by Rebecca York
Lars and his father laughed, and then Adam cleared his throat. “Can an old man join the party?” the older man asked. “Of course, Dad,” Lars answered, his eyes misty with the sweet reunion as the pair embraced.
“Okay, let’s grab the luggage so I can take you two home,” Lars told them. “I have a limo out front waiting for us.”
Jeff’s mouth popped open. “A limo, like in the movies?”
Lars grinned down at the boy. “Yep, only better. This one is called a stretch and it comes stocked with healthy snacks and juice. The team let me borrow it.”
“No soda?”
Lars thought about Jeff’s question as they slowly made their way to the baggage area. “Nope, sorry, Son. Just juices and water, and maybe an adult beverage for your granddad if he wants one,” he said with a wink to Adam. “We’re going to work on that diet of yours, young man, but I promise it’ll be fun. I have a lady who comes to the house to clean and make meals for me, and she’s a much better cook than your mother. We’ll make a list of your favorite food for her to buy.”
Their two suitcases slid down the chute, onto the turntable, and Adam plucked them off before they could pass him.
“All righty then,” he said with a smile. “We’re done here. Shall we head home?”
“Yes, please, Grandpa,” Jeff exclaimed. “I can’t wait to see Daddy’s new house. Will I have to sleep with you, Daddy, or can I have my own room?”
Lars grinned. “Of course you’ll have your own room. Wait until you see the surprises waiting for you.”
Jeff whooped as they got into the limo. “Thanks, Daddy. You’re the best.”
Chapter Seven
Mid-November 2018: Just Sonia
“Can you believe how early the Christmas season’s starting this year?” Sonia asked her mom while the older woman added the final touches to the costume her daughter planned wearing while taking pictures of the children with Saint Nick. “Barely a week before Thanksgiving and town hall has already had their holiday display decorated for ten days. They’ve been saying Santa’s due to arrive by helicopter instead of by fire truck this season, too. Won’t that be fun?”
Sonia watched Miriam knot the thread and carefully cut off the excess from the red velvet material. “Yep, seems like every year the world begins celebrating Christmas earlier than the year before. That’s because of sales, marketing, and greed, I’m sure.” She held up the Mrs. Claus skirt she’d been hemming. “So, what do you think?”
“It’s pretty, Mom, but don’t you think it’s kind of short? I’ll be doing a lot of bending and stuff. I thought we agreed to make it mid-calf length.”
“You’ll be fine, love. You’re a professional, and a lady. Too late now anyway. My eyes are tired from sewing. Here, go try it on with your top and let’s see how you look, okay?”
Sonia obediently took the skirt and headed to the bedroom. She shed her jeans and sweater, and put on a white mock turtleneck, the red and green plaid satin jacket, and then slipped into the skirt with the white faux-fur trim.
“Hmm,” she murmured as she appraised her image in the mirror. “Not bad. How lucky am I to have a mom who not only can help me with the website and my business finances, but can also create a great costume?”
“Ready or not, here I come,” she called.
Sonia couldn’t help notice her mother’s eyes water when she stepped into the room and leaned against the doorway.
“Ta-Da!!” the young woman shouted with a wink and an exaggerated pose a model would envy.
Sonia ducked her head with pleasure when Miriam announced, “Oh, honey, don’t you look like the epitome of Christmas cheer in that outfit. The skirt is just the right length, too. Where’s the hat?”
“Oh, Ma,” she said. “I didn’t want to wreck your handiwork. The glue where you added the holly sprigs isn’t dry yet. How do you think I should wear my hair tomorrow?”
“Either long and loose, or in a French braid,” her mom told her. “However you’ll feel most comfortable.”
Sonia flashed her a smile, and then went to the fridge, took out a bottle of Prosecco, and poured two glasses. After handing one to her mom, she held hers up. “Mom, I’d like to propose a toast – I couldn’t have done any of this without you. Thank you for being my partner in Sparkles of the Season. I owe much of its success to you. Cheers.”
They clinked their glasses, but when she saw her mom’s eyes well up again, Sonia put down her drink and gathered Miriam into her arms. “Don’t cry, Mom, your eyes will get all red and swollen, and we have a big day tomorrow.”
The older woman finished her Prosecco and gave her daughter a loving smile. “Hey, I’m not the one who received the option from the Chamber of Commerce to allow the children to choose their own folders for the pictures they’ll be taking with Santa – the ones you’ve submitted to the committee. In all the years I’ve lived in Little Silver, those snobs have always chosen the finished products for the Santa pictures. I’d say you’ve made a mighty good impression.”
Sonia laughed self-consciously. “I don’t know, Mom. Maybe God threw a little good luck my way, or David gave them a heavenly nudge. All I’m sure is that I feel very lucky to have you for a partner. Now, go home and get some rest. We have to be at town hall early.”
After seeing Miriam to her car, Sonia went inside and changed into her pajamas. As she slipped into her side of the bed, where she’d slept since she and David had married, a huge yawn overtook her.
“In case I forget to thank You for Your many blessings tomorrow, dear Lord, please hear my sincere words of gratitude. Goodnight.”
Chapter Eight
November 17, 2018: Lars, Adam, and Jeff
“Such an unusually warm day for November,” Adam remarked as they rode in the limo to town hall where Jeff would watch Santa Claus arrive, and visit him later.
“Yeah, Grandpa, I’m glad I brought shorts, even though Mom said I wouldn’t need them so far in the north,” Jeff quipped as he stared out the window watching the world going by during the drive. “Do you think Santa wears shorts, too?”
Lars appeared to think a moment and then check his watch. “Guess we’ll see. He’s due to arrive in half an hour. Are you excited?”
The boy’s head bobbed up and down. “Oh, I sure am. I’m going to ask him to bring you a decent pair of boots for winter time, Daddy.”
Adam chuckled. “That’s very nice of you to ask Santa to bring your dad a present. But, what do you want him to bring for you?”
Jeff tilted his head to the side and pondered his answer. Finally, he said, “It’s a secret, Grandpa, and I’m only telling it to Santa Claus.”
The two men exchanged amused glances as the limo slowly pulled into the jammed parking lot as far as the vehicle could go.
The child pointed. “Gee, Daddy, look at all the people here. Bet I’m gonna have to wait forever until I get to see Santa.”
“Don’t worry about it,” assured Adam. “As soon as I see Santa leave the helicopter, I’ll go stand in line and hold a spot for you inside, okay?”
Jeff nodded happily and the trio got out of the limo. After Lars tipped the driver, they made their way through the excited crowd awaiting Santa’s chopper.
The scent of cotton candy caught Jeff’s immediate attention and he grabbed his father’s hand. “Come on, Daddy, that guy’s selling red and green sugar balls,” he said as he attempted to lead the big man over to the vendor.
Lars sighed. “Well, since you’ve been eating all your vegetables, I guess you deserve a treat. Besides, I’ve never seen Christmas cotton candy before. I might have one myself. Why don’t we get one of each and compare? Do you want one, too?” he asked his father.
Adam shook his head and, once father and son had their Christmas treats, and sampled them, they swapped each other’s candy. “There’s no difference,” Jeff announced, his mouth full of green sugar.
“I know.”
Just then the mayor of Little Silver got up on
a bandstand with a megaphone, and the noisy throng quieted as everyone waited for his announcement.
He pointed toward the horizon with a wide smile. “Welcome, fellow townspeople. I have it on good authority that jolly Saint Nick’s about to arrive any second now. Are ya’ll ready?”
Children and grownups alike shouted, “YES!”
The whirring of Santa’s helicopter distracted the folks from anything else the mayor was about to say, and everyone began to cheer as it descended from the sky and landed nicely on the nearby field.
The mayor and his staff went over to greet him after the engine shut down and the blades were still.
Santa hopped from the aircraft and accepted the megaphone from the mayor with a wave to the crowd.
“Ho, ho, ho!” his blared over the distance. “Is everybody ready to join me inside and get down to the business of sharing your Christmas wish lists?”
The cheery response of applause and whistles made Jeff tug on Adam’s pants leg. “Hey, Grandpa, you said you’d go get in line, and I think you’re late.”
The older man chuckled. “No worries, I’m out of here. See you inside,” and then he quickly strode off to the town hall complex, steps ahead of the other eager people.
***
Because Lars still wore the walking boot, father and son had to take it slow to meet up with Adam.
As promised, Lars spied his dad standing in line on the short set of stairs leading to Santa’s gilded chair, with only ten people ahead of him.
“Come on, Dad, can’t you hurry?” Jeff complained.
“Santa’s not even here yet, kiddo, so cool your jets.”
The decorators had designed the Christmas scene where the children were to meet the man himself with love and skill. There were artificial snowdrifts made from gauzy white cotton and a sleigh rested upon the fake snow, with an animated Rudolph turning his head to and fro. Two majestic evergreens decorated with festive ornaments and sparkling lights were placed on either side of the chair.
The boy pointed. “Look, there’s Mrs. Claus standing there with a camera, but I thought she’d be way older. Guess she’s waiting for Santa, too.”
Lars glanced at the young woman chatting with one of the staff, but when she turned and gazed their way, his breath caught in his throat.
He couldn’t help but stare.
The woman looked like she’d just stepped from a holiday dream come true. A white faux fur cap trimmed with holly sprigs was perched on her long chestnuts curls, and the plaid jacket she wore set off her bodice to perfection. Although she was sort of petite, the black suede boots she wore made her slender legs seem to go on forever.
Her eyes briefly met his and she sent him a short nod before turning away as Santa Claus entered the scene amidst a rousing burst of applause.
Santa took a seat and gestured to the first child in line. “Hey there, young lady, come on over and tell me what you’d like me to bring for Christmas.”
“Oh, boy,” Jeff giggled. “I can’t wait to talk to Santa.”
Lars cleared his throat. “Neither can I,” he replied dryly.
When it was the boy’s turn to speak to Santa, Mrs. Claus held her hand out to Adam and treated them all to a lovely smile, just as she’d done with the parents of the kids who’d already spoken with Saint Nick.
“Hello, I’m Santa’s helper and personal photographer,” she told them. “I was hoping you’d like a picture taken of your young man with Santa today.”
Adam lifted her hand and brought it to his lips before letting it go. “That would be delightful, Miss.”
She walked over to the table next to the tripod and picked up two eight by ten Christmas folders. “Why not ask your young man which of these designs he’d prefer? They’re both just fifteen dollars and fifty percent of the proceeds go directly to our local hospital’s pediatric ward for the children’s annual Christmas party.”
Lars was grateful Adam had more or less taken charge as he showed his grandson the folders. For sure, he’d lost his voice and stood rooted to the spot like a big dummy.
“Which one do you like best, Jeff?” his grandpa asked, but Jeff’s eyes were focused on the lady.
“Golly, you’re so beautiful. Are you a Christmas princess?” the child asked. “You must be cuz I’ve seen pictures of Mrs. Claus before, and you don’t look anything like her.”
The woman smiled and touched a finger to the tip of his nose. “Aren’t you sweet, young sir. No, I’m not a princess, just Santa’s helper. I’ll be taking your picture though. Which one will it be, the evergreen border folder decorated with the ornaments, or the one with the Christmas cookies, ginger bread men, and candy canes?”
Lars watched his son trying to make a decision and then finally found his voice. “We’ll take them both. Do you think Santa would mind having two pictures taken with him? One with just Jeff, and the other with all three of us?”
When she smiled, the man’s heartbeat quickened and he wondered what the heck ailed him.
“I think that can be arranged,” she said, and then cocked her head to the side. “You look awfully familiar. Where do I know you from?”
“My daddy is a field goal kicker for the Jersey Giants,” Jeff piped in. “Except he has a broke bone in his foot, and can’t play with the team right now.”
“Oh, good heavens, you’re Lars Whitney. I’ve watched you and your team on TV for years,” she exclaimed holding out her hand. “My name’s Sonia and I am a huge fan. When do the doctors think you’ll be able to play again?”
Lars took her hand and squeezed it gently. The feel of her soft skin against his was thrilling. “Thank you kindly, Ma’am,” he replied. “I’m out for the rest of the season, but happy to say my foot’s on the mend.”
They stood there for several more seconds, his dark brown eyes staring into hers until he finally dropped her hand.
During their short exchange, Jeff had climbed onto Santa’s lap, and was whispering something in his ear. “You’re a mighty fine young man to wish for something so grown up for Christmas,” Lars heard Santa tell the boy. “How about you tell me what you’d like, and then we can have our picture taken.”
“Your helper said we could have two pictures, if it was okay with you,” Jeff said. “Is there any way she can be in the picture, too? That’s what I’d like.”
Lars saw the woman called Sonia blush. “Oh, not this time, honey,” she said. “There are so many other boys and girls waiting their turns for me to find another photographer on such short notice. Now, smile for me, and then your dad and granddad can join you. Ready? One, two three.”
In the end, Lars purchased four pictures, and as he handed Sonia his credit card, checked her left hand for an engagement or wedding ring.
Seeing neither, he smiled and took the folders. He turned one over and read, “Sparkles of the Season: Designs by Sonia,” which, to his delight, also listed her website address.
“Um, Mr. Whitney?” asked Sonia in a shy tone. “I know this may be out of place here, but would you mind signing an autograph for me?”
Lars grinned. Anything to prolong their chat. “Of course not,” he replied. “It would be my pleasure, on one small condition.”
She handed him a blank folder and returned his smile. “What would that be?”
“I hope I’m not being too forward, but would you consider having a cup of coffee with me soon? Not that I wouldn’t give you the autograph, of course,” he amended swiftly.
“Maybe. Can I think about it, please?”
At least it wasn’t a refusal. Lars scrawled a message on the folder, handed it back to her, and then looked around for his forgotten family.
After he’d found Adam and Jeff conversing with an older woman sitting nearby, he sent the young woman a quick smile. “Then, goodbye for now. Thank you for your kindness about the pictures.”
“I hope your foot injury continues to improve and thanks again for the autograph,” she said softly. “Now I have to get bac
k to work. So long – for now.”
Lars nodded and then joined his son and father, just in time to hear Adam say, “I can see where your daughter gets her good looks, Mrs. Hastings. Thank you for the business card. I’ll be in touch soon.”
Lars’s eyes gleamed knowingly as he watched Adam slip the card into his jacket pocket and raise his brows at his son’s bemused expression. “What?” his father asked innocently.
“Don’t give me that what business,” Lars replied as they made their way to the limo waiting for them out front. “Mrs. Hastings, is it? You’ll be in touch soon? Why?”
They got in the vehicle and Adam nodded towards the sleepy boy snuggling in for a nap during the ride back home. “I asked the lady out for dinner and she agreed,” he whispered. “She recognized you even though she supports another team. After we got to chatting, and because she knew of you, it made it easier for her to accept my invitation. That I wasn’t some pervert out to slay her morals. So, we’re going to dinner.”
Lars shook his head with a mock scowl. “So you used my fame to pick up some strange woman?”
“She’s not just some woman,” his father told him. “She’s also the Santa photographer’s mother. The same lady you’d been drooling over since you set eyes on her.”
Lars knew his behavior had been observed fair and square. “She asked for my autograph,” he answered lamely.
“Yeah?”
“I swear,” he said and held up the folders. “Okay, I did sort of ask her out for coffee. She said she’d think about it, but I have her website address, so I know how to contact her.”
“Big deal,” his father replied with a sly grin. “I have her mother’s home phone number.”
Chapter Nine
November 19, 2018: Sonia and Miriam
“Well, that was quick,” Sonia said as she watched her mother put on her makeup.
“Nonsense,” Miriam replied. “At my age there’s no such thing as too quick.” She did a little turn and smiled, albeit nervously, Sonia observed. “Now, how do I look?”
