Santa Loves Curvy Girls

17. Nick

17

NICK

I had to tell her the truth.

I wasn’t sure I could go one more day without doing so.

The more snow I shoveled, the more certain I felt.

If I could show Belle who I really was, then everything would be the way it was supposed to.

No more hiding. No more Santa costume standing in the way.

She could just be my girl, and she could know me as Nick, not the guy in the Santa suit. It was what I wanted more than anything in the world.

As I put away my shovel and headed back inside, I decided that telling her was the right thing to do. It wasn’t right to keep progressing our relationship with such a big secret standing between us.

Running into her today like that and talking to her as Nick St. James almost felt like a sign. Now was our time. And nothing would stop me. I’d never felt like this about anyone.

I played the whole scenario out in my mind.

I could meet her tonight at the skating rink as myself, Nick St. James. I’d let her know ahead of time that I wouldn’t be in the suit so she would be way less shocked about who I really was. And then we could spend time together as us.

Then everything would fall into place. I just knew it.

I exhaled, feeling tons of relief just at the thought of coming clean.

I’d really liked being Santa and getting to be anonymous in that suit, but not when it came to Belle. Not anymore. She’d proven that she didn’t care about my status or just wanted to know me because I was a football star. She’d been kind and gotten to know me, even with a bushy beard and stick-on eyebrows covering my face.

Still, I wasn’t sure we would’ve ended up where we were if it hadn’t been for that suit.

If I hadn’t been chosen as this year’s Santa Claus and hadn’t been in disguise, I had the feeling that everything that had happened between Belle and me… it might not have happened.

We wouldn’t have been in the same place long enough to talk and get to know each other.

I wouldn’t have had her incredible cookies either. I was pretty sure I’d fallen for her right then and there. The cute elf costume hadn’t hurt either. Her hair. Her smile. Her sense of humor.

I might’ve never gotten to know Belle if it hadn’t been for both of us working at the mall this year.

Whoever had picked me to be Santa, well, I definitely owed them one.

I couldn’t wait to see her face when she saw the real me tonight at the ice-skating rink. And I couldn’t wait to hold her hand and be with her as the real me. No more beard in the way of even more heart-pounding kisses…

The minutes seemed to tick by slower than ever, but finally, it was time to head to the mall. I took my usual route, which helped me avoid people, and I made my outfit change with plenty of time.

If Belle got there early, like she did sometimes, I wanted to go ahead and see her. I was so excited to tell her the truth, I wondered if I could keep it in until tonight.

I made my way over near the food court and the Christmas tree.

The mall buzzed with families and kids ready to meet me at Santa’s workshop. I stopped and took pictures more than once and waved at toddlers and babies.

Now that I’d had plenty of practice, I had the Santa walk and voice down pat.

When I got to the set, I looked around for Belle. Maybe she wasn’t here yet after all. That was alright. It was better to stick to the plan and tell her later.

“Santa!” I heard behind me.

I spun around. It was one of the elves named Anna. She came over to me, a large white envelope in her hand. “This is for you. It got delivered earlier.”

The pitch of her voice was high like an elf, which had to be a plus in this line of work.

I took it from her. “Thanks.”

I looked at the envelope, seeing nothing on it except the words “For Santa” written in curling cursive.

But nothing showing who it was from.

Before I could ask Anna who gave her the letter, I realized she was gone.

I went and took a seat in my chair. The envelope felt thick, and I wanted to read what was inside. Maybe special instructions for today? It was getting really close to Christmas and busier than ever before.

A few people ran around, including Belle’s mom, but I ignored all of them to open the envelope.

Inside was a thick sheet of paper. It was like the nice cardstock my mom used to send thank you notes to her clients.

We would like to congratulate you on all your hard work so far. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for bringing much Christmas magic to Garland’s families and children this year.

Enclosed, please find a special gift from us to you.

Thank you again for keeping the secret and allowing us to keep this very special tradition of over a hundred years going. You are a part of the magic of our beloved town of Garland.

Signed: The Secret Santa Committee of Garland.

That name matched the original package I had gotten, the one with my suit. Quickly, I looked up and glanced around. This had been from the committee? Were they watching me now? I couldn’t help but wonder, even if the logical part of me knew that I’d never be able to tell if they were.

My gaze tracked an elderly man sitting at the fountain nearby. Was he on the committee? Had he dropped off this letter?

Then I noticed the lady at the cookie counter, wearing a bright green apron. She smiled at me. Could it be her?

I had no idea. I turned back to the letter.

Enclosed was a check for more money than I’d ever seen. And it looked like they’d made a special donation in my honor to Santa’s Elves too. Mrs. Mulberry would be thrilled about that. It thrilled me too.

But even with more money than I could have hoped for, my heart sank because I knew now that I couldn’t let Garland down.

I wouldn’t be able to tell Belle who I really was after all. Ever.

There had to be another way to keep our relationship going, but no matter how much I racked my brain, I realized this tradition was bigger than just the two of us. Garland magic was something thousands of people enjoyed every year for more than a century. I knew the right thing to do, even if it tore me apart: I had to keep the secret.