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“Merry Christmas, Santa,” Birgit returned, hoping she didn’t sound as nervous as she felt. “What brings you by today?”
“Grandp−er, Santa? Can I go look at the Christmas tree?” Alma asked before Frank could answer Birgit’s question.
“Of course, you can,” he replied, setting her down gently on her feet. “Just don’t touch, okay?”
The little girl promised, then darted off to go look at the Christmas tree in the corner of the lobby.
“She’s adorable.” Birgit giggled, staring after the little girl.
“She is,” Frank agreed in his normal voice. “And usually a great helper. But she’s getting tuckered out. She gets easily distracted when she gets like that.”
“Can’t say I blame her,” Birgit replied with a small smile.
“Anyway, we’re on rounds for the Chamber of Commerce,” Frank explained, digging into his red sack. “We’re delivering candy canes we had made atLeavenworth Candies and Sodas.They have the date and the town’s name written on them with some sort of fancy sugar pen or something.”
Birgit raised an intrigued brow as he drew a box out of his sack, and gingerly lifted its lid. Inside were individually wrapped candy canes in all colors, with the name and date written in dark gold cursive on the side of each one.
“That’s incredible,” Birgit mused, picking one up to look at it more closely. “I wonder how they do that?”
“Beats me,” Frank said with a shrug, “but I hope they were worth what they cost. Anita spent atonon them so that all the business owners could hand some out to their guests through the holiday month.”
Birgit’s stomach turned as Frank said Anita’s name, and she quickly put the candy cane back in the box.
“Hey, I wanted to say sorry that we couldn’t help you and Anita out the other day,” she apologized. “We just weren’t able to make it work.”
Frank put another box of candy canes on the check-in counter and then gave Birgit a smile.
“That’s not your fault, and I’m sorry Anita put you on the spot like that,” he replied. “I tried to tell her it wasn’t going to work, but you know my wife.”
Birgit laughed nervously, feeling the tension grow.
“Yes, yes indeed I do,” she agreed.And I know she’s cheating on you with my ex-husband,she thought.
“She’s been more on edge than usual,” Frank continued, “but I’m sure it’s just the holiday season. She wants this year to be better than ever. More incentives, more events. It’s great marketing, sure, but I think it’s starting to drive the other business owners a little batty.”
“I’m sure that’s why,” Birgit replied, wishing suddenly for a distraction. A disgruntled guest. A fire in the kitchen. Anything that would get her out of this conversation. All she wanted to do was tell him what she knew, and she knew she couldn’t do that. Especially not with his granddaughter in tow.
“She’s been staying out so late working on everything,” Frank went on, looking suddenly weary under his Santa beard. “I feel like I hardly get to see her anymore. Like right now. She was supposed to be on candy cane runs with Alma and me this evening, but then she suddenly canceled. Said she had another project come up. You haven’t seen her around, have you?”
No,Birgit thought,but I know someone who has.
“Sorry, Frank,” she replied with a soft grin, “but I haven’t.”
Frank nodded as he got a far-off look in his eyes, and Birgit wondered if he was suspicious.
“Well, well, Birgit,” Chris said, announcing his presence as he walked in, “Looks like you must have been good this year if you’re getting a personal visit from Santa.”
Thank God this man has excellent timing,Birgit thought as she watched him walk toward them.
“Well, hi there,” she replied in an overly chipper voice. Chris smiled as he sat his box down beside the candy canes.
“How’s it going, B? Santa?”
“Just fine,” Frank replied with a chuckle. “Say, I’m glad you’re here. Alma and I went to drop by candy canes before we came here and you were closed.”
“Sorry about that,” Chris replied, looking from Birgit to Frank. “My help has left for the month. Going to Montana to visit family, so I’m on my own. I had to close up early so I could make some deliveries.”
Chris slapped the side of the box he brought in and smiled.
