and give up on things that used to be so important to you?”
“Jeez, when you put it that way...”
“Don’t let him win this one. Don’t let him spoil something special.”
This, thought Darcy, was what a best friend was for. She told you the truth, even when you didn’t want to hear it.
“You know what?” said Darcy. “It’s Christmas. I love Christmas. I’m going to enjoy every minute of it, and then I’m going back to the city and to the real world and...”
“And what?”
“And everything will be as it should be,” she concluded.
“It’s coming,” piped Bernie. “The Christmas parade is coming.”
A small parade moved down the road. It was headed by a group of carolers—the Heart of the Mountains Church choir, followed by a few community groups and of course, Santa Claus, bringing up the rear.
The short processional was over soon enough. They all walked together to the Heart of the Mountains Church, where they were parked.
It was a cute little traditional church with a brilliantly lit steeple, its slender silhouette looking perfect against the purple sky. In the snowy yard was an elaborate manger scene illuminated by floodlights, and a sign that read O Come All Ye Faithful.
“It’s beautiful,” India said to Logan, taking more pictures. “The whole day was beautiful—skiing and lunch and Santa. You are one hundred percent forgiven for talking us out of going to Florida.”
Darcy was drawn to the PAWS contingent—the town’s animal rescue league. Volunteers walked with rescue dogs wearing little jackets with the phrase Rescue Me on the side. Some of the volunteers were passing out brochures about pet adoptions.
“Oh my gosh, I wish I could take one home,” Darcy said, watching a beagle bounding through the snow.
“That can be arranged.” Logan came to stand next to her. “I have it on good authority that Santa loves giving away puppies at Christmas.”
“My building doesn’t allow dogs.”
“Maybe you’re living in the wrong building, then.”
Why did everything he said have a double meaning? It seemed that way to Darcy. “I love my building,” she said. “I was on a waiting list forever to live there. It has everything I need.”
As the parade disassembled, Santa climbed down from his throne in the back of a fire department utility truck.
Logan gave him a wave. “That’s my buddy Adam, behind the beard.”
“Aha. So he’s telling you what the kids asked for.”
“Yep.”
“Sneaky.”
“Can I tell you a secret?”
“Charlie and Andre wouldn’t tell Santa their Christmas wishes. They wrote letters instead.”
“Uh-oh. So, what’s your best guess?”
“Bad news—I think he wants a dog. He had a dog named Blake, but she was old and passed away.”
She gave a low whistle. “That’s a tough one.”
He nodded. “Not the best timing for me. And of course, when Charlie’s with his mom, the dog is all my responsibility.”
“So what are you going to do?” she asked.
“I hope he wants something else. I’m considering my options. Like giving him a toy dog. Or making a donation in his name to the animal shelter.”
“Dude.”
“What?”
“Do you know how lame that sounds? A dog is a
He nodded. “I know you’re right. Maybe in the summer, then.”
“Does Santa give rain checks for summer?”
He laughed. “You’re harsh.”
“Being the youngest of five, I learned to play hardball at Christmas at an early age.”
“I’ve got a week to figure this out.”
She wondered if she should tell him about the Santa trap. Charlie and Andre were right on the cusp of disbelief. One wrong move, and the myth would be busted.
“Good news,” Adam reported, now in his street clothes. “I pried the truth out of Charlie—his Christmas wish. I got him to sing like a canary.”
“Yeah?” Logan grinned. “Good work. So, what am I in for?”
“A new snowboard. The kind with flames painted on the bottom. Boots, too.”
“Excellent. Much easier than a live animal. I can make that happen.”
Darcy felt a twinge of suspicion. That was just too easy. She thought about the conversation she’d overheard between the boys. “What about Andre?”
Adam shook his head. “That kid’s tough as a Kevlar vest. He wouldn’t talk. You’ll have to figure it out another way.”
“Okay,” said Logan. “I’m on it.”
Adam clapped him on the shoulder. “See you around, buddy. And Darcy.”
After he’d gone, Darcy pondered about whether or not to disclose her suspicions. Not now, she decided. “Can I tell
“What’s that?”
“
“You probably just like sitting in guys’ laps.”
“Depends on the guy. Depends on the lap. And how do you know what I like? You don’t even know me.”
“Then maybe we should work on that some more.” He lowered his voice and leaned down toward her. “I know you like kissing me.”
“You do, do you?”
“Yeah, so—sorry, I need to...” He didn’t finish, but sprinted across the road toward a tall pile of packed snow. Charlie, Andre and some other kids were playing on a Bobcat snow mover, which looked like a toy version of a snowplow. The equipment was clearly marked “keep off,” but the kids were either blind to that or just ignoring it.
“Hey,” Logan called. “Get down off that Bobcat.”
“It’s cool, Dad,” said Charlie. “Check it out.”
Andre was working the levers and making motor sounds with his mouth.
“Damn it, Charlie. It’s a week before Christmas. Shouldn’t you be on your best behavior?”
“What if that
“Then I’ve got my work cut out for me,” he said.
“You didn’t tell anybody, did you?” Back on Saddle Mountain the next day, Charlie and Andre were making a snow fort.
“Only Santa Claus,” said Andre. “And only in the letter I wrote. A real letter, not an email. You?”
“Same.”
“Yeah, but I saw you talking to Santa today. You must have said something,” Andre accused.
“I did. The guy in the Santa hut is my dad’s friend Adam. They think I don’t know that, but I do. I had to say
