Santa's Secret

In the blink of an eye, Holly is pulling Delaney into our living room and offering her my mug of hot chocolate. I should feel dejected, but seeing Holly’s excitement changes everything.

“Do you want me to hold Gwen so you can put her on the base?”

I look down at the contraption in my hand and nod. Even if I wanted to ask Delaney to leave, upsetting Holly isn’t worth it. I have to suck up my pride and give my daughter this.

Delaney holds Gwen upright, lifting when I tell her to, so I can make sure the trunk is secure. Holly tells us she’ll get the water for Gwen. “You don’t have to stay,” I tell Delaney. “I’m sure you’re busy. Holly will understand.”

She shrugs. “I have nowhere else I’d rather be.” I want to believe that’s true, but I’m sure the list of places she should be is rather long.

“Where’s Calvin?”

“Sitting in the sugarhouse, at least he was when I left.”

“And you don’t need to be with him?”

Delaney chuckles. “Something tells me you and Holly aren’t going to corner me and demand my autograph or shove a camera in my face.”

“Holly might. She’s a fan and known to be vicious.” I wink.

Holly returns, walking slowly with two large cups of water. When I try to help her, she tells me she can do it herself. The whole time, she’s talking to the tree, as if it’s her best friend.

“Can I offer you something to drink?”

“We have hot cocoa with marshmallows. Daddy can make you one while we start decorating,” Holly tells Delaney.

“Perfect!” Delaney raises an eyebrow and smirks. Yep, I’ve become the errand boy while my daughter monopolizes the starlet’s time. It’s okay; I know my place.

For the time it took me to make Delaney’s drink, the ladies placed lighted garland on the mantel and plug it in as I enter the living room. “Wow, I never thought to put it there before.” I hand Delaney the mug and stand back, watching as Holly holds Heather’s stocking in her hand. I wait to see what she’s going to do, letting her decide on whether it’ll go up or not. She sets it aside, pulls her own out of the box, and places it on the snowman hook. Mine follows right after.

I don’t say anything.

I just watch.

Delaney must sense the shift in my demeanor because she proclaims that the music isn’t loud enough and that Gwen is naked and in need of some lights. “Chop, chop,” she says.

“Yeah, Daddy. Gwen is nakie!” Holly giggles and runs to one of the boxes and pulls out the angel. I go to her and lift her up, while Delaney helps Holly place it on top. “She’s beautiful.”

“She will be once I get the lights on and Gwen is decorated.” I set Holly down and get to work on the lights. Delaney helps every step of the way. Once the lights are on, her and Holly start placing the ornaments on the tree. While they focus their attention there, I set all our other decorations out. Within the hour, the house is warm, festive and full of laughter.

“Okay, I think we’re ready,” Delaney says.

I shut off all the lights and press the switch that will turn on the white lights, to illuminate Gwen.

“Ah, she’s so pretty,” Holly proclaims excitedly.

“Wow. You both did an amazing job.”

“Of course we did, Daddy.”

I look at Delaney, who hasn’t taken her eyes off the tree. “What do you think?”

She looks over and smiles. We maintain eye contact for longer than what should be socially acceptable. “I think it’s one of the most beautiful trees I’ve ever seen.” Her statement gives me pause. Surely, her mother’s tree or any one of the fancy trees she encounters in Los Angeles are prettier than the one she’s standing in front of, I would have thought.

“It’s snowing! It’s snowing! Daddy, can we go out?” Holly tugs on my shirt, causing me to look away from Delaney. I glance out the window, and sure enough, it’s coming down in sheets, the wind is blowing, and I can barely see the outline of Delaney’s car.

“I don’t remember hearing about a snowstorm tonight.”

“Me neither,” Delaney adds. “I hope my car is still out there.”