“Of course, we’ll give you girls a ride,” Wendy assured her. “No problem.”
“Great.” Taylor grinned. “And can Tessa stay with you guys while Jackson and I go over there to talk to our friends?”
Wendy wasn’t sure what to say, but seeing that the little girl was shivering, she agreed. “You look cold,” she told Tessa. “Let’s get you up here.” She bent down to help, but before she could, Caleb swooped the little girl up, setting her between them on the retaining wall.
“We’ll all snuggle up next to you,” he told Tessa. “That should keep you warm.”
“Have you been to the lighting celebration before?” Wendy asked Tessa, lifting up the back of the blanket like a shawl on the little girl’s back.
“No.” Tessa shook her head.
“Did you know that Santa’s supposed to show up here tonight?” Caleb asked.
“Really?” Tessa’s eyes grew wide.
“He’s the one who makes everything light up,” Caleb told her.
“Can I talk to him?” Tessa asked hopefully.
Wendy looked over her head to Caleb. “Can she?” she mouthed.
“For sure. All the kids are invited to visit with Santa afterward,” he assured Tessa. “The smart kids get in line before the celebration is over.”
“Can I do that too?” she asked.
“You bet,” Wendy told her. The music grew louder, and then, just like clockwork, the program unfolded pretty much as Caleb had described. After the tree burst into light, amid cheers and applause, Caleb slipped away. The Sugar Plum Fairy did her dance and Santa pushed the next “magic button.” Everyone watched as the whole darkened town lit up—from the gas station clear down to the docks—with thousands of lights. It was so beautiful that it literally took Wendy’s breath away. She was tempted to pull out her phone and attempt some photos, but she didn’t want to spoil the moment with electronics. Better to just enjoy it for what it was. Who knew if she’d ever see it again?
Shortly after Caleb returned, while they were singing carols, Wendy noticed some of the smaller children already lining up near Santa’s sled. “Let’s go,” she whispered to Tessa. “Time to see Santa.” As they waited in line, Wendy spotted Jackson and Taylor, along with several other kids their age. Oliver, looking dapper in his red bandana, appeared to be the center of attention. It was fun seeing Jackson smiling and socializing—having a good time. In fact, the scene was so sweet and wholesome that it nearly brought tears to Wendy’s eyes. She understood why Jackson loved this place. If only...
“Jackson probably didn’t get a chance to tell you that he accepted my invitation for dinner,” Caleb told her while Tessa climbed onto Santa’s lap.
She blinked. “You’re taking Jackson to dinner?”
“He accepted forbothof you.” Caleb grinned. “He mentioned your kitchen was a mess and that cooking might be a challenge tonight.”
“Maybe, but I think we can work it out.” She nodded toward Tessa. “Besides I promised to give the girls a ride and—”
“Go ahead and take them home. Then you and Jackson can swing over to my place. It’s not too far from where you live.”
“You know where I live?”
“Seaside is a small world, Wendy.” He winked. “Besides Jackson told me.”
“Sounds like my son told you a lot.”
“As a matter of fact, he did. He also told me that you like seafood.”
“That’s true.” It was also true that, since she’d only had an apple for lunch, she was ravenous. Not that she planned to admit to it. Instead, she thanked him, accepting the invite. He told her where he lived, less than a mile from the cottage, just as Tessa’s Santa visit wrapped up. Wendy was imagining prawns and oysters and salmon as she delivered Tessa and Taylor home, but by the time she stopped at the cottage to drop off the dog, Jackson pulled the plug on her daydream.
“I really don’t want to leave Oliver home alone,” he informed her. They were on the front porch, waiting for the dog to do his “business” in the yard. “And I doubt the restaurant allows dogs.”
“He’ll be just fine on his own,” she assured him.
“I don’t know, Mom. I mean he’s still getting used to us. He might feel left out. Like Taylor says, he’s probably got some abandonment issues.”
She tried not to laugh. “Just feed him, tell him you love him, and that you’ll be home before long. Trust me, he’ll probably sleep the whole time we’re gone.”
“Maybe ... But that’s not all. I need to put my room back together. My bed and my stuff are still piled at the top of the stairs. I’d rather just stay home.”
