Dear Santa(43)

His eyes were dark and serious. “What you don’t understand, Lindy, is that you wrote your name on my heart when I was nine years old.”





CHAPTER SIXTEEN





The day after Christmas, Lindy had promised to take Peter to the park for fun in the snow. This time of year, there was rarely a lack of the white powder in Wenatchee.

Knowing Peggy was anxious to hear from her, she sent her friend a text.

Out with Peter and Billy. Promise to connect soon. And yes, I am considering what we talked about. Still unsure what’s best.

A decision this big couldn’t be made on impulse or on the spur of the moment. Lindy needed time to consider her options. In addition, she felt it was necessary to hear the feedback on the project she’d submitted through Media Blast before she could make a decision either way. Yes, it was tempting to give in, but she needed to analyze the ramifications. Peggy was right, Billy would play a part in her decision. Living closer to family, too, of course. Nevertheless, the lure of success, of seeing her work on websites for major businesses, tugged at her. This had been her dream. Her goal from college, and she didn’t know if she was ready to give all that up.

    Although Peggy had mentioned she would wait on Lindy’s decision before finding a roommate, Lindy realized she wouldn’t be able to put Peggy off for long. One thing was sure, she couldn’t give her friend a definitive answer this week, or probably next week, either.

An entire day spent with Billy and Peter filled her with eager anticipation. How quickly her thoughts had become entangled with him. It was as if they were meant to be together. It felt as if she belonged with Billy.

“Morning, sunshine,” she said when he picked up. It was barely eight, and she wasn’t sure if he was even awake yet. He hadn’t left her parents’ house until well after midnight. He’d had a long week, with late hours, and she hated to wake him.

“Morning,” he grumbled back. He yawned into the phone, which told her either he’d just woken or he’d recently gotten out of bed.

“Was thinking we should get an early start.”

“Good idea. The hills in the park are sure to be busy.”

Especially in the week between the holidays with a cover of fresh snow. As a teenager, Lindy and her friends spent nearly every day of their winter vacation from school in the snow. Lindy used to ski at Mission Ridge as often as she could. She was eager to introduce Peter to the fun that could be had in this winter wonderland, although she was fairly certain Chad had taken his son sledding more than once.

    They set a time to meet. Billy volunteered to drive, and then they would collect Peter together. Lindy connected with Ashley, who promised to have Peter ready before they arrived.

Thirty minutes later, Billy picked up Lindy. He greeted her with a warm kiss and hugged her mother. “My sister Dede’s bringing her two little hellions and will meet us there,” he told Lindy.

“What a great idea.” She wished she’d thought to invite Dede herself. She’d seen Billy’s sister at the Wine Press that one day, but not since then, and was eager to connect.

Her mother followed them to the front door and handed Lindy a thermos of hot coffee. “Have fun and stay warm,” she said, sending them off.

When they collected Peter, the four-year-old was as excited as Lindy had ever seen him, running around Lindy like a cat chasing a mouse. While Billy moved Peter’s car seat into his vehicle, Ashley gave Lindy an extra set of clothes and other essentials she thought Peter might need. Ashley figured Peter’s energy would last until around noon, and then he’d be more than ready for his nap.

    “Have a great time,” Ashley said, standing in the doorway, waving to Peter as he dashed to the truck as fast as his short legs would let him.

“You ready for fun in the snow?” Lindy asked Peter, as she strapped him into the backseat.

Her nephew nodded vigorously. “I want to slide down the hill with the big kids.”

“You got it, little man,” Billy assured him.

“Billy,” Peter innocently asked, as they headed across town, “are you going to be my uncle?”

Billy looked to Lindy and smiled. “I think your aunt should be the one to answer that,” he said.

“Is he, Aunt Lindy?”

“Who told you that?” She had no doubt this came from Chad and Ashley.

“Daddy. He said Billy looked at you the same way he looks at Mommy.”

“That’s true,” Billy said. “Your aunt Lindy is beautiful. It’s hard for me not to look at her.”

“I think you’d make a good uncle.”

“Thank you.”

Eager to change the subject, Lindy asked, “Where will we meet Dede?”

    “I’ll text her once we arrive at the park.” Billy reached over and squeezed her knee, letting her know he recognized what she was doing.

It was a good thing they left early, as the parking surrounding the city park was at a premium.

Within minutes after their arrival, they found Dede and her two children. Davey was eight and Lily six. Lindy vaguely remembered Dede from her childhood.

“So glad we had a chance to connect,” Dede said, once they were all together.

“I am, too.”