No Ordinary Christmas

by Belle Calhoune

  Tess giggled. “Of course not. I found out ages ago, but everyone in my family wants me to believe, so that’s why I’m here. I’m doing my part to keep the magic of Christmas alive.”

  This was awkward. He wasn’t sure if he was supposed to try to sell her on the Santa thing or pat her on the back for uncovering the truth. This was the reason he hadn’t wanted to play Santa. A moment like this needed a more seasoned Santa, one who was actually good at playing the role. He really didn’t want to crash and burn again, especially not at this special event.

  “So, what’s on your wish list for Christmas?” he asked, hoping to focus on something positive and cheery. If she didn’t believe in Santa Claus, he would bet his last dollar she still believed in presents under the tree. What kid didn’t want to wake up on Christmas morning and rip open a mountain of gifts?

  Tess grinned. “There’s only one thing I want. A puppy of my own. If that happens, it’ll be a real Christmas miracle.”

  “So what kind of dog are you hoping for?” he asked.

  “I love cocker spaniels and chocolate Labs,” Tess said. A dreamy expression passed over her face. Dante made a mental note to mention Tess’s wish for a Christmas puppy to Lucy. He would love to see Tess’s dream come true.

  He wagged his gloved finger at her. “Anything’s possible at Christmas. Don’t stop believing.”

  Tess squinted at him. “Isn’t that a famous song?”

  He patted her on the head. “It is indeed. A rather iconic song at that.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Are you telling me you actually believe in Santa Claus? For real?”

  Dante paused a moment before answering. He didn’t want to straight-up lie to her, but he wanted her to see all the possibilities. “I believe in goodness, especially during Christmas. I believe that there are so many people out there who want to perform miracles for other folks just so they can see them smile. I believe that this time of year we see the beauty in people’s hearts more than any other time. If that’s not the spirit of Santa Claus, I don’t know what is.”

  Tess grinned at him and tugged playfully at his beard. “Thanks, Santa. You’re the best.”

  She jumped up and bounded past Lucy, who eyed her curiously. “What did you say to her?” she asked in a low voice. “She looked like she was floating on air.”

  Dante shrugged. “That’s between her and Santa,” he said with a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

  “Well played,” Lucy said with a grin. “I didn’t think she believed anymore.”

  He winked at her. “I wouldn’t be too sure of that. She asked Santa for a puppy. Any possibility of that happening?”

  Lucy winced. “That would be a question for my parents. I can pass it on, but with all of my mother’s physical challenges these days, I’m not sure it would work out. Puppies are amazing, but they’re a lot of work.”

  “Sorry. I didn’t even think of that,” Dante apologized. Leslie’s medical condition had ripples.

  Dante glanced at his watch. His Santa gig was almost over. It hadn’t been as painful as he’d envisioned. The kids had been cute, and for the most part, well-behaved. And he’d been a pretty fine Santa, if he did say so himself.

  He stood up and stretched his legs. “What do you say I treat us to some fried dough over at the concessions stand? My stomach is starting to growl.”

  “Wait. There’s one more,” a voice called out from the crowd.

  A brown-skinned woman with long flowing braids was pushing a sweet-faced little boy in a wheelchair straight toward him. The child couldn’t have been more than seven years old. With mahogany-colored skin and big brown eyes, he was adorable. He was grinning so much it threatened to overtake his entire face.

  Dante quickly sat back down. “Ho ho ho. What’s your name, son?” he asked in a booming, Santa-esque tone.

  “I’m Jimmy,” the boy announced. He pulled out a long list from his jacket pocket. “Don’t worry. I won’t read the whole thing. Just the highlights.”

  Dante felt a smile tugging at his lips. “You’re my last visitor, so take your time, Jimmy. Lay it on me.”

  For the next fifteen minutes, Dante listened as Jimmy read his list, then told him a few knock-knock jokes. He also inquired about the weather in the North Pole and the health of his reindeers. The kid had the type of personality that made Dante want to sit and listen to him all day long. When his mother returned to the stage to signal an end to his visit, Dante leaned down and hugged him.

  “See you on Christmas Eve, Santa. I’ll be tracking your path on radar. Fly safely,” Jimmy said, waving as he left.

  “Wow. That kind of blew me away. He’s some kind of kid,” Dante said, turning toward Lucy. “It brings everything into perspective.” Meeting Jimmy made him feel ashamed about his earlier attitude about playing Santa. He’d done such a small thing, yet it had brought such joy to the kids. That’s what Christmas was all about. Spreading joy and making dreams come true. Giving without the expectation of getting anything in return.

  Lucy shook her head. “He’s an amazing kid. Jimmy comes into the library all the time and checks out the most fascinating books. He’s a robotics fan and has aspirations of working for NASA in the future. I have no doubt he’ll make it happen.”

  Dante’s gaze trailed after Jimmy as his mother wheeled him away. He spotted Troy enthusiastically greeting them at the end of the ramp. Even from a distance, Dante could see the huge grin on his face. His first gut impression was that his brother had never looked happier, and Dante felt a tightness in his chest at the realization. More than anything, he wanted Troy to be joyful in his life.

  “Jimmy’s mother, Noelle, is dating Troy. They’ve been going strong for almost two years now,” Lucy explained. “From what I’ve seen, Troy is really close to Jimmy. His father passed away when he was a baby, so Troy is like a surrogate dad to him.”

  Dante watched as Troy placed a kiss on Noelle’s temple, then high-fived Jimmy. From this angle they resembled a loving family unit. Troy tenderly placed his arm around Noelle and they disappeared into the crowd. Watching it unfold caused an unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach. That’s how far apart he and his brother had drifted. Dante wasn’t even aware that his brother had a serious girlfriend. They were miles away from the days when they’d been each other’s confidantes.

  “Are you okay?” Lucy asked. “I think we’re all done here.”

  “Yeah,” he said. “I can’t wait to get out of this itchy suit.” He reached into the costume and scratched the area by his shoulder.

  “You really showed up today for the town,” Lucy said. “Just think of all the kids who’ll go to sleep tonight dreaming of a magical Christmas morning.”

  Lucy’s remark served as a reminder that Christmas was rapidly approaching. Time was beginning to slip through his fingers. He still had goals to accomplish before he left town. Being back in Mistletoe provided a rare opportunity for him to try to heal old wounds. He wasn’t even close to making up for the past, he realized. Not by a long shot.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lucy headed toward the backstage area with Dante trailing behind her. The event had gone off without a hitch. Dante had been a good sport and played his role to perfection. She could tell he’d been incredibly moved by his interaction with Jimmy. She had enjoyed watching him and Tess talking like they were best buddies. Whether he realized it or not, he had a knack for communicating with kids. Perhaps they recognized the gigantic size of his heart. Dante had always been a big marshmallow on the inside, something she sensed very few people were aware of because of his tough-guy Inferno persona. The nickname and image had always surprised Lucy because it didn’t resonate with the Dante she’d known. He’d been her own personal teddy bear—tender and sweet. And from what she’d seen, he still was.

  “So, do I get something nice in my stocking for putting this ratty suit on?” Dante asked in a teasing tone as he held up a bedazzled stocking.

  Lucy chuckled. It wa
s still hilarious seeing him in the Santa getup. He didn’t look at all like himself. No one had known that it was Dante underneath the costume, which made it all the more comical. She knew a lot of celebrities would have used this event to portray themselves as do-gooders in their community. She respected Dante for keeping his role under wraps and for agreeing to help out in a pinch. More and more Lucy was beginning to realize that Dante hadn’t changed all that much despite his celebrity status. He was still a giver.

  “Hey! You’re getting the best gift of all,” Lucy said, making her voice sound like spun sugar. “The knowledge that you’ve made so many children happy beyond their wildest dreams.”

  “Come on. You can do better than that,” Dante urged. He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. His eyes radiated a playfulness she couldn’t ignore.

  Was he daring her to do something? She’d seen this impish expression on his face a million times before. More often than not he’d been up to no good, pushing her out of her comfort zone and getting her to try new things. Whether she was cutting class with him to go to the movies or sneaking out of the house at night to meet him at the lake for skinny-dipping, Lucy had always felt invigorated by their adventures. Although Dante had changed over the years in terms of his focus and drive, he still possessed the same audacious spirit. That was one of the reasons she’d fallen in love with him back in high school. Somewhere along the way, she’d lost her own sense of adventure.

  But now she was standing before him, wanting to be as bold as the old Lucy, the one who’d taken chances. What was it about Dante that made her want to hold her hand over the fire?

  What was the harm in doing something unexpected? She took a step closer to him until there was no distance between them.

  Lucy yanked down his beard and mustache, then stood on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his sweet lips. Although she’d meant it to be a quick peck, Dante had other ideas. She felt his arms encircling her waist and drawing her closer. His lips moved over hers powerfully as the kiss intensified from tenderness to a red-hot blaze.

  “Lucy!” a voice rang out, interrupting their impromptu kiss. She didn’t even have to turn around to know who’d walked in on them.

  “Hey, Stella,” Dante said, looking past her shoulder. When Lucy turned around, Stella was standing a few feet away glaring at both of them. Her mouth was a thin, hard line. She acted as if she hadn’t heard Dante’s greeting. She locked eyes with Lucy, sending her a message of disapproval.

  “Why don’t I go change out of this getup,” Dante said, beating a fast path toward the dressing room. Once he was gone, Lucy spoke up, hoping to dispel the friction vibrating between her and her sister.

  “Hey. I was looking all over for you,” Lucy said. “I could have used another elf to help me out with Santa’s Village.”

  Stella scoffed. “Really? I’m surprised you had the time. You seemed pretty tied up with Santa Claus.”

  Zing! Stella was definitely throwing out barbs. Lucy was trying not to let Stella’s foul attitude get to her. Maybe she was just having a bad day, she reasoned. She was willing to cut her some slack. Her sister had lived through her own personal nightmare this past year and the holiday season could be bringing it all to the surface.

  “Dante was a really good sport. He stepped in and really saved the day,” Lucy explained. “He was a big hit with the kids.”

  Stella frowned. “So you’ve forgiven him?” Her voice was as frosty as a February morning in Maine.

  A thick tension hung in the air between them. Lucy wasn’t sure what was upsetting Stella, but she was giving new meaning to glacial vibes. Her sister was one of the sweetest people she’d ever known, so it was odd to see her like this.

  Lucy shifted from one foot to the other. “I’ve decided life is too short to harbor grudges. It’s not that I’ve forgotten anything that happened, but I just don’t see any point in being enemies,” Lucy explained in a halting voice. She wanted to tell Stella that she was falling for Dante again, but the expression on her sister’s face urged her to tread carefully. Stella looked like she might explode.

  “And the two of you are hanging out now? Hooking up?” she snapped.

  Lucy sucked in a shocked breath. It wasn’t like Stella to act like this. She had no idea what had set her off. She resembled a fire-breathing dragon. It validated Lucy’s decision not to tell her the truth about Dante. Clearly, Stella couldn’t handle it.

  “We’re just having fun with no strings attached,” Lucy said, trying to keep her voice light. “It’s not like I’m expecting anything. He’s leaving town right after the holidays.”

  “Oh, that’s rich,” Stella sneered. “Guys like Dante always have fun, usually at other people’s expense.”

  Lucy winced. It hurt to hear Stella trash-talk Dante. He didn’t deserve it. He wasn’t the same person who’d treated her so badly years ago. Stella didn’t know what she was talking about. Things were much different now.

  “Shh. He might hear you,” she cautioned her sister. Lucy really didn’t want Dante to hear any negativity flowing from Stella’s lips. It would be humiliating, especially now that she and Dante had truly connected in a meaningful way.

  Stella made a tutting sound. “A few weeks ago you wouldn’t have cared about that. Back then you were dead set against him even coming back to town. I can’t believe you caved so quickly.”

  “Stella, I know that when Dante came back to town I wasn’t happy about it, but in the past few weeks we’ve talked through a lot of things and I understand a lot more than I did back then. It’s not black and white. And he’s not this evil guy who went out of his way to ruin my life.”

  Stella dug into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. After a few taps she held it up to Lucy. “Is he a good one though? Check out the headline in Hot Tea.”

  Lucy took the phone and studied the image staring back at her from the gossip site. It was Dante standing close to Missy, who was looking up at him with straight-up infatuation and a healthy dose of lust in her eyes. The headline read: Dante West Resurrects Affair with Reality Star. Just seeing it on the screen created a jarring sensation throughout her body. Was Dante romantically involved with Missy? No way. She’d seen them in each other’s company and Lucy hadn’t picked up on any romantic vibes. Was she simply seeing things through rose-colored glasses? Or were the tabloids making up juicy stories? The other night at Sawyer’s tree farm the paparazzi had been trailing Dante so they could snap some photos and slap on a fake headline. It could have been Lucy’s own face plastered online if they hadn’t hidden themselves behind the trees. Lucy thanked her lucky stars it wasn’t her being blown up all over the internet. Being in the tabloids wasn’t a good look for a town librarian.

  She shook her head and looked away from Stella’s cell phone. “That’s just tabloid fiction. It happens to all famous people. Dante’s no exception. Fake headlines sell magazines.”

  Stella seemed incredulous. Her mouth hung open in what Lucy could only assume was stunned disbelief. “I can’t believe you’re dismissing what’s right in front of your eyes. You’re determined to think the best of him at all costs.”

  “Dante was never a player, Stella. As I said, we’re just enjoying spending time together. And that’s fine by me.” Lucy didn’t dare tell Stella that she had feelings for Dante. It was best to downplay things.

  “What’s going to happen to you when he packs up his fancy equipment and heads back to California? What happens when he sets fire to all the plans you made for the two of you and marries someone else?”

  Lucy gasped. “Stella, who are you talking about? Dante or Rafe?” she asked in a soft voice.

  Dr. Rafe Santos had been Stella’s fiancé and the man she’d thought she was going to spend the rest of her life with. A week before their dream wedding he’d told Stella that he was calling it off because he didn’t believe she was his soul mate. Stella had been heartbroken and humiliated. Six months later Rafe married his high school sweetheart and brought her ba
ck from Virginia to Mistletoe. He and his wife purchased the sweet Victorian home in the center of town that he and Stella had talked about buying for themselves. Although Stella had gracefully picked up the pieces of her life, her heart had been shattered. Ever since then, Lucy had harbored fantasies about punching Rafe in the nose until he bled profusely. She considered it an act of the highest restraint that she hadn’t done so.

  Stella froze. Her mouth opened, and although she was clearly trying to speak, no words came out. Instead, big fat tears began falling down her face as her body was wracked with heart-wrenching sobs.

  “Stella! Oh, my sweet, sweet girl,” Lucy crooned as she held her sister in her arms. For their entire lives, it had always been Stella holding Lucy up when she fell down. Now it was her turn to comfort her big sister. Lucy knew Stella had suffered, but she’d been blind to the fact that it was ongoing. Stella was such a strong person and she’d fooled Lucy with her stiff upper lip. It hurt her to realize how wrong she’d been.

  “I-I thought I was over it, Lucy. I really did,” Stella said, sniffling and dabbing at her eyes with the hem of her jacket sleeve. “But it comes back in waves, like a tsunami that completely drags me under.”

  Lucy reached out and wiped a stray tear from her sister’s face. “Hey, it’s all right. You’re allowed to be sad. It’s okay that you’re still grieving all that you lost. You thought he was your forever and then he wasn’t. It was all ripped away from you. You’ve been so brave holding it together all of this time.” And perhaps that was part of the problem. Stella had been so stoic throughout her ordeal. Lucy’s heart had broken for her sister when she’d had to tend to all the details of canceling her wedding. Now, at least, she was dealing with the grief and pain.