“Magical? Hardly,” Pam said sarcastically voicing her doubts. She was not a lover of riddles and coincidences and had never taken the unexplainable too seriously, until lately when John had walked into her life. “Although I enjoy a bit of fun, just like everyone else, at times my logical brain refuses to surrender to magic.”
John took her hand in his. “Meeting you was pure magic.”
“It was providence. But I have no problem accepting miracles from heaven,” Pam compromised.
“Then a miracle we are. I can live with that,” John said.
Pam slapped at him playfully, but when he moved to avoid contact, she lost her balance. He caught her before she fell headfirst into the artificial tree. They stood eye-to-eye, unable to move. His eyes searched hers, and she drank in his tender scrutiny. She did not feel violated, and for the first time in a long time, she felt liberated in a man’s presence.
“Do you feel it?” John whispered. “The magic?”
“You mean the miracle, right?”
He never answered but tightened his grip on the hands that rested against her waist. “You are a beautiful woman, Pamela Legend. I don’t deserve you.”
“Maybe I don’t deserve you. Have you ever considered that?”
Pam could feel his breath on her face, hot and spicy, and her heart tumbled gently into a place it had never gone before. Could this be what love felt like? She only knew that it didn’t matter about the missing details of his past, for she’d peered beyond, into his soul, and felt satisfied with the image ingrained there. In setting herself up for a successful career, Pam had missed the things that mattered most. Maybe it was finally her time.
John reached into the box and withdrew the mistletoe. He dangled it over their heads and his teasing smile spoke volumes to her needy heart. He leaned in. Their lips had barely touched when the storage room door burst open. They jumped apart like two children with their hands caught in the cookie jar.
“Sorry, you two,” said Tom. “Just grabbing a roll of paper towel. Big mess in the bathroom to clean up.”
“Can I help? “John offered.
“No way! I told you to have fun this weekend. Monday is coming and I will welcome you back into your role as my personal side-kick. Don’t know how I managed without you.”
“We’re off to the theater. Are you meeting Denise there?” Pam asked.
“We can’t make this event. Denise is on her way over to help me finish up. It’s been a long day, and we are ready to curl up on the couch at home with eggnog and some fattening pastries.”
“Enjoy,” Pam said. “You two work hard.”
John and Pam squeezed into the last two available seats in the front row. John provided a breath of fresh air and an exclusive, second show for Pam while behaving like a toddler viewing Christmas for the first time.
The lights in the auditorium faded and the curtain opened. “Welcome to Santa’s Village,” the narrator said. Mrs. Claus was center stage. Pam startled, as did John. The one acting the great lady’s part was Cassie. With the woman’s busy schedule, Pam wondered when the baker had found time to rehearse a play.
As the seconds lengthened into minutes, and onward to complete a full hour of delight, pent-up energy pushed Pam to the edge of the seat. Christmas was in trouble, all because of one rebel – the son of Mr. and Mrs. Claus. At the end, when Christmas was saved from extinction and the feat credited to the Miracle-Maker, Pam relaxed. A nice blend of truth and fiction, danger and fun – like a modern parable.
This was not Cedar Springs’ usual nonsensical rendition of Santa, reindeer, merriment, and frolic. It contained a parallel message that combined with the earlier one of the Christ-child. Yet, somehow this finale made Pam more grateful for the season of love and happy-ever-after. With evil conquered, good reigned victorious. Even the children understood and cheered the champions on.
Pam turned to John and witnessed the horror on his face. He shot to his feet and ran from the building. She stared after him. When she felt a light tap on her shoulder, she spun around and came face to face with Cassie.
“My dear. You need to follow John. His quest has now become yours.”
Before Pam could respond, Cassie slipped among the crowds gathering in the aisle and disappeared from view. It was true. She’d made John’s recovery her personal concern after releasing him from the hospital and in the process was falling for the man. Now she was dubious whether she could tolerate his sudden bouts of flight. Monday, she would schedule him with a physiatrist who specialized in cases like his. Pam sighed. Best follow him for now. She was in well over her head. Although Pam could not see Cassie watching, she felt her presence.
Pam wiggled through the excited spectators who’d gathered to congratulate and talk to the actors and finally escaped outside. The early evening brought with it a light breeze, which calmed her nerves. She glanced up and down the streets, but saw nothing. Where would John go? She started to walk, following the melodies of carolers singing the songs of Christmas. When she found them, she also found John. He sat on a park bench, a few feet from the peaceful tunes with his head buried in his hands.
Pam quickened her pace, and when she stood next to him, she touched his shoulder. He jumped to his feet, and the eyes that met her were full of tears.
“You should have listened to your initial warning about my disposition. It appears I am not the good boy you hoped
