Page 23 of The Blessings of Christmas
“Come on, boys.” She helped them zip up their jackets. “You don’t want to miss Santa.”
“I’m trying to remember my list,” Justin said so seriously that she had to smile. Finally, they were both dressed in jackets, hats, warm scarves and mittens.
Out in the shop, her mother was ringing up customers. Sarah would have to check to make sure the coffee dispenser was full. The pot of coffee she kept in a corner near the window was free for anyone but she charged for the espresso drinks. Mom always encouraged shoppers to take the free coffee. “That crazy machine with all the levers was your father’s idea.”
Word was that a national coffee company was sizing up Gull Harbor, with the intention of opening a shop. Sarah didn’t like to think about it.
This would be a big day for the shop. The Holiday Walk drew folks from the nearby towns. Ryan had helped her stock the display case. They’d been busy since they opened at eight.
“Be back soon,” she mouthed to her mother over the head of Lisa McGill, who was choosing pastries for her next ladies club meeting.
Outside, the sidewalk was packed. Children clung to their parents’ hands or huddled in their arms. The crowd peered down the street, hoping that Santa would appear soon. Usually six boys from the high school dressed as Santa’s reindeer to pull the sleigh.
People greeted her as Sarah led Nathan and Justin through the crowd, but she was on a mission. The line for Santa formed early. Christmas carols poured from the speakers placed along the street. Impatient, the boys tugged her along. She hoped she could get back to the shop soon to help her mother. With such cold weather, people might want gingerbread or eggnog coffee and that would throw Lila into a tizzy.
“Sarah! Over here!” Phoebe waved and Sarah steered the boys in her direction.
“How do you like your mother’s hair?” Phoebe bubbled. “I forgot to ask you at book club.”
“She looks so different,” Sarah admitted. “Younger. You’re a miracle worker.”
“I thought she needed something. You know, since she has that new guy and everything.”
“She told you about him?” The shock must have shown on her face.
“Oh, dear. Me and my big mouth. I didn’t know it was a secret.” Phoebe’s face flushed darker than her red hair. “She didn’t tell you about the new guy at the library?”
“Oh, him. Sure.” Her suspicions growing, she waved a casual good-bye. “Gotta run, Phoebe. Have to line up for Santa.”
Sarah’s head whirled as she led the boys through the crowd. She felt hurt. Mom was holding out on her. Finally they joined the other parents at the end of the street where Santa’s chair was set up. A brisk wind from the lake lifted her hair and waves battered the ice floes along the shore. But at least the sun was shining brightly, reflecting off mounds of snow.
Kate Campbell and her husband Cole approached with baby Quinn bundled on Cole’s back. “Look at you! Quinn’s first Christmas.” She gave Kate a quick hug. Cole’s daughter Natalie was with them, cooing over her baby brother. They made a perfect family.
“Maybe I’ll ask Santa for a baby, Mom,” Justin said when Kate and Cole turned to talk to some of their neighbors.
“Justin, that’s stupid,” Nathan threw his little brother a sharp look.
“Now that’s not nice, Nathan,” Sarah said. “We all have our own Christmas wishes.”
Nathan pressed his lips together. But when she turned to scan the street for Santa, she heard him whisper, “That’s not what we need, Justin.”
In the distance came the faint sound of jingle bells. A hearty “Ho, ho, ho” fell over the crowd with welcoming cheer.
“It’s Santa, Mommy.” Justin jumped up and down. His older brother watched the sleigh approach, a determined look in his eye.
Sarah sure hoped they didn’t recognize Ryan’s voice.
Perched high in the sleigh,Ryan felt like an imposter. He was also having the time of his life. The pine branches tucked in the sleigh sent out an intoxicating smell. Happy faces turned up toward him and excitement filled the air. Right in the center stood Sarah with Nathan and Justin. How he wanted to make their Christmas something special. Last night in his barren apartment he’d practiced dropping his voice so the two boys wouldn’t know he was Santa.
As he waved and smiled at all the little faces, a bit of the Christmas spirit worked its way into his heart. This was what the season was all about. Sharing love and happiness. At the end of the street his nephews’ faces glowed with excitement. Although this costume weighed a ton and the white beardhad been tricky, he was glad to be here. His throat was feeling scratchy from calling out, “Ho, ho, ho!” in a deep voice.
The sleigh circled and he stepped down. A high back chair draped in red stood in front of some pine trees. Sitting down, he adjusted his cap. Dressed as elves with bells bobbing on their caps, two high school girls coaxed children toward him. The line began to move. The smaller children sat on his knee while older kids stood. Some took out a list. With the exception of a little girl who burst into tears and was bundled away by her dad, the children were really into this.
The lists were similar, he soon learned, depending on the age. The younger kids wanted play action figures or Frozen dolls. If they were older, electronic iPads and iPhones, drones and robots topped their list. Some drilled down to model numbers, which was hilarious.
Then Cole stepped up with his little girl Natalie. “And thank you, Santa, for visiting Gull Harbor today,” Cole said pointedly. Hah. The guy was just relieved that Ryan had said yes or he’d be the one in the suit that felt hotter than one of the ovens. Cole’s daughter Natalie ticked things off on her gloved fingers while her father rolled his eyes.
“And a new iPad with a hot pink cover,” she concluded.
