Chapter 35: A Mouse, a Flask, and a Decision, Part 1

Corey's cabin was not too far from the town square and the workshop, but he could tell that Serendipity was growing tired, so he took a leisurely pace, allowing her to determine the speed of their procession.
The snow was still falling and whenever she thought that he was not looking, Serendipity would, occasionally, ensnare another snowflake with her tongue, as she had done so long ago in the accompaniment of her father. "Are you enjoying yourself?" he asked as they neared the street where his cabin stood.
"I believe I am," Serendipity admitted. "Although I am rather tired. This is a bit too much movement for what I am used to."
"I'm sure," he agreed. "Well, we shall be at my home soon, you shall have your little friend back with you, and I shall ask my valet, Mr. Waddlebug, to fix you a spot of tea before we are off on our way back to England."
"Mr. Waddlebug?" Serendipity asked, chuckling. "What sort of a name is that?"
"This from the person who names her mouse friend Pozzletot?" Corey asked, turning to look at her and joining in her amusement.
"Well, while I agree that Pozzletot is a peculiar name, my friend is a mouse. Yours is an elf, I suppose?"
"Yes, he is. And he does remind me a bit of a bug," Corey admitted. "And he does tend to waddle a bit as well."
Serendipity was laughing so hard, she doubled-over, her free arm wrapped tightly around her midsection.
"You find that amusing, do you?" Corey asked, pausing beside her, a genuine smile still framing his handsome face.
"Quite," Serendipity managed to squeeze out between roars of laughter. "I'm sorry," she finally said, regaining her composure. "I'm sure he's a fine fellow."
"Not really," Corey muttered, causing her to look at him in astonishment. "Oh, he's quite good at his job, I suppose. But his disposition is a bit lacking."
"Hmmm," Serendipity said to herself, continuing upon their journey and looking sideways at Corey as she did so.
"What was that?" he asked, an air of shock on his handsome face. "What are you implying, Ms. Fizzlestitch."
"Nothing," she replied, "only that you, too, have the tendency toward a bit of an unappealing disposition from time to time."
Corey's mouth fell open in shock, though he recognized the teasing lilt of her voice. "And what of you? Ms. 'I shan't go with you, now get out of my house'?" he asked in a voice meant to mock hers, stopping in his tracks and turning to face her.
"Is that how I sounded?" Serendipity asked, still amused. "Like an old bitty cursing her cat?"
"Yes!" Corey exclaimed, still facing her.
"Really?" she asked again forcing back a smile that continued to play at the corners of her mouth.
"Yes!"
"Well, then, perhaps I should stay here and not go back to that fiendish misbehavior from before," she muttered as she turned and began to stroll again.
"What was that?" Corey asked, sure he had heard her correctly but wanting to hear her say it again.
"Oh, nothing," Serendipity replied, wishing she had kept her thoughts to herself. "Do you like me better now that I am here?" she asked, the teasing expression still dancing in her eyes.
"Much," Corey admitted.
"Good," Serendipity smiled. "I like you better now that I am here as well."
The crooked grin was back on his face again, but this time it was true, and she knew it in her heart.?"Come along," he said after a moment, her arm still locked in his. "We shall be there in just a moment."
A few steps further and they stood outside of his cabin. It was a bit larger than she had expected and well decorated, something else she had not expected. Even the outside twinkled with the same lights as in the Village. There were potted Christmas trees on either side of the door and a large wreath welcoming them. "How lovely!" Serendipity exclaimed as she followed him up the steps. He opened the door for her, and she stepped in, once again in awe at how festive and happy his place appeared as she looked around at all of the Christmas decor. "Not at all what I was expecting," she admitted as he took her coat and hung it, along with his own, on the hooks by the door.?
As they stomped the snow from their boots, Serendipity heard a noise in the kitchen. "Please, have a seat by the fireplace, and I shall be back in a moment.?We shall begin the hunt for your friend in just a moment."
Serendipity nodded and took the seat he offered her, and Corey went into the kitchen where he found Mr. Waddlebug with Pozzletot in his cupped hands. The two seemed to be deep in conversation.
"Whatever are you doing?" Corey asked his assistant who stood near the cook stove, a pot of water beginning a slow march toward boiling for tea.
"I'm saying goodbye," Mr. Waddlebug replied.
Corey thought for a moment perhaps he saw a tear in the corner of the other man's eye. "It's a mouse," he whispered sharply.
"I know that," Mr. Waddlebug responded, still staring intently at the adorable creature. "But I've grown quite fond of him these past few days."
"Goodness gracious," Corey muttered. "Listen, put that thing down, on the ground, where it will come when she calls it."
"All right," Mr. Waddlebug agreed, though he put Pozzletot back on the counter instead.
"What's this?" Corey asked. There was a large white and blue flowering plant taking up a considerable amount of counter space and while he wasn't positive, he was quite sure he had not seen it there before.
"It's a gift," his assistant explained. "A snow poinsettia, or something. It's from"
"Ingrid," Corey completed the sentence for him. Pulling the card out of the plastic pick stuck inside the flower pot, he read quickly, "Do the right thing, Corey."