Page 10 of Daddy’s Little Candy Cane

CHAPTER TEN

Ethan

It felt good to have something to spend the holiday with, and our activities on Christmas Eve kept us up until late in the night. Diana finally fell asleep, completely exhausted and naked in bed, and I made my way downstairs and out to the truck, where I had secretly hidden all her Christmas gifts. Being as quiet as possible, I snuck into the house and place them all under the tree making it look as though Santa had been here for her.

Even though she was fully grown, I felt like it was only fair to let her feel like Santa had come to visit. After all, Littles left Christmas, and they loved the idea of receiving gifts and toys. I had taken her letter to Santa and gotten everything on the list and then some. Not only did she get the toys and dolls that she wanted, but I also got her several items that she would need throughout the house, like a nice bath set and some footie pajamas.

Once I was done setting everything out perfectly under the tree, I turned to the plate of cookies and milk that she had placed out. The milk was warm to the touch, so I knew better than to drink it, and I took a couple bites of the cookies. As soon as I had made it evident that Santa had been here, I quietly made my way up the stairs and went to the bathroom to wash my face with some cold water.

Despite how late it was, I wasn't at all tired when I returned to the bedroom. So, instead, as soon as I climbed into bed, I turned on the TV and started watching some silly little Christmas special that I had watched earlier in the evening with Diana. Normally, I would have tried to go back to sleep, but, since I was wide awake, I decided that, rather than wasting my time staring at the ceiling, the whimsical characters of the Christmas special would help me to fall asleep much faster.

All I watched the cartoon, I started to think about the last twenty years I had spent alone on Christmas and how it had been so hard for me despite how much I loved it. No one ever knew what it was like to be alone on Christmas because hardly anyone was ever alone. Normally, they would be visited by family or friends or, in Diana's case Santa, but not me. I had spent the last twenty years alone each and every year, ignored by the town that I had helped all season long. How, this year was completely different, and I had Diana to thank for it.

I wasn't aware I had fallen asleep until I woke up at the crack of dawn exhausted and groggy as Diana shook me awake. She had that child look excitement to her as she tried to wake me up, and she was already smiling and shouting. Completely disoriente, I raised an eyebrow as I cracked my eyelids to look at her.

"What is it, Little One?" I asked as I looked up at her. Diana, who had braided her hair down the sides before bed, smiled as she bounced up and down in bed.

"Santa came!" she shouted as she took my arm. "Come see everything!" Groaning, I shook my head and rolled away from her.

"Watch some Christmas cartoons for a bit," I suggested as I tried to fall asleep after seeing the clock on the nightstand. "It's a little early, and I'm still very tired." Diana came around to the other side and tilted her head in confusion as she stared at me.

"What's the matter?" she asked. "Are you sick, Daddy?" Touched by her concern, I shook my head as I started to settle in.

"No, Little One, I'm not sick," I reassured her. "I just didn't sleep too well last night. Santa was being very loud downstairs and woke me up in the middle of the night." Immediately, her eyes widened, and she stared at me and shocking disbelief.

"You saw Santa?" she asked, playing into what I said. Still exhausted, I shook my head.

"No, but I heard him," I corrected her. "If I had seen him, he wouldn't have left your gifts. I had to pretend to be asleep so that he would be able to visit you." She smiled as she hugged me close, and I felt comfortable and warm in her arms

"Merry Christmas, Daddy," she said as she hugged me. "I'll wait until you're wide awake and ready to go downstairs." Smiling, I kissed her forehead.

"Thank you, Little One," I told her. "Now, enjoy the cartoons."