Chapter 41: A Revelation, Part 3

Serendipity shivered. "It's a bit colder out there today, isn't it?"
"Yes, I believe so," Corey agreed. "That's why I made sure you had something warmer to wear today."
"Thank you," Serendipity said thinking of the gray winter wear she had left in the closet. "You know, he does look a bit like an insect, it's true," she offered. "And he does waddle slightly, as well. I believe your assessment was rather spot on." Corey laughed but did not respond, which prompted Serendipity to continue with her assessment. "Of course, if I were named based on my appearance, I should wonder what I would be called."
"Well, that depends," Corey replied shrugging. "If you were named on the first day I met you, I would have to call you something very different than what I would name you on the last."
"And what would you call me today?" Serendipity asked placing her hands beneath her chin in an angelic position.
Again, Corey couldn't help but laugh. "In that pose? I don't know,?Snow Angel, perhaps."
"Snow Angel? I rather like that," Serendipity admitted.?"I've been called worse."
"You've been called better," Corey suggested. "I think your father had it spot on when he named you Serendipity."
She smiled serenely at him for a moment before she finally said, "You know, Serendipity doesn't just mean 'luck' or 'good fortune' as so many people think. Firstly, it means to find good luck and good fortune by accident. And I'm afraid, for most of my life, I've only stumbled into the accident part and never the fortune part. I think, however, perhaps my luck is changing a bit."
His green eyes settled in on her face for a long pause before Corey finally spoke. "I hope so," he said quietly. "I truly hope so."
Serendipity began to feel a bit uncomfortable. In order to break the tension, not only did she look away, but she asked, "And what of you? What should we have called you if your name was based solely on your appearance?"
"I haven't the foggiest," Corey said, chuckling quietly. "Spike?"
"Spike!" Serendipity laughed. "Quite suitable! I was thinking something like Prince of Velvet, but I do like the name Spike for you ever so much better!"
"Are you poking fun at my suits?" Corey asked, faking offense.
"Not in the least," Serendipity assured him. "In fact, I think you look very sharp--quite stylish, certainly unique."
"I have a very important job, you know," Corey continued. "And I need to make sure I am dressed for the occasion."
"Of course!" Serendipity agreed.
"Besides, my father always dressed thusly before his retirement, and I suppose I have modeled my own appearance after his," he admitted, looking down at his suit red and green striped shirt, red jacket, and matching pants.
"I am certainly not one to disagree with one attempting to emulate one's father," Serendipity stated matter-of-factly. "Now tell me, does your father's hair also replicate your own?"
"You don't like my hair at all, do you?" Corey asked, his expression playing somewhere between offense and amusement.
"Well, honestly," Serendipity admitted, "at first I found it quite odd. But now, I will say it has grown on me, and I'm actually fond of it." To prove her point literally, she reached up and touched the spikiest section of his hair, which he bent forward in order for her to access. "Oh, my!" she exclaimed. "I expected it to be crunchy, but it's not at all, is it?"
"No, it's not," Corey agreed. "It's my father's own secret hair gel recipe. Only he and I know the secret ingredients."
"Not Cassius then?" she asked, drawing her hand back to her side of the table.
"No, Cassius prefers a much more boring hairstyle," Corey explained. "He's, well, he's a bit ordinary, I'm afraid." His voice sounded overly empathetic, which caused her to giggle. "You find humor in my older brother's lack of variety?"
"No, I find humor in your interpretation of it," she replied. She continued to laugh for a few minutes before she finally regained her composure. "Tell me, Mr. Cane, what business must you be about today? I'm sure your schedule is quite full."
"Oh, yes, quite," he agreed. "I have various important appointments to keep--with various important persons. Why? What did you have in mind?"
"Well," Serendipity began, "if you have time, and if it's not any trouble, I think I should like to meet the Snow Queen--that is, if you think she might have time to meet me. Just for a moment."
Corey's expression changed for a moment, and Serendipity couldn't tell if it was concern or if he was just considering the request. After a moment, he said, "The Snow Queen, right. I'm really not sure. I suppose I could check with her to see if she is available. I thought that, perhaps, you might consider taking a look at some of the cottage designs we have available, you know, just in case you decide to stay."
Serendipity was certain the topic would come up eventually; it had to as she would either have to ask to be taken home or he would have to offer to take her--or offer to find her another place to stay. "Corey" she began, toying aimlessly with the handle on her teacup. "I"
But before she could continue, he said, "Listen, Serendipity, there's something I need to tell you." He placed his hand on top of hers, and the tone of concern in his voice made the hairs on her arms stand up. Serendipity looked him straight in the eyes and held her breath, having no idea what it might be, though she was certain by his tone it couldn't be good.?"I, uhm, haven't been completely honest with you" he began.
She continued to stare at him as he absently ran his free hand through his hair. He seemed to be searching for the right words. "Whatever it is, Corey, you can tell me," she assured him quietly.
Corey swallowed hard, and looking deeply into her pale blue eyes he said, "I, uhm, that is uh I made the gingerbread men with magic." Then, he drew his hand away from hers and covered his face with both palms, shaking his head slowly from side to side as he did so.
"What?" Serendipity asked, not sure whether she should laugh or smack him for making her feel as if he were about to say something truly important. "That's it? That's what you wanted to tell me?"
Corey didn't meet her eyes for a moment, which made her wonder if there were something more. "That's it," he finally confirmed, still staring down at the table. "I just thought you should know the truth."
Serendipity shook her head. "Well, all right then. The truth is very important to me, but I thought you were going to tell me something important."
Saying nothing, Corey shrugged his shoulders again, still looking away. Serendipity squinted one eye and looked at him closely, as if she were trying to see into his soul, to see if there were more. For once, she couldn't get a good read on him, however, so she decided that if there were something else he needed to tell her, he would do so in good time. "Well, as long as we are being honest" she offered at long last.
This got his attention and he finally turned to face her again, his hand resting in front of him on the table. "What is it?" he asked a curious expression on his handsome face.
"I wasn't quite telling the truth once yesterday either," she admitted.
"How's that?"
"Corey," she began, "if I knew that only female reindeer have their antlers this time of year, surely I must know what mistletoe is for."
His smile was back then, the real one, the one that she had grown to love. "I did find that rather odd," he confirmed. "But I was more than willing to show you."
She smiled from ear to ear just then and realized he had taken her hand in his. She sat staring into his eyes for the longest moment, content to do so for the next several hours if fate should have it. However, eventually, he said, "We should go, check with Ingrid--the Snow Queen--see if she's busy."
"Oh, can we do that?" Serendipity asked, clasping her hands together.
"Yes, let's just go. What's the worst that can happen? She can turn us out, I suppose."
"All right, then!" Serendipity giggled. "Let me go grab the cape you brought me, and I shall be ready straightaway!"
As she stood, she noticed something over his shoulder. "Oh," she said as he followed her to the door. "Perhaps you can ask her for another snow poinsettia when you arrive," she said, one hand on the door.
"What's that?" he asked, glancing back at the counter where the flower stood.
"It seems the one she gave you has died," Serendipity explained.
As she bounded out the door and up the stairs, Corey crossed back over to the potted flower. Sure enough, the leaves that were vibrant and green just yesterday were now brown and twisted, the once beautiful flower a sickening yellow. Shaking his head, he exited the room and went to put on his coat.