The Snuggle is Real (Christmas Falls: Season 2)

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

Ford

“Hey, sleepyhead.” I eased open the door of the second bedroom. “Are you ready to wake up for the big turkey day?”

Charlie nestled under her white-and-pink unicorn comforter. Her toddler bed was still here—and Charlie was a bit of a shrimp—so I hadn’t had to buy a frame or mattress, but bedding was another matter.

“No,” her voice came out, a little muffled by the pillow.

“No? You don’t want turkey and potatoes and pie. ”

All thanks to Dottie.

I’d promised to provide the groceries, but my money had gone on gas to pick up Charlie, then bedding, some sweaters since she’d arrived with no more than three outfits, and a pair of proper shoes since the kid had been dressed in sandals—sandals!—in late November. I didn’t know what LuAnne was thinking, but she was probably frazzled over court and in denial that it would lead to any real consequences.

LuAnne had never been the best at facing her mistakes. She preferred the stick-your-head-in-the-sand approach. Just one reason she couldn’t handle my grief when my sister died.

I didn’t hide the pain. Couldn’t. And LuAnne couldn’t handle it.

But thanks to her poor planning, the expenses of taking on Charlie were quickly stacking up.

I’d had no choice but to tell Dottie I couldn’t get the groceries as planned. I had no work in sight, very little room on my last credit card, and a child who was likely to need more from me than I had to give.

Dottie had waved away my guilt and assured me a friend of hers could take care of it instead. Whoever that friend was, I owed them a big thank you.

Of course, after all that, Charlie wasn’t sounding too enthused.

“It’s not Thanksgiving without my mom,” she said, peeking out at me with sad brown eyes. Gah, those eyes. They got me every time.

“Ah, kiddo. I bet it does feel that way.” I perched on the edge of the bed. “But I know your mom would want you to enjoy the holidays. That’s why she wanted you to come to Christmas Falls, right? It’s a fun place to be.”

“I guess.” Charlie sat up. “Plus, you’re here.”

“I am here.” I rubbed my tummy. “And I’ve been saving up so much room for turkey and stuffing. Won’t you come and watch me stuff my face? I might just eat the whole turkey.”

Charlie giggled. “You can’t eat the whole turkey!”

“Well, you don’t want any, so why not?”

“It’s too much!” she exclaimed. “You’ll explode!”

I widened my eyes. “Do you think I really would?”

She filled her cheeks with air, making them puff out, then said, “Boom!”

“Ah!” I fell off the bed.

She laughed some more, and by the time we’d gotten dressed, watched some morning cartoons, and had some breakfast cereal, she was in better spirits.

It was a shame LuAnne was missing this time with Charlie. A little girl needed her mom, especially over the holidays.

I was probably a poor substitute, but I was trying my best.

“Ford, can you do my hair in a French braid?”

“Not a chance,” I said.

She blinked at me in confusion.

“How about a ponytail?” I asked. “I think I can manage that.”

“Pigtails?” she asked hopefully.

“What the heck. It’s a special occasion.”

Combing the rat’s nest on this girl’s head was a challenge unlike any I’d faced. She grimaced and yelped as I worked the comb through the snarls. Then I attempted to divide her hair evenly and comb it back into smooth pigtails.

Easier said than done.

Her hair was so disagreeable, every time I thought I had a handle on it, a lock of it slipped loose or wouldn’t lay flat.

Finally, I gave up and called it good.

They were a little crooked, but she was seven years old. You couldn’t get much cuter without trying, right?

We dashed next door, since the weather was nippy, and slipped in through Dottie’s front door.

“Happy Thanksgiving!” I called.

Dottie emerged from the kitchen, looking about as happy as I’d ever seen her. “Happy Thanksgiving. You’re here early.”

“I figured since I couldn’t shop, the least I could do is help cook.”

“You’re such a good boy.”

Charlie giggled. “He’s not a boy. He’s a man.”

Dottie smiled down at her. “Well, when you get to be an old gal like me, everyone’s a little boy or girl.”

“Really?” Charlie’s eyebrows drew together, as if she was really putting hard thought into the significance of Dottie’s statement.

“Oh, yes. I saw Ford grow up right here in Christmas Falls. I remember when he was your age.”

Charlie’s mouth dropped open. “Whoa, that must have been a really long time ago.”

“Hey!” I protested with a laugh just as the doorbell rang.

“Oh, can you get the door for me? That’ll be the fixin’s for dinner. Sorry I couldn’t get started earlier.”

“Hey, no complaints here. We wouldn’t have a dinner at all without you and your friend. Charlie and I almost just ate cereal all day. Right, girlie?”

“Ford wouldn’t let me,” Charlie said, not playing along. “He wanted his turkey.”

“Well, he’s a hungry boy,” Dottie agreed.

I left them talking and reached for the door. I didn’t know what I expected. One of Dottie’s friends from her knitting circle, maybe.

But the man in a Santa hat at the door, with an honest-to-god sleigh on the street behind him, was not it.

“Happy holidays!” he said brightly, lifting two tote bags, which I took off his hands. “I know it’s late to get started cooking, but we made sure everything in here can be prepared within a few hours.”

“Thanks,” I said. “You must be Dottie’s friend? Are you staying?”

He blushed, a spray of freckles standing out across his cheekbones. “No, I’m not… Uh, I’m Mason West. We met briefly at the treelighting?”

“Right, yeah.” I remembered him now. The hat covering his hair had thrown me at first, but there was no mistaking those freckles. “You’re that charity guy.”

“I run the Holiday Hope Foundation, yes. When Dottie called, we were happy to help.”

Ah, geez. Now, I got it. Dottie didn’t have a friend delivering a meal. She had called a charity.

Damn it. I should have just put the groceries on my credit card. I could have figured something else later. Maybe it wasn’t too late to pay?

“Anyway,” Mason carried on gamely, “we loaded up the sleigh with goodies and hit the town!”

“How much for all the groceries?” I asked, half turning to put them down in the entryway behind me.

“Oh no, there’s no charge.”

“But what if I want to pay?”

Mason blinked. “Um…sorry, we’re not set up for that. Folks contribute to our organization, and in return, we fulfill requests when people need a little help.”

“I know how charity works,” I said tightly.

He smiled tentatively, a puzzled tilt to his head. “I’m not sure you really do,” he said gently.

“But—”

“Have a wonderful holiday, Ford.” He turned and went down the steps. “Enjoy dinner with your family. That’s what’s important today.”

A half-dozen objections jumped onto my tongue.

Someone else probably needs this more than me.

I can take care of myself.

I don’t need charity.

But Mason was already striding down the sidewalk toward the sleigh. And Dottie and Charlie were waiting inside, expecting a holiday meal that I couldn’t provide if I refused to take this food.

As if he could read my mind, Mason turned as he reached the sleigh. “There’s nothing wrong with accepting a gift, Ford! Especially today.” He paused. “Isn’t that right?”

For a second I thought he was asking me until I realized Charlie had come to stand by my side.

“I like gifts,” she said. Then, “Whoa, you’ve got a sleigh just like Santa!”

Mason grinned. “I sure do.”

Dottie’s voice came from behind us. “I told you Christmas Falls was a magical place!”

Charlie waved emphatically to Mason as the sleigh carried him away. I had to admit, in this town, they even made charity look festive as fuck.