Santa's Daughter (1st bk of Santa Series) (Completed)

Chapter 29 (Edited)

Well.... this is awkward... Who is actually reading this story?

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"Mom, we are back," I called out through the house, stomping my feet on the mat before placing Jankin down beside me. Quickly, I took my boots off and placed them by the door before picking him up again.

"How is he?" Mom asked, walking into the front hallway from wherever she was at. She looked me up and down as well as Jankin. Relief flickered through her eyes, and I could tell that she was glad we were safe.

"Cold," I replied. "You have a warm towel ready?"

Mom rolled her eyes and smiled. "Yes, and I have some Hot Cocoa for you. Everything is in the living room for you."

I nodded my head in thanks before taking Jankin into the living room. A smile was on my face when I saw Lanshin on the towel. "Warm?" I asked, causing the young pup to look up at me.

Lanishin wagged his tail and looked at Jankin. Worry flickered through his eyes, and I knew that he cared about this older dog, even though Jankin had been mean to him. "How is he?"

"Cold and tired," I replied, placing him in front of the fire. I turned towards the pup and smirked. "He will be fine, and I need the towel."

Lanshin huffed but obliged, moving off of the towel. He watched as I grabbed the towel and placed it around the cold dog. "Would you do the same thing for me, if I was stuck in the cold?" he asked, cocking his head.

I nodded. "Yes," I confirmed. "I'd do this for you as well." I rubbed the towel across the dog, causing him to groan in annoyance.

Mom walked into the living room, holding a cup of hot chocolate for herself. "You might want to take a shower. I'll watch Jankin."

"Thanks," I said, smiling in relief. I really needed a shower, but I didn't want to leave Jankin by himself. "Come on, Mika," I said, running up to my room. I, quickly, closed my door shut after Mika got in and leaned against the door with sigh. My mind wandered to the way that Madison was acting around Cale, and I couldn't help but hate it.

I couldn't help but wonder if she would be all right hanging out with him. I could tell that she liked him... a lot, but did that mean she had to make me look to be some sort of prude? Heck no.

"Are you alright?" Mika asked, nudging my hand. I could tell that she was worried about me, even though I wasn't looking at her.

"I don't know what to think about, Cale," I replied, closing my eyes and frowning. "I think that there is something... different than others..."

"LIke you?"

I shook my head no. "There is something else that is different about him," I replied. "I think that maybe we have the same background with the talking with animals through the mind, but..."

"There may be something else about him that makes you nervous?" she asked.

I nodded and rubbed my forehead. "I am scared for Madison, Mika," I said, finally. "She is falling for him. I can see that, and I don't want her to change."

Mika nuzzled me, knowing that I needed her comfort. After a few minutes, she started to nudge me to the shower, probably telling me that I stunk.

I rolled my eyes at her but complied and went to the bathroom. I knew that I needed to stop thinking so much, but I couldn't help it. I couldn't help but overthink everything that has to deal with Cale.

He wasn't normal, and that was what I was deathly afraid of.

***

I looked into the mirror after my shower and pursed my lips when I saw my head full of white hair. I moved my hand through my soft hair and huffed, knowing that Cale might still be here.

It was funny that I was scared of Cale because he was not normal. I mean, I wasn't normal. I talked to animals with my mind, fluent in multiple languages (thanks to my father), I knew how to carve anything and had used a knife since I was a little girl, and my hair turned white in the evening around fivish or sixish every night.

But, I guess that was what was normal for me and my family. It was normal for me to talk to animals with my mind and having just staring contests with them. It was normal for me to go around outside with just a t-shirt because the cold didn't bother me in the middle of December.

I shook my head before wiping my hair with a towel before putting it up and walking into my room with my hair up in a towel and one wrapped around my body. I walked into the closet and changed into a sweatshirt, sweatpants underwear, and fluffy socks, not really wanting to put a bra on. Sure, I usually wore sports bras, which were more comfortable than others, but hey, I had John's sweatshirt that he let me "have" and it covered everything.

Mika snorted when I walked out of the closet to see that I had on sweats. "Make a fashion statement," she said, lying on her back on my bed.

"I know right," I said, doing a pose at her and winking. "I rock this look."

Mikca snorted and rolled onto her stomach. "Never do that again."

I rolled my eyes at her and moved over to my vanity where I had random pieces of clothing on it as well as pictures and medals. "Some friend," I said, teasingly, taking my hair out of the towel and brushing it. I started to put it in a braid, knowing that I was going to hide my hair from him.

"I am your best friend," MIka growled, teasingly.

I turned to look at her and smirked, putting my hair into a bun. "You are my pet," I replied. I grabbed hold of one of my beanies and placed it over my head, making sure that all white of my white hair wasn't showing.

Mika rolled her eyes but didn't comment. She hopped down and rubbed against my legs, pushing them a bit to make me move. "I can make you fall," she warned.

I couldn't help but scoff and kneel down, scratching behind her ears. "You are my best friend," I said. "Never forget that."

Mika grinned and licked me right on the lips. "I know," she said, wagging her tail.

"I hate you," I grumbled, hating the fact that my dog licked me on the lips again.

"I know."