The Best Man's Holiday Romance

by Gail Sattler

  “I bought decorations, too!” he called out to the empty hallway as he walked into the living room.

  “You told me you never put up a tree.”

  “I don’t. I always go to my parents’ place for Christmas. They have a huge tree, so I don’t need one. I have a little one, about a foot tall, that I sometimes put on the coffee table, and that’s all I’ve ever needed because there’s never anything under it. But this year, I don’t know why, I just felt like it.” Although he suspected the reason he felt like putting up a tree this year was not just because he’d done so much Christmas shopping with Tasha. He’d never been a big fan of Christmas, but apparently Tasha’s enthusiasm was rubbing off on him. “I figure we can start decorating it after we finish wrapping the gifts.”

  “Does this mean you really feel Christmassy this year?”

  “Yeah. I do.” He almost started to expound on that, but something about her expression halted his words. “Why do you ask?”

  “No reason. We’d better get started wrapping the gifts. We’ve got a lot to do. I have a bad feeling we’re going to be still wrapping in the middle of the night.”

  He tipped his head and studied her face. There was something he wasn’t getting. He didn’t know if he should ask if something was wrong. “I made us shepherd’s pie for supper.”

  “Really? Wow, you are spoiling me. I don’t know how I’m going to make all this up to you.”

  He wiggled his eyebrows. “I’ll think of something. Let’s eat.”

  After they started eating he got the same feeling—that there was something she wasn’t telling him. It bothered him. It was almost as if he started getting flashbacks, times when he got the same kind of feeling with Heather, that there was something she was hiding from him. Whenever that had happened, he’d shaken it off, telling himself he was imagining things. As it turned out, it had been something, and it had been a big something. A something that ended their relationship and darkened his trust of future relationships.

  The two sisters were as different as night and day in so many ways, but it was scary that in some ways they were quite alike. After all, they not only grew up together, they still lived together.

  “So you’re really feeling Christmassy, huh?” Tasha said, not looking at him.

  He didn’t think that was a good sign. A cold chill scurried up his spine.

  “I think you already asked me that.”

  “Oh. Yes. I did. Well, there’s nothing that makes Christmastime special like the joy of little children, is there?”

  “Probably not.”

  She pushed her plate away, then looked up at him. “I have to tell you something.”

  Suddenly the delicious supper he’d made, one of his favorites, turned into a lump in his stomach. Part of him wanted to know, part of him wanted to scream and cover his ears. “What?” he asked, trying to keep his voice even.

  “When I phoned my boss today and told him everything was ready for the party, he made me realize that I’d overlooked something very important.”

  The feeling of dread that this was going to be something personal lifted, but he still had a sick feeling that whatever she was going to say was really bad. “I can’t see that anything’s been forgotten. This won’t really affect the party, will it?”

  She nodded. “My boss always dresses up as Santa. With all the details I had to take care of, I didn’t realize that I was supposed to find someone to be Santa.”

  “How hard is that going to be?”

  “I can’t ask anyone who has any children going. They would notice their father was missing. Besides, all the men want to watch their children have some time with Santa.”

  “Certainly you know someone.”

  She cleared her throat. “I know you.”

  It was as if his heart stopped beating. “Me?”

  “There’s a suit and everything. It will probably fit. You’ll just have to pad it a little more than my boss. Do you have black boots?”

  He gulped. “Uh...”

  “If you feel strange about the beard, I’m sure there’s a way to wash it.”

  He raised one finger in the air. “I’m not—”

  “And the belt will be okay, because it’s made for the costume. You don’t have to worry about your own.”

  “—really sure—”

  “Everyone in the office is really excited about Santa. It seems everyone except me was thinking about who it was going to be this year.”

  “—if I can—”

  “There’s even a photographer coming to take pictures of the kids with Santa. When the parents buy them, which most do for the grandparents and keepsakes, all the money goes to a great charity. My boss gives it to the local children’s hospital foundation.”

  “—do that.” He shook his head, doubtful she’d heard a single word he’d said. “What do you mean, take pictures? People can go to the mall for pictures with Santa.”

  She raised one finger in the air and shook it. “The lines are so long for those, and they’re not always good. For our party, the kids are receiving gifts, and they’re not in a crowded noisy mall, being hustled in and out for profit. Here, they’re with friends, and everyone takes their time. I’ve never seen a bad picture and this is my fourth year working there.” Then she did what he had a feeling she knew would get him. She gave him that puppy-dog look that made him putty in her hands, as if he wasn’t already. “Everybody wins, and it’s fun.”

  Fun for everyone except Santa, he’d bet.

  “I know what you’re thinking. My boss loves doing this. He has fun being Santa, and he’s really sad that he’s going to miss it this year. On the bright side, his mother seems to be doing much better. But since it’s so close to Christmas, they’re going to stay and come back on the first flight they can get after New Year’s.”

  “That’s nice,” he said, for lack of anything better.

  “So you’ll do it?”

  He sighed. “Tomorrow, right? And you absolutely can’t get anyone else?”

  “Sorry.”

  He had to appreciate that she had asked him fairly—there were no tears or scenes or begging.

  “I’ve never done anything like this in my life.” He waited for her to say that due to his inexperience she would at least try to find someone else, but she didn’t. She just looked up at him, her eyes wide in expectation.

  Jeff sighed. “Okay. I’ll do it. I guess in the meantime, we have a lot of presents to wrap.”

  He wasn’t a good wrapper. Usually he paid people who set up tables in the middle of the mall to wrap his gifts. However, he had a feeling he would need the distraction.

  * * *

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Santa with a diamond earring before.”

  “Too bad. The earring stays. It’s better for the kids to see the earring than the hole.”

  Natasha almost suggested that maybe one of her reindeer earrings would have been a better choice, but she didn’t want to push her luck. She was already pushing it that he was doing this at all. Besides, once he put on the hat, which included some fake hair sewn around the brim, probably no one would see his ears.

  “What did you think of the dinner?”

  He grinned. “Fantastic decorating. Nice touch, with the big nativity scene in front of Santa’s chair. The food was great, but kind of strange in this setting. It was restaurant-quality food, but it felt wrong eating off paper plates, sitting at someone’s desk. I know you said you’d cleared the office to do this instead of renting a hall. It just didn’t sink in that everyone’s desks and all the computers would all still be here. This puts a whole new level to casual.”

  “Not everyone ate at the desks. I had both the conference room and the lunchroom open for those who wanted to use a real table.”

 
As he stood there still grinning, Natasha thought she’d never seen him look so good. He had already changed into the Santa suit, complete with his steel-toed work boots that he’d spray-painted black. With the suit hanging loose without the stuffing in it, and holding the beard and hat in his hand, he should have looked ridiculous. Instead, she thought he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. Earring and all. He was everything she could have wanted in the man who would be her Mr. Right.

  Except, right now, he was a little wrong. “Come on. Let’s get you stuffed. You’re almost on.”

  “You make a nice elf, by the way.”

  “I feel ridiculous in this costume.”

  At that, he outright laughed. “You’re kidding. Look at me, an unstuffed Santa. I’m ridiculous.”

  “You’re going to get better, very soon.” She spread her arms to emphasize her costume. “This is never going to change. It’s done. I’m not going to look any better.”

  After Jeff had been so conciliatory to wear the Santa outfit, she’d felt obligated to be his helper elf, which meant she had to wear Gloria’s elf costume. Except there was no helping this costume. Gloria was four inches shorter than she was, and probably twenty pounds heavier. If Natasha had to find a bright side, it was probably better that the costume be too big than too small.

  She gave the tie-belt another tug. At least the pointy-toed elf slippers fit.

  She reached for the beard. “Let’s get this on you, get you stuffed, and you’re on.

  After one last check to make sure all six sacks of gifts were in order, Natasha gave her elf hat one final tug, and walked into the middle of the main office. Just as she’d instructed, everyone had gathered. It was time.

  “Everyone! Listen!” she called out, loud enough for the children to hear. “What is that?”

  On cue, Jeff started ringing the jingle bells from the hallway.

  “Ho, ho, ho,” he called out, then shook the bells a little harder.

  “Who is that?” Natasha called out to the younger children, who were starting to squirm.

  Jeff continued, “On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer, on Vixen! On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen!”

  Natasha stopped, her mouth hanging open. This wasn’t what they’d rehearsed. “Who is that? Do you think—”

  “No, Rudolph!” Santa’s voice boomed. “Down, boy!” A small crash echoed.

  Many of the children gasped, then the room went completely silent.

  That really wasn’t what they’d practiced.

  The jingle bells started again, the door swung open and in walked Santa, holding a big red bag over his shoulder, and the jingle bells in his other hand, ringing them over his head as he walked.

  “Ho, ho, ho! Those reindeer wanted to go outside to play, but here I am! Merry Christmas, everyone!” Jeff called out in a voice a few tones deeper than his natural baritone.

  All the children let out a cheer so loud she was sure the windows rattled.

  Jeff made his way to the Santa chair in the middle of the room. “What does everyone say?”

  “Merry Christmas!” everyone called out, including many of the adults.

  “Let’s see what I’ve got in my bag here.”

  He reached in and brought out a present. “Julia Kearson! Where are you, Julia?”

  A little girl in a purple dress ran to Jeff almost faster than the speed of light.

  He lifted little Julia onto one knee, had a small chat with her, gave her the gift and both smiled for the camera. After Julia politely thanked him, Natasha helped her down, then waited for the next child.

  Jeff was very gracious with all the children who wanted to sit on his lap, and for the older ones who didn’t, he stood and put his arm around their shoulders for the photographer. Natasha ended up doing very little, not much more than running to get the next full bag when he was down to the last gift in the current Santa sack.

  For the babies too small to accept their gifts, he made sure to get his photo taken with the mothers holding the babies. This worked, because he said he didn’t want to pick up any children under a year old. After all the expected photos were done, Santa insisted on having a few poses taken with his helper elf. Then he posed with the photographer while some of the employees took photos of them with their own point-and-shoots.

  When the photographer finally started packing up his camera, a number of the men in the group made their way to talk to Jeff, slapping him on the back or shaking his hand to thank him for a job well done.

  Finally, Jeff stood. “It’s time for Santa to go deliver more gifts to more children. Those reindeer should all be back now. Merry Christmas, everyone! And to all a good night!” He waved to the crowd, then left through the same door he’d come from.

  The door closed, and everyone could hear him having a conversation with the reindeer. The jingle bells sounded briefly, and then everything was silent.

  Knowing Santa was gone, the smaller children continued to play with their new toys, and the teens formed little groups to talk about theirs. Within a few minutes Jeff appeared at her side.

  “You were great,” she told him. “You really made the party a hit.”

  “I hate to admit it, but it was kinda fun. Just don’t get any ideas. Next year your boss is more than welcome to take the job back.”

  For the rest of the evening they made the rounds talking to everyone. Even though she was officially off duty, she wasn’t really. As the HR director it was her job to make sure everyone had a good time, and all the kids were happy.

  When the party was over, people began to leave until Jeff and Natasha were the only ones left in the building. Natasha finally was able to change back into her own clothes. Then she did a perimeter check, making sure the alarm on the store was still active and had not been disturbed. When all was secure, they exited and she locked the building.

  “You made a great Santa. Thank you.”

  He grinned. “You made a great elf. Wanna go out for coffee and doughnuts somewhere?”

  Natasha yawned as she shook her head. “I can’t. I didn’t get much sleep last night, and today was a really busy day. I think I’m going to just go home and fall asleep.”

  Jeff yawned, as well. “I’m tired, too.” He looked at her car, parked not far from his. They’d made three trips with both cars to get all the gifts from his house to the office, so now they only had to go their own ways home.

  Before she had a chance to get in her car, Jeff stepped in front of her and wrapped his hands around her waist. “See you in the morning for church, then?”

  She nodded, but before she could speak her agreement, he drew her into an embrace and his lips covered hers. She kissed him back until a horn sounded in the distance.

  They both stepped back and looked from the parking lot to the street, at the taillights of the car that had honked at them.

  Natasha sighed. “We’ve got to stop meeting like this.”

  Jeff shook his head. “No. We don’t. But we do have to get up in the morning for church. See you tomorrow.”

  Chapter 12

  Jeff added a bow to his mother’s gift, then stood back to admire his work.

  Not only could he now wrap a gift to perfection, he could also do it using a minimum amount of tape.

  Tasha had helped him select the gift while they were shopping, but she refused to help him wrap it. Still, he believed he’d done a very good job by himself.

  While they were shopping they’d both bought most of their personal gifts in addition to the company gifts, but he didn’t have a gift for Tasha yet. Even though he’d spent more time at various malls and stores in the past month than he had in his entire life so far, he couldn’t take the time to select something for her when she was with him. Or rather, when he was with her.

  Sometime in
the next few days he would be shopping again. Since he got off earlier, he could buy a gift for her and be home before she got off work, if he didn’t dawdle. She would never know that, once again, he’d braved the mayhem at another mall.

  He didn’t have a lot of gifts under his tree, but he did have to admit, the decorated tree and the fresh pine scent did give the house a different feel for the Christmas season.

  He liked it. She was changing him, and he liked that, too.

  While he was thinking of Tasha, he walked to the window, just to watch for her when she arrived. As usual, it was raining, and the forecast was for three more days of constant drizzle, typical for a Seattle winter. Usually he didn’t mind the rain too much, but as Christmas approached, he did hope for a bit of snow. Just not in rush hour.

  Thinking of the white stuff, he reached to the table beside the window and picked up the snow globe that he’d bought last week while they were shopping. He usually didn’t buy such things, but at the time Tasha had been bemoaning the never-ending rain, so he’d picked it up because it was related to snow. Inside was a decorated Christmas tree with gifts beneath it. Since the scene was allegedly outdoors, there was a little bunny rabbit with a Santa hat on beside the tree.

  He didn’t know why he’d bought such a cutesy thing. Or maybe he did. It kind of reminded him of Tasha. He’d never known anyone who reveled in the joy of the season as she did. Sometimes her expression in the mall had been just like the little bunny, looking up in awe at the star on the tree.

  There had been another one exactly the same, only with a reindeer in it. He’d bought that one for Tasha. She said she put it on her desk at work, and everyone in the office picked it up and shook it when they walked by. As a plumber, he obviously didn’t have a desk. He moved from job site to job site with his crew. Besides, if the guys he worked with found out, they’d laugh, and rightfully so. So instead of having his snow globe at work, he put it on the table next to the living room window.

  To make his snow, he shook it, then put it back down, and watched the sparkles mixed with white snowy stuff drift down.