still curly and trailed from his fingers as he held it up for everyone to see before he handed it to Reginald. “Thank you, sir,” Reginald said and gave the ribbon a flourish. “Tell me, Aiden. Did you hear about what happened to the man who stole an advent calendar?” He asked and Aiden sighed as his head fell.
“No. What happened?” He asked.
“He got twenty-five days!” Reginald declared and a loud giggle burst from Toly and he clapped his hand over his mouth.
“Because there are twenty-five days on the calendar!” He whispered to Wilder and Robin was laughing as he sat cross-legged on the floor but everyone else groaned. Reginald held the ribbon over the gift and gave it a wild shake and everyone gasped when he pulled his hand away and a neatly tied ribbon sat atop the box.
“Now, that deck of cards in your other pocket, please, Aiden,” Reginald said. Aiden pulled out the deck and quickly removed it from the box. He shuffled through the cards and fanned them so everyone could see that it was just a normal deck. “Why don’t you let Robin choose one?” Reginald suggested. Sharp lowered and took a knee then fanned the deck again. He looked away so Robin could pick a card. Robin held up the 9 of clubs and everyone clapped softly.
“Now, put it back,” Sharp said and Robin slid it into the deck. Sharp stood and shuffled the deck. “Do you know what happens when you cross a snowman with a vampire?” Sharp asked blandly.
“No. What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?” Reginald asked with much more enthusiasm.
“Frostbite,” Sharp replied and there were several snickers but Robin and Toly were cackling. He gave the deck three flicks and shuffled through them until he found the 9 of clubs and held it up then turned to Robin. “Was this your card?” He asked and Robin nodded as everyone applauded.
“Could you fold that for me?” Reginald asked and Sharp sighed again as he quickly folded the card in half and in half again and handed it to Reginald. “Thank you! Hey, Aiden! What’s Santa’s favorite place to deliver presents?”
“I don’t know,” Sharp replied flatly but Reginald winked at the audience as he tapped the gift with the folded card.
“Idaho-ho-ho!” Reginald declared and made the card disappear. He presented the gift with a flourish and everyone clapped encouragingly. “Toly, would you mind?” He asked and Toly cheered as he scrambled from the couch and around the coffee table. “Go ahead and open it,” Reginald said as he handed him the gift. Toly carefully plucked at the tape and removed the paper without wrinkling it too much or disturbing the bow. He dropped it on the table and looked impressed as he inspected the red leather ring box. Toly showed it to everyone then opened it and everyone clapped again when he took out the folded card.
“The 9 of clubs!” Toly told them in delight as he handed the card and box back to Reginald. Sharp pushed out a weary breath and went to remove his coat but Reginald stopped him.
“Aiden…?” Reginald asked thoughtfully as he turned the ring box over in his hands.
“What?” Sharp said warily as he looked around.
“What’s Santa’s native language?” Reginald asked. Sharp shook his head.
“I don’t know... We didn’t practice anything else,” he said but Reginald shushed loudly.
“I’m improvising! Go along with it! What’s Santa’s native language? Anyone?” He asked again and looked around the living room. All he saw were shaking heads so he grinned brightly as he swayed forward. “North Polish!” He drawled and the room erupted in laughs and applause. Sharp pulled a face but his chest shook as he crossed his arms.
“Are we done?” He asked.
“Almost!” Reginald replied. “I have something for Toly,” he said and held the ring box out to Toly. He looked unsure and slightly concerned but his lips twisted as he examined the box again.
“For me? Why...?” He asked hesitantly. Reginald cleared his throat as he scrubbed a hand through his hair.
“I didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt but I exposed you and I feel like hell,” he said.
“Oh,” Toly said as he stared at the box. “We’ve erased everything Blackout had on me and I’m confident I’ve found any trace of me on the internet,” he mumbled.
“Just open it,” Reginald insisted and everyone but Robin and Rose leaned forward as Toly opened the box and there were several gasps as everyone gathered