Page 39 of Sexted By Santa
“Because of the decorating,” she said, surprising me. “We get to dress the house up, and sometimes even make our own ornaments. See? There on the tree?”
She pointed to an ornament made of popsicle sticks glued into a triangular shape and painted green. Her photo was affixed to the center. The picture looked to be at least a couple of years old. Tori was missing one of her front teeth in the image.
“And I made this too.” She pointed to a clear bulb filled with white cotton for snow. The bulb was decorated with swirls of what looked to be silver glitter glue. It said the year 2018 on it in big, loopy numbers. “I also made an ornament out of a dried apple once. But I ate it before I got home.”
Jaxson laughed. “Okay, that’s enough holiday reminiscing. Christian doesn’t really like Christmas.”
I frowned, even though it was nothing I hadn’t said a dozen times. Right now, it didn’t feel entirely true though. I quite liked the look of Jaxson and Tori’s Christmas tree. It wasn’t the sparkling centerpiece Fynn had made of ours, with glass ornaments and an angel topper. It was…a little lopsided, actually, with ornaments cluttered close together in some areas and spread far apart in others. Many of the ornaments were craft projects, mixed in with other ornaments I could imagine Jaxson buying for Tori. There was an absurd number of reindeer. It was a bit of a mess, but a comforting one. A mess that spoke of love and family and reminded me of my distant childhood—before I’d lost my innocence, my home, and my belief in the magic of Christmas.
“We should probably head out,” Jaxson said before I could think of a way to explain my contradictory feelings. “Tori is very excited to see this holiday party at the college.”
“Oh, really?”
Tori bounced on her feet, looking excited, while Jaxson wrangled her into a puffy coat. “Yes! Will it be all decorated for Christmas?”
“I believe it will.”
The night was bitterly cold, and we hustled down the steps and across the lawn, snow-covered brittle grass crunching beneath our steps. I used the key fob to unlock the car doors, and we all slid into the toasty warm interior.
“Ah,” Jaxson sighed, holding his hands in front of the vents. “Remote start to warm up the car? If you’re trying to impress me, consider it done.”
I smiled, feeling myself flush as I reached for my seat belt and buckled in. “I couldn’t let my dates for the night freeze, could I?”
Tori leaned forward, grabbing the back of Jaxson’s seat and poking her face into the space between us. “Hey, will there be a Christmas tree at the party?”
“I think so.”
“And Christmas music?”
“Unfortunately,” I said.
“What?” Tori asked, sounding confused as I shifted the car into reverse.
“Uh.” I shot a panicked look at Jaxson in the passenger seat beside me. “Unfortunately, there’s only Christmas music for part of the evening. They turn it off when it’s time to give out prizes and gifts.”
“Gifts!” Tori squealed.
Jaxson laughed quietly beside me. “Sit back, Tori. Are you buckled up?”
“Sorry.” She sank back into the seat, and I waited until I heard the click of her belt to back out onto the street.
“Is she always so…curious and emphatic?” I asked.
“Welcome to my world.”
It didn’t seem like such a bad world to be in. That was surprising. I didn’t have much experience with children, but I’d never expected to be charmed by one. But it was impossible not to smile at Tori’s enthusiasm.
Even if it was for Christmas.
* * *
“Wow, look at all the garlands!”
Tori’s eyes were wide with wonder as she whipped her head around the banquet hall where the College of Arts and Sciences was holding its annual holiday party. Because the party wasn’t only for faculty, staff members, and their families, but alumni as well, the college went all out. At a private college, fundraising was never off the table.
Jaxson leaned in toward me, murmuring, “She has a thing for garlands because one of her friends has decorated with them.”
Garlands did, indeed, line the top of the large windows. Just inside the entryway, a banquet table sat piled with gift-wrapped boxes: a collection of door prizes for the adults and gifts for the children. The college usually had more than enough, but I’d still RSVPed to be sure Tori would be included.
