I’m putting the finishing touches on my Mrs. Claus outfit while waiting for Nolan to pick me up for the county’s annual foster kid Christmas party. After leaving the farm last week, on the ride home, Nolan appeared nervous. When I asked him what was going on, he stammered about having a question to ask me. I couldn’t imagine what it could be, so I told him to spit it out. He repeated how much he loves Christmas, and confided that even though he has no children, he decorates his house and yard every year,for the kids. Yeah, right. I know those decorations are one hundred percent for his satisfaction. But he did admit the bonus for him is seeing the joy on the neighborhood kids’ faces when they come by his house. He then proceeded to tell me he plays Santa every year for the foster children. And the question—he wanted me to be his Mrs. Claus. This man causes my heart to melt a little more every time we’re together. And his consideration for others is a huge turn on.
I apply some bright red color to my lips and a little more blush, then take one last look in the mirror as the doorbell chimes, announcing Santa’s arrival. I hear Sandy letting Nolan in and greeting him with a hearty backslap, seemingly not surprised to see Nolan dressed in a Santa suit. As I descend the grand staircase of the Patrick family mansion, Sandy and Nolan are watching me. Sandy beams with pride and Nolan has a sparkle in his eye, which has me wondering what he’s thinking. Is he a naughty Santa, perhaps?
Sandy speaks first. “You make a very pretty and festive Mrs. Claus.”
I place a quick kiss on my father’s cheek. “Thank you, Sandy.”
I then turn to Nolan. “Hello, Santa! Can I tell you what I want for Christmas?” I joke.
Nolan winks and responds. “Maybe later you can sit on Santa’s lap if you’re a good girl.”
Sandy interrupts our banter. “Okay, you two. Get out of here so I don’t have to hear anything that might cause me to blush.”
We all laugh at that, and Nolan offers his arm to escort me out the door and to his truck.
I express my surprise about the party location to Nolan as we roll up the drive to the Green Springs Country Club. Nolan relates that the country club donates space every year as one of their charitable projects. No doubt Saundra and her social club are involved. My suspicion is confirmed when we get inside and approach the registration table. When Saundra sees me and Nolan approaching, she rises from her seat like a queen alighting from her throne and greets me with an air kiss to each of my cheeks.
“Sally! I didn’t know you were our Mrs. Claus! You look radiant!” Turning to Nolan, she greets him with warmth, much to my surprise. “Nolan! Wonderful to see you as Santa. The children get so excited, and it’s lovely that you brought Mrs. Claus with you this year!”
“Thank you, ma’am. I look forward to this every year as much as the kids do.”
Saundra continues to take charge as if this is a stage production. “Now you two stay right here and I’ll go get Lauren so she can announce you.” She adds for my benefit, “Lauren is the social worker in charge of the party this year. She’s such a sweet girl and wonderful with the children.”
A few minutes later, Saundra returns with a petite young woman who looks to be about Barbara Jeanne’s age, dressed in an elf costume. Lauren gives us both strong handshakes despite her petite frame and thanks us profusely. “Mr. Green, Ms. Jones-Patrick, thank you so much for doing this. The kids will be so excited to see you! It’s a special night for them and the gift they receive here may be the only thing they get for Christmas.”
After we make our grand entrance to the shouts of joy from the children, Lauren gets us settled in so they can all have their chance to sit on Santa’s lap and receive a present from under the tree. A few minutes later, with an adorable baby in her arms, she steps up to the riser where Nolan and I are sitting. He’s got skin the color of mine, golden brown eyes, and soft curly hair. He’s the prettiest baby I think I’ve ever seen.
“Lauren, who’s this handsome little man? Can I hold him?”
Lauren hands him over with a smile. “This is Marcus.”
He immediately grabs onto my finger with one chubby, little hand and touches my face with the other. “Hello, Marcus! Are you ready to sit on Santa’s lap?” Marcus immediately starts babbling in response. I turn to Nolan. “Here you go, Santa.”
Nolan reaches for Marcus and plants him on his knee. Marcus immediately begins screaming in fright. Nolan looks panicked and begins bouncing the baby to try and soothe him, to no avail.
“What’s wrong, Santa? Got a tough customer?”
Nolan raises his voice to be heard over Marcus’s cries. “I think you better handle this one, Mrs. Claus. He seems to like you better.”
Laughing, I take the baby from him. He immediately stops crying and looks at me with wide eyes, full of tears. “It’s okay, little man. I’ve got you. That man in the red suit really is a nice guy once you get to know him,” I tease.
Lauren reaches under the tree and passes me a brightly wrapped package. “Here, Mrs. Claus. Maybe you can help Marcus open his present.”
Marcus and I rip the paper off to reveal a toy train set. I know if I don’t give him back to Lauren, I’ll spend the entire evening playing with him. Meanwhile, there are a bunch of kids not so patiently waiting to see Santa.
Chapter 27
The next morning Nolan rose from bed with enthusiasm for the day’s project: decorating his home inside and out for Christmas. The tree they picked out last week at the farm was in its stand with plenty of water awaiting the lights and ornaments that would make it the most festive tree ever. He decided to ask Sally to help him decorate it later, so he put on the lights, then began working on the outside.
While he labored, he thought about the previous night and how much he’d enjoyed having Sally by his side doing something he loved so much. And seeing her with that baby blew his mind. He mourned briefly for the children he never had and the married life that had ended too soon. But it wasn’t too late to have that life again, was it? He could see so clearly in his mind a scene with he and Sally as a married couple. That got him to thinking about getting her the perfect Christmas gift. Something more meaningful than the barn kitten. In a perfect world, he’d be shopping for a ring and asking her for the ultimate commitment in return. But he knew she wasn’t ready for that. So, what did one give a friend with benefits for Christmas? Who could he ask for help that would understand his situation and not ask questions about the status of their non-relationship?
He pulled out his cell and hit the button for Sandy.
“Hey, Nolan, how are you?”
“Good. I wanted to pick your brain about something.”
“Okay, shoot.”
