Ginger (Marrying Miss Kringle)

by Lucy McConnell

  Ginger unfolded the letter and read:

  Dear Santa,

  I’ve done all my chores for a whole month without Momma having to tell me to. I worked with Old John for five days, and only ate half what he offered so’s he would have more in his freezer this winter than last winter cuz he got skinny. I’m not askin’ for anything that would make the elves work because I don’t want to make anyone work more cuz of me. All I want is someone to love me even when I’m not working.

  Joseph Bear, age six

  Ginger folded the paper, the vision of a six-year-old Joseph fresh in her mind. His skinny arms and his eyes begging for love as he wrote this letter.

  “How do you read these letters every year?” Ginger wiped at her cheeks.

  Frost hugged Ginger but didn’t reply. As the youngest, she may have taken on the hardest load to bear in all of the North Pole jobs.

  Ginger leaned into Frost. “You’re amazing.”

  Frost grinned. “Does this mean you want to see the dress?”

  Ginger laughed. If Joseph wanted her, he was getting all of her. “Nope. I won’t be going to Clearview in a wedding dress. I have a red suit to wear.”

  Frost squeezed her close. “That’s a first-rate outfit too.”

  Ginger inspected the remaining List books and jumped into her seat. “Let’s get this done—I have a job to do.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Christmas Eve found the town of Clearview in a festive mood. Local business owners had discounted prices for the holidays, and the shoppers turned out in droves to make their last-minute purchases. The children’s Nativity was set for late afternoon, and Santa was due to arrive around twelve.

  Joseph couldn’t wait at home for an answer to his letter. He left a note for Clarence that he could take the rocker and leave the money on the table. He liked the feeling of believing the best in people, of seeing the magic in every day.

  He and Layla layered up for the snowmobile ride. “I wish we could travel by sleigh. It’s warmer,” grumbled Layla.

  “Yes, it is.” Joseph tapped her nose with his finger and set her on the snowmobile.

  “Do you think she’ll come?” Layla asked.

  “I hope so.” Joseph had worried and fretted that his letter hadn’t made it in time or that Ginger didn’t want him or a hundred other worries, until he had to throw his hands up and turn the situation over to the Lord. He loaded his precious cargo onto a sleigh and they headed out.

  Turing onto Main Street, Joseph pushed thoughts of his last visit to town out of his mind. He wasn’t that guy anymore.

  Susan White ran out of the town hall, waving her arms to get his attention. A woman with short black hair that spiked out in all directions followed at her heels. He’d never seen this little pixie woman before, but the holidays drew everyone into Clearview. Cutting the engine, Joseph smiled politely. “Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas to you.” Susan’s eyes darted to Layla, and she lowered her voice. “I was told to come find you. Our Santa hasn’t made it—can you fill in?”

  Joseph stared at her, thinking he’d misheard. “You … You want me to be Santa?”

  “Please?”

  Joseph thought about the joy in Layla’s eyes as she’d talked to Clarence, the love that poured out of her. He wasn’t the real Santa Claus, but he could bring a little “ho ho ho” to the role. For the children. “Sure.”

  “Marvelous. I’m Stella.” The pixie woman held out her hand. As Joseph shook it, he caught the scent of dark chocolate and lemon. “I’ll take care of Layla if you want to head up to the church; Pastor Willis will show you what to do.”

  He normally wouldn’t have left Layla with a stranger, but something about her reminded him of Ginger. She instilled the same sense of trust and goodness in those around her. “Sounds good.”

  “Hurry, it’s almost time.”

  “Okay.” Joseph tugged the front of Layla’s coat. “Will you stay close to Stella? Hold her hand and don’t wander off, okay?”

  “Okay.” Layla smiled shyly.

  “I’ll park your machine behind the post office.” Stella hopped on the snowmobile. “Do you like to fly, Layla?”

  “Wait!” Joseph pointed to the carvings strapped to the back of the sleigh. “Those are for the stage. Will you see that they get where they need to be?”

  “You bet.” Stella floored it and the sled shot out of there.

  “Not too fast!” he called after them.

  Stella seemed to be responsible and Layla was smiling, so he followed Susan up to the church. She shoved him through the door and slammed it closed.

  Pastor Willis paced just inside. He brightened when Joseph stumbled in. “Come on. Come on. You can change behind the choir seats.” The pastor didn’t even offer a hello. He nudged Joseph behind the riser and pointed to a pile of red velvet and white fur. Joseph put the outfit on over his snow clothes, giving him the appearance of a plump man. The costume was first-rate, thick, and made with care. He slowed his movements so he didn’t rip it. With the shiny black boots on his feet and the belt secured around his bulky belly, he was ready.

  “The beard!” The pastor ran back behind the divider, but came back empty-handed and disappointed. “I can’t find the fake one. Your beard will have to do. At least wear the glasses.” He handed Joseph a pair of black-rimmed glasses.

  “They’ve got your seat all set up on the stage. Someone donated curtains for the backdrop. There’s a tree. Santa was supposed to bring the gifts, but—” He shoved a bag that rattled with candy canes into Joseph’s hands. “These will have to do for today.”

  Nodding, Joseph was pushed towards the side door that opened onto the stage. “Ho ho ho,” he boomed as he parted the curtains.

  As in years past, children from the outlying homesteads had gathered for the festivities. For many of them, a trip to Clearview was a special treat. They clapped their gloved hands and pointed his direction, clearly delighted. Joseph’s heart lifted. He waved and was about to find his seat when he heard sleigh bells. Leaning over to the pastor, he asked, “Is that the other Santa? We don’t want two out here.”

  The pastor shook his head. “There’s only one suit.”

  Feeling curious, Joseph stepped to the edge of the stage, his heavy boots clomping against the wooden floor. Just as he reached the stairs, Ginger pulled up in a green sleigh pulled by two reindeer. “Ho ho ho,” she said as she stood and waved to the crowd. Dressed in a stunning red split skirt and a fitted, fur-trimmed top, she hopped down and hoisted a bag over her shoulder. The wide leather belt cinched around her waist and matched her black boots. She smiled as she made her way through the children, calling each one by name and shaking their hands or patting their heads. The children drank her in, almost as much as Joseph did. His heart beat loudly, drowning out the cheers and thrumming, “Ginger. Ginger,” over and over in his mind.

  She paused at the bottom of the steps.

  Joseph took off his glove, the cold biting into his skin, and offered his hand to the stunning woman, believing with all his heart that if she took it, he’d be warm in an instant.

  A smile spread across her face as she slid her fingers across his, and warmth shot through his arm. “I sent a letter …” He searched her gaze for some sign that she’d read it and understood the words that had lodged in his mind.

  “You sent two letters.” Ginger handed him one but kept the envelope with Layla’s kiss on the back. His niece had kissed it for good luck, and apparently it had worked because it brought Ginger back to him.

  Joseph considered the other letter and felt his heart drop. He remembered writing this, remembered how much he’d put his heart into those words. Layla put her hand on his chest.

  “Joseph Michael Bear, I came to Clearview on Christmas Eve to find my Mr. Claus.”

  Joseph covered her hand with his.

  Ginger bit her lip. “A Mr. Claus will have to work, but I promise you it’s a labor of love.”

  He
nodded, unsure if he dared hope for this. Fighting old insecurities.

  “And Joseph. I promise to love you even when you are not working.”

  He laughed. He couldn’t help himself—happiness burst from every corner of his soul. Ginger loved him! “Ginger, for you, I’d work every waking hour.” Pulling her close, he studied her twinkling blue eyes. “I love you, Ginger Kringle.”

  “I love you too.” Ginger giggled. Stepping back, she held up a Santa hat. “Will you become my Mr. Claus?” she asked.

  Joseph grabbed her around the middle and spun her in circles. “Yes!” He stopped and she slid down to her feet, holding him close.

  He moved to kiss her but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. “Care to make this official?” asked Pastor Willis.

  Joseph’s eyes drifted out to the crowd—they’d put on quite a show for the town. Clearview’s first production on the new stage. Susan White was out there, pressing her hands together. She was probably planning to make a Christmas play a town tradition. Only this wasn’t a play—this was real. “What, now?”

  Clarence, wearing a green Hawaiian print shirt and khaki pants, climbed the steps. “No time like the present, if you ask me,” said the stunning redhead on his arm.

  “Grandpa!” Ginger threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. She did the same with “Grandma.”

  “I’ve got quite the gift for you this year, darlin’. One you’ll truly appreciate.” He winked at Joseph.

  Joseph shook his head. He had an idea about where the rocker was going to end up—in front of his fireplace.

  “Move it along, Kringles. These two have a busy night tonight,” said a man who was a younger version of Clarence—his son, Harvey, Joseph guessed. Ginger’s mom held Harvey’s arm and four women, all unique and beautiful, trailed behind. Layla was in heaven sandwiched between Stella and Lux. They’d dressed her in a long ballerina-type skirt with layers and layers of airy fabric, a turtleneck, and a red velvet jacket. Her hair had been transformed into long waves and pulled back by a silver bow.

  “Take your places, please,” said the pastor.

  Everyone seemed to know where to go except Joseph. He bumped into people and spun in a circle and finally ended up standing across from Ginger with Clarence as his best man. “I don’t have a ring,” he blurted.

  Clarence nudged him. “I’ve got it covered.”

  Pastor Willis brought them all to attention and began the ceremony. Joseph stared at the pastor’s mouth, knowing that there were words coming out but unable to grasp them. He was getting married, on Christmas Eve, to Santa’s daughter.

  Seriously!

  He met Ginger’s gaze, and everything else fell out of focus until Pastor Willis said, “You may now kiss the bride.” Wrapping Ginger close and dipping her low, Joseph pressed his lips to hers as the whole town of Clearview cheered. Ginger buried her fingers into his hair and returned his kiss, leaving no doubts that she would love him longer than forever and through every trial.

  Swinging them both back to their feet, Joseph refused to let her hand go. The family crowded around, slapping him on the back and talking eagerly to Ginger, to him, and to one another. Layla tugged on his jacket. Crouching low, he hugged her close. “I got my wish.” She grinned and handed him the letter he’d seen her drop in the mail slot and Clarence read at the shop. Shaking it open, he read Layla’s careful script.

  Dear Santa,

  My mom went away, and I don’t have a dad. I’m staying with Uncle Joseph. He’s really nice and takes good care of me, but we need a family. So this Christmas, can you bring me a Grandpa and Grandma and some aunts and uncles? And, if you can find someone to be my aunt, that would be great.

  Love,

  Layla

  Joseph hugged her again. “Layla, you will always have a home with me.”

  “With us.” Ginger put her arm around Layla’s shoulders.

  Layla hugged them both, tight.

  “Not bad for your first wish.” Clarence clapped him on the back. “I knew you had it in you.”

  Harvey checked his watch. “You need to get going.”

  “What about the kids?” Joseph pointed to the group watching from the bottom of the stairs.

  “I think we can handle this crew.” Clarence winked at his wife. “For old times’ sake.”

  Ginger gave his hand a squeeze. “Are you ready for this?”

  Joseph took a deep breath. He wasn’t sure he was ready for all this: a new family, a new job, and a new everything. One look at Ginger’s loving face, and he knew it was all going to be okay. She was asking a lot of him, and he found himself happy to give his all.

  “Let’s get to work.” He kissed her quickly.

  “All right, you two, there will be time enough for that on the honeymoon.” Stella ushered them into the sleigh. The crowd parted to let them through and cheered as Stella took the reins. “On Blitz!” she called, and they slid forward.

  *

  Ginger blushed as Joseph kissed her neck. They’d cleared town and were headed out on the open lake.

  “Where are we going first?” he asked.

  “I have to stop at home to pick up the big sleigh.”

  Joseph paused. “So … you’re … Santa?”

  Ginger nodded, feeling brave in her new role as Santa and as a wife. “Yep.”

  “You’re a cute Santa.”

  She’d weathered a power surge, checked the list old-school style, and found the love of her life. Tonight’s deliveries would be a piece of cake. “You might want to hang on.” She kissed him quickly and called, “Fly, Blitz!”

  Joseph was plastered against the back of the seat when Blitz’s hooves left the ground.

  “Ho ho ho,” laughed Ginger. “Merry Christmas, Mr. Claus.”

  “Merry Christmas, Ginger.”

  If anyone had been watching the sky that Christmas Eve, they’d have seen a sleigh with a couple kissing as if under a thousand sprigs of mistletoe.

  Epilogue

  “Welcome home!” Layla launched herself at Joseph and Ginger as they climbed out of the sleigh. A week in Barbados for their honeymoon had left them tan and content. Because of the heat, Joseph had shaved off his beard. He was even cuter without it, but Ginger would take him either way—he was her perfect match.

  Also gone was the fiberglass cast. Once he said I do he’d become a Kringle. While they weren’t invincible, they had abnormally strong bones and healed quickly.

  Catching the girl between them, they laughed.

  “I thought you’d never get here,” Layla lamented.

  Ginger planted a kiss on her forehead. “I can see you’ve spent time with Frost.” Layla wore a hot-pink and black plaid skirt, a pair of black leggings, a white shirt with a motorcycle screen printed on the front, and a hot-pink short jacket covered in shiny zippers. Her hair was parted on the right with small braids scattered throughout. Timber was on her heels, sticking close.

  Nodding, Layla replied, “She likes to make clothes. She let me try her sewing machine and I made a pillowcase.”

  “That’s awesome.” They bumped fists.

  Ginger’s phone beeped, and Lux’s voice came over the speaker. “Emergency Kringle Meeting in the living room.”

  “Copy that,” said Frost.

  “On my way,” replied Robyn.

  “We’re already here, dear,” said Mom.

  “Can it wait? I’m kind of busy,” asked Stella.

  “This is important,” Lux insisted.

  “Fine,” Stella groaned.

  “You too, Bear family,” Lux added.

  Layla grinned at them. “That’s us!”

  Ginger smiled at Layla’s excitement—the Bear family. Her family. Their family. They were a family! “Come on, Bears.” She linked hands with Joseph and Layla and headed towards the living room.

  Joseph plodded along. Ginger had explained the whole operation to him while they whiled away the hours on the beach. He’d taken it all in like a good spo
rt, promising to give the arrangement his best effort—for Ginger. She loved him all the more for not doing it for Christmas or the children. He was doing this for her and her alone, and for that reason she knew they’d make it for the long haul. However, this was his first official day at the North Pole, and he’d been nervous on the sleigh ride home.

  Nervous to move.

  Nervous to be part of such a large and close-knit family.

  Nervous about becoming Mr. Claus.

  It was a lot to take in.

  Ginger laced their fingers together. “I’m sure they just want to welcome you to the family.”

  “They’re the best family I could have wished for, Uncle Joseph.” Layla put her left hand on Timber’s neck, his nails tinkling against the floor and his collar sporting a new jingle bell.

  He eyed Layla’s outfit. “Please tell me they won’t dress me up too.”

  Ginger laughed as they entered the Hall of Santas Past. “Don’t worry. They’ll love you.”

  They were the last ones to arrive.

  Dad was in his armchair by the fire, but he got to his feet to shake hands with Joseph and welcome him to the North Pole. Mom hugged them both. Robyn waved but stayed on the other side of the room. Lux had her computer on her forearm and was scrolling through spreadsheets. Stella motioned for Layla to sit by her on the couch, and the girl bounced over. Frost eyed Ginger’s beach dress and sandals with a smile.

  Joseph nodded to his new sisters-in-law, smiling warmly for Lux—the one Kringle he actually knew.

  Stella giggled.

  “What’s so funny?” Ginger asked.

  “You’re Ginger Bear.”

  Ginger folded her arms. “Ginger Marie Kringle Bear, thank you very much.”

  “Can we get a move on? I have New Year’s dinner on the stove,” Robyn prodded.

  “Lux?” Mom startled her out of her spreadsheets.

  Lux registered that they were all there. She pushed her glasses up on her nose. “I finally figured out the issue with the magic and why we had such a huge energy burst.”