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“Policeman!” Amity said, then pointed to her left where Enzo stood, at the bottom of the steps, next to his wife. Like the audience, Enzo was smiling at the adorableness of it all.
Charity knelt beside her daughter, leaned toward the microphone, and said, “We’re here to introduce our favorite policeman.”
“Uncle Enzo!” Amity beamed as she said those two words. Amity called Enzo and Noelle aunt and uncle even though they weren’t related. They spent so much time together, it was almost like they were family. “He’s a chief police.”
That was when Charity spotted Nic. He was as close to the front as he probably could have gotten. It was crowded there, but he stood in the center of it all, holding baby Oliver against his chest, facing the stage so he could see everything.
“And what’s your Uncle Enzo going to do?” Charity asked.
Amity’s eyes lit up as she pointed to the tree. “He’s going to make the Christmas tree pretty.”
“Exactly,” Charity said. “Everyone put your hands together for your chief of police, Enzo Reeser.”
As the audience burst into applause and Enzo took the mic, Charity lifted Amity and walked down the steps. It was just easier that way. She carefully descended the steps as Enzo talked about what an exciting year it had been for the town of Misty Mountain. And the town was continuing to grow, so there would only be more changes to come.
Once they were at the bottom of the steps, Charity set down Amity and took her hand as planned. She led her around the crowd toward the back. She and Nic had agreed to meet there once he was finished watching the festivities with their youngest, who was amazed by everything. If he got restless, though, Nic would be on his way back toward them early. It was just easier with young kids to hang out away from everyone. If they got fussy, they could make a quick getaway.
“Santa!” Amity shouted as they neared the back of the crowd.
The sound carried through the night air, drawing attention away from the police chief. Charity tossed an apologetic wince at a nearby family, who was smiling as they looked at the three-year-old.
She was so worried about disrupting the event, Charity didn’t process the subject of her daughter’s outburst until she saw him directly ahead. “ThatisSanta,” she said as much to herself as to her daughter.
Maybe she was imagining things, but it sure looked like the same Santa who had shown up here in Misty Mountain six years ago, back when Nic made the decision to return to his hometown for good. They hadn’t seen their Santa since that night outside the church, when he’d pointed them toward the mistletoe, then pulled a mysterious vanishing act.
Charity kept her eyes on him as she led Amity in that direction. His eyes weren’t on the two of them, though. He had a gigantic smile on his face as he stared up at the stage like it was the most riveting thing he’d ever seen.
“Hi, Santa,” Charity said in a hushed voice. As he turned to look at her, she knew without a doubt it was the same guy. “I don’t know if you remember me. You were here a few years ago.” More than a few years, but who was she to quibble over exact dates?
“Yes, the young couple,” he said. “And I see you have a little one now.”
That was presumptuous. Amity could be her niece, for all he knew. But then she remembered he’d somehow known the two of them had not been a couple when he first saw them. He’d mentioned them working out their differences. She never had figured out how he knew that.
“Are you bringing me a bicycle?” Amity asked.
Looking down into the face of her daughter, Charity felt warmth flood her. The hopefulness and sheer admiration Amity had for this man in a suit was indescribable. It was exactly why parents took their kids to meet Santa every year.
“She wants a bike for Christmas,” Charity said, as if that explained further. “Not a real bike, of course.”
Charity and Nic had picked out an age-appropriate indoor tricycle that was low to the ground. Once she was old enough, they’d progress to an outdoor tricycle and eventually, a bike with training wheels.
“I’ll see what I can drum up for you,” Santa said. “I assume you live in this lovely town?”
Amity nodded, pointing toward her left. “Over there.”
It wasn’t like they were within pointing distance of their home. They lived in the Misty Lakes subdivision but in a bigger house, in an area that hadn’t been developed until a few years ago. Nic was a supervisory park ranger for the area of the mountain that was classified as a park, and Charity still worked in interior design. It was a job with flexible hours, but she’d had help this Christmas season, of course. Once Oliver was a little older, she’d be back to working full-time at it.
“Here comes your daddy,” Santa said to Amity.
Nic had apparently squeezed his way through the crowd and was walking toward them. His eyes widened as his gaze connected with Charity’s. They were thinking the same thing. Is this guy really here?
“Santa’s bringing me a bike, Daddy,” Amity announced.
Again, Charity winced at the sudden noise. Her gaze shifted to the crowd, but nobody was listening. All eyes were on the stage right now.
“Do you want to get a picture with Santa?” Nic asked.
And that was how they ended up doing the same thing they’d seen another family do that Christmas Eve so long ago. Amity snuggled up next to Santa, who knelt to be at her level. Oliver had to miss out, but once he was old enough, she’d make sure he got a picture with Santa too.
