Eli’s cheeks flushed. “Well, I thought I could do the folding, since I made the star…”
“I don’t know about that.” Willem gave him a look. “What do you think, kids? Should Uncle Eli write out a list too?”
“Yes,” they chorused.
Eli gave a dramatic sigh. “Fine. But only if Daddy Will does one as well.” He pulled out another two sheets of paper. He set one down in front of Will and the other next to Raelynn’s. “So where do we start?”
“With Dear Santa.” Willem picked up the pencil and wrote the words in block print on the top of Jeremy’s paper, then his own.
“Okay.” Raelynn wrote the words, and after a moment Eli did the same.
“Good.” Willem kept his grip on Jeremy. “Nana and Poppa said every list needs to have five things, because good boys and girls aren’t greedy. The first one is one item you need…” he paused for a second when Jeremy whispered in his ear his first wish. He jotted it down, before waiting while Eli and Raelynn did the same. “Okay. Now, Poppa was an educated man and always told us kids that Santa like educated kids too, so we always asked for something new to read.”
Raelynn tipped her head, “Like a book?”
Willem nodded. “Yeah. Comic book, magazine, or book. Those things keep the mind sharp, and Santa loves smart kids.”
“Ooooh.” Her face brightened. “You think Santa might have books on horses, or maybe cows?”
“I’m pretty sure he does.” Willem chuckled. “And what about you?” He asked the boy on his lap.
“Fire trucks, Daddy Will. I want a big book of firetrucks.”
“Got it.” He jotted it down but wasn’t surprised. The four-year-old was obsessed with the bright red engines. After writing down his own read, he continued. “Now number three? We need an item of clothing, because Santa always wants to make sure that his special kids have nice clean clothes that fit.” He gave the boy a tickle. “Especially those who love to root around in the stables with the chickens and an ornery old cow named Bessie.”
Jeremy giggled. “New muck boots, Daddy Will.” He pointed to the paper. “I want ones with fire trucks on them.”
Willem obediently wrote down the requested boots on the list. He thought for a moment, then added a new set of ties for his boy. Santa might quibble that they weren’t for him, but with the way that Willem wanted to use them, they most definitely were. “Ok. Next, is a big item you want. This is something Santa can bring you to play with or have fun with.”
Jeremy nibbled on his lip. “Like a firetruck, with a ladder that goes up and down?”
“Or a Barbie dollhouse?” Raelynn asked hopefully.
“Those are both good gifts,” Willem agreed, after adding the item to Jeremy’s list. He again waited for Eli and Raelynn to finish before adding his own.
“Exactly.” Willem agreed. “Lastly, and this is the most important one of all, because just like the Williams, Santa cherishes families. We always ask Santa for something we can do together as a family.”
Raelynn frowned. “Like a board game?”
“It could be, or a puzzle. It might be new sleds so the whole family can go sledding. Or maybe even a new recipe book that we could use to try out new meals as a family.” Willem stated. “It just has to be something weallcan do together.”
“Ohhhh.” Raelynn’s face lit up. “I know….” She furiously scribbled something on her paper.
“What do you think?” He nudged the boy on his lap. “What do you want Santa to bring our family?”
“I…really want Daddy and Mommy back.” The little boy almost looked heartbroken.
“Oh, bud. I understand. Remember what I said earlier?”
“About them being angels?”
“Yes.” Willem nodded. “Our loved ones always watch over us and…”
“…and they won’t be mad if we are happy,” Jeremy repeated. Willem could only hope that eventually the boy would believe the words.
“That’s right.” Willem gave him a hug. “Uncle Eli and I will love you just as much as your Daddy and Mommy do. We’re your family now.”
Jeremy nodded. “Family.” He looked up at Willem, a thoughtful look on his face – something more serious than he expected a four-year-old to have. “I think I know what I want to ask Santa for.”
