Dear Santa(38)

“It appears you have a lot to think about, Lindy.”

“I do,” she agreed, seeing that he was finished with his drink and looked ready to go. “I appreciate you listening.”

“I was happy to be a sounding board.”

“You’re very good, Santa.”

He shrugged off her praise and scooted back his chair.

Lindy stood, too, leaving her mug half-full of cocoa. They left the coffee shop together and walked toward the street-level parking complex.

It was already late; the sky was darkening. By four-thirty it would be pitch-dark. Lindy had always loved winters in the Pacific Northwest for the opportunity to view the northern lights. She didn’t get a chance to see them in Seattle because the city lights made it impossible.

    “Thanks again, Santa,” she said, as he approached his truck. “Have a good night.”

“Always. Best night of the year for me and the missus. Plan for it starting every January. And, listen, if you do decide to take that big leap of faith, you write me a letter and let me know. I’ve always enjoyed your letters.”

Lindy waited for the interior of her car to warm up and the windows to defrost before she headed to see Billy.

He’d told her the restaurant was booked with reservations, so she wasn’t surprised that it took her a few minutes to find a parking spot. What did come as a shock was how busy the bar area seemed to be on Christmas Eve. One would think most people would want to be home with family. Billy was pouring wine, and when he noticed her, his face eased into a welcoming smile. They’d both gone into this with the thought it would be nothing more than a holiday romance. Somewhere, somehow, in the last few days that had changed. For Billy, and as reluctant as she was to admit it, for Lindy, too.

Not wanting to distract him, she slipped onto a bar stool and waited until he’d filled an order before he approached her.

“Hey,” he said, his eyes lighting up as they settled on her.

    “Merry Christmas,” she returned.

“Merry Christmas,” he said. A couple minutes later, his replacement appeared, and he came around the bar to join her.

Taking her by the hand, Billy led her into his office and closed the door. Right away she was in his arms. He kissed her as if this were the final scene of a romantic Christmas movie. Her arms went around his neck as she surrendered herself to his lips, giving as well as taking.

“Wow,” she breathed, when they eventually broke apart. “What was that for?”

“Missed you,” he whispered.

It’d been less then twenty-four hours since they’d last been together. It made her wonder how he’d react when it was days or even weeks before they could see each other again. In her heart of hearts, she recognized that long-distance romances rarely survived beyond a few weeks or months.

“You’re busy.”

“It won’t be so hectic next week,” he promised. “I’ll take time off so we can be together. Didn’t I hear you promise Peter a sledding adventure? I volunteer to tag along.”

Lindy doubted Billy knew what he was getting himself into. “You’re on.”

“I’ve always loved the snow and was into snowboarding for a while.”

    So much of his life, his likes and dislikes, were unknown to her. She hoped to learn more and share more of herself. Billy seemed to want to make the most of the vacation time she had left, and Lindy did as well. What the week following Christmas, before she returned to Seattle, would mean for their future, Lindy couldn’t tell. Of one thing she was certain: Spending that extra time with Billy would make her decision all the more difficult.

“I’ll be by your parents’ house tomorrow to play Santa for Peter,” he said, reminding her that he’d volunteered to give her nephew the thrill he would long remember.

“Chad and Ashley plan to arrive around noon, so you could come any time after that.” She seemed to remember her mother suggesting he arrive around three and she selfishly didn’t want to wait until midafternoon to see him.

“I’ll be there with bells on,” he said, smiling down on her.

“Funny you should mention Santa,” she said. “I ran into him today.”

“Oh? Just remember the only Santa for you is me.”

She must have had a funny look because he grew serious.

“Don’t tell me you fell for this other Santa?”

“No, silly. It was the same Santa from Leavenworth. He seemed to know about the letters I wrote him…I’m being ridiculous.” She shook her head to clear her thoughts. “Santa needed my help with one of his appearances. He was amazing with all the children.”

    “That’s what makes Santa Santa,” Billy said. “Every kid writes Santa at one time or another, so the fact that he mentioned your letters is all part of his routine.”

“You’re right.” Still, Lindy wasn’t fully convinced. It was far more than that, more than she wanted to explain. Santa had seemed to know more about her than what was feasible. Most likely, there was a logical explanation. He must have eaten at the pizza parlor, although she didn’t remember seeing him seated. Dressed as he was, he would be hard to miss.

“Shall we head for the city park on the twenty-sixth?” Billy asked, taking her mind off Santa and back to the promise she’d made to Peter.