Unlikely Santa

by J. E. B. Spredemann

  They headed to the register, but she’d lost count of the total. Oh well, if it was too much, she’d just ask the cashier to subtract something. She hated doing that, but it certainly wouldn’t be the first time.

  “Here we go.” She picked a lane with only two customers ahead of her, the shortest one she could find.

  “My feet hurt,” Jaycee whined.

  Shannon glanced beyond the register and spotted a bench. “Why don’t you go sit there until we’re through the line. And don’t talk to strangers or go off with anyone.”

  “I won’t.”

  She turned to Brighton. “Why don’t you go with him?”

  “Can I play a video game?” He pointed to the tiny arcade just beyond the bench where Jaycee went to sit.

  “It’s may I. And no, I don’t have extra money. As it is, we’ll probably have to put stuff back.”

  “That’s embarrassing, Shan.”

  “I know, but it is what it is.”

  Brighton dug into his pants pocket. “I think I might have a couple of quarters in my pocket. I’ll give them to you if you think it will help.”

  She shook her head, her heart filling with gratefulness. “Thanks, but two quarters wouldn’t do much. Go ahead and play your game.”

  She carefully eyed Jaycee until he was safely seated on the bench. An older Amish man shared the bench with him. Yeah, he would be safe.

  TWO

  Christopher sat patiently as Judy completed her shopping. He smiled as a young Englisch boy came and sat next to him.

  “Hi! My name is Jaycee.” The boy beamed up at him.

  Christopher nodded in silence.

  “Do you remember me?” Jaycee climbed up onto his lap as though he were his kinskind. “My sister said I would have to wait to see you until December. I guess she didn’t know you’d be here today.”

  Christopher stroked his beard and cocked a brow.

  The boy reached up and felt his beard, as though trying to decide whether it was real or not. He then poked at his glasses.

  He chortled. “Have a care now. Don’t want to smudge them up.”

  Jaycee nodded, his expression serious. “My momma used to wear glasses too, just like me and you. But she don’t need ’em no more ‘cuz her and Daddy died in a car askident.”

  Compassion tugged at Christopher’s heart and he frowned. “Your folks are…gone?”

  Jaycee nodded. “Yep, I miss ’em real bad. I cried lots. We all did. Now Shannon has to watch us. She acts like Mom now. But sometimes she still cries.” He pointed to a young woman who couldn’t be more than a teenager.

  “How old is Shannon?”

  “My sister? She’s eighteen, I think. My baby sister is gonna be two on her birthday. And my big brother is eleven. I’m five.” His eyes grew large. “How old are you?”

  “Ach, that doesn’t matter.” He chuckled.

  “I’m supposed to tell you what I want for Christmas. Since my momma and daddy aren’t here no more, I don’t think Shan is going to get us anything. She’d don’t have lots of money like Momma and Daddy had.”

  “What do you usually get for Christmas?”

  Jaycee giggled. “Silly, you already know. You got it for me.”

  “I did?”

  “Yep. Remember the Thomas train set?”

  He shook his head.

  “You have to remember. We live a little just past the post office. The house after you come over the hill. The white one.” He shook his head in exasperation. “I didn’t know Santa had a bad memory.”

  Christopher chuckled. “What were you hoping for this year?”

  “Well, I’d really like for Momma and Daddy to come back home. But Shan says only God can do that, and she already aksed God and He said no.” He stared at Christopher. “Why do you think God said no?”

  Christopher shrugged. “It seems we only get one chance to live on this earth here. After we’re gone, there’s no coming back.”

  “But you know God, don’t you? Maybe you can ask Him for me. He might listen to you better since you do a lot of nice things for people.”

  “I know God, but He will listen to you as much as to me.”

  “He will? But I can’t see Him.”

  “I can’t see Him either. I just pray.”

  “I prayed before.” He glanced up as his sister was paying for the items in her cart. “I better go now. Could you maybe just get something special for my sister, or maybe give her a better job so she can buy me a candy bar next time?”

  Christopher reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. “You may get your candy bar now.”

  His eyes nearly jumped out of his glasses. “Really? Thank you, Santa!”

  Jaycee leapt off the bench and hurried toward his sister. He turned back and waved with his entire arm.

  Christopher chuckled and waved, then went in search of his fraa. Wouldn’t Judy love to hear this tale?

  ~

  Shannon handed the money over to the cashier, sighing in relief that she’d had enough. Barely.

  Jaycee bounded toward her. “Here’s money for my candy bar!” He thrust a dollar bill in her hand.

  “Where’d you get that, Jaycee?”

  “Santa gave it to me!” He nodded, then looked over at the bench he’d been sitting on. “Hey, where’d he go?”

  “Maybe Rudolph swung by and picked him up,” the impatient man in line behind them mumbled.

  Shannon ignored him. He’d been making curt remarks since he’d gotten in line.

  “Quickly, get your candy bar. We’re holding up the line,” she warned.

  Jaycee dug into his pocket and pulled out what looked to be a partially melted Snickers bar.

  “Jaycee! You’re not supposed to have that in your pocket.”

  The man in line behind them huffed.

  She handed it to the cashier with an apologetic smile.

  The cashier rang it up and handed the candy bar to Jaycee with amusement playing on her lips, along with the change.

  “Thank you.” Shannon pushed the cart past the register and headed toward the tiny arcade. “Go get your brother. Tell him we’re leaving now.”

  “Okay,” Jaycee mumbled around his half-eaten candy bar.

  THREE

  “…and that’s what happened while I was waiting for you.” Christopher finished sharing his shopping experience with his fraa. “Well, what do you think?”

  A distressed look crossed Judy’s face. “We need to do something to help them.”

  “I know, but what?” He scratched his chin. He’d been pondering the young family’s predicament since he’d learned of it.

  “Where do the young kinner go when the older one works?”

  “School, I suppose.”

  “But you said there was a boppli, ain’t so?”

  “A two-year-old, I believe.”

  “I can’t imagine she can work much with such responsibilities.” Judy shook her head.

  “Jah, they seemed to be struggling. Didn’t buy much food, by the look of it.”

  “Well, I suppose we could take him during the day.”

  “Her. It’s a maedel. I’m not sure where the little one goes when the oldest one works.”

  “Do you know if they have relatives nearby? Maybe they watch the boppli.”

  “I wouldn’t know. All I know is what the bu told me. Jaycee was his name.” He chuckled. “And I think he believed I was Santa Claus.”

  Judy gasped. “Really?”

  He nodded.

  “What if we hired her at our roadside stand? Then she wouldn’t have to worry about taking the kinner somewhere. I’m sure she would feel better knowing they are well cared for.”

  Christopher chuckled.

  “What?”

  He shrugged. “Well, they don’t really know us. Not too sure she’d know they were well cared for.”

  “We can fix that. Where did you say they lived?”

  “The bu said their house was past the post office. He
didn’t say which one, though.”

  “We’ll just have to find out.”

  “Are you suggesting we go knock on doors?”

  “Seems to me we could figure it out pretty easily by asking around.” Judy tugged on her kapp string. “Now that I think about it, didn’t someone mention an accident where the folks died some months back?”

  “I suppose so.”

  Judy nodded. “We will find out where they live, then we will take them some treats. I’m sure the kinner will appreciate some of my special cookies.”

  Christopher nodded. His smile widened. “I appreciate your special cookies.”

  “And I could take over a couple of loaves of bread, some butter from Elsie, and some of my jam. Maybe pickles too. Do you think they’ll like my pickles?”

  “I like your pickles.”

  “Do you suppose they could use some quilts?”

  “Now, Judy, let’s not overdo it. We don’t want to scare them away.”

  “I don’t know anyone who’d be scared away by a quilt, husband.”

  “Maybe we’ll chust bring some food at first. We can take a gander at their place while we’re there and see if they need other things too.”

  “That sounds like a sensible idea.”

  “That’s me. Always sensible.”

  “Let’s not stretch the truth now, husband.”

  Christopher’s eyes grew. “Me?”

  “Always sensible? What about that time you brought that raccoon into the house?”

  “He was hurt.”

  “He tore up the kitchen and ate all my fresh-made pies!”

  Christopher chuckled. “He needed to eat too. Can’t fault him for liking your pies. I like your pies.”

  “Easy for you to say when you didn’t put all the work into making them. Ach, what am I going to do with you?”

  “A buss would be nice.” His eyes twinkled.

  She leaned over and kiss him on the cheek.

  FOUR

  Shannon’s cell phone buzzed in her back pocket. She quickly delivered the two plates of hot food to table number seven, then rushed back to check her messages. She’d left little Melanie with the teen neighbor girl and her poor baby sister had been screaming when she walked out the door this morning. She hated to leave her with someone she’d never stayed with, but she had no choice since the regular sitter called in sick.

  She looked down at the phone in her hand. The message wasn’t the babysitter. She didn’t know if that was good or bad.

  “Number seven asked for ketchup and a side of mayo,” her coworker Shelby said.

  “Okay, thanks.” Shannon slipped the phone back into her pocket and rushed to get the condiments. She couldn’t afford to lose out on a tip. Literally.

  Brighton had just informed her that he needed new athletic shoes for school. He’d outgrown the sneakers he wore last year. Who knew how much those would cost. On top of using her gas, and traveling all the way to Walmart.

  She sighed. Could anything else go wrong today?

  “Customers at table number three,” Shelby hollered over her shoulder while she whisked through the double doors to the kitchen.

  Shannon glanced toward the table and tucked two menus under her arm. She walked to the table and sucked in a breath.

  Oh, no. Not today. Her heart sped up.

  “Hey, Shan. How’s it going?” Aiden’s smile was bright. As though he hadn’t ripped her heart out two and a half months ago.

  She attempted a friendly smile, but it felt wobbly. She would not cry.

  “May I get you something to drink?” She instead focused on the young woman opposite her ex. His new girlfriend, no doubt. She’d heard the rumors.

  The young woman beamed. “I’d like a sweet tea, please.” Her voice was kind.

  Shannon glanced at Aiden and lifted a brow. “And a root beer float?”

  “You know me.” He winked. How many times had she gotten lost in his sky-blue eyes?

  “You two know each other?” His female companion piped up, as if she thought the situation was fascinating. It wasn’t.

  “This is my ex,” Aiden volunteered.

  The young woman’s eyes widened and an unreadable expression crossed her face. “Shannon?” She reached for her hand. “Oh, I’m so sorry for your loss. Aiden told me.”

  She really fought back tears now. Was Aiden’s girlfriend offering sympathy? Or was it pity? Perhaps she was referring to her losing Aiden and not her parents.

  “I…it’s okay.” She shook off her emotional reaction, something she’d had to do a lot lately to stay strong for her siblings. “I’ll get your drinks.”

  She hurried to the soda fountain after stopping to see if table seven needed anything.

  “Will you help out the customer at the counter, please? I’m super busy right now,” Shelby asked, as she passed carrying a large tray laden with several entrée platters.

  “Sure.” Anything to distract her from Aiden and his girlfriend.

  She dropped off number three’s drinks and took their order, with not so much as a glance in Aiden’s direction, then hurried back to the waiting customer. She handed him a menu and he studied it. “Would you like anything to drink, sir?”

  His head popped up from the menu and she stared at the most handsome face she’d ever laid eyes on. Oh, my. One look at this man made her forget Aiden even existed.

  “Coffee, please.” His smile was easy. And just as gorgeous as the rest of him.

  She briefly glanced at his ring finger. Not that he would ever give her the time of day. “Coming right up.”

  “I take it black.”

  Yeah, a man as attractive and rugged as he was. She would have guessed he’d take it black. Not that coffee preference had anything to do with looks. But she could picture this man living in a cabin in the woods, sitting out on his porch as the sun rose, watching deer prance through the nearby woods to drink from the serene creek that meandered through his property. Surveying the land from atop a horse. Like one of those cute cowboys on the cover of the romance novels in Walmart.

  She set his coffee in front of him, burying her wayward thoughts. “Are you ready to order now or should I come back?”

  “No, now’s fine.” His eyes grazed the menu again, then settled on her face. “What do you suggest, Shannon?”

  She glanced down at her name badge. It wasn’t often she got asked that question. And not usually with her name tacked on. In truth, she hadn’t eaten at the restaurant much. Meals were half-price for employees, but it was still cheaper to bring a sandwich from home. “Um, the burgers are good. Unless you want an entrée. In that case, I’d recommend the chicken fried steak. I’ve never had it, but it seems to be popular with our customers.”

  “And why haven’t you had it, if it’s so popular?” His smile was teasing.

  She shrugged. “I just…I don’t eat here much.”

  “Hm…what does that say about the quality then?” Still teasing.

  “No, it’s not that. It’s just…it’s more economical to eat something from home.”

  He nodded. “I see. Well then, let me get two orders of chicken fried steak with…” He looked up at her. “Which sides do you recommend?”

  “A baked potato and the steamed broccoli?” She raised her shoulders.

  “Okay, then. A baked potato and the steamed broccoli.”

  Her brow rose. “Wait. You said two? Are you expecting someone?” She glanced toward the door.

  “Uh, yeah, you can say that.”

  She should have guessed he had a date. “Okay, two chicken fried steaks with baked potato and steamed broccoli coming right up. Unless you need the second one to go?”

  “Nope.”

  She quickly jotted Number 4 and his preferred sides down on her order pad. “It’ll just be a little bit.”

  “Sounds good.”

  She dropped the order ticket off on the carousel so the kitchen staff could begin the customer’s order. Two orders. That still puzzl
ed her. But a man that good looking wouldn’t be dining alone. He probably had women lined up out the door and around his cabin. He could certainly have his pick.

  She made her rounds once again, filling drinks, serving orders, and cleaning off tables. She slipped a nice tip into her pocket. That would likely be gas for Walmart to go get Brighton’s shoes later.

  “Would you like a refill?” She carried the carafe of coffee back to the customer at the counter.

  “Sure. Thanks, Shannon.”

  It felt a little strange the way he kept using her name. Like they knew each other or something. But she didn’t know him. No, she’d definitely remember if she’d met Mr. Drop-Dead-Throw-Me-Down-And-Roll-Me-Over-Into-My-Grave Gorgeous.

  Twenty minutes later, Aiden and his girlfriend neared the cash register. “Thanks for lunch. It was great.”

  She nodded and took Aiden’s money. She placed the bills in the register, then handed back his change.

  “Nah, keep it as a tip. You’ll need it for those kiddos. Tell them hello for me.”

  She pressed her lips together, but managed a brief nod and a thank you for the tip. She sighed in relief as they finally left the restaurant.

  The ding from the kitchen indicated the man at the counter’s food was ready. She took both plates and placed them in front of him. She glanced around but didn’t see the other diner he’d mentioned.

  “Thank you,” he said.

  “Is your guest not coming then? I could box it up, if not,” she offered.

  “Uh, no. Actually, would you like to join me?”

  Her heart flip flopped. She frowned. “Join you?”

  “Are you…can you take a break right now?”

  She looked toward the door and her area of the dining room. He was the only patron that remained in her section. The others had all cleared out. “I might be able to. But why?”

  “I actually ordered this for you.”

  “Me? Why? I don’t understand.”

  “Are you hungry?” He gestured to the seat next to him. “Please, join me.”

  “Let me…let me just tell my coworker.”

  She hurried and notified Shelby that she was taking a break. She didn’t mention the hot customer who’d asked her to eat with him. She quickly moved toward the restroom to wash her hands, then filled a glass with ice water and took it to where her lunchmate sat.