The Snuggle is Real (Christmas Falls: Season 2)

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

Ford

“Oh, look!” Charlie picked up a little stationery kit from the shelf of Tidings & Joy general store, where we’d come to get bubble bath, because apparently that was essential to getting Charlie to ever bathe again.

She’d stubbornly refused to get into the bathtub even when I’d dumped some body wash in and swished it into bubbles.

There had been tears welling in those big brown eyes as wobbly lips informed me, “Mama always gets me pink bubble bath.”

Now, I had to buy another bottle of body wash plus bubbles.

I really didn’t need this damn Santa letter-writing kit too.

“I’ve got paper at home for that, Charlie. Let’s just get these awesome bubbles and go.”

“But Santa gets lots of letters. I need mine to be special.”

She said this so matter-of-factly I chuckled. “Charlie, how could yours not be special? You’re the cutest, sweetest little girl I’ve ever met.”

At least when she got the bubble bath she wanted. But I decided not to point that out.

“I need Santa to read my letter,” she insisted. “Please, Ford. Please!”

An urgency filled her voice that went beyond typical holiday excitement, and I was still scarred by those watery eyes. I couldn’t handle more tears. I wasn’t sure what had brought on this worry about getting Santa’s attention. Maybe it was all the talking LuAnne had done about the magic of Christmas Falls.

Or maybe it was missing her mom and needing this as a distraction.

Whatever the reason, I caved.

“Fine, but that’s all we’re getting today.”

Charlie squealed and hugged my waist, making me a happy pushover, at least.

“All right, let’s get out of here before you sucker me into something else.”

She giggled. “You’re funny, Ford.”

Wasn’t I, though?

We made it through the checkout, and I was almost home free when Charlie saw the giant nutcracker that stood in front of the collectibles store across Prancer Street. “Ooh, look at that! Can we take a picture of it?”

Charlie had been getting restless at the house, and it was a couple of hours until the parade tonight, so I agreed.

Santa’s Village—the town’s over-the-top name for its downtown district—was buzzing with activity. Garland wrapped around all the street signs, topped with illuminated bows, and the shop windows were frosted with fake snow and trimmed with holiday lights.

Charlie’s face lit up as we crossed the street and she posed in front of the nutcracker figure. From there, it was inevitable that she’d catch sight of Santa’s Workshop, a store full of handmade toys.

“Can we go in?” she asked. “I need to make my list for Santa!”

Oh, heaven help me.

What would be on that list, and would I have any hope of delivering it to her?

Charlie was more excited than she’d been since arriving. She still believed in the big guy at the North Pole. I didn’t want to be the sorry bastard who gave her coal in her stocking.

The bell over the door tinkled as we went inside, and Nicholas Willoughby greeted us. “Hello, there! How can we help you?”

“We’re just looking,” I said gruffly.

“Sure, sure. There’s plenty to see.” He waved a hand toward the shelves of handmade toys. There was a section of newer, modern things, as well, but Charlie was focused on Nicholas.

“Wow, you look just like Santa,” Charlie said, eyes wide.

He gave a hearty ho-ho-ho. “Well, I also make lots of toys like Santa. Would you like to see?”

She nodded and he took her hand, leading her through the store, talking about some of his favorite toys.

I checked the price tag on one of the music boxes and nearly fell over.

Damn. Getting the best didn’t come cheap.

But hell, even if I couldn’t get Charlie any of this stuff, she was having a ball. Nicholas was doting on her, and she was eating up every second of it.

I wasn’t going to let my own worries get in the way of that.

They stopped in a section with exquisite hand-crafted dollhouses. Charlie peeked into each room, listening intently as Nicholas pointed out the little details.

As everything in Christmas Falls, the dollhouse had holiday flair, with latticework along its roofline that put me in mind of a gingerbread cottage. A tiny wreath hung on its front door, a Christmas tree lit up one corner of its living room, tiny gifts under it, and children slept in their tiny beds with pictures of sugar plums dancing over their heads.

“It’s beautiful,” I murmured. “Must have taken a lot of hours to get such fine-tooled work.”

He smiled proudly. “My grandson helps me craft now. He’s got a real talent for it.”

I nodded. “He must.”

Charlie half turned, gazing up at me. “It’s so cool, Ford. This is definitely going on the list!”

Nicholas shot me a wink. “Just remember to give Santa plenty of options. His elves are working hard, but there’s lots of children in the world. We can’t have everything we want, isn’t that right?”

Charlie nodded along seriously. “Okay, I’ll make my list extra long!”

I wasn’t sure if Nicholas had just done me a favor or not. I nodded my thanks anyway, and he gave Charlie a small handmade top as a free gift and handed me a business card with the note, Let me know if you want a smaller version. We can work out details.

I pocketed the card, wishing it were that simple. Maybe it could be if I could pick up a couple of odd jobs. Of course, I’d have to see if Dottie could watch Charlie while I worked.

If I wasn’t gone for too long of a stretch, she could probably handle it, but I didn’t want to assume anything.

Either way, there was nothing to be done about it the day after Thanksgiving. Charlie needed a little time to settle in and feel secure before I left her with someone else. We’d have to scrape by until then, and I’d cross my fingers I could bring in enough income to cover more than the absolute basics.

We strolled through the downtown streets, admiring lights and decor. And when we spotted the Festival Museum, I took Charlie inside.

Harvey, the museum director, flashed us a blinding smile. “Hello, there! How are you enjoying Christmas Falls?”

“It’s so cool,” Charlie said.

“We’re exploring until the parade gets started.”

Harvey grinned. “Well, you can get a nice preview of the parade by touring our exhibits. You can see how it’s evolved through the decades to what it is now.”

“That sounds fun, right, Charlie?”

We followed Harvey’s directions into the exhibit space, looking at old photographs of the town, reading about the history of the festival and checking out old float displays. When Charlie tired of that, we ventured into the large Arts and Crafts Fair taking place in the building.

Charlie found a few more items she wanted to add to her list for Santa. Because of course she did.

I spotted an old high school friend, Scott Jersey, selling the baby quilts he made. We weren’t close anymore because I wasn’t really close with anyone these days, but he flashed me a smile and wave, which I awkwardly returned.

That caught the attention of a nearby dark-haired guy selling homemade dog treats. His gaze burned into me until we’d rounded the corner to admire a table covered in extravagant holiday wreaths.

Charlie was most enamored with the hand-carved gnomes made by our resident artisan, Murphy Clark.

“They’re so cute,” she said.

This time, at least, I noted one small gnome that might not break the bank. I’d have to find time to come back on my own and see if Murphy had any inventory left.

It was getting late by the time we left, down a bag of cotton candy and a package of roasted chestnuts. Thankfully, we’d eaten at home before we headed out.

The parade would be starting shortly, but there was one more place I wanted to go first.

The Holiday Hope Foundation was right next door.

“Come on, Charlie, one more stop and then we can go get a good spot for the parade.”

“Okay.” She shivered a little, her thin coat not quite up to the job as the sun began to lower. I picked her up, giving her a ride and letting her cuddle against me as a windbreak.

I should have thought to bring blankets for the parade.

We went through the front doors, crossed a lobby, and stopped at a reception desk, which was currently empty. A bell sat on top of it.

“Wanna ring the bell?” I asked Charlie.

“Yeah!”

I leaned over enough for her to jam the metal button down. She did it three times before I stepped away, wincing.

Someone was going to think we were jerks.

A door opened down the hall, and the guy who’d delivered our holiday meal emerged.

“Hey, Ford!” Mason smiled wide. “And Charlie, right?”

“How do you know my name?” Charlie asked, sounding impressed.

“Your dad has a lot of friends in Christmas Falls. We’ve heard all about you.”

I bit down on the urge to correct him. I didn’t want Charlie to think I minded being called her dad. I’d love nothing more.

Mason continued. “So, what can I do for you today? I’ve got a brochure that outlines all our services.”

“Oh, uh… I was just gonna make a donation. For the meal.”

Mason cocked his head. “You know, I’m fresh out of donation forms.”

He was lying. He had to be.

But the relief that swept through me was undeniable. “Oh, well… Another time?”

Mason nodded. “Sure. In the meantime, I do have something Charlie might like. If you don’t mind?”

I put Charlie down, and Mason came around with a snowflake-patterned scarf. “What do you think? My friends over at Yuletide Yarns made this for the Holiday Hope Foundation.”

“That looks just like…”

One that Dottie made.

It probably was one that Dottie made. She knitted scarves and hats every year for an organization. I just hadn’t put two and two together. No wonder she’d asked for help with Thanksgiving.

Mason owed her for all those dang knitting hours.

Maybe it was okay I wasn’t paying for the groceries then?

Not that I had done anything to deserve help. I hadn’t done the knitting.

“It’s so pretty,” Charlie said. “Can I really have it?”

“You sure can,” Mason said. “In fact, it’d hurt my feelings if you said no now.”

“I don’t want to hurt your feelings,” Charlie said seriously.

Mason turned a mischievous gaze my way. “What about you, Ford?”

“What about me?” I asked, guarded.

“Will you also accept a gift, or do you want to hurt my feelings?”

“Uh…”

Charlie tugged my hand. “You can’t hurt his feelings, Ford!”

“Right…” I swallowed. “What kind of gift?”

Mason nodded his head toward the door in the hall. “Charlie, do you mind if we talk in private for a minute? It’s boring grown-up stuff.”

“Okay!” She put on her scarf and ran her hands over the soft fabric, entirely uninterested in us.

Mason took my arm and drew me a few steps away. “I know you feel weird about accepting help, but we do have programs for you.”

“I’m fine,” I insisted.

He raised his eyebrows. “For you and Charlie.”

I hesitated. “What do you mean?”

“We’ve got more winter clothes like the scarves. Maybe a warmer coat?”

I winced. Her coat had been too thin.

“We’ve also got a gift tree we do, and?—”

“Okay,” I blurted, surprising both of us.

Mason paused. “Okay?”

I grimaced. “I don’t need anything, but Charlie deserves better. Her mom is…well, she doesn’t have her mom for the holidays and that’s hard on a little girl.”

Mason’s eyes filled with sympathy. It didn’t strike me as pity so much as understanding. “I bet it is.”

“Christmas Falls throws the holidays in our face 24/7 and I’m just afraid…”

“Afraid of what?” Mason prompted.

“I’ll disappoint her,” I whispered.

Mason was about six inches shorter than me, but just then I felt like a small man. One who couldn’t provide.

“You’re not going to disappoint her,” Mason said. “We’ll make sure of it.”

I blew out a breath as a huge weight sloughed off my shoulders. For the first time since I picked up Charlie, I wasn’t in this alone.

Mason was just some guy at a charitable organization, but he’d make sure Charlie got what she needed.

“Thank you,” I said, my voice too thick. “For Charlie’s sake.”

He smiled and patted my arm. “For Charlie’s sake.”

And to think, I’d only gone out to get a dang bottle of pink bubble bath.