CHAPTER 21
Tanner
The note had said to come alone, but that didn't stop the butterflies in my stomach.
I was dressed warmly—jeans, boots, my scarf and hat and gloves from my Secret Santa. My elephant onesie was hidden under a thick sweater because I couldn't quite bring myself to leave the house without it today. It felt like armor and comfort all at once.
I'd looked everywhere for Simon before leaving, wanting him to come with me, but he was nowhere to be found. Atticus had explained, apologetically, that he'd sent Simon on an errand into town, something urgent that couldn't wait.
On Christmas morning. Of all days.
My heart sank. I wanted Simon here for this. Wanted him to be part of the moment when I finally learned who my Secret Santa was.
But the note had been clear. This was something I needed to do alone.
So I bundled up and headed outside, following the path around the main house toward the barn. As I rounded thecorner, I saw it—the shoveled path leading into what looked like a winter play area.
My breath caught.
The snowman Daddy and I had built together stood proud, his stick arms seeming to wave hello. I touched his carrot nose gently as I passed, smiling at the memory of building him with Simon, of the snowball fight that had followed.
The Christmas tree was next, small but perfect, its lights creating a warm glow against the white snow. Ornaments caught the light and sparkled, and I stopped to admire them. Simple glass balls in silver and gold, wooden stars, and—my throat tightened—tiny elephants.
The stack of presents made me smile. They were clearly fake, but they'd been arranged with such care, wrapped in bright paper with elaborate bows. A note was attached to the top one:
Every day with you has been a gift.
I pressed the note to my chest and kept walking.
The path curved around a cluster of trees, and that's when I saw him.
Santa.
Or rather, someone dressed as Santa, sitting in a comfortable chair at the end of the path. The red suit was classic, the white beard full and fluffy, the hat pulled low.
My heart started racing.
"Santa?" I called out as I approached.
The figure didn't move, didn't speak. Just sat there watching me approach.
I got closer, studying him. The build seemed familiar somehow, but the padding of the suit made it hard to tell. The beard covered most of his face.
"I can't believe I'm finally going to find out who you are," I said, excitement bubbling up despite my nerves. "I've been trying to figure it out for days. Every gift has been so perfect, so thoughtful. You've given me so much."
Still no response. Just steady breathing behind that white beard.
I stopped a few feet away, suddenly shy. "I wish Simon was here. I wanted him to be part of this moment. He's been—" My voice cracked. "He's been everything to me. And you've been everything too, in a different way. I just wish…"
I trailed off, not sure how to explain the conflict in my heart. How I'd fallen for Simon completely while also developing feelings for the mystery person who'd been caring for me so thoughtfully.
"I wish you could be the same person," I finally whispered. "Is that selfish? To want both? To want Simon as my Daddy and you as my Secret Santa, and for those to be the same thing?"
The Santa figure shifted then, reaching up slowly to remove his hat.
Dark hair appeared. Familiar dark hair.
My breath stopped.
