Breakfast with Santa

by Carol Henry

  The afternoon disappeared, and before Katelyn was aware of the time, parents were arriving to collect their sons and daughters.

  “What time should I plan Santa’s visit?” Mark whispered in her ear as she helped Kurtis on with his coat.

  Heat infused her face, her breath caught. Unable to look him directly in the eyes, she kept her head averted.

  “Linda plans to start things at 11:30. While the children are having lunch, you can slip away and change.”

  “Katie…about last night…I…”

  She had to stop him, it wasn’t the time or place to have this conversation. “Please, Mark, let’s not drag this out.”

  “Dad, I decorated Christmas cookies today. One broke so I ate it.”

  “Sounds like fun, bud. Come on, let’s get your hat and gloves on. It’s snowing.”

  Katelyn was relieved for the interruption, waved to Kurtis as he left, and finished helping the others with their snow outfits. How she was going to survive playing elf to Mark’s Santa tomorrow was beginning to play on her mind. Could she do it? Or would she chicken out?

  Later that evening, she packed her bags and placed them next to the front door so they’d be ready for the flight after the party. Katelyn prepared the house for her absence, trying to take her mind off Mark, the flight to Norway, and wondering what was going on with Sven in Bergen. She made sure the tree was watered, lights unplugged, and everything secured for the night. A sense of loneliness set in as she undressed and prepared for bed. Once under the covers, lights out, she lay staring into the darkness. A lone tear escaped. She shut her eyes, sent up a silent prayer heavenward that she was doing the right thing, and fell into a fitful sleep.

  Chapter Nine

  It snowed the night before the daycare’s Christmas party, but the morning sky was clear and bright. Katelyn hoped the weather held for her evening flight. She decided to dress as a more casual looking elf, seeing as she wouldn’t have much time to change before leaving for the airport afterward. She dressed in a pair of Kelly green slacks, with a black vest over a red turtleneck. She skipped the heavy clownish makeup, keeping it light and understated.

  When she arrived at the center, all the daycare providers on hand also wore green caps, while some had dressed more festive with red or green blouses or sweaters. Parents started arriving at 11:30, but the children were already hyped up on excitement in anticipation of the party.

  Mark arrived along with the other parents, nodded in her direction, and then joined the two fathers who had already arrived. Gerald Wolfe and Peter Gray were there with their daughters Megan and Emily, and although the three men congregated on and off, Katelyn wasn’t surprised to see Mark and Connie pair off, smiles on their faces. Katelyn had mixed emotions as she observed their interaction with each other, and their sons. She loved how attentive Mark was to all the children—he was a wonderful father, and made a great Santa. She should be happy he found someone who made him happy—that Kurtis would have someone close in age that would make a great playmate. She liked both Connie and her son.

  A sigh escaped her lips as Mark slipped into the rest room to change into his Santa outfit. It didn’t take him long, and when he came back out, he spotted her, walked over and whispered in her ear as if there had been nothing between them the other night.

  “You ready to do this?”

  “Yes. Linda has a sack of gifts hiding in the closet. There are name tags on all the gifts to make it easier to hand out. If you’ll wait a second, I’ll get it for you. You can go out the side door and come back in the entrance. Linda will be there to unlock the door.”

  Katelyn dragged the brown burlap sack from the closet. When she turned, Mark was by her side.

  “I can take it from here, thanks. I’ll meet you by the front door.”

  She should be relieved he wasn’t making a big deal out of the other night, but the ache within wouldn’t let go. She had to remind herself that within hours she’d be flying off to surprise Sven in Norway. Help him with his family dilemma, and spend Christmas with him—something she’d been looking forward to all week. Funny—she didn’t feel the excitement now that the day to depart had arrived.

  Katelyn took her position just inside the door, waiting for Santa to enter. Linda joined her. The kids jumped up and down with excitement the minute he arrived. They rushed him, not giving him a chance to make it to his chair next to the tree the kids had decorated with paper ornaments they had made during the week.

  “Ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas, Santa,” the group shouted in unison.

  Thankfully, Linda took over and herded the children to the floor mat in front of the tree, and had them sit horseshoe fashion so everyone had a birds-eye view of Santa. Katelyn stood next to the tree and the sack full of presents, waiting for Mark to take his seat.

  “Let’s get the party started,” Santa told the group of sparkly-eyed kids, smiles beaming from ear to ear. “Miss Elf, may I have the first present, please?”

  Katelyn reached in the bag, read the name on the gift and handed it to Mark. Megan was the first to sit on Santa’s lap, followed by the rest of the children, while Linda snapped a picture of each of them on Mark’s lap. Curious to see how Kurtis would react to his father playing Santa, she wasn’t to worry, Kurtis was so taken by the red suit, and the gift Santa handed him, he didn’t even notice it was his father. When he opened his present, he waved the hard-covered book on dogs in the air.

  “Katie, look. Dogs.”

  “Your favorite animal.” She smiled as he took his seat and started thumbing through the pages. It was the perfect gift.

  When the last present was handed out, Santa stood, jingled his golden bells and said his goodbyes. The kids waved from their seats on the mats, and went back to playing with their gifts. Mark made a fast exit, rounded the corner and changed his clothes before coming back into the community room. A few of the mothers were busy arranging the luncheon, while Katelyn cleared all the wrapping paper and bows scattered on the floor, relieved for that portion of the program to be out of the way. Now if she could just get through the rest of the afternoon, the singing, the small skit the kids had been working on, and an attempt at remaining indifferent to Mark’s attraction, and her embarrassment from their near lovemaking the other night.

  The last hour stretched on. Linda handed out the coats they’d received from St. Joseph’s Ladies of the Rosary Society, the last of the cookies were bundled into packets for each child to take home, and finally the parents gathered their children and they all went home. Mark, Connie, Kurtis, and Jason left together. Not surprised, Katelyn let a big sigh escaped her lips.

  “You don’t have to stay to help clean up this mess.” Linda came up behind her. “Everyone was great at helping before they left, so there isn’t much to do. You go on and get out of here—you don’t want to miss your flight. Go, enjoy yourself. Get some rest on the flight so you’ll be ready to surprise Sven. And be sure to let me know how things go. Oh, Katelyn, how romantic—straight out of one of those romance novels our local author writes.”

  “Not that steamy, I can assure you. But, yeah, it is sort of romantic, I guess.” So why wasn’t she feeling romantic, and instead was doubting whether or not she was doing the right thing?

  “So, go. Get. Go surprise your man.”

  “Thanks, Linda. Are you sure you don’t mind? I want to take a minute to stop and see my parents before I head to the airport.”

  Linda wrapped her arms around Katelyn and gave her a big bear hug. “Aw, Katelyn, I wish you all the best—now, go. Get out of here.”

  After a quick stop to say goodbye to her parents, Katelyn ran home, jumped in the shower, dressed and headed to the Hancock County Bar Harbor Airport in Trenton. The short flight would take her to Boston, where she’d catch the overnight flight to Norway. By the time she finally boarded, stowed her carry-on, and settled in her aisle seat for the transatlantic flight, her excitement turned to relief.

&
nbsp; However, she was too keyed up over the last few days’ events to sleep when the lights were dimmed. She had no interest in watching one of the many movies she could choose from on the screen in front of her. Instead, she kept watch of the GPS location of the jet as it soared across the earth’s surface, and the Atlantic Ocean. Excited to actually be flying half a world away by herself, for the first time, to surprise Sven, she let the doubts set in.

  The night flight was long and drawn out, which allowed Katelyn plenty of time to rethink her life. Having Mark come back to Lobster Cove, seeing him, touching him, kissing him, almost making love again, brought those emotions she’d had for him in high school tugging at her heartstrings. Thinking he was interested in her again, then seeing him with Connie, was a wakeup call. Those feelings were in the past; she was engaged to Sven. She was on her way to be with him. She had been looking forward to getting married, and having children of her own—with Sven. No, she was looking forward to being married to Sven.

  But were her feelings for Sven strong enough to overcome her high school infatuation with Mark? She needed to see Sven, talk to him, and be held in his arms—to confirm she was doing the right thing. Perhaps she and Sven would move to Bergen to live with his family after they were married. Sven wasn’t sure what he planned to do. They needed to talk. It was an omen from above that a seat happened to be available on this flight. She was meant to join Sven and strengthen their bonds. Her excitement propelled her to put all doubts behind her.

  She dozed fitfully, ate little, and tried once again to get engrossed in one of the many movies offered on the miniature screen on the back of the seat in front of her. Even the music stations held no appeal and only frayed her taut nerves.

  She’d talked to her mother before she left, and had promised to call as soon as she arrived in Norway. Both her mother and father were excited for her, even though she might not be home for Christmas.

  “Are you sure this is what you want, dear?” Her mother had hugged her. “I know Mark is back—are you concerned you still have feelings for him?”

  “I’ll admit seeing him again has opened up old wounds,” she’d confided.

  “Have you talked to him, yet—told him about the miscarriage? How you feel?”

  “I thought about it. But I don’t think it’s necessary at this point—there’s nothing to be gained by dredging up the past.”

  “Then you need to go to Sven, if that is who your heart says you need to be with.”

  “It’s what I need to do. We’re engaged. Besides, Mark is seeing Connie Blye.”

  “Are you sure they aren’t seeing each other because their sons have become friends?”

  “It doesn’t matter, Mom. I’m committed to Sven. I’ll work this out.”

  “All right, then, give our best to Sven. And remember, honey, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. Enjoy the experience. Send us a postcard, and call the minute you get there.”

  ****

  The small airport in Bergen was decorated for the yuletide—a welcome sight after her restless flight. She hit the ladies’ room while she waited for luggage to be unloaded, and then made her way back to the carousel where she grabbed her small suitcase that was about to go around one more time. Going through customs was a snap, and before she could blink, she was in the small main lobby, which was more of a holding area. Having had a light breakfast on the flight, she wasn’t hungry, even though it was now lunchtime in Norway. She slipped her coat and scarf on, pulled her suitcase behind her, and exited the building. Finding a taxi waiting outside, she gave the cab driver the Olsons’ address and settled in the back seat. Thankfully, he understood English, and after he tucked her bag in the trunk of the car, they were headed toward Bergen.

  The taxi passed through the streets where many of the more upscale shops were located. Strings of white lights amidst green garlands and large star-shaped decorations she assumed would be illuminated at night, were draped overhead. Other streets sported strings of white lights intermingled with greens and a trio of large red hearts at equal intervals. Storefronts were also festooned with garlands of green, some even had small lighted trees over the entrances to their shops. Passing by the main square, Katelyn’s Christmas spirits soared. Who could miss that tall tree in the square blanketed in a gazillion white lights already lit, and several shoppers carrying packages, children lingering, and families filling the square socializing—her heart overflowed with wonder. And it reminded her of home and the tree in the town square. She would miss the caroling at the gazebo back home. She loved Lobster Cove at Christmastime and was going to miss all the fun and excitement. But being by Sven’s side now was more important than missing one Christmas with her family in Lobster Cove.

  The taxi rounded the harbor, the fish market, the line of sharply peaked store roofs decorated with more white lights. Pedestrians were bundled in their winter attire, rushing in and out of shops. A light dusting of snow blanketed the ground. It was a scene she could only describe as a Dickens’ Christmas here in Norway. The harbor area was larger than Lobster Cove, but reminiscent of home, nevertheless—a sharp stab of nostalgia tripped her heartbeats into overdrive.

  The taxi driver swung the vehicle around at the end of the highway, along the coastline. Frozen-looking whitecaps in the fjord made Katelyn shiver. They headed up the hillside behind the harbor where crowded homes spread out along the hilltop overlooking the town below. Another five minutes and the cabbie pulled to a stop in front of a large steep-roofed cottage with a wooden picket fence. The open gate in front of the sidewalk appeared welcoming. Perhaps a good omen, after all.

  Katelyn smiled as she accepted her luggage, thanked and paid the cabbie, and then made her way to the front door. A simple green garland highlighted the doorframe—a spray of evergreens attached to the entrance held together with a red bow. A handmade stuffed cloth heart dangled from the center. Fresh pine scent permeated the front porch. Katelyn breathed in the aroma, knocked on the door, and waited several minutes, wondering if anyone was home.

  Mrs. Olson opened the door—and gasped.

  “Katelyn! What are you doing here?”

  Mrs. Olson’s raised brows, wide eyes, hands clinging to her ample chest, not to mention her dismayed tone of voice, was a sure sign she was more than startled to find her standing on the other side of the door. Katelyn hadn’t thought about what impact her showing up out of the blue would have on the Olsons. She wondered, not for the first time, if she’d made a mistake in coming to Norway without letting someone know of her plans. She had only contemplated surprising Sven. She hadn’t considered his parents. Or, oh, no! His grandparents!

  Katelyn tried to make the best of a difficult situation.

  “Hello, Mrs. Olson. Is Sven here? When he talked to me the other day he said he wasn’t able to make it back to Lobster Cove, so I thought I’d surprise him and join him here in Bergen for Christmas.”

  “Oh, my dear, I’m so sorry. He’s not home at the moment. He’s visiting ah…a friend. Where are you staying? I’ll let him know where he can contact you.”

  “Hmm…well…ah…I decided to come at the last minute so I didn’t have time to make reservations. I assumed Sven could help me with arrangements once I arrived.” Katelyn shoved her hands in her pockets, her fingers starting to tingle as a touch of frigid air blew in off the harbor, and doubt settled in.

  “You might as well come in out of the cold until you can make arrangements. We’re about to have dinner. You can join us.”

  Mrs. Olson’s strangled tone and worried expression was unusual, another sign she wasn’t happy to find Katelyn on their doorstep. She was visibly displeased at her sudden appearance. If she had a place to go right now, she’d wish them well and leave. As it was, the taxi was long gone, and she was starting to feel a cold penetrate her body that had nothing to do with the weather.

  “Thanks, but I see this is a huge surprise. I’m so sorry to be an inconvenience. If you’ll recommend a hotel, I’ll settle in there and
wait to hear from Sven.”

  “Don’t be silly. You’re very welcome to join us. I’m sure Sven has filled you in on the situation here. It’s just been overwhelming. Of course you’re more than welcome. Where are my manners? Come. Mr. Olson and his mother are in the other room. Come in out of the cold and sit by the fire.”

  Puzzled at Mrs. Olson’s formal manner, she pulled her lonely piece of luggage behind her, embarrassed to have imposed, especially at lunch time. She placed the black case behind the door and followed her future mother-in-law into the sitting room. And caught her breath. It was like stepping into Christmas past. The Olsons’ sitting room’s old-fashioned fireplace spanned a large portion of the room, a glowing open fire adding a brightness to the organized clutter, evergreens, various candles, pictures and knickknacks lined the mantel and vines hung along the side of the hearth. A floor-to-ceiling tree decorated from top to bottom with small white lights stood in the corner. Decorated to the hilt with bright glass bulbs, beads, and a myriad of homemade items glittered, the flames from the grate making it shimmer.

  Pulling herself together, she looked around the rest of the room and found Mr. Olson, and an older, white-haired woman dressed as if she were going out for tea, sitting on a love seat opposite a large round oak coffee table. Several small comfortable chairs were arranged in a semi-circle in front of the fireplace. Children’s antique toys littered every nook, crook and cranny. It was a cozy room.

  “Well, hello, Katelyn. What a pleasant surprise.” Mr. Olson stood. “Welcome to Norway.”

  “Thank you. I’m afraid I’ve come at an inconvenient time. I apologize.”

  “Nonsense. Come in. Come in. Have a seat. Mother, this is Katelyn Sullivan. Sven’s friend from Lobster Cove.”

  Katelyn didn’t miss the fact he hadn’t referred to her as Sven’s fiancée. She was starting to get real bad vibes.