Christmas on Reindeer Road

by Debbie Mason

  Mallory bowed her head. Oliver always seemed so self-assured that she sometimes forgot he was just a kid. Of course he’d be embarrassed. He was a teenage boy trying to make a good impression. She should’ve been firmer with Abby. Still, even though Mallory sympathized with the boys, there had to be consequences.

  “Is that why you helped pull off Santa’s…You didn’t pull off his beard, did you?” she said, thinking back to that moment. “You just made it look that way so Oliver wouldn’t have to shoulder all the blame.”

  Brooks shrugged. “I don’t care what people think about me, but Ollie does. Is Teddy’s dad mad at us? He won’t blame you and put it in your file, will he?”

  Her heart pinched. He was just like Teddy, carrying his family’s worries on his shoulders. Only Brooks was more worried about being split up from his brother than he was worried about social services taking them from her.

  “I’m sure Gabe isn’t thrilled that Teddy was upset, and whether your brother wants to or not, he is going to make this right. But, Brooks, Gabe is trying to help us, not hurt us.”

  “Maybe, but the social services lady didn’t look happy. I saw her watching us and writing something on her iPad.”

  As Mallory absorbed the worrisome news, her phone pinged in her purse on the counter. She pulled it out. There was a text from Abby.

  Just found out why Kayla McPherson has it in for you, and it’s not only because our hunky chief of police obviously has the hots for you. She applied for your job! Because of what happened yesterday, the mayor didn’t want to tell you. Call me when you have time to talk.

  “What’s wrong?” Brooks asked.

  Mallory had been dancing around things with the boys long enough. “We need to have a family meeting.” She pulled out the perishables from the grocery bags and put them away. She’d unload the rest of the food later. “Come on,” she said to Brooks, her strides determined as she walked through the living room to the back hall.

  Her determination wavered when they reached Oliver’s bedroom. She gave herself a stern lecture and lifted her hand to knock. It was her job to parent the boys. Her job to carry the worry on her shoulders, not Brooks’s. “Oliver, we’re coming in,” she said when there was no response to her knock.

  He sat up on the twin bed and scrubbed his face. Then he scowled at her as if hoping to scare her away. It might’ve worked in the past but no longer. She saw through him now, and she wasn’t about to let him push her away.

  “I don’t want to talk to—”

  “Good, because all you have to do is listen.” She pulled out the chair at the desk. Brooks went to sit beside his brother on the bed. “Oliver, your brother doesn’t want social services to remove you guys from my care.”

  He shot Brooks a look.

  “It’s not because he likes me or wants to live with me. It’s because he loves you, and he doesn’t want you guys to be separated. So, what I need to know is whether you feel the same. What is it that would make you happy?”

  “You really want to know?”

  “Yes, I do. I really do. Because while you seem to think I’m the bad guy in all of this, I’m not. All I want is the best for you and Brooks.”

  “We want to go back to boarding school. All our mates are there. Our real mates. We don’t fit in here.”

  “I know you miss England and your friends, and I wish there was something I could do. But I don’t have the money to send you, Oliver. If I did, I would.”

  “Marsha does. You could ask her. She could take it out of our trust funds. It’s our money.”

  “The money in your trust funds can’t be withdrawn until you’re twenty-one.”

  “But she’s rich. She got everything.”

  “She is, but you know how set in his ways your father was. Marsha is the same. And the school fees are really high. It costs more than a hundred and thirty thousand dollars a year to send both of you to the school. And that doesn’t include the extras.”

  He shrugged. “That’s nothing to Marsha.”

  These boys seriously did not know the value of a dollar. “I can understand why you might feel that way, but Marsha doesn’t. She made it clear to me she wouldn’t pay for you to go back.” She took in the defeated slump of their shoulders and sighed. “All right, I’ll give it one more try, okay?”

  “Thanks, Mallory,” Oliver said, and he gave her a smile so much like his father’s that she blinked.

  She cleared the emotion from her throat and said, “I told you I’d ask, but that doesn’t mean I think Marsha will change her mind. So please don’t get your hopes up. I don’t want you to be disappointed.”

  “We know. We just appreciate you asking.”

  They should. The last thing she wanted to do was ask Marsha for anything. “No matter what you think, I care about you and Brooks. I want you guys to be happy.” She just wished they could be happy with her.

  “I’m sorry about the Santa thing. But it’s probably better that Teddy doesn’t believe anyway. He’ll just get teased.”

  “He’s only five,” Mallory said incredulously.

  “Almost six,” Brooks corrected her.

  “Yeah, that’s around the time Dad told us Santa wasn’t real.”

  “I think I was four,” Brooks said.

  “That’s horrible,” Mallory said without thinking. She never criticized Harry to the boys. “I mean, believing in Santa adds to the magic of Christmas. It’s what makes it so special.”

  “I guess,” Oliver said, obviously humoring her.

  “Okay, we can debate the merits of Christmas and Santa another time. Right now, we have another problem.”

  “I was right. The lady at the community center was making notes about us. She’s going to try to take us away from you, isn’t she? That’s what the text was about,” Brooks said.

  “The text was about Ms. McPherson,” Mallory confirmed. “But it wasn’t about her trying to take you away.” She weighed how much she should tell the boys and decided it was important, especially now, to be completely honest with them. “I got the feeling Ms. McPherson doesn’t like me, and Abby—”

  Oliver frowned. “Because Chief Buchanan does?”

  “Chief Buchanan does what?”

  “Likes you,” Brooks said. “Like a girlfriend.”

  “Oh, no, he doesn’t,” Mallory said with a nervous laugh. “Chief Buchanan and I hardly know each other.”

  “Yeah, he does,” Oliver said. “You should’ve seen the way he was looking at you at the parade.” Oliver made a moony face, and his brother laughed.

  “There’s no way he looked at me like that. Anyway, it’s not important. What is important is Abby texted me that Ms. McPherson had applied for the job I got.”

  “So you got the guy and the job she wanted.”

  “That’s not good,” Brooks said before Mallory could correct Oliver.

  “No, it’s not,” she reluctantly agreed. “But I don’t want you guys to worry about this. Leave that to me. However, it’s more important than ever not to give Ms. McPherson any reason to doubt that you guys are happy and doing well.”

  “I thought it was Chief Buchanan who was keeping tabs on us,” Oliver said.

  “Yes, but I have a feeling Ms. McPherson will be looking over his shoulder now.” Actually, after today, she was almost positive that would be the case. “So from here on out, let’s think before we act, okay?”

  “Brooks said she was taking notes at the community center. That was my fault, wasn’t it?”

  “No, it was mine. I shouldn’t have put you in that position. But that’s in the past now, and the three of us know what to do going forward.”

  “You’re still calling Marsha though? About paying for us to go back to England,” Oliver said.

  “Yes, I’ll call tonight.” Her stomach turned at the thought. “But right now, you and Brooks are going to help me cook a fun supper to cheer up Teddy. And while we do, we’re going to come up with a story to explain why Owen was pretending t
o be Santa.” Mallory got up from the chair, surprised when both boys followed her from the room without complaining.

  “What’s in a fun supper?” Brooks asked as they walked into the kitchen.

  “Pizza casserole for supper and snickerdoodles for dessert.”

  “Can we have some too? You didn’t order pizza last night,” Brooks said, then glanced at Oliver.

  She’d offered, but after she’d come clean about the night their father died, they hadn’t been interested in eating. “Sure. I’ll make two batches.” She went to unpack the groceries and stopped. She was doing it again. Staying silent in an effort not to upset the boys, but that hadn’t worked in the past. “Did you guys have any more questions about the night your dad died?”

  “No,” Oliver said, and Mallory had the feeling she’d blown what progress they’d just made.

  Brooks glanced at his brother. “I do.”

  “She told us all we needed to know yesterday, Brooks. Dad wanted to die. He didn’t want her to save him. Marsha and Blair lied, and you and I both know why.”

  Mallory blinked, surprised. Oliver hadn’t said anything after she’d relayed what had happened that night. She’d assumed his silence meant that Oliver still blamed her for not intervening and saving his father.

  “I just wanted to know if he said anything about us before he died. Like did he say goodbye?”

  “I’m sorry, Brooks. I thought I’d told you. Your dad’s last words were Tell the boys I love them.”

  She kept her gaze averted from Oliver, afraid he’d see through her, but Brooks’s smile made the lie worthwhile.

  A loud cheer distracted her, and she glanced out the window. “Looks like the Buchanans are home. We better get cooking, boys. I’ll let Gabe know we’re bringing them dinner.” She picked up her phone to text him while watching him play with his sons. She was afraid, if Oliver looked too close, this time he’d catch her making a moony face. Gabe was playing football with Dylan and Cody, showing off his physical prowess. He had the moves of a professional and the body of one.

  “Ollie, look—they’re playing rugby.”

  Mallory leaned over to look for Teddy and spotted him walking along the edge of the woods, probably looking for the reindeer he thought he saw this morning. “I think they’re playing touch football.”

  “That’s like rugby, right?” Brooks went up on his tiptoes to get a better look. “Do you think they’d let us play?”

  “You want to play?” she asked, surprised. The only things they ever seemed to want to do were listen to music and play video games.

  “Ah, yeah, Ollie was captain of the rugby team. He’s the best.”

  “I’m sure Gabe—”

  “No, it’s okay. I don’t feel like it anyway,” Oliver said, then silently communicated something to his brother with his eyes.

  “Ollie’s right. They’re probably mad at us.”

  “Come on.” Mallory grabbed her jacket and theirs. “Let’s get this over with.” It took some cajoling but she finally got the boys into their winter jackets and out the door. Cody, Dylan, and Gabe stopped playing as she and the boys made their way up the driveway. Teddy hadn’t noticed them.

  “What are we supposed to say to the kid?” Oliver asked. “About Santa,” he added when Mallory didn’t respond right away.

  “Maybe say you had a feeling it wasn’t the real Santa and wanted to expose him,” she said out of the side of her mouth while also trying to smile at Gabe and his sons.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Mallory,” Brooks said.

  “That’s because you didn’t let me finish. Then you apologize and say you didn’t know that Santa had asked Owen to fill in for him because he has a cold and didn’t want to give it to the kids.”

  “Good one,” Brooks said.

  “Okay, you tell him,” Oliver told his brother.

  “Why don’t both of you do it?” Mallory suggested, and they walked reluctantly in Teddy’s direction.

  Gabe tossed Dylan the football and then walked over to where she stood. “So, what did you have to do to get them to apologize?”

  “Promise to call Marsha and try to get her to pay for them to go back to boarding school,” she said before adding, “That’s not really true. I mean, I did promise to call Marsha, and I will, but the boys felt bad for upsetting Teddy. Oliver was embarrassed. Brooks says the girls were laughing at him.” She told him the excuse they were giving Teddy. As far as she could tell, it was working.

  “He’ll buy it. Owen said something along the same lines.” Gabe glanced at her. “So if they were going to apologize anyway, why did you feel like you had to bribe them?”

  “It wasn’t a bribe. Brooks saw Kayla writing down something after they pulled off Santa’s beard, and then Abby texted that she found out why Kayla has it in for me. She’d applied for the director’s position. So I just wanted the three of us to be on the same page and to work together. I asked what would make them happy, and it was like I thought. They miss England and their friends.”

  “What’s the chance of Marsha ponying up for school?”

  “Slim to none, which I told them. I think they just appreciate me making the effort.”

  “It’s probably a good thing that you talked to them, got things out in the open,” he said.

  “Why? Did Kayla say something?”

  Gabe rubbed the back of his neck and nodded. “Yeah. I thought I’d convinced her to leave things as they are, but after Teddy dragged us into the photo, she must’ve changed her mind. She came over after you guys left. Used the boys pulling off Santa’s beard as an excuse and told me she’d handle the weekly meetings with you and the in-house visits.”

  “I never should’ve agreed to watch the parade with you guys. If I’d just stayed away none of—”

  “And Teddy would’ve been devastated.”

  “I shouldn’t have gone to the parade,” she said.

  “Yeah, but then you wouldn’t have been able to put your Christmas plan into action with the boys.”

  Mallory narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re making fun of me, aren’t you?”

  “Maybe a little. Oliver and Brooks seem a little too old and too cool to be won over by the Christmas spirit.”

  “Trust me, I know that now. The only thing that matters to them is moving back to England.”

  “How do you feel about that, honestly?”

  She watched as Oliver and Brooks tossed the ball over Dylan’s and Cody’s heads, both of them laughing. “I want them to be happy. I’d hoped they could be happy with me but I’m beginning to think that’s not possible.”

  “Trust me. It’s not you, it’s them, Mallory. They’re at an age where their friends are more important than their parents. And in Brooks and Oliver’s case, you probably can multiply that tenfold. Their friends were their family. But it sounds and looks to me like you’ve made some headway today.”

  She nodded. “I think we have. Only it came at a big price. I have to meet with Kayla instead of you.”

  “I don’t think so. Not after what you just told me. If Abby’s right and she did apply for the job, I can make a case that Kayla has a conflict of interest. I’m going to talk to her boss first thing Monday morning.”

  “But that might make it worse.”

  “Yeah, and that’s why I didn’t do it yesterday. But it’s pretty obvious Kayla has a bias where you’re concerned, and it’s best to get her off your case. Just make sure the boys are on their best behavior for the next week or so, because this will probably bring some added attention your way.”

  “Come on, Dad! Oliver and Brooks want to play,” Cody yelled.

  “Why don’t you guys play? I’m going to take Teddy inside. You wanna watch a movie with your old man, buddy?” Gabe called out, no doubt seeing the longing look in his youngest’s face as he watched his brothers and Oliver and Brooks toss the ball.

  “Can Mallory watch one with us?” Teddy asked as he put down a stick and brushed off hi
s hands on his pants.

  “I have a better idea. Oliver and Brooks were supposed to help me make a special fun dinner for you guys, and it looks like they’d rather chase after a ball. So would you like to help me, Teddy? As long as your dad doesn’t mind.”

  “Can I, Dad? Can I?” Teddy asked.

  “Sure, buddy.”

  “Are you sure, Gabe? This doesn’t exactly work with our plan to keep our distance. I should’ve thought before I said anything. I just felt so bad that Teddy was upset,” Mallory said when the little boy ran over to tell the boys.

  “We’re neighbors who live in a small town, and as we discovered today, keeping our distance will be next to impossible. As long as we don’t do anything to feed into Teddy’s fantasy, we’ll be fine. And you just saved me from a Mickey Mouse Christmas marathon so I’m definitely not going to complain. But what exactly is a fun dinner?”

  “Pizza casserole and snickerdoodles. It was supposed to be the boys’ make-up present for Teddy. But I’d just as soon have them play outside for a change.”

  Gabe nodded. “Oliver has a good arm. Great speed too.”

  “Brooks said he was the captain of his rugby team. He said he was the best. I thought he was just bragging. He idolizes his brother.”

  “Yeah, I don’t think he was. If Oliver is interested, I’ll get in touch with the football coach at the school.”

  “Rugby and football aren’t the same though. Wouldn’t he have a hard time transitioning?”

  “No, not at all. And I can work with him on the weekends until he gets up to speed.”

  “You played?”

  “College ball.” He put out his hand and easily caught the football one of the twins had drilled in their direction.

  “Nice catch,” she said, wondering if there was anything this man wasn’t good at.

  “Yes, Dylan, I get the hint. Give me a minute, okay?” he said. Then to her, “Talk to Oliver and let me know. I think it would be good for him. Especially if the thing with Marsha falls through,” he said before jogging over to the boys.

  She smiled when he picked up Teddy like he was a football and ran around the yard with him before depositing him at her side. “All right, you two, you better go get our fun dinner in the oven. We’re going to be starved after the big game.”