Santa Loves Curvy Girls

5. Belle

5

BELLE

S anta Claus had never made butterflies appear in my tummy before.

Or left me completely breathless.

I never thought I’d daydream about finding myself back in Old St. Nick’s arms either.

But here I was, doing just that as I mopped up coffee that one of the parents had spilled earlier.

I had no idea who was behind the thick white beard this year, but it definitely wasn’t our math teacher. Or any other middle-aged man.

I moved the mop back and forth on the tile.

Something about his bright blue eyes and how he spoke told me he was young. And cute. Plus, definitely way more athletically built than any Santa I’d ever laid my eyes on.

I tore my gaze away from him, focusing on the spots I’d missed on the floor.

Was he a college student maybe? Someone I hadn’t seen before or didn’t really know? He didn’t seem to be anyone I knew.

And he’d said my cookies were the best he’d ever tasted. I’d almost melted into a puddle when he’d said that.

I couldn’t resist. Part of me already had the biggest crush on him, suit and all.

But more than anything, it was his eyes.

His kindness too. He made the perfect Santa, the way he talked to kid after kid after kid and still smiled and hung on to every word.

No one ever knew Santa’s real identity, though. It was part of the magic, so I knew it was impossible for me to even try to snoop and find out.

You just didn’t do that. It was like telling a kindergartener that Santa Claus wasn’t real. It was a big no-no.

A little boy ran past, almost knocking me over. What was it about malls and kids just running wild?

“Careful!” I called after him. Thankfully, he’d just missed the wet spot.

I glanced at my phone with a sigh.

I was counting down the minutes until it was time to go home. The sooner I had a cup of hot chocolate in my hands, maybe a croissant too, the better.

My feet hurt and this costume itched. When it came to the festivities, I much preferred baking cookies to being an elf.

Santa had to be hot in his suit too. That suit looked thick enough to keep you warm at the North Pole. It had to be torture anywhere else.

Thirty minutes later, Santa hugged the last kid goodbye.

This part of the mall was pretty empty now. My stomach growled for food.

Santa Claus finally stood up from his chair, and my mom walked over to him.

I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I was sure he’d have to be back again soon. Handsome Santa and his elves would be invited to several more events like today.

Mom came over to me next. “Oh, honey, thank you so much. I owe you big time. I’ve gotta say, though, you are the cutest elf I’ve ever seen.”

“Mom!” I whisper-whined. She said that way too loud, especially with Handsome Santa still being within earshot.

She glanced around sheepishly. “Sorry, sweetie.” She checked her watch. “Fifteen more minutes to clean up, then hot chocolate is on me, okay?”

I perked up. “You read my mind.”

Before she could scamper off, she looked at me one more time. “Can I count on you as one of my elves the rest of this week?”

I groaned, but she looked like she was ready to beg if necessary. “Fine,” I replied. “But you really, really owe me.”

I couldn’t help it. I glanced past her at St. Nick, who was helping the elves carry the registration table to the back.

Mom caught me looking. “There’s something about him, right?”

There sure is , I thought.

She finally left, and I put my mop and bucket away.

When I came back out, back in my own clothes, just about everyone was gone. No more elves. No more Santa.

But as I walked to Cocoa Corner with my mom in tow, my mind kept replaying that moment.

When I’d knocked straight into him and he’d caught me like it was nothing. His eyes had locked on mine for a split-second. Nothing like that had ever happened to me before.

I couldn’t help but wonder: Was there any chance my Christmas wish could come true? My heart wanted to say yes, but my mind kept saying it had to be a fluke.