Dear Santa

by Nancy Naigle

“So done.” Chandler rubbed his belly. “Thanks for the dinner, and for the news about the promotion. I appreciate it.”

  “You earned that, my friend.”

  “For putting up with you,” Chandler teased.

  “Shut up.” Geoff slid out of the booth and headed for Angela’s table, but just as he got ready to stop and apologize he spotted a man with flowers coming toward the table. Geoff slowed, hoping the man would walk on by, but he didn’t. Instead the stranger extended the flowers toward Angela.

  Geoff turned and gave Chandler the “abort mission” signal, waving his hand up to his throat. They whisked past her table without her ever spotting them.

  When they got to the parking lot Chandler started laughing. “Now, that could’ve gotten awkward real fast.”

  “You got that right.” Geoff clicked his key fob to unlock his car. “At least I won’t be apologizing for messing up her date too.” He climbed into his car and revved the engine. “Talk to you Monday.”

  Geoff went straight home.

  He couldn’t admit to Chandler that Anita and Angela probably really were the same person. It was just all too big of a coincidence to not be the case.

  He reread her emails, starting with the very first one. Then he glanced over at the corner of his desk and picked up the parade picture, the one where she was standing off to the side.

  He had to apologize, that went without saying, but he was interested too in getting to know more about her. She was passionate about her business, and he’d had a hand in its demise. He couldn’t half blame her for hating him.

  * * *

  It was still early. Heavy fog hung over the water like smoke. A dreary day that fit Angela’s mood this morning.

  It wouldn’t take much to just roll over and hide in bed all day. Losing the store was like losing Momma Grace all over again.

  For a week now, Angela had put off going public with the announcement about the closing of Heart of Christmas. Subconsciously, maybe she’d hoped that something would turn around, but last night she’d gone over all the numbers again. There was no turning back.

  Sweet of Brad to bring them, but the bouquet of flowers mocked her from the side of her table. He was the best brother-in-law in the world. She’d met with him at the Blue Pelican to talk the closing through with him. He’d even offered to renovate the place on his dime if she decided to try to reopen something else in the lighthouse.

  The only problem now was she needed to move her inventory; lucky for her everyone was in the mood to buy holiday stuff. If she waited and put the excess up for auction, she’d get pennies on the dollar.

  With just twelve shopping days left she was running out of time.

  She needed to make that final step forward.

  In one quick motion she flung back her sheets and got dressed for a run.

  Keep moving, she told herself. One foot in front of the other.

  Because wasting even one day was a mistake.

  Angela raced down the stairs and out onto the beach. The fog was so dense she couldn’t even see the pier this morning. It didn’t take long before her clothes were soaking wet. She wasn’t sure if it was the ocean spray, the fog or tears on her face.

  Pushing through the run, which was more difficult than normal with the added weight of her damp clothes, she let out a sigh of relief when she finally got to her backyard. Trudging up the steps, she left her sandy sneakers by the door and went straight to the shower. She was sweaty, but her skin was cold.

  She stepped into the shower and allowed herself one last good cry. Promising herself that she’d look forward from this point on, that she’d embrace each tomorrow. Rather than worry, she’d trust that things would be okay, and turn any worry or negative thoughts into moments of gratitude for what she did have. Her health, family, food on her table, home … so many things.

  She had some money tucked away. Her house was paid for. She could take some time to feel out what made sense for her going forward.

  Those letters to Santa had been silly, but they’d also filled a void, and helped her step gracefully over to this mind-set.

  She stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around herself. Looking in the mirror, she said, “How sad is it that I’m pouring my heart out to Santa? Not even Santa. Some stranger on the internet.”

  But she couldn’t talk to her sister about this. And her best friend, Emma … well, it was a shame that they worked together in the store because it was unfair to talk to her about business-related things. On a bright note, she and Emma would surely be even closer friends in the future.

  She got dressed, then opened up her computer and sat down to write a thank-you note … to Santa.

  Dear Guy,

  I just wanted you to know that your notes have brought me strength in a really difficult time of change. What started out as nothing more than trying to appease my niece with a letter to you has been more important to me than you could ever know.

  I’m at a crossroads. Everything I thought my life was and would be is changing.

  My store will close. I feel like I’ve let not only my own grandmother down, she left me that store, but her grandmother too. It’s been in our family that long. My great-great-grandmother handcrafted the first ornaments ever sold there.

  Running that store is all I’ve ever known. I’m afraid for the very first time. I have no idea what my future will look like.

  Thank you for being there—for being a safe place to rest my worries, and for being the daisies in my day.

  Thankfully yours,

  A

  She hit send, and went into the kitchen to put on coffee. She tried to imagine a day when she wouldn’t go to the store.

  A morning run.

  A shower.

  Coffee.

  Then what?

  What would she do?

  She’d never even interviewed for a job before. She was most definitely not prepared for this.

  Fine. So she had a business degree, and she’d run a retail store. If she didn’t interview well, who would hire her? And really, why would she want to work retail again? Working for someone else, trying to sell a product that she didn’t believe in, didn’t seem appealing.

  There had to be something else right for her.

  She laid across her bed and fell asleep, wishing for a brighter tomorrow.

  When she opened her eyes, her hair was mostly dry. She ran her hand through the tangle of waves. She tapped her keyboard, bringing her laptop back to life.

  Among the new emails, the one from Formerly Santa sprung her to life.

  She pulled her feet underneath her, pulling the computer onto her lap.

  Dear A,

  Don’t worry. Someone very smart recently reminded me that it’s sometimes in the winds of change that we find our true direction. I’m wishing that for you.

  Be brave, and take that first step to let go of what is dragging you down.

  Sincerely,

  Formerly Santa

  She closed her computer and laid her cheek down against the warm cover. Tears fell in a rapid rush. Could she be that brave?

  Letting go of the only thing she’d known was scary. Was it true, though, that the longer she held on, the harder it would be to let go? Would another door open? Could she trust the winds of change?

  She cursed herself for promising that the time before last would be her last cry. Don’t make promises you can’t keep to yourself.

  She changed and pulled her hair into a ponytail, and walked over to the shop.

  The front door of Heart of Christmas felt heavier today.

  Emma looked up from the cash register with a smile, then a frown.

  “Whoa, you don’t look so good.”

  Angela brushed her fingers through her ponytail. “Thanks a lot.”

  “Are you sick? It’s not like you to be late.” Emma came around the counter. “Or to look like that.”

  She shook her head. “No. I’m fine. I just had a couple emails to handle before
I came over. How are things going here?”

  “Quiet so far. I didn’t see you at the parade last night,” Emma said. “I was over by the doughnut shop where we were last year. Jeremy came by after he closed up. He said he made a few sales, and thinks he has someone interested in the calliope piece. Wouldn’t that be great?”

  “Yeah. It would.” She looked around the store. “We were at the parade, we just moved a little further up the road to a better spot after I ran into Geoff again.”

  “Oh no. Is that why you’re late?”

  “No,” she answered with a scowl. “I was responding to another note from Santa.”

  “Angela, you know Santa’s not real. Right?”

  “Did you seriously just ask me that?”

  “I mean, you’re probably talking to some minimum-wage college kid who’s working part-time through the holidays to make ends meet. Or someone in another country!”

  “I know, but whoever he is … he’s nice.”

  “I’m starting to worry about you,” Emma said.

  “There’s nothing to worry about. There’s nothing going on with Santa. We’re just pen pals. Sort of.”

  “I guess that’ll give you a permanent spot on the ‘nice’ list.”

  “That would be nice.” Angela helped a customer select a handmade stocking then made her way back over to the register.

  “So, Emma. Do you think all this time I’ve held on to Heart of Christmas I’ve been keeping myself from seeing or recognizing other opportunities that might be right in front of me?”

  A crease formed on Emma’s forehead. “You know, they always say when one door closes another opens, so yes, I guess until you put it behind you, you can’t move forward.”

  “I was afraid of that.”

  “Why?”

  “I need to announce the store closing. I had been thinking to close after the holidays, but why not close on Christmas Eve?”

  Emma twisted a tag to face forward. “That’s just a couple of weeks, but you certainly could do that. Kind of officially end the season on Christmas Eve.”

  “Yeah, and we’ll blow out all the merchandise. We’ll mark it all down one time. No haggling, no reducing a little at a time. Whatever I don’t sell, I’m going to send over to the church. They can use it, gift it, sell it … whatever they want to do with it. I’ll just write it all off.”

  “Wow, you’ve really been thinking about this.”

  “Finally, right?”

  “I didn’t say that, but it’s true you haven’t really been very vocal about the situation.”

  “I know. It’s not fair to anyone. Or to me. I’m just hanging on to hang on. Wasting time and throwing good money after bad.”

  “It was not bad money.”

  “Snow Valley was a waste of time,” Angela said.

  “But it’s fun, and people are making memories. That’s important too.”

  “It is, and that was one of Momma Grace’s key questions when we considered something new: Would it be memorable?”

  “See. So quit beating yourself up over it.”

  Angela relaxed a little. Was it talking to Formerly Santa that was making her more at peace with the decision to close, or just that enough time had passed since Black Friday that she was getting used to the idea?

  “What will you do, Emma? I mean, after the severance runs out? Do you have any idea?”

  Emma nodded. “I’m letting a new door open for me too. My parents offered to help me with tuition to complete nursing school. I’ve always regretted not finishing. Now that I’m older and more focused, it should be so much easier. I was a little too busy having fun the first time.”

  “I know what you mean. Although sometimes I swear I feel less grown up now than I did when I was sixteen. Why is that?”

  “Because now we know what we don’t know!”

  “True. Now I need to figure out what I will do after I close the doors on this place.” Then she picked up a pack of markers from the front desk and walked back to her office, where she drew out several EVERYTHING IN THE STORE ½ PRICE signs.

  She then grabbed the chalkboard sign that stayed on the fancy easel next to the front door announcing special events. Carefully she wrote, We’ve loved being a part of your Christmas. Christmas Eve will be our last day of service. In giant letters, across the bottom she wrote, 50% OFF EVERYTHING.

  Angela picked up the phone and called Vonda down at the newspaper, and asked her to work up an ad announcing the store closing.

  “That simply can’t be,” Vonda said. “Heart of Christmas has been a part of this town for as long as I can remember.”

  “I know. It’s time for a change.”

  “I’ll put something lovely together for you. Actually, I think I have a spot for the Sunday paper if I hurry.”

  “That would be wonderful! I’m putting everything in the store at fifty percent off. What can I do to help us make that deadline?”

  “Don’t you worry. I’m on it,” Vonda said. “It’s the least I can do for you. People are going to go crazy for that sale. Fifty percent off. Are you sure?”

  “I am.”

  “Okay, then. We definitely need this in the paper tomorrow.”

  “Thank you, Vonda.” Angela hung up the phone. It was happening. The announcement and ad would run tomorrow. Just eleven shopping days left. She had no doubt the inventory would fly off the shelves. She made a mental calculation of the inventory left. It added up to a tidy sum, even at half price. She picked up her phone and called her sister.

  “I won’t take but a minute of your time. I know you’ve got the thing at Chrissy’s school tonight.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “I’m closing the store on Christmas Eve,” she said. A heavy weight hung over her.

  “Of course, you are,” Marie said. “Three o’clock. That’s tradition.”

  “No. I mean I’m closing the doors for good.”

  “Oh Angela. I’m sorry, I know this is hard for you, but it’ll be better not to drag it out.”

  “I’m marking everything down. Fifty percent off. It’ll be in tomorrow’s paper.”

  “Wow. That’s a big sale.”

  “There’s a lot of stuff in the store. Better to get rid of it than to be stuck with it. Can’t pay the power bill with a Christmas carving.”

  “That’s true,” Marie said with a laugh. “Although I bet the hair salon would take a few decorations in exchange.”

  Angela smiled through quivering lips. “I’ll keep that in mind. Hopefully it won’t come to that.”

  “I’m sorry, sis. You’re going to be fine. Better than fine. Something wonderful is coming your way. I just know it.”

  Angela hung up the phone. At least there would be no more days worrying, or trying to come up with another idea to boost sales. No more wondering if.

  Now she had a direction, all that was left was to let her team know about the plan. She pulled out the store checkbook and wrote out three checks. She tucked each one into an envelope and wrote the names on the front of each. Jeremy. Stephanie. Emma.

  Before Jeremy and Stephanie left for the day, Angela brought them together with Emma to discuss the plans to close the store on Christmas Eve.

  “Forever?” Stephanie asked.

  Angela simply nodded, unable to respond for the lump that seemed lodged in her throat.

  Neither Stephanie or Jeremy seemed overly surprised.

  She balled her hand into a fist, and swallowed. “I’d planned a severance for you, but since we’re not going to work through the end of the year I thought you might like the money for the holidays.” She handed each of them an envelope.

  “Thank you,” Emma said.

  Jeremy never looked up.

  “I appreciate what each of you has brought to this store and our customers. Please let me know if I can help with a reference or anything.”

  “We’re here for you too,” Jeremy said. “I’m going to miss this place.”

  “Me
too,” Angela said. She didn’t offer anything else. Mostly because she didn’t have any other answers, and she was thankful Jeremy hadn’t asked her what she planned to do. Because frankly, she had no idea.

  Jeremy stood. “I’m not sure I should accept this,” he said, turning the envelope over in his hand. “You don’t have to do this.”

  “I know, Jeremy. Y’all have been a big part of this store, though. I want to do this. Really. Please take it.”

  “Let me know if you need anything. Even after we close,” he said.

  “We’ll all still be neighbors,” she reminded them.

  Once they left, Angela placed the sale signs around the store, then hung the chalkboard on the front door.

  All that was left now was to count down until Christmas Eve.

  She wrote one last letter to Santa.

  Dear Guy,

  Thanks for everything, especially the advice.

  Christmas Eve will be the last day my store, Heart of Christmas, will be open. I’ll miss it, and miss talking to you.

  Wishing you a lovely holiday.

  Season’s Greetings,

  A—

  Chapter Twenty-five

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Pleasant Sands’ newspaper, the PS NEWS, started in 1974 as a four-page bimonthly paper. Now it is a daily paper and also offers an online subscription, along with coupons on Sunday.

  Vonda had come through with the Sunday ad and it was so beautiful it had made Angela cry.

  The ad had worked. That day the store was so busy, there were times when people were waiting outside for it to empty enough for them to get in. At one point, Angela was worried the fire marshal might be called in.

  At the end of the day, Emma counted the till and handed Angela the numbers.

  “Wow.” Angela sat staring at the register tape. “I didn’t trust the tape. I thought for sure we’d overrung something.” No mistake. It was a whopper of a sales day.

  One day at 50 percent off and she had the best sales of the year.

  Emma leaned across the table and high-fived her.

  Angela heard a familiar knock at the front door of the store. Emma looked surprised. “That’s my sister’s knock.” She jogged from her desk to go open it.

  “Surprise!” Marie and Chrissy yelled.