Page 41 of The Christmas List

I understand her feelings, and I wasn’t lying when I said that I would wait for however long she needed. I’m in this for the long haul, and I intend to prove that to her.

Not just for me but for Lucy too.

Last night, when I was putting her to sleep, tucked beneath her pink mermaid covers, she looked at me and asked, “Daddy, are you less grumpy because Miss Josie loves you?”

I almost swallowed my damn tongue.

“What do you mean?” I’d asked.

She chewed the corner of her lip, pushing her hair out of her face. “It’s just… one time Miss Josie said that when people are grumpy, sometimes they just need extra love. I think you’re not so grumpy now because you have my loveandMiss Josie’s. Right?”

There’s no question that I love Josie. I’vealwaysloved Josie.

I loved her as a kid, and I love her now as a man.

And… it’s important to me that Lucy’s okay with that. Because she will always come first. She will always be the most important thing in my life.

So for a moment, I hesitated, mulling over the right response in my head before I finally said, “Would you be okay if Miss Josie loved me? And if I loved Miss Josie too?”

There wasn’t a single second of hesitation in my daughter’s face as her eyes lit up, and she nodded, a wide, toothless, yet very sleepy smile splitting her face. “Yes!Ilove Miss Josie sooo much, so I think you should too, Daddy.”

Her little eyes fluttered shut a few minutes later, and she drifted off to sleep.

So, she didn’t hear me as I whispered, “I already do, bug.”

It was a pivotal moment, even though I know my five-year-old didn’t realize how important it was, but having her blessing means everything to me.

The sound of Mayor Davis tapping on the microphone as he walks onto the stage pulls me from the memory of last night. I feel Lucy’s fingers tighten in mine, and I laugh.

This girl.

Mayor Davis’s pudgy cheeks are rosy as he walks further onto the stage. Today’s outfit is no less festive than all the rest have been. He’s got on a full three-piece suit in bright red velvet, paired with a green top hat with a plaid ribbon. Truly never fails to surprise me.

“Good afternoon, everyone! Today is finally the day. I know you have all been working very hard to complete this year’s list, and I am excited and proud to announce the winner of our annual Christmas List competition!”

A sea of applause sounds around the packed town square as the crowd’s excitement ramps up. It seems like everyone in town participated this year. I guess Mayor Davis was right. Even though I originally wasn’t interested at all in doing the competition or any of the festive shit at first, the competition really did get everyone involved and in the Christmas spirit. It definitely has made this Christmas one to remember.

Though, for me, it’s not only the list that’s responsible for that.

“I just want to say thank you to everyone for participating and for really working so hard to bring the entire town of Strawberry Hollow together to celebrate the season. After all, it’s the entire reason we have this competition in the first place.” He smiles and reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a gold envelope, raising it above his head and twirling it through his fingers. “Now, without further ado, this year’s winners are…”

There’s a dramatic pause, one that nearly electrifies the crowd, including my daughter, who’s bouncing around on the tips of her toes. “Team Rowdy Reindeers! Congratulations! You will be riding with Santa in today’s parade!”

My jaw falls open as he announces our team. Lucy screams, jumping up and down with the biggest smile I think I’ve ever seen her wear, and she runs to Josie, who joins in the cheering and jumping.

God, I love these girls.

These Christmas-obsessed girls of mine.

“Daddy!” Lucy exclaims. “We won! Can youbelieveit!”

I laugh, shaking my head. “I can’t, bug. Go on, go up there and meet Santa.”

The crowd around us is cheering and clapping, and that only seems to make Lucy more excited. She doesn’t have to be told twice.She drops Josie’s hands, turning and sprinting for the stage.

I can feel Josie step back beside me, her hand slipping in mine, and when I glance down at her, those beautiful brown eyes are full of unshed tears.

“What’s wrong, honey?” I say, turning to slip my hands around the edge of her jaw, cradling her in my palms.

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