“Mama! Mama! Wake up!”
Jade opened her eyes. It was already light out. How long had she slept in?
“Mama! Look. Santa’s here.”
“It’s not Christmas yet. Go to sleep, baby.”
“No, Santa really is here. He just knocked on the door.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Go see for yourself.”
Jade glanced at the time. She threw on her slippers, tossed a dirty sweatshirt over her flannel pajamas, and peeked out the window.
Dez crossed her arms and jutted out her hip. “See? Told you it was Santa.”
“That’s not Santa, baby. I don’t know who it is.” Jade stared at the dressed-up man on her porch, wondering if she should call the troopers. The squad car that had been parked outside all night was gone. The man on the porch turned and caught her staring at him from the window. Smiling, he waved as he set down a huge black trash bag.
“Look, Mama!” Dez exclaimed. “He’s brung presents.”
Jade hurried to the door, wishing she’d actually gotten dressed. “Ben, what are you doing here?”
“Ho, ho, ho,” he declared, stepping into their home and lowering his very fake looking white beard. “I’m bringing you your gifts.”
Jade stared at the bag he dumped on the floor. “What’s this?”
“Presents for you and your little girl. Ho, ho, ho.”
“You can talk normally, Ben.” Dez ran to the trash bag. “We all know it’s really you.”
“That’s Officer Ben,” Jade corrected.
He took off his bright red hat and smiled.
She glared at her daughter. “Don’t go opening that bag without permission,” she told Dez. “Who taught you your manners, young lady? A moose?”
Dez giggled and pulled out a wrapped gift. “Look! I bet this is one of those huge coloring books.” She pulled a package out and shook it. “And these must be the colored pencils. I hope there’s a pencil sharpener in here too because mine’s broke.”
“Dezzirea Rose Jackson,” Jade huffed.
“It’s okay with me if she opens them now,” Ben said quietly. “These are from everyone around town. People brought them to the church yesterday. The sled and new mittens and snow boots are from the trooper’s station. So are the ice skates.”
Dez’s eyes widened. “Ice skates?” She turned the whole bag upside down, spilling at least two dozen packages onto the floor.
“That package with the blue snowflake paper is for your mom,” Ben said, “so don’t open it.” He glanced at Jade. “I heard that someone around here might need a new coffee maker.” He pulled a plastic grocery bag out of the mix. “And I brought you creamer. I hear it’s an acquired taste.”
Jade didn’t meet his eyes. “You really shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble.” Jade stared at the booty, wondering how much of it would be broken or lost by January first.
Ben scratched beneath his Santa beard then finally took it off. “The only trouble was getting into this suit. I had no idea it’d be so itchy. We rented it for the troopers Christmas party tonight. Which is actually one more reason why I wanted to stop by.” He dusted a piece of white cotton fuzz off his suit’s belly, lowering his gaze. “I know it’s short notice, but I was wondering if you’d be my plus one.”
“Tonight?”
He nodded. “We’re having prime rib. And I hear the captain’s wife makes a mean pumpkin pie.”
Jade glanced at her daughter, who fortunately seemed more interested in unwrapping her gifts than in eavesdropping.
“I’ve got to take Dez to church for her Christmas rehearsal tonight. Otherwise it sounds like a great time.” She licked her lips, hoping he wouldn’t be too upset.
He moved his Santa hat from one hand to the other. “What if I told you that Aisha already agreed to take Dez home after rehearsal?”
“You talked to Aisha?”
He smiled. “Guilty.”
She stared at the buckle of his Santa suit. “I don’t know. With all she’s gone through …”
Dez glanced up. “Come on, Mama. You should go to the party with Officer Ben. You’ll have a great time.”
“I don’t want to leave you alone, baby. Besides, this is a grown-up conversation, and I don’t remember asking your opinion.”
“Yeah, but he’s invited you, and it would be mean to say no.”
Ben grinned. “That smart girl of yours has got a point there.”
He really wasn’t making it easy for her to turn him down. And when he gave her one last, hopeful smile, Jade realized she didn’t want to.
“Okay. What time do I need to be ready?”