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"Ang, I think I know the Santa.” I whispered, so the boys couldn’t hear. “It's this douche I went to high school with. Long story. Would you mind if I left Mark with you? I really don't want to see him.”
"Yeah, I was wondering if that was Neil Bowman. I noticed he wasn’t at the autograph table. Was he your classmate?”
I nodded.
“He's the starting Tight End for the New York Leviathans, and the resident bad boy on the team. He has a reputation for being quite the, um, ladies’ man. How do you not know that? Don't you read the papers? Although, I really don't know how you can recognize anyone in that costume."
Well, I did, or at least I guessed it, I thought.
"I remember his voice. And we have history,” I plead with Angie. “Please just stay in line for both of us. Honestly, do they let anyone be Santa? I always imagined he would end up painting houses or something. He was such a meathead."
“Hell no. You look amazing, and you aren’t going anywhere. Mark is a great, well-behaved kid. You have nothing to be scared or ashamed of. I won’t let you walk away.”
I could feel my face burn. I hated when this happened. When I got nervous, my face and neck would get red. I had to remember to breathe. In and out. In and out. I started to relax a bit.
“You just want an autograph,” I scowled under my breath.
Angela smiled.
I made Angela and David go before me, fifteen minutes later when we got to the front of the line. I was delaying the inevitable as long as humanly possible. David lumbered up on Santa's lap with an elf's assistance, and they discussed Christmas. David had brought a list.
A boy after my own heart, I thought.
Then it was Mark's turn. Neil had better stay in character. Mark still believed in Santa, and it would seem weird if Santa knew his mom by name.
I wasn’t sure if kids made any distinction between mall Santas and easter bunnies and the like, or the real thing. I mean, every store entrance had a Santa manning the Salvation Army bucket. I heard Mark rattle off a few things he wanted, including a new football, then Santa turned to me and asked what the family needed.
"This one could use a date." Angela winked at me as she said this.
My face turned red again, but Santa seemed to ignore the comment.
"Actually, I could use some new living room curtains, if Santa's offering." I smiled and looked into Neil's eyes briefly.
They were still a lovely hazel color, and even now he seemed so young and happy. I felt aged, like I had lived a lifetime already.
"Did you put your information on the list?" Santa asked.
"I did."
"Well then, I'm sure you'll be getting a visit from Santa, if you've both been good."
Neil's eyes were laughing now. Just then I realized that Neil now had access to my number and address. I was sure a famous football star had better things to do, almost 10 years later, then harass a single mom, but then again, I never understood why he tried to hurt me back in high school.Chapter 5BeccaA couple of weeks had passed, and things were quiet on the Neil front. I hadn’t heard from him, and I was quite busy with work and just preparing and decorating the house for Christmas.
I had Googled Neil, and found all the stories about his exploits that Angela had mentioned, dating back to starting with the New York Leviathans and when he was first becoming a household name. Some households, anyway.
For the last couple of weeks, though, Neil had been drama-free. His name was briefly mentioned in a couple of write ups on the Christmas for Heroes event but hiding in a Santa suit seemed to help keep the media from pouncing on the situation, which would have only distracted attention from the kids and families.
Someone knew what they were doing.
Of course, Neil had to be there, at an event in his hometown, but they kept him under the radar. Meanwhile, Mark's excitement the last couple of weeks seemed to increase exponentially each day, until I was sure his feet would stop touching the ground at some point.
And then Christmas Eve was here.
Mark and I made a gingerbread house and added some final decorations on the tree. In the early afternoon, I began baking cookies for Santa. I wondered if Neil would still be the Santa for the organization. I was sure his work was done since the cameras weren’t rolling.
I felt lucky they were even coming to our place, since I lived off base. I had been concerned about that and got the number for the Christmas for Heroes organizer. I gave my name and explained why I was calling. The man didn’t even ask where I lived. He assured me Santa was coming to see us on Christmas Eve.
