It was still rather form fitting, but would have to do, Jill decided. She had to get moving and now it was safe to. Even if he did see her on the float, John Heathcliffe would never recognize her, she thought with satisfaction.
Jill hurried from the bathroom and out of the shop, pulling the door closed as ordered. She paused long enough to be sure it had locked as Bev said it would, and then hurried up the alley to the parking lot at the end of the street.
There were people everywhere in the parking lot: elves, human reindeer, toy soldiers, snowmen, and people in band uniforms. The elves were made up of a combination of children and little people. Jill was reminded of the presence of several of the dwarves in the parade when someone goosed her and she whirled to find herself staring down at a grinning little man in an elf costume. Only the cigar hanging from his lips ruined the image of one of Santa's elves.
"Jay," she said on an exasperated sigh.
Whatever indecent proposal he'd been about to offer died on his lips and his eyes widened briefly, but then he grinned and said, "I see my reputation precedes me. Who are you, cutie? And why are you dressed up like Mrs. Claus? That's Jill's gig."
Jill blinked in surprise. She'd quite forgotten that she didn't look like herself at the moment until the man had spoken up. Now she forced a smile and said, "Jill was called away. A family emergency. I'm standing in for her."
"Hmmm." Jay didn't look impressed. "Nick isn't going to like that."
"He won't?" she asked faintly.
"Nah. He's sweet on our Jill. Everyone knows that… except maybe Jill herself," he added wryly, then tilted his head and asked, "So what's your name, cutie?"
"Name?" she echoed blankly, her thoughts on his claim that Nick was sweet on her.
Jay laughed. "Yeah, you know, what most people call you."
Jill flushed. It hadn't occurred to her that she'd need a name. Her gaze swept around the parade grounds as she sought her mind for a name to offer him. Her eyes landed on one of the painted carolers on the side of the third float. The singer held a sheet of music titled "The First Noel." Relaxing, Jill offered a smile. "Noelle."
"Noelle, huh?" Jay reached up, taking her hand to lead her toward the nearer of the tents set up in the parking lot. "Well, come on, Noelle. Let's go introduce you to Nick and give him the bad news that Jill backed out on him. He won't be a happy guy."
Chapter 2
"Yo!" Jay called out as he led Jill into the tent. "Nick, 1 found your Mrs. Claus, though not the one you were looking for."
It was late enough that mostly everyone had changed and vacated the tent. There were only a couple of people still inside; one of them was Nick already dressed as Santa and pacing, a worried expression on his face. The worry dropped away to be replaced with a warm smile at Jay's announcement, but that died away to confusion as his gaze landed on Jill.
"Who are you? Where's Jill?"
"Jill had a family emergency," Jay answered for her. "Noelle here is standing in."
"Oh," Nick said and then asked with concern, "A family emergency? But Jill's all right, isn't she?"
Jill hesitated. In truth she wasn't all right at all. She'd been zapped by a madman and turned into a shape-shifter that the madman was now hunting, intending to cage up and perform horrible experiments on. There was nothing all right about her at the moment. She couldn't tell Nick that though, so she forced a smile and nodded. "She's fine."
"Good," Nick said with a sigh and then glanced to the tent flap as Bev sailed in.
"Okay, everything's ready to go. We just need you two on the float." Bev's expression was pinched and anxious as she entered, but became completely alarmed when her gaze landed on Jill. "Who are you?"
"This is Noelle, Bev," Nick answered for her. "Jill had an emergency and asked Noelle to take her place."
Bev scowled. "See if I do that girl another favor. After all the trouble I went to—" Pausing, she peered over Noelle with pursed lips. "Well, that costume won't do. This is a family parade. There are kids out there."
Jill glanced at herself. The costume was more suitable for a bachelor's party, she supposed.
"You'll have to wear this." Bev moved in front of her to do up the clasp of the red cape she'd just placed on her shoulders.
Jill ran a hand down the cape's white fur trim and frowned. "Isn't this Santa's?"
"We have both a heavy one and a lighter one so that we're covered whether it's cold or warmer. Its cold today, so old Saint Nick here is wearing the heavier one. You'll have to make do with the lighter one." Finished with the clasp, Bev stepped back to peer at her critically. She didn't look pleased, but said, "It'll have to do. But you're going to be cold in that costume. Jill should have given you the one we made. I swear she's going to hear about this." Whirling to the tent flap, she snapped, "Come on you two. The parade is already five minutes late in starting."
Jill breathed out a little sigh and silently cursed John Heathcliffe as Nick led her out of the tent.
The parking lot was still full of people rushing about, but now they were all headed in the same direction, toward the row of floats parked at the edge of the lot. Jill and Nick joined the herd, making their way to the middle float that held the small wooden building with the sign "Santa's Workshop" on it. It was a shed really, but quite charming with all its decorations and left plenty of room for the big black bag with gift-wrapped boxes falling out, the fake reindeer standing around and Santa's chair. There were already several people on the float, not one of them taller than four feet. Santa's elves.
"Up we go," Nick urged as they approached the steps that had been wheeled up to the side of the float.
Murmuring a thank you, Jill scampered up the stairs, her gaze slipping nervously around the parking lot as she went, eyes searching for John. While he shouldn't be able to recognize her as she was, she couldn't help fearing that he would.
"This way, cutie," Jay said cheerfully, leading her toward Santa's chair. "You and Nick stand here and smile and wave."
"Thanks Jay," Jill murmured, following him.
"No problem." He grinned widely and then wiggled his eyebrows and said, "So, if you aren't doing anything later, maybe we could get together and I can show you why us elves are so popular with the ladies."
"Scram Jay," Nick said firmly, joining them at the chair.
"Ah, come on, Nick. Don't be such a spoil sport," the elf complained. "Why should you get all the babes? Anyway, I thought you were interested in Jill. Don't take it out on me because she stiffed you today and didn't show."
Jill glanced sharply at Nick, her heart leaping with hope when she saw the blush on his face. It seemed he was interested in her… but then why hadn't he done anything about it?
"Ignore him," Nick suggested. "He's a rude little bugger, but has a good heart for the most part."
"So you aren't interested in Jill?" she asked, unable to help herself.
Nick was silent long enough she didn't think he'd respond, but then he muttered, "Like I said, just ignore him."
She was frowning over that, when he said, "I don't know how much Jill explained to you, but the deal is there are boxes of candy canes and treats in the shed. There are two trays. One out here," he gestured to the large tray overflowing with candy canes and toys on the small table beside the throne, then waved to the "workshop." "And one inside that the elves are supposed to use to keep the tray loaded. We throw them to the crowd."