Page 1 of Santa Daddy’s Curvy Little

CHAPTER ONE

Lana

Sitting in the waiting room of the mall office was annoying, but it was better than going back home empty handed. I couldn’t believe the fact that I had to sit here and wait for an interview to be a mall elf when I should be visiting Mother and Father. Trying not to let on how impatient I was getting, I kept my eye on the time, wondering how much longer I was going to have to wait here.

"Lana Nathaniels?" called out the woman at the doorway of the main office. Raising my hand, I rose to my feet, and she gave me a small wave, beckoning me to enter her office. "Follow me, please." Gathering my personal belongings, I took a deep breath and approached the office, hating how badly my heart was pounding in my chest.

In a small town like what I grew up in, jobs were hard to obtain, especially with how scarce they were. The only thing that really seemed to help everyone stay employed, especially in the winter season, was the mall, a giant building that only actually had about ten stores throughout the entire building, a photography studio, an online high school, a gym, and about three food stalls. To call it a mall was a bit of an exaggeration, but, thanks to the growing number of people in the city, there were rumors of more stores coming.

I wasn’t here because of the stores or the food. I was here because I had been filling out job applications all over town, trying to get a job so I could stay close by and get to see Mother and Father after they had been moved to the nursing home due to the fact that neither of them could take care of themselves, much less each other. They were upset about having to leave the family home, but, after talking to me, they finally agreed to move out of their fully paid off home and into the nursing home if I came back home and cared for the house for them.

It wasn’t such a bad deal, and I was happy to accept it. I had just lost my full ride scholarship for the business degree after Becky, a popular girl who had pretended to be my friend for the last three years since I started the program, cheated off my final exams and convinced the professor that I had threatened her and made her let me copy her test. Since she was fooling around with the professor, he had taken her side, and, after being confronted, I let it out that they were together. I was kicked out of school, and the professor ended up quitting after Becky turned around and claimed that he made her sleep with him.

Honestly, I didn't feel bad at all for the professor. He had been a bit of a perv anyways, and it was rumored that he liked to sneak out to watch the girls sports teams practice and had even been caught once or twice watching them shower. I hated Becky for ruining my life, but this was the hand I had been dealt.

Returning to my hometown was a breath of fresh air, and I quickly realized just how much I had truly missed it. Here, drama was practically non-existent, and people who acted like Becky left as soon as they were old enough to strike out on their own, leaving only nice people in town. So far, no one had given me a hard time about getting kicked out of school, which was a good sign. Now, I could try again and restart my life.

"So, this will be your first job since leaving the university?" asked the woman, an older woman named Francine that I had known since kindergarten, as she looked up at me. I nodded in response, hoping that the tale of my failings at the university weren't about to affect my ability to get this job.

"Yes, that is correct," I informed her. "I plan on sticking around town after the holidays as well." She nodded as she looked back at my application.

Francine James was a huge celebrity around town. Not only did she run the daycare/children's club in town, but she also saw to the preparations for the holidays, too. Every Santa Clause or Easter Bunny visit was all thanks to her, and all the kids loved her like a secondary mother. To be here in her office, applying for one of the famous programs she directed was a huge honor.

"Well, it's great to have you back," she told me with a gentle smile. "I was so worried about your parents when I heard about the transfer to the nursing home, but I'm glad everything is working out." I blushed as I smiled.

"Thank you so much, ma'am," I told her, and she waved a dismissive hand at me.

"Oh, you don't have to be so formal," she insisted with a hearty smile. "You grew up here, which means we're practically family. If you have to call me anything, call me Franny. All my employees do." After seeing the expectant look on her face, I nodded in response and prepared myself.

"Thank you, Franny," I managed after a moment of struggling, and she smiled.

"You're very welcome," she said before looking back at my application. "I remember how you used to volunteer at the daycare and help out with the annual decorating for the holidays. You've always been so reliable, and I would love for you to work with us. If you're serious about continuing even after the holiday season…" My heart raced in my chest, and I nodded in response.

"Of course," I offered right away. "If you have anything permanent I can be assigned to, I'd be happy to accept." She laughed and nodded as she set the application aside.

"How about this then?" she began as she folded her hands in front of her. "I'll have you work as one of my elves for the season, followed by a week of paid time off. Once school is back in session and everything is back to normal, I'll reassign you to the daycare. Does that sound fair?" My jaw dropped as I stared at her in shock.

The daycare was the crown jewel of the town. Everyone who had kids in elementary school used the daycare, and I had once dreamed of one day helping out. Being offer the position right away was a blessing, and it made me want to leap into the air and scream for joy.

"Oh, thank you so much!" I exclaimed, my excitement too much to bear. "I would love that. Thank you, thank you!" She laughed as she offered me a time sheet and a paper calendar that had a single date circled on it.

"Very good," she agreed as she pointed at the calendar. "Report to work this Monday for your training and first shift. I had a few people call out thanks to changes in plans, so expect to stay there the whole day." Taking the forms, I nodded in agreement.

"All day Monday," I repeated back, eager to start my job. "Thank you so much, ma'am." She stopped and raised an eyebrow at me, and I remembered her request. "I mean, Franny… Thank you, Franny." Nodding her head, she motioned towards the door.

"I'll see you Monday, Lana," she said. "Have a great weekend…"

CHAPTER TWO

Roger

The weekend was over faster than I had expected, and I wished that it had been the entire holiday season, not just the weekend, that had ended. The joyful, cherry attitude of everyone around me was really working on my nerves, and I just wanted it all to be over. For me, Christmas was nothing but misery.

It hadn't always been this way. I remembered loving Christmas as a kid and always loving how the magic of the holiday filled the air and fell with the snow. That was the advantage of being in a small town like this. Special occasions always maintained their magic.

Being the son of Francine James, the holidays were always all the more special to me because of how much effort she put into making each one the greatest yet. Her charisma and jolly spirit always wore off on me, and I would share the same enthusiasm for each holiday as she had. Thanks to the way her activities influenced my life, I had always volunteered to help each year with all events, and I worked to expand my mother's already vast empire of joy and childlike wonder.

That's how I had met Crystal and fallen in love. Like so many people who came across our town by accident, she fell in love with the way everyone treated each other and had planned to stay forever and be my Little. She loved the town, my mother, and me, and she never wanted to leave this place, referring to it as Neverland. However, her ex had come to town looking for her, and, by Christmas time, he had won her back over and carried her off to the big city once again, where they had gotten married.