lucy could not help laughing.

"That sounds like a fun job. Where are the gingerbread...people?"

"Right this way, Miss." Max grabbed onto Lucy's hand and led her down a hallway. The other elves tagged along, chattering behind them. About a dozen more elves had joined their parade before Max stopped in front of a door labeled
Pfefferkuchen
.

"Here we are, Miss Lucy." Max opened the door and Lucy gasped in delight. In a room the size of a football field was a model village, complete with cars and trains, houses and bridges, schoolyards and churches, lakes and mountains. And everything was made of gingerbread. Thick layers of creamy icing topped the cottages, sparkling sugar glistened from the frozen ponds, and lights twinkled from inside the buildings.

The trains clacked along the tracks, and church bells began to ring. Lucy glanced around the room.
Where are the electrical
wires?

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"It's magic, Miss." Max smiled at Lucy and a big dimple popped out on his chin, just above his russet-colored beard.

Lucy was surprised to feel a tiny hand reach for hers and give her a squeeze. She looked down to find a pretty blonde elf with long silky braids holding her hand.

"I'm Birgit. Are you okay, Miss Lucy? Don't be sad."

Lucy realized that tears were slowly rolling down her cheeks. "Oh, Birgit. I'm not sad. I'm captivated. This is...a miracle. I wish every child in the Sudenwelt could see this room. It is simply amazing." Lucy squeezed Birgit's hand and smiled. "Tell me what you do here. Do you like working here?"

"Oh yes, Miss. I work in packaging. We have so many orders to fill for the holidays. Working for Nicholas Jr. is a very big honor in Glasdorf. His baked goods are the best in the world. It's a very well-run kitchen, I assure you."

Lucy spied a shy-looking woman in the corner, very pregnant, and a bit flushed.

"Hello. What's your name?"

"Greta, Miss. It's an honor to meet you."

"I hope you haven't been on your feet too long. Expectant mothers should take frequent rests during the day, you know.

One of my employees had a baby last year. A little girl." Lucy found a stool and pulled it over for the elf who looked surprised and thankful.

"I'm having a girl, too. I'm going to name her Astrid."

"What a beautiful name. Can I get you something to drink, Greta? You look tired."

"Oh no, Miss. That's not necessary."

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"I'll bet it's time for all of you to have a break soon. Why don't we all have some cocoa and you can tell me about Klaus Kuche and Glasdorf?"

Max clapped his hands delightedly. "What a nice idea. You don't think Nicholas Jr. would mind, do you? He's a little particular about how things get done here."

Lucy shook her head. "Nicholas won't mind. He told me to enjoy myself, and that's what I'm doing." Lucy realized the gingerbread room was now packed with elves. Soon they were bringing her cocoa and platters of cookies, and regaling her with stories about Glasdorf.
Nicholas is so lucky to work
here,
thought Lucy.
The elves are so sweet natured and
cheerful. This is a dream-come-true.

Nicholas walked into a nightmare. The kitchen was deserted. Smoke was pouring out of at least five ovens, icing was hardening on tabletops, and trays of cookies were turning stale in front of his eyes.
What the holy hell is going
on in here? Where is everybody?

Distantly he heard the sound of laughter; it almost sounded like a party. And it was coming from the gingerbread room. Nicholas stomped through the workroom and down the hall to the Pfefferkuchen display. He wrenched open the door and stopped in stunned silence at the sight in front of him.

Lucy Anne was seated on a stool with scores of elves surrounding her. They were giggling and chatting away without a care in the world. Half-eaten platters of cookies and sweets were stacked around the room, and there were mugs of cocoa everywhere, some spilling onto the floor. Nicholas could feel a twitch in his left eyelid start to flutter.

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"Silence!" he roared. Everyone froze. A sea of startled faces turned towards him. Softening his voice, Nicholas continued. "Would someone like to tell me why there is no one manning the workroom? I have just been informed by the office that since I left for my vacation, production has decreased by seven percent. That is unacceptable. Christmas is only days away. Why, in the name of all that is holy, are all of you here instead of there?!" He pointed to the main work area as he shouted the end of his sentence.

A tiny, red-faced man stepped forward. "Miss Lucy said we could take a break and tell her about Glasdorf. She has a lot of questions since she's a Suddie."

Nicholas glanced at Lucy. She was clasping the hand of a pregnant elf and stroking her hand reassuringly. "Nicholas, there is no need to be so angry. All of your employees have been working so hard, I thought it would be nice to have a little break. You do allow your workers breaks during their shifts, don't you?"

"Of course I do. But not all at the same time. There is mass chaos out there right now, because my rules and regulations are not being followed."

Lucy stood up. "All of these wonderful elves have been gracious and kind to me. You should be appreciating their concern, instead of berating them. I'm happy to help clean up in the kitchen and catch up with the orders."

"Oh no, you don't. Klaus Kuche is not like Sweet Inspiration, Lucy. There are no puppies rolling around on the floor, no punk waitresses fleeing for Vegas, and no pushy clients ordering
me
about. I make the rules around here, and 94

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everyone follows them. To a 'T'. We are a bit more organized and efficient in Glasdorf."

Suddenly aware that a multitude of curious faces was observing him, Nicholas turned to the workers and barked

"Back to work! Now!" The room cleared in a matter of seconds. He reached for Lucy's hand, but she stepped back from him, her eyes sparking with anger.

"That was uncalled for, Nicholas. Rude, and...and...unkind.

Your elves were just being sociable. It's my fault that they left their stations. I told them it was okay. I didn't realize it would jeopardize your precious schedule."

She poked him in the chest with her finger. "And how dare you insult my cafe! Sweet Inspiration might not be as impressive as your kitchen, but my customers love it. At least my employees aren't scared of me."

"Maybe that's your problem, Lucy Anne. They should be a little bit scared of you. Instead, they run you ragged. You need to learn how to become more authoritative if you want to run an efficient business."

"You...you...you pompous ass!" Lucy grabbed the nearest object she could find, which happened to be the remains of a cherry-filled chocolate bon bon on a plate. Nicholas gasped as she flung the dessert right at him, splattering it all over his pristine white shirt. He looked down in disbelief at the mess on his chest. Before he could utter another word, Lucy was racing past him with tears streaming down her face.

"Wait, Lucy, dammit, slow down!" She was out the door before he could catch her. "Well, hell." Nicholas could not believe their lovely day had soured so quickly. It probably 95

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wasn't such a good idea to criticize her business. Or yell at the elves in front of her. She was clearly feeling protective of his workers.

He banged the door open and glared at the nearest elf he spotted. "Clean up the damned mess in there! Immediately!"

Then he trudged down the hallway to the main workroom.

Hundreds of accusing eyes stared at him. The pregnant elf stepped forward, trembling all over.

"You made Miss Lucy cry, Mr. Klaus. We like her."

Another elf, bald with a handlebar mustache, also stepped forward. "Yes, sir, Miss Lucy has a heart of gold. She doesn't deserve to be yelled at like that."

Several more elves moved toward him, looking earnest and concerned.

"Enough." Nicholas held up his hand. "I promise to find Lucy and apologize to her, all right? In the meantime, this kitchen better be up and running by the time I get back.

Understood?"

"Yes, sir." The elf with the curly mustache leaned forward and whispered to Nicholas. "By the way, the ladies like a bouquet of flowers when you're in a groveling mood. Roses are always nice."

The gingerbread elf added "Red roses, sir."

Nicholas couldn't remember his name.
Mack? Matt?

"What's your name? You're in charge of the Pfefferkuchen room, aren't you?"

"Yes, sir. I'm Max."

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"All right Max. I'll stop by the flower shop and get Lucy a nice arrangement. And you need to get your display room cleaned up. How did Lucy like it, by the way?"

Max grinned. "She absolutely loved it, sir. Cried, she did.

She's got a soft heart."

Unlike me
. Nicholas knew that Max and every other elf in the room were thinking the same thing.
I sure hope Lucy
Anne likes roses. And has a forgiving nature.

* * * *

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Lucy was halfway down the street before she realized she had absolutely no idea where she was going. She stopped and tried to get her bearings, but all of the streets in Glasdorf looked alike to her. There was no way she would go back to Klaus Kuche and ask Nicholas for help. Sniffling, she looked up and saw a sign that read
Dag's Pub
. She recalled that Nicholas had said the rowdy elves liked to hang out there.

Hmm...maybe a beer will make me feel a little better.

Lucy pushed open the door to the pub and stopped in her tracks. Loud rock music blared from speakers attached to the walls. The pub was dark and smelled of beer, sweat, and
bratwurst
? Everywhere she looked were elves—shouting around a dartboard, chugging from tall beer steins at the bar, arm wrestling on the tables, and swinging on the chandeliers.

Or rather, falling off a swinging chandelier and landing in the middle of the dance floor. Never in her life had she witnessed such a raucous scene.

A short squat fellow with angels tattooed on his forearms sauntered up to Lucy, raked his eyes over her from top to bottom, and smiled a slow, semi-toothless grin.

"Well, what do we have here? A redhead. I
love
red heads."

"You wouldn't know what to do with a red head if she fell on you. Naked." A mohawked elf jumped off his bar stool and leaned close to Lucy. "Never mind him. My name's Jorg, and I'd love to buy you a beer, pretty lady."

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A man at the bar whistled loudly. "Watch your manners.

The red head's name is Lucy and she belongs to Nick Jr., from what I hear. Don't reckon he'll be too happy if he finds out she was getting some trouble at the bar."

"That true? You belong to Nicholas Jr.?" The muscular elf with the mohawk ran his fingers through his spiky hair.

A few new tears slipped down Lucy's cheeks. "I don't think so. We just had a fight. He's really angry at me. I distracted his workers at Klaus Kuchen, and he lost his temper."

"She's crying, Dag. Look at that."

"How'd you distract his workers?"

"They were so sweet. We were having cookies and cocoa, and they were telling me all about Glasdorf. Then Nicholas showed up and blew his stack. He...embarrassed me in front of everyone."

"Son of a bitch. That wasn't nice."

"Nicholas made her cry. What an ass."

"Bloody bloomin' baking bastard."

The bartender came out from behind the bar and rubbed Lucy's back. "Don't fret, little red. He'll come to his senses.

Why don't you sit down and we'll get you a nice pale ale?

Would you like that?"

Lucy nodded. "Thank you so much. I never ate lunch today either. Do you have sandwiches here, by any chance?"

"We've got the best Sloppy Joe in the northern hemisphere. I'll fix you up with a nice snack. I'm Dag, by the way. Nice to meet you." The elf wiped his hands on his apron, and then reached out to shake Lucy's hand. She shook his little hand, and smiled.