Page 64 of Small-Town Secrets
"Lots!" Tyler stretched his arms out enthusiastically. "We don't have any Legos anymore, or bikes, like the other kids at school, and I want a tablet I can play with and not get in trouble, and I want my brother and me to have our own beds. I want my daddy to have his own bed too. Right now he has to share with our karate teacher."
Laurence flushed as people glanced our way. Kids really said the darndest things, didn't they?
Santa laughed some more, as if that wasn't the weirdest thing he'd heard all day—and it probably wasn't—and patted Tyler's head before telling him to send his brother over.
Tyler started to climb off Santa's lap, then stopped. "One more thing!"
"What's that?"
"I want to see my dad for Christmas! I haven't seen him in forever!"
Shit.Laurence tensed beside me. I could see why. Tyler looked so hopeful as he made his request it made me a little scared of how he would react to learning the truth about his 'dad.'
Santa was oblivious to our problems, of course. "I hope your wish comes true," he told Tyler, ruffling his hair again.
"Thank you!" Tyler finally hopped off his lap and returned to us. "How did I do?"
"You did great," I said because I could still feel the tension radiating off the omega by my side and I didn't think he was up to speaking. "But next time maybe don't tell everyone where your daddy is sleeping, okay?"
Tyler looked at me with questions in his eyes. "Why not?"
"It's not everyone's business," I told him before focusing my attention on our other child who was approaching Santa now.
"Would you like the same things as your brother?" Santa asked him.
"No," Chris said firmly, coming to stand just in front of the man in the red suit. It seemed he had no intentions of sitting on his lap. Just as well. No one was going to force him.
"What do you want for Christmas then?"
"I never want to see our dad again."
I inhaled through my teeth as everyone stared at Chris.
"I'm... sorry to hear that," Santa said. I got the feeling he didn't really knowwhatto say. But then, neither did I.
"It's okay," Chris said. "Just make it happen."
"I'll do my best," Santa promised, even as I stepped forward to take Chris' hand and gently lead him away from the man. We'd pestered the poor guy for long enough.
"Didn't you want to take a picture?" Laurence asked as we walked away.
"I don't think I feel up to it right now, do you?"
"No," Laurence admitted while our children started to fight between us.
"Why did you say that about dad?" Tyler demanded.
Chris pulled his hand out of my grip to cross his arms in front of my chest. "Because it's true!"
"That was mean!" Tyler punched Chris' arm.
"Stop that!" Laurence tried to pull him away from his brother but Tyler was having none of it. Eyes blazing with rage, he whirled around to stare at his daddy. "What if I'm never seeing dad again because of him? It's not fair!"
"Why do you even want to see him?" Chris demanded before Laurence could respond. "You're stupid!"
"Don't call your brother stupid," Laurence said as if on autopilot.
"Quiet down, children," I tried. "That man over there doesn't have the power to keep anyone away from you. He's just a guy in a costume. He's not magic."
