Krys arrived at the Outdoor Centre later that morning. It was lucky that the party didn’t start until three, and she hadn’t been required to be there until half-eleven to help finish setting up.
She hadn’t had this feeling since she’d peered through the window of the Christmas card house all those years ago.
The manor might be devoid of ornaments but thanks to a team effort between the staff and youngsters, the Outdoor Centre was as charming as any venue she’d ever decorated. With a mix of commercial and homemade garlands, baubles and decorations, it looked knockout.
She had a lump in her throat the moment she walked through the door. How was she going to get through the day? A Christmas party wouldn’t solve the problems and challenges many of the kids faced, but if it gave them a couple of hours of unbridled joy – then surely it had been worth it? The most important thing was that the kids and young people themselves had been involved.
Jo accosted her in the reception area.
‘Krys. Thank goodness you’re here. We need all the help we can get.’
‘Is everything OK?’
‘Yes, but I’ve got a staff member off with a bug and one is going to be late so I’m helping our cook with the food.’
‘Just tell me what to do, I’ll help any way I can.’
‘Can you take charge of the grotto on your own? I had to leave it but I really need to be in here.’
‘No problem. I’ll make sure it’s ready.’
Krys’s breezy response belied the task at hand. The arch leading up to the grotto was still standing, and looked great with its mesh of coloured lights. The inflatables still hadn’t been fixed in place and Krys wasn’t totally sure she could inflate, tether and install them all on her own before the children started arriving, yet set to anyway.
In the middle of inflating the snowman, a familiar vehicle drove into the car park. It was the Landy and there could only be one person at the wheel. She wasted no time in rushing over to meet him at the door of his car.
‘Max? I didn’t think you were coming!’
‘What? And miss the reindeer?’ He smiled. ‘And I thought you might need a hand with setting up.’
She was delighted he seemed in a happier mood.
‘Too right. Jo’s short-staffed so we’re pretty desperate for help.’
‘Show me what to do.’
Together, they secured the snowman and polar bear in place at the entrance to the light tunnel. On this brief Lakeland day, one of the shortest of the year, the sun was already slipping towards the horizon, and the shadows were lengthening.
They’d just turned on the internal lights on the figures when a box van pulled up in the car park.
‘It’s the reindeer!’
Leaving the snowman and polar bear glowing happily outside the grotto, they met Zanthe at the van.
‘Looking good,’ she said. ‘Any chance of helping me with the pen for these guys?’
‘You bet,’ said Krys.
With Max and Krys’s help, Zanthe set up a portable pen for the reindeer by the entrance to the grotto and scattered hay over the ground before leading the baby out of the trailer first.
Krys placed a bucket of feed in front of the family. ‘Oh, they are so gorgeous.’
‘Even I will admit they are pretty cute,’ Max said as the reindeer tucked into their lunch.
Shortly afterwards two more vans arrived, both branded with the Lakeland Reindeer logo.
‘Oh, what’s this?’ Krys asked.
Zanthe smiled. ‘Wait and see.’
Max was smiling too; and unlike Krys, didn’t seem the least surprised at the addition to the reindeer convoy.
‘What on earth is going on?’
Two more staff dropped down from the cabs and proceeded to unload two adult male reindeer and – Krys could hardly believe it – a sleigh. She’d seen reindeer sleds before, of course, but this one was a stunner, decorated with garlands and furnished with Christmas cushions and cosy blankets.
‘Is this what I think it is?’ Krys said.
‘We thought the kids might enjoy seeing Santa arrive on his sleigh,’ Zanthe said, while the handlers settled the two male deer in their pen.
‘I can’t believe it. Thank you so much,’ Krys said.
‘You’re welcome.’
Zanthe went to harness the sleigh, leaving Krys still astonished at the scene in front of her. Beside her, Max was hardly able to contain himself.
Krys had a flash of insight. ‘Max, is this your doing?’
‘I couldn’t possibly say.’
‘Hmm.’ She gave him a stern look then said, ‘It’s – very generous of you.’
‘When Zanthe called me to say the sleigh was also available this afternoon, I couldn’t resist.’
They went to look at the sleigh which had wheels cleverly concealed in its frame. Krys imagined how magical and authentic it would look with Santa sitting in it.
Jo ran out of the centre, and threw her hands over her mouth in disbelief.
‘Am I dreaming or is that an actual Santa’s sleigh?’
‘Yes, it’s an actual sleigh,’ said Krys.
Jo’s excitement infected them all. Max was grinning fit to burst and Zanthe had a knowing smile on her face. She’d seen it all before but nonetheless seemed delighted with the response from the grown-ups. Krystle could hardly wait to see the children’s faces.
‘We thought we’d get the children gathered around the grotto and arrange for Santa to arrive?’ Zanthe suggested. ‘Then maybe they can meet the reindeer outside while they wait for their turn to see him?’
‘I can’t wait to see Hector’s face when he gets here,’ Krys said.
‘That’s going to be one of the best moments.’ Max had a wicked smile on his face. Krys hadn’t seen him so happy since last night.
By the time Max and Krys had added a few more final touches to the grotto, the sleigh was ready. Krys was itching to capture the scene when Hector turned up to see his transport. He’d look magnificent in his full regalia, drawn by the reindeer.
Max’s phone rang so he strolled off to take the call. A few minutes later, he came back with a gloomy expression.
‘That was the MRT base,’ he said.
‘Oh no, don’t say you’ve got to go to a rescue?’
‘Not me, but Hector has.’
‘Hector? I thought he wasn’t on call.’
‘He wasn’t, but there are two shouts at once and they’re desperate for experienced teams. I offered to go myself but he’s already halfway up the Pike, and besides, they need someone with medical training.’
‘Oh no. I hope everyone will be OK.’
‘Me too and it can’t be helped, but now you have your grotto and reindeer but no Santa.’
Krys immediately went into crisis handling mode, if you could call a missing Santa a crisis. She was used to trouble shooting and she’d deal with this one. Someone would have to step in.
Max and Krys found Jo and explained the situation.
‘So we need a new Father Christmas,’ Krys said.
‘Arghh,’ Jo groaned. ‘I can’t do it. I’ve got my hands full looking after the kids. We’re at the staffing limit for looking after them as it is, even with the volunteers.’
‘Can one of the parents or carers do it?’ Max suggested.
‘I guess we could try but it’s a huge ask and they’re meant to be having a break too, without being asked to play Santa with no notice. Could one of you do it?’ Jo said, a desperate plea in her voice.
Max visibly paled.
Krys stepped in. ‘I – I suppose so. It doesn’t have to be a man …’ She began to feel panicky. She had so much to do. ‘But I’m meant to be helping at the grotto, greeting the children, keeping an eye on it, soothing the nervous ones, making sure Santa has the right gifts for the right child.’
Out of the corner of her eye she caught Max, eyes wide and lips parted as if he was on the verge of doing something momentous. She held her breath … then came the words she thought she’d never hear in a million years.
‘OK, I’ll do it,’ he said. ‘I’ll be Santa.’