A sound came from behind her and she turned quickly to see Santa pop in through the chimney. He wore the traditional red and white suit with black boots. His snow-white hair was trimmed neatly, and he carried the infamous sack of presents over one shoulder.
He brushed gold sparkles off his belly and Ho Ho Ho’d softly. “Stockings first,” he mumbled as he began stuffing the one little pink, fluffy stocking hanging from the mantle. With that done, he turned and then froze like a deer in the headlights.
He blinked at seeing the two of them in the room. “Dunder?” He stepped forward, his eyes cutting to Clove and back to the reindeer. “You’re supposed to be on the roof.”
Dunder’s tail wagged, and he lunged forward, rubbing around the Jolly Old Elf’s stomach like a cat around a person’s leg. How he managed it with such big antlers was impressive. “You’re notmyDunder.” Santa scratched under Dunder’s jaw. “Ho Ho Ho, I don’t know how this is even possible. Christmas Magic is at it again, eh? I can call youOld Mannow, can’t I?” He ducked, laughing, as Dunder’s antlers swung quickly around, playfully swiping at Santa for calling him old. “You look good, Dunder. Still have that magic inside of you—don’t you, friend?”
Dunder bowed in a show of respect for Santa.YOU are the representative of Christmas Magic.
Clove soaked in the magic that dripped from these two. Their special relationship and the love they had for one another was a tonic to her wounded soul. If she could stay in this moment forever, she could be content.
“What have you brought me?” Santa rubbed his hands together, taking in the room and the bassinet and then Clove. His head ping-ponged back and forth between the baby and her. Clove finally had to take a closer look at the child as she slept. Her hair was so light she could hardly tell there were any at all. Her thick lashes brushed chubby cheeks and her hands held the blanket in the most endearing way.
“Interesting.” Santa stroked his beard. “Dunder, how did you gather this much time magic?”
Dunder flicked his ears:I had help.
“Time magic?” The worn leather couch and tan carpet screamed 1999. Clove was born in— “Oh my gosh! This is me.” She gripped the sides of the sleeper and leaned over for a closer look. The baby girl—her!—smelled like baby powder. Her skin was rosy, and she was obviously well cared for and loved. “It’s me,” she whispered in disbelief.
Baby Clove’s lips moved in her sleep as if she dreamed of eating.
“Well?” Santa prodded Dunder.
Dunder looked up to the ceiling, the picture of innocence.
“He had the whole herd in an uproar, is what he did.” Clove smiled at Dunder to let him know she wasn’t angry at him. “And he looked like a reindeer king while doing it.” Adding a compliment would keep her in his good graces, which was a good idea because he was her ticket out of here. “They ran and ran and there was this fog. . . “ She shrugged. “I don’t know how it worked to do this, though.”
Santa shook his head as if he couldn’t quite believe this situation. “That explains this.” He pulled a gift out of his red velvet magical bag and handed it to Clove before setting a couple more under the tree and then ending up at the plate of cookies. “Oreos—did you know that this is the cookie I eat most on Christmas Eve?”
She shook her head, staring at the box. It had red foil wrapping paper and a large green wire ribbon. It wasn’t heavy, but it wasn’t as light as a shirt. “Can I open it?”
Santa reached for another cookie. “It has your name on it.”
She sat down on the love seat, the only furniture in the room besides the baby bed, and carefully unwrapped the box. Inside, she found a family photo album. On the first page was a picture of her and her parents. The image was taken the day she was born as her mom was in an ugly hospital gown wearing a smile so beautiful. And her dad? He was clean cut, happy, and stared at the two of them with so much love it felt like a lie.
The next page was her taking her first steps—laughing as she teetered toward her adoring father. “Did you make these up?” she asked Santa. “Photoshop or something?”
He shook his head and sat down next to her, the cookie plate empty except for a few crumbs. Dunder licked it quickly, and the crumbs were gone. Santa’s sapphire blue eyes twinkled. “Did you know Santas can’t lie?”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
“Not that we don’t want to lie, but we are physically incapable of it. It’s part of the Christmas Magic that makes reindeer fly and gifts appear and good will to all men abound this time of year.” He tapped the edge of the book. “Everything in here is true.”
She wasn’t ready to process that—especially her father’s love. Where did it go? When did he change? Instead of asking the hard questions, she asked, “Do you really live at the North Pole?”
He nodded. “In an ice castle.”
“And elves make the toys?” she added.
“Yep. Every one. We’re expanding this year and my daughter is designing machines that can make blocks and other simple toys so the elves can focus on the electronics.”
“You have kids.”
He smiled proudly. “Yes, I do.”
“Do you like cookies?”
“I love them.” He chuckled and patted his tummy. “Probably too much, but what’s a Santa to do?”
