“Ho ho ho,” Randal said.
“Smile!” commanded the elf.
Years from now, I knew, we’d look back on the pictures of Daisy scowling and DJ bawling on Santa’s lap, and think,How cute. How precious.How hilarious.But it wasn’t funny as I climbed down, murmuring apologies to the other parents in line.
“Meg? Meg! Over here!”
I looked around, my face hot. There. By the new ambulance. Sallie Gardiner Moffat and her older sister, Belle. Sallie and I had beenon pep committee and homecoming court together. She was a buyer now for Simply Southern, an upscale women’s boutique in a restored Victorian between Connie’s Cupcake Confections and Bunyan Hardware.
She waved. “Meg! How are you? It’s so great to see you! I barely recognized you.”
Sallie looked exactly the same, like the cheerleader she’d been in high school, like she could climb to the top of the pyramid and backflip off: ponytail hair, full face of makeup, coordinated outfit.
I finished buckling Daisy into the stroller and handed DJ his blanket. “Hi, Sallie. Hey, Belle. We were just visiting Santa.”
“Bless your heart,” Belle said.
Belle was a mommy, too, but she looked like she’d stepped out of a magazine or one of Sallie’s display windows. Highlights, Botox, mascara, and manicure. I could almost hear Jo snort.Here’s your Southern Woman card.
I tugged on my top and smiled at her. “Where are your kids today?”
“Oh, Harper has a soccer game. Have you seen five-year-olds play soccer?” Belle shuddered delicately. “Running up and down the field like a giant amoeba. No idea of position at all. Incredibly boring. So George took them.”
“Oh. Well, that’s... That’s good.”
She raised a slim shoulder in a shrug. “I suppose. Children need sports, right? Physical activity. Harper has soccer and ballet. And tae kwon do, of course. I signed up both children as soon as they turned three. Yours are almost old enough.”
“I don’t think... Our pediatrician says at this age they get most of their activity from play.”
“They still need structure.”
“They go to preschool,” I said. “First Methodist, two mornings a week.”
“Harper and Logan are at Sterling Academy.” Belle smiled faintly. “It’s not for everyone, of course.”
That was for sure. My children were never going to learn Mandarin at their preschool.
Sallie nudged her sister. “We loved First Methodist. Remember the youth group?”
“Mommy, go!” Daisy demanded. “Cookie time!”
“In a second, honey.” DJ’s blankie was dragging on the ground. I stooped to retrieve it. “I promised them we’d get cookies. We all deserve a treat after Santa.”
Belle raised perfectly waxed brows without wrinkling her forehead. “Do you think that’s wise?”
I bristled. “Daisy’s in the thirtieth percentile of weight gain for her age.” Twentieth for height. Developing normally, the pediatrician said, a little ahead of her twin. She certainly wasn’tfat.
“I meant for you,” Belle said.
Sallie grabbed her sister’s arm. “It’s been great seeing you, Meg,” she said, sounding sincere. “We really need to get together.”
“I’d like that. Any special plans for the holidays?”
“Not really. Ned is taking me to Hawaii in January. So we’ll probably just go to the beach house with the family.” Sallie brightened. “You should come.”
I blinked. “I’m afraid Hawaii is a little...”Out of our budget. “Far away.”
“Not Hawaii, silly. The beach. There’s plenty of room.”
