Some links may be affiliate links. We get money if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these links on our site.

Christmas All The Time is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Bryce, Where Are We Going?

“Bryce, where are we going?” Veronica asked.

“Well, I can’t promise anything about Frankincense or Myrrh but I think it’s time we took a close look at some gold for that finger of yours.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“Why would I kid about an engagement ring? I did ask you to marry me.”

“It’s kind of hard to say no with you waving a giant lead candy cane at me.”

“Be serious.”

“I said yes and I meant yes.”

“Thank God.”

“Absolutely! I definitely thank God for you, Bryce Wescott. Photographer. Entrepreneur. Thrasher of Monsters.”

“Don’t forget my favorite title.”

“My guy.”

“That’s the one.” He swung her hand back and forth. “He sings a love song as we go along, walkin’ in a winter wonderland!”

“Tell me one thing.”

“Anything, my love.”

“What on Earth inspired you to face down a giant monster like that?”

He pumped her hand and pulled down on her arm. She leaned in to hear him whisper. He kissed her on the cheek and said, “You.”

“Me?”

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

“That’s a lot of territory, you know.”

“I went to your parents’ place for the holidays, basically unannounced. I stared down and completely trashed an eight-foot monster. I have endured not one, but two of your thermonuclear temper tantrums. What could possibly be more intense than that?”

“Well, eventually we’re going to move in together. Right?”

“Naturally.”

“Doesn’t that scare you?”

“Playing house without your parents around? Sounds doable.”

“We’ll have to plan the wedding at some point.”

“Naturally.”

“Doesn’t that scare you?”

“Marv has a Gantt Chart he can send me.”

“Once we’re married, we’re probably going to want kids.”

“Naturally.”

“Doesn’t that scare you?”

“You with the pregnancy hormones and the weird cravings and what not?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, I’ll admit. That’s kind of scary.”

She smacked him on the arm.

“Easy there! I almost dislocated that arm swinging that stupid candy cane around.”

“Sorry.”

“I know how you can make it up to me.”

“Just say the word.” She smiled sweetly at him.

He pointed at the window behind her. “Pick one.”

She turned around and saw the display of rings in the quaint little jewelry store. She turned to him with a huge smile and said, “Doable.” Her phone began ringing. “I wonder who that is.” She pulled it out of her coat pocket. “Meirhe? We’re at Feinman’s in the Diamond District.”

They heard a familiar sizzle and turned to find Meirhe and Detective Masi standing where they hadn’t been only a moment before.

“Ladies.” Bryce said cheerfully.

“What’re ye doin’?” Meirhe asked.

“Engagement ring shopping!” Veronica said with an enormous smile.

“I was wonderin’ what ye were waitin’ fer, Bryce.” Meirhe said sternly.

“I heard that.” Detective Masi added.

“You actually came all the way here to say that?” Bryce was aghast. “We’re here. We’re shopping. What’s up?”

“I wanted to let you know that there is a cash reward for your part in the capture of Krampus and I’m putting in for a civilian award.” Detective Masi said.

“Wow, thank you.” He said.

“Well, thank you. If you hadn’t had that adrenaline rush, we might not have caught him. Even so, I still think you had to have lost your natural mind. What were you thinking, facing him down like that?”

“Well, the original plan was to run to Luz’s house. Veronica said she couldn’t run the whole way. The only other thing I could think of was the last thing he’d expect.”

“He could have squashed ye like a bug, Bryce.” Meirhe said incredulously.

“That wasn’t my primary concern at the time.” He said. “I was bullied a lot as a kid.”

“Meaning what?” Detective Masi raised an eyebrow.

“It was a fortunate mixture of blind panic and pent-up frustration.” He said with a shrug.

“Fer future reference, Bryce, discretion is the better part o’ valor. Dial 9-1-1 en leave it te the professionals.”

“Yeah, the professionals arrived after I cleaned his clock. It’s nice to have cops and superheroes around to take care of situations like that, but when you’re right in the middle of it…”

“I hear you.” Detective Masi said. “I really do. Clearly, you needed to make a decision and it paid off.”

“Lucky for me.” He admitted. “Have you been able to make any sense of his behavior?”

“No, they’ve been keeping him under sedation while he recovers from that beat-down you gave him.”

“Do they know what he even is?” Veronica asked.

“Some poor soul who found himzelf in a Chaos Rift.”

“I thought they cleaned them all up years ago.” Bryce said.

“Tis the problem with chaos. No matter how much ye clean up…”

“I understand.” Bryce said with a nod. “Did you ever figure out what pattern he was drawing?”

“No, it didn’t look like anything that I could make sense of.” The detective said. “Maybe when they dial down the sedatives he might be able to tell us.”

“Is there any way to reverse the effect and turn him back into whatever he used to be?” Veronica asked.

“Nothin’ that we’ve discovered thus far, Dear Veronica. People who cross a Chaos Rift can no return te what they were afore.”

“That’s horrible.” Veronica said. “That poor man is going to be a shaggy, eight-foot beast with horns for the rest of his life?”

“Unfortunately so.” Detective Masi said. “Given the lives he’s taken this time around, he’ll probably be committed to the Wisler Institute.”

“I actually feel bad for him.” Veronica said.

“Are you kidding? He tried to kill you three times.” Bryce’s jaw dropped. “Why in the world would you feel bad for him?”

“Bryce,” Veronica took his hand. “it’s Christmastime. Christmastime is all about love and forgiveness and new beginnings. Whatever madness drove the poor man to act as he has, he’s in custody now. Maybe they can help him come to terms with what he has done.”

“I certainly hope so.” Bryce said. “Ladies, if you’ll excuse us, we’ve got a ring to shop for.”