Snow continued to fall as I stood guard. Sable joined Indigo in falling back to sleep. The two of them were lost in hopefully sweet dreams. I didn’t know of this Saint Nicholas. Though I’d heard stories of the Oak King and the Holly King, they were of the fey variety from a far off world. Then again, stories twisted between the worlds, with similar tales even in the farthest lands.

Magic gathered in the shop, and I didn’t poke at it. Sometimes the shop did things I couldn’t understand, and this had happened more often with Sable than any other shopkeeper before. Hopefully, it would bring her joy. I wanted her to be happy.

***

Daylight crept in through the windows, reflecting off the snow on the roof and filling the space with bright light. Chirping came from somewhere behind me.

‘Magic happened!’ Indigo’s voice echoed from the hallway behind me and I forced myself to stretch before climbing to my feet. The chair hadn’t been the best place to sleep, but I wouldn’t change the moment. I climbed to my feet and headed toward the noise, knowing that soon I could drink a warm coffee.

Yet, I paused as light streamed in from a new location. The hallway, which normally only sometimes had an arched door that led to what I suspected was the Cat’s private area, had another. This one didn’t have an archway, and instead had thick wooden beams framing it out. I stepped inside in surprise.

Tall bookcases covered the wall on the right, the same golden wood from downstairs. A large stone fireplace took up the wall to the left, with a giant fluffy couch shaped in an L in front of it. A dark green rug covered the floor, with wooden floorboards peeking out from the edges. Yet, to the back was a wall of solid windows. Giant, tall dark evergreen trees dotted a landscape covered in snow. Mountains rose in the distance, along with grey clouds that didn’t block out the sun.

The entire room felt cozy and warm.

Indigo flew around the room, only pausing to stare at each new thing before moving on.

“This is a new space,” added the Cat, who jumped up on the big couch.

I nodded, but added nothing. This room was literally a dream come true. “This should be impossible,” I whispered.

The Cat snorted. “Magic is real.”

“Still…” I slowly walked inside and around the couch to take a seat in front of the fireplace. “I dreamed of a room like this being in my grownup house when I was young.” My gaze darted every which way as I sunk into the fluffy couch. Now this I could sleep on.

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‘We can hang stockings here!’ Indigo said as she landed on the mantle.

I giggled. “That mantle has plenty of room for stockings.” It was giant and could fit enough stockings for my entire family. The fireplace was massive, though a fire didn’t burn in the center. Instead, it was full of crystals that glowed that same red color as flame, and warmth drifted out of the opening just like an actual fire.

The same went for the lanterns hanging from the ceiling. No open flames in any of them. Instead, each had one of those crystals sitting in the center. I didn’t know what to do as I sat on the couch. It felt like this couldn’t be real, yet it was as real as the shop.

“This is amazing,” I whispered as I sat there.

The Cat moved closer, carefully moving along the back of the couch. “The shop appreciates you.”

Warmth blasted from the fireplace directly at the Cat, who dodged backward.

I couldn’t help the giggles that came out.

“I might have understated that,” mumbled the Cat as he moved back into the spot he’d been in.

“This is going to be an amazing room for the solstice. I can see it now, with stockings and decorations.” I wished my family could see this space, but that wasn’t possible. I knew they were preparing for the holiday season, and I still hadn’t told them I wasn’t going to make it. Missing my birthday had been one thing, but missing the solstice was completely different.

Still, looking between the Cat and Indigo I knew it’d be a delightful holiday. The first one for the little dragon, and she deserved for it to be something special. I thought of her stocking again, and all the little things I needed to do to make it extra special. The Cat too!

Somehow, he had something to do with this. Otherwise, how would a room I’d dreamed about for years appear in the shop? Something had changed with him over the last several weeks. He’d acted sweeter around me.

I snuggled deeper into the couch, and the Cat jumped down from the back to near me before crawling into my lap. He purred loudly as I petted his back. “Watching the snow from here will be more comfortable,” he said.

“That’s true,” I replied, glancing over at the wall of windows. The dark forest reminded me of ancient stories about magical castles and libraries. Then again, this was a magical shop that appeared all over, with real magic. I held up my hand, admiring the bracelet. Heck, I could even do real magic.

Indigo eventually landed on the couch and yanked on a blanket that rested on the back. She yanked it down with her mouth and over to where I sat with the Cat. ‘We rest here.’

I chuckled. “Indigo, it’s the morning. We need to eat breakfast and then open the shop.” Yet, I pulled the blanket closer and tucked it around her. “You can nap here, though. I’ll make breakfast for you that you can eat whenever.”

‘Best magic,’ she chirped.

“Yes, it is,” I whispered. This room was perfect, almost too perfect. The various rooms the shop created all were put to shame with this one. It matched me so well. I wanted it. And not just for now. Forever.

I let out a small sigh, but snapped it off as Indigo snored. She’d fallen asleep so quickly, and I didn’t want to wake her. Maybe another growth spurt was on the way.

“You ready for breakfast?” I asked the Cat.

He stared up at me from my lap. “Food is tasty.”

I lifted him up into my arms, pulling him close before standing. Slowly, I walked around the edge of the couch and to the door. I paused in the doorway, glancing over the room again, to make sure it hadn’t changed.

Stockings would look perfect on the mantle. I needed to buy them as soon as possible. It was less than two weeks until the Solstice.