Being Santa wasn’t particularly hard work. But putting up with Teddy’s driving and Rhonda’s chatter was taxing. And it wasn’t that the MacNally kid was a particularly awful driver. More that Nick had three decades of experience being the one behind the wheel, and it wasn’t something he had reason to hand over very often. On the way to the next shoot, Rhonda ducked into the backseat before he could stop her, leaving him riding shotgun. And Nick hadn’t missed the knowing glance she’d given Teddy—she obviously thought she could play matchmaker.
Because that was exactly how it worked. He’s gay, you’re gay, you should hook up. Right. Except for the part where Nick had twenty years on the kid, wasn’t particularly a fan of either costumes or relentlessly positive holiday cheer, had given up dating after the disaster with Micah, and on the rare occasions that his right hand needed a break, he tended to avoid slightly built men—too much worry about accidentally hurting someone and too much feeling like a big clumsy oaf.
Micah was smaller, younger and cheerful, a nasty little voice in his head reminded him. Yeah, okay, there was that too. He did tend to avoid Micah clones, not that Teddy had all that much in common with a deep-voiced Hawaiian guy who was still probably ten years older and four inches taller than him. And Micah had joined Nick in disliking the winter holidays, wouldn’t have known what to make of this place or this elf.
They stopped for a fast picture by the intersection of two rural roads, notable only for the faded sign advertising u-pick apples and pumpkins. Nick dutifully posed next to Teddy, who had to switch shoes yet again before heading to their third location.
“How about I drive?” Nick offered. “Then you can keep your elf shoes on.”
They really were ridiculous things with curving tips, decorated with both pom-poms and little bells, but Nick would happily compliment them if it meant he got the wheel.
“It’s no trouble,” Teddy said as he slipped into the driver’s side, bright as ever, despite the gray skies and dipping temperatures. “These boots just slip on.”
“That they do.” Nick settled his bulk back into the passenger side. Teddy’s boots were closer to kids’ rain boots than to the military boots Nick was more familiar with. Even in his off-duty hours, he favored dark, heavy hiking-style boots, not the sort of fleece-lined tan-and-gray stylish numbers Teddy had on.
“What’s the next stop?” he asked.
“Lunch,” Rhonda announced. “I’m starving.”
“Maybe with the weather we should just push through? Get this done?” Nick was more pragmatic than actively worried. He was used to skipping meals in the name of duty, and the sooner they were done the better.
“Rhonda wants a picture of Santa with a sandwich from Iggy’s Deli. Also, you don’t want to see how she gets if we don’t feed her.” Teddy laughed as they approached the outskirts of town again. “Besides, they do this sandwich only in November called the gobbler. Turkey, cranberry sauce, homemade stuffing on potato bread. You don’t want to miss it.”
Nick was pretty sure a week of MREs sounded better than that, but his decades in the military had taught him to never insult the local cuisine. “They have ham and cheese? I’m a pretty simple guy.”
“Yup.” Teddy pulled into the parking lot of a little strip mall that contained the deli, a game store, an insurance office, and a vet’s office. He didn’t bother with changing shoes this time, so they all headed toward the deli, fresh snow sliding under their boots. It was still soft flurries, but he could see there’d be some serious accumulation before morning.
As they approached, a young family exited—mom and three small children, the oldest of whom darted away, making a beeline right to them.
“Santa,” the kid breathed, peering up at him. The little thing was bundled up in a thick gray coat and red hat and scarf, making it hard for Nick to guess at gender. “Is it really you?”
Something warm and sticky hit Nick’s insides, like syrup hitting a stack of pancakes. Until that moment, it had been the most annoying costume in the world, but the kid’s reverent eyes told a different story. The siblings joined the older kid, all three looking at him like he was magic incarnate.
“Jayden. We talked about this, remember?” The mom hurried over. “Not all Santas are the real Santa. They’re Santa’s helpers.”
“He looks real.” The kid gave him a grin that was missing several key teeth. “Can Mommy take your picture, Mr. Santa?”
“Of course.” Rhonda was quick to speak for him. “Do you want me to take the picture so the whole family can get with Santa?”
The mom nodded, handing Rhonda her phone, and they quickly arranged themselves around Teddy and Nick. He bent his knees so that he didn’t tower over the group too much.
“Can I tell you my list?” The older kid sure was a talkative little thing. “So that you can pass it on to the real Santa?”
“Sure.” Nick’s voice came out gruffer than he’d intended. He tried to remember how old he’d been the last time he’d believed like that, trusted so freely. He wasn’t sure. Before Jacob’s death, for sure. Before his family fell apart. Before the world taught him that wishes never came true, that hard work was the only path to achieving dreams. But this kid still believed, still trusted, so he bent down closer. “What do you want?”
“A new car for Mommy so she stops havin’ to say her prayers every morning before we go to school. And a Bitty Baby for Natalie and maybe some books I can read to the baby.” The kid gave him the most earnest look in the world, like Nick alone could deliver this Christmas missive. He had to swallow hard.
“Anything for you?”
Jayden kicked at the snow on the sidewalk and shrugged. “I like Legos.”
“Those are excellent wishes,” Teddy enthused before turning to the mom. “Molly, why don’t you call Charlie at the garage? Tell him I sent you. He’s running some specials right now. He might be able to get your car running better at a price that can work for you.”
“Thank you, Teddy.” The woman gave him a tight smile. “It’s been a hard fall, what with Dan out of work and all. But we’ll manage through.”
“I’m sure you will.” Teddy patted her arm. He produced a business card with colorful handprints on it from some hidden pocket and held it out. “But you know the resource center is always here too. Completely confidential. You can call me up if you can’t come in.”
“Thanks.” She pocketed the card and gathered her little flock up and headed toward an older model Honda SUV. Nick watched them go before following Rhonda and Teddy into the warmth of the little deli.
“Give me a sec.” Teddy pulled out his phone. “I just need to send myself a fast memo about Jayden’s wishes. I’ll see what my brother can do about the car, and we’ll get the kids on the giving tree for those wishes.”
Nick fished out his wallet, removed two twenties. “Put me down for some of the toys.”
“Thanks.” Teddy’s eyes widened, clearly not expecting him to give a fuck. And honestly, Nick couldn’t say why he did, other than he couldn’t stop picturing Jayden’s little face on Christmas if none of the wishes came true, if Santa didn’t come. And maybe Nick couldn’t remember when he’d believed, but he sure could remember being disappointed.
“You’re sweet,” Rhonda proclaimed.
Nick could tell her that he was anything other than sweet, but he simply nodded and got in line for the food. He ordered a hot ham and cheese, some of the house-made chips, and a black coffee. Teddy and Rhonda both got the gobbler and brownies bigger than Nick’s fist. Rhonda got a few pictures of him in line, then ones of him holding the sandwich before removing his beard to eat. They took a booth in the back of the deli, Rhonda and Teddy on one side, him on the other.
“You need to try the brownie at least.” Teddy cut a corner off his brownie and put it on Nick’s plate.
“I’m not usually one for sweets.” Nick took a bite to be polite. It was quite good—dense and chocolatey with hints of coffee and spice and the sort of indulgence he didn’t allow himself very often. “This is nice though. And let me guess, the baker is another relative?”
“Yup.” Rhonda and Teddy simultaneously burst out laughing.
“Rhonda’s mom. And if you come for Thanksgiving, you’ll get her rolls, which are amazing—fresh out of the oven and flaky.”
Nick decided to sidestep the invitation and change the subject. “So tell me, how’d you end up running the charity with so many MacNally businesses in town?”
“Teddy’s always been a giver.” Rhonda gave him an affectionate rub on the shoulder. “He used to give his allowance to get gifts for the giving tree and was always fund-raising for one cause or another.”
“I’ve got a master’s in social work.” Teddy gave his cousin a sharp look. “There weren’t a ton of social work openings anywhere in the county though. No way did I want to have to stay in Syracuse.” He shuddered dramatically.
“Too warm for you?” Nick couldn’t resist teasing him a little.
“Too big. Too crowded. Crazy drivers. Too far from home.” Teddy made a pained face. “Anyway, right when I thought I’d have to leave the North Country to find work or more likely take something not using my degree, the Pippens, who founded the Resource Center, decided to retire. I interviewed for the position and got it.” He sounded a bit defensive, like he wanted Nick to know he’d earned his position.
“Master’s, huh? You’re what, only twenty-five? That’s pretty impressive.”
“Twenty-eight.” Teddy’s eyes sparked. “And yes, I know I look young.”
Rhonda stole a chip from Teddy’s plate. “Hey, speak for yourself. I love our genes. I’m gonna get carded at forty.”
Twenty-eight still put him at far, far too young for Nick, but he sympathized. “I always looked older. Was the biggest kid in the class every year. Everyone expected me to act older than I was. Got me into trouble more than once.” Then because that sounded rather depressing, he added, “But can’t say as anyone’s carded me in a good fifteen years or more.”
“Oh, you’re not that old.” Teddy’s grin was decidedly flirtatious. Not wanting him to get any ideas, Nick forced his attention back to his food, let the other two bicker for the remainder of the meal.
When they went outside, the snow was coming down more heavily than before, and Teddy had to brush off the car, something Nick tried to do for him, but got himself banished to the passenger seat again for the effort. The next stop was a picture of Santa on the steps of the elementary school, followed by one at some historic bell at the firehouse. The fire personnel couldn’t hide their grins at their costumes, and Nick had to grit his teeth. He was the sergeant major for his battalion, could put any of these idiots through their paces, but of course, Santa wouldn’t bark at them, wouldn’t tell them to go find something useful to do other than gawk.
“Okay, last stop is across town. We’re going to put the two of you on the horse, and I’ve got some reindeer antlers and a red nose—”
“I am not riding a horse.” Nick had to draw the line somewhere.
“It’s a statue,” Teddy soothed. “Giant metal thing at the historic mill, commemorating the horse of the town founder, who was a revolutionary war hero famous for leading a river crossing.”
“I’m all for your pictures. And your charity. But I’m a sergeant major in the military police. I’ve got some dignity. I’m not riding some statue.”
“How about we just decorate it with the reindeer antlers and stand next to it, like Santa’s feeding the reindeer?” Teddy suggested.
“Fine.” Nick ground out the word. He wasn’t a stranger to compromise, and he could tell when he wasn’t likely to get a better offer. Besides, it really was snowing now. They needed to get this over with.
But Rhonda fussed with the statue decorating and the lighting and getting their expressions just so until Nick exhaled hard when she finally said she was done.
“Was it that bad?” Teddy gave him a sympathetic look.
Yes. “No. Of course not. All for a good cause.”
“Do you want me to text you the details on the other Santa appearances? I doubt Wallace is going to be up to much of anything this month. If you’ve got scheduling conflicts though, I’ll rope one of my brothers into it or something.”
“That’s fine. I should be able to rearrange my schedule.” It really wasn’t fine, but he’d promised Commander Grace, and he’d see this mission through. And with the wind-down of his last month of duty, he was likely to have the flexibility Teddy needed. He gave Teddy his phone number and email before they headed back to the resource center.
“Are you sure you don’t want a drink before you go?” Teddy asked him as he parked near Nick’s truck. “We should celebrate a good day’s work, right, Rhonda?”
“Yeah.” She nodded enthusiastically as they got out of the car. “We should. And the Lucky Scot is walking distance from here. As am I. You could always crash on my couch if the snow’s too bad after we get a drink.”
“Snow’s coming down harder now. Probably should head back now, just to be safe.” He tried to sound suitably regretful. But he was far too old to be sleeping on anyone’s couch.
“Another time then.” Not even Nick’s brush-off seemed to remove the chipper tone from Teddy’s voice. “I’ll help you clear your windshield.” He grabbed the scraper from his car and marched over in the direction of Nick’s truck. Rhonda, meanwhile, gave them a wave and headed down the block.
“Thanks.” He got his own scraper from the cab of the truck and started warming it up. His truck windshield was completely covered with the snow, but the two of them working together made fast work of it.
“Do you want me to lead you back to the main highway that goes into Fort End? This kind of weather means your cell service is likely to be super spotty, and I don’t want you getting lost.”
“I’ve got it. I remember the way.” Nick didn’t want to be dependent on Teddy for anything else, and he was only too eager to not see that Subaru again. He’d be back as needed, but for now, he couldn’t wait to leave this town in his rear view.