Fortunately, the sidewalks had been cleared, and new snow wasn’t expected until the middle of the night, so Merry could run past the already thronging crowds. She burst into the daycare and found not only Alex but Carlisle and Grace. The handsome man smiled, and his daughter gave a little squeal.
“Miss Merry, Papa changed his meeting tonight, so I can see Santa with Alex.”
“That’s wonderful.” Merry prayed Trish wasn’t still outside. The woman couldn’t look at two single people and not try to match them. “This is a pleasant surprise.”
“I hope you don’t mind that Grace invited us to join you,” Carlisle said as he opened the door to the outside.
“Not at all.”
And it wasn’t even a lie. Mostly. She enjoyed spending time with Grace and her father. Merry would enjoy it more if she didn’t have such vivid dreams after every time she did. The poor man would probably wither in embarrassment if he knew the romantic things his dream-self said to her.
Grace started telling Merry what she’d done that day, including pulling out a few papers to show her. It was just the kind of thing Alex did, and the sweet, motherless girl twisted Merry’s heart almost as much as the child’s father did.
“Nia, my assistant, was telling me today that Huckleberry Falls has some kind of window festival,” Carlisle said when they paused outside of a window which had been papered over.
“Yes, it’s inspired by the Swiss Adventsfenster. It’s an Advent calendar sponsored by local businesses. Different ones apply to take part, and the festival committee chooses twenty-four. A different one opens each day through Christmas Eve.” Merry stepped over to a small booth and accepted two fliers from the volunteer there. She handed one to Carlisle. “This is a map of the windows and their dates to open.”
“Oh, Papa, can we see themall?” Grace asked.
“There’s only a party tonight,” Alex said, full of his older and wiser superiority. He started listing the activities for the night for the little girl, probably for the umpteenth time.
Merry glanced at Carlisle, surprised to find him watchingher. She couldn’t help standing a little straighter at his scrutiny. Was he reconsidering his invitation to the ball? Part of her hoped hewouldtake it back. It wasn’t like they could go incognito. The residents of Huckleberry Falls, which was full of people like Trish Johnson, would make the date into more than it was.
More than it could ever be. Even before it was anything. The thought made Merry unexpectedly sad.
“Is something wrong?” she asked, keeping her voice soft.
Carlisle shook his head, seeming to pull himself out of his thoughts. He smiled fondly at the children. Maybe he hadn’t been looking at Merry at all but thinking of something. Probably work. She needed to pull it together. Her mother and Trish were putting way too many ideas into Merry’s head.
Carlisle surprised her then by offering her his arm. She took it, irritated with herself at the way the simple gesture made her heart race.Thatshe blamed on the dreams.
The four of them made their way to the park square. Each year, the town’s parks crews set up a temporary stage with a sound system for the opening ceremony. They invited a different choir to sing as part of the program. And, of course, the arrival of Santa and his helper.
She sensed someone watching her and scanned the crowd. Trish Johnson was staring at them, her eyes wide and gleeful. Merry gave a mental groan.
* * *
“Areyou familiar with Swiss Christmas traditions?” Merry asked.
“Schmutzli?” Carlisle glanced at her, hoping the daycare had prepared the children for Santa’s helper.
“Ah, so you are. Well, Huckleberry Falls has one. A city council many years ago Americanized the concept.” Merry laughed softly. “When the movieThe Nightmare Before Christmascame out, one of the council members wanted to expand the role of our Schmutzli into something more sinister, but it got voted down. His role is essentially that of the more traditional elf who helps to hand out treats.”
“I’m glad,” Carlisle said, glancing at the children. “Grace sometimes frightens easily and at the oddest things.”
“Millie prepares the children at the daycare center.” Merry gave his daughter a light tap on her knitted cap. “Did they talk to you about our Schmutzli?”
Grace looked up, her eyes shining. It struck Carlisle how happy she was. Thinking back over the last few months, he decided the real shift out of her sadness—theirsadness, really—had begun the first time she’d spoken of Alex.
“Oh, yes,” Grace cried with an enthusiasm that was becoming normal for her. “He’s Santa’s helper and wears a brown robe and has a black beard.”
“He watches out for naughty children,” Alex added knowingly. “I told Grace she’s okay. Because she’s always nice.”
The mayor stepped up to the podium, dressed in a festive cape and hood which rivaled Santa’s. The surrounding crowd squeezed a little closer. Carlisle put one hand on Grace’s shoulder while Merry did the same to Alex.
Without giving it any thought, Carlisle put a hand on her back. When she stiffened the tiniest bit, he almost dropped it. But then she relaxed, so he left it there.
9
