Please note that this story is a sequel to Holly's Winter, Cecee's Spring and Jenny's Summer. Cecee's Spring has not been written as yet.
I appreciate all votes, comments and feedback. I am looking for an editor.
I
I find I must begin my own story with someone else's.
Her name was Victoria Smart. She was a very beautiful woman of average height and slim, with long, dark hair, dark eyes with long lashes, full, pink lips and delicate facial features. Her body had an elegant and very female beauty that in ages past would have made her a rival to Helen or Cleopatra in the desire that she inspired.
In addition to this, she was no mere empty shell. Her mind was clear and quick and her character was beyond reproach. Perhaps some might think her promiscuous, or even a slut, when reviewing her past relationships, but she was the type of woman that men dreamed of and she knew it and she saw no reason not to enjoy herself and bring pleasure to others while she sought what life had to offer. In some ways she was an innocent, even though she was already in her early twenties when I first encountered her.
It was her fine character that induced Santa Claus to show up at her apartment on Christmas Eve and whisk her away to the North Pole. It was an invitation she relished, as it took her away from her boring job at a municipal library in Halifax.
Once at the North Pole, she settled in with the other women Santa had chosen to be his companions. She embraced the opportunity to have sex with this legendary figure, thinking it was a chance for her to find love. Despite the warnings of her friend Holly, Victoria believed the lies of an elf woman named Titania. It wasn't until everything was out in the open that Victoria realized what good friends Holly and the others had been to her. At that point, her life took a turn for the better as she and the other young women cooperated to protect the North Pole from invading Russian sailors. Victoria was a key part of the four woman team that infiltrated the submarine and then commandeered it. She was also instrumental in ensuring that Holly and Doug, the new Santa Claus, discovered how much they really cared for each other.
Victoria Smart was quite a woman. She still is.
II
Sergei was becoming adept at recognizing the signs of melancholy in a young woman that pointed towards a need for a lifestyle change. First it happened with Jennifer and then with Victoria. However, Sergei was also the type of man that understood long-term happiness often did not coincide with short-term happiness.
"You need a change...a vacation, Victoria." They were both dressing for breakfast. The morning meal at the North Pole was communal and relaxed and as a result, there was no hurry to begin breakfast by a certain time each day.
"Like Jenny did? I don't want to leave you in the lurch, Sergei. I've liked being with you. I've liked it a lot."
As Victoria brushed her hair, Sergei came up behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. "I know. But neither of us is going to like the other's company for much longer, I fear. It is time for us to move on."
Victoria sighed. "I know. I'll talk to Doug after breakfast and see if he can take me back to Halifax. I haven't seen my folks since I first came up here eight months ago. They're probably worried sick about me."
"You did call them in the spring to tell them you were all right. Also, I am sure they saw you on the news during all the trouble that Cecee and Yuri had at the United Nations."
"Yes, that certainly convinced me that I just wasn't cut out for being an ambassador, although Holly and Doug did offer me a position." Victoria sighed again. "I feel so useless sometimes, Sergei. Holly helps Doug in so many ways and she came up with the plan to take over your submarine."
"Oh, the hard work of her soldiers should have paid off in a medal for each," said Sergei with a wink.
She set her brush down in front of the mirror and pushed his hands from her shoulders. "They don't give medals for having sex with the enemy, Sergei."
"You used what weapons you had available."
"Besides, Cecee is doing so much at the U.N. and Jenny and her friends stopped that horrible monster. What have I done? Nothing! I should be contributing but I don't know how best to do so." She hugged herself.
Sergei lifted her chin. "Victoria, you ask too much of yourself. You are only twenty-four. Soon, you will come to a realization about what your purpose should be and then you will do it. Be patient. But do go visit your family and recharge yourself mentally. When you come back things will seem much clearer to you."
"You are a great guy, Sergei. I wish we were in love."
"Yes, it would be nice if we were, but we're not and it is best for us to part ways before the little idiosyncrasies we each have taint our mutual fondness."
III
Victoria did talk to Doug after breakfast and late in the afternoon they both loaded up Santa's sleigh with her belongings and after several tearful goodbyes, the reindeer pulled them into the sky.
Neither Victoria nor Doug felt like talking as they flew southwards to the Maritime Provinces. Victoria, bundled up against the cold, had time to think about how to say goodbye to Doug. She had made a play for him when they had first met and he had turned her down politely but effectively. That had been a first for her and though she would never act on it, she often wondered what being with Doug would be like. He was as good a man as Sergei and Yuri. Two of them were out of her reach and the third she had not fallen in love with and likely wasn't going to.
She was still brooding over these thoughts when she saw the lights of Halifax in the darkness below. She directed Doug to the suburb where her parent's home was and he landed on the street directly in front of the old house.
Victoria pulled back the hood and undid the buttons on her long, grey, winter coat, given to her by the ancient elf woman, Breeleigh. Doug set her suitcases on the sidewalk and then hesitated.
"I felt so sad saying goodbye to everyone at the North Pole, Doug. And now I have to say goodbye to you. When I first met you I hoped that maybe we could have been a couple."
"Maybe, but Holly had my heart from the first night I met her."
"Yes, your 'lingerie model'. If I'd known that was what it took..." she teased.
"You'll be missed, Vicky. If or when you ever decide to return to the North Pole, please let us know. You will always be welcome there. Also, Jenny and Cecee both wanted me to pass on invitations to visit them. And, Breeleigh and Puckrin also wanted me to inform you that there will always be a faerie nearby keeping an eye on you, so if you ever need help simply call out for it."
Doug stepped forward and hugged Vicky tightly. "You're a brave and smart woman, Vicky. Whatever you set your mind to accomplish you will succeed at. And if we at the North Pole can be of any help, simply let us know."
Victoria hugged him back and then heard a commotion behind her. She let go of Doug and turned to find her middle-aged parents standing on their porch and staring at the two in wonder. Neighbours were staring out open doors and windows of their own houses. She could hear a couple of excited children shouting, "it's Santa Clause! He's early!"
She and Doug laughed and then he climbed back up onto his red sleigh. He waved at the houses around them, and then he gave Victoria a wink as he flicked the reigns to urge the reindeer to pull the sleigh away into the night sky.
Everyone silently watched the magical vehicle disappear. Then Victoria picked up her bags and walked up to her parent's house.
They greeted her warmly and had a thousand questions for her. The three talked late into the night and Victoria nearly fell sleep in her chair before her mom and dad sent her off to her old room. She changed into a nightgown, snuggled into the bed and quickly went to sleep, untroubled by doubts.
The next day the family had several visitors, all of them curious about Victoria's involvement at the North Pole. She found the attention uncomfortable, but politely answered what questions she could.
Late in the day, one of her old friends came by to invite her out for drinks and dancing. Victoria was eager for the change of pace. She had always enjoyed being out at local bars with her friends and sure enough, she found herself having a wonderful time at the pub that her friends had picked out for their reunion party.
The music was loud and the dance floor was full. The mix of men and women was about equal and Victoria managed to find herself quite a few dance partners. One in particular held her attention. He was tall, fairly well built, fair-haired, blue eyed and well groomed. He was articulate and confident and she saw a few of the other ladies frowning when he asked her for a second dance. He wasn't a great dancer, but he was enthusiastic and laughed at his own occasional clumsiness. After their second dance, she brought him back to her friends to chat a short while.
"Oh, we all know Bob," said Lizzy, rolling her eyes. "He's my cousin from Fredericton. He's a business lawyer."
At Victoria's questioning glance, Bob nodded.
"So what brings you down to Halifax, Bob?" Vicky asked, speaking into his ear.
"I'm opening up another firm here. Business is good. So what do you do for a living, Vicky?"
Victoria gave him a look and then stared at her friends, who were all hiding their laughter behind their hands. Bob looked a little uncomfortable that they were all having a joke, apparently at his expense.
"I don't have a job right now. I've been unemployed since last Christmas." Can he really not know, she wondered?
"Oh." Victoria immediately regretted bringing their conversation to a potentially sad topic. She opened her mouth to explain, but Bob interrupted her.
"They're playing a slower song, now. What say we find a nice spot on the dance floor and chat a little more?"
