Santa's Secret

“I’m not sure, Shelby. I’ll need to check with my parents. We usually spend some time over there.”

“Your sister says they don’t have anything going on.”

I look at her, studying her deeply. She’s beaming and looks happy. Life would make sense with a partner, but I’m not there yet. Movement behind me catches my eye, I turn and find Delaney standing there. She watches me for a minute before smiling and walking away. I get up to chase her, to demand she speak to me, but my chief cuts me off.

“Fisher, I need you.”

“But, Chief.” Delaney disappears into the crowd. I strain to look for Calvin, but he too seems invisible.

“No buts. Come on, our Santa called out sick and I need you to fill in.” The chief pushes me toward the back room, all while I’m still trying to find Laney.

“What?” I stop dead in my tracks. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I wish I were, but the suit makes me break out in hives and we can’t let the children down.”

“But… but…”

“Take one for the team, Fisher.” He pushes me into the dressing room where Mrs. Claus is, dressed and ready to go. The door shuts behind me, leaving me trapped with no choice but to become the jolly fellow.

Twenty-Seven

Delaney

Attending the policeman’s dinner was the last thing I wanted to do; yet, because my father’s the mayor, he asked that all his family be here. I couldn’t really deny my dad, especially since this is the first time I’ve been home in ages and he’s so proud of Dominic and me for doing what we love.

What I didn’t count on, was seeing Aiden the second I walked in the door. Of course, he was with Shelby, sharing a table with her and her daughter. It took everything in me not to run up to Holly and pull her into my arms, to tell her how much I’m going to miss her. Instead, I stepped behind Calvin and hid so I wouldn’t have to face her. Tomorrow’s going to be hard enough as it is, knowing she’ll never fully be a part of my life.

It’s b

een days since I texted Aiden with my thoughts. I fully expected him to say something, either via phone or in person, but he’s dodged me every chance possible. At first, I thought there was something wrong with my phone or it was the poor connection we have in the state, but everyone else could reach me. Then, the gossip started. Everywhere I went people gushed about the happy couple. Mindy told me not to listen, but it was hard to ignore.

Still is. I’ve never been one to be quick on the uptake, as demonstrated by the fact I never figured out Trey was cheating on me, but Aiden’s message is loud and clear. He’s chosen Shelby, and honestly, he’s made the right choice for him and Holly, even if I’m hurt over it. Shelby’s better for the both of them, despite how I’m feeling.

Once I get back to work, I’ll forget these past couple of weeks and everything in my life will be crazy and hectic. My heart won’t have time to long for a night without power where the three of us are cuddled on the couch together, or we’re walking hand in hand down the street, stopping to look at the store displays, and it’ll forget the snow angels. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to make one again without thinking about the Fishers.

My father notices my sullen expression and frowns. He pulls me into his arms and kisses the top of my head. I know he’s not going to ask me what’s wrong. He’s always been so observant when it comes to my brother and me, we were never able to get away with anything when it came to him. Our mom, on the other hand, she was clueless or at least pretended to be.

“Delaney!” Holly yelling my name shakes me from my funk. I welcome her into my arms, hugging her as tightly as I can without breaking her or setting off her fight and flight response.

“You look so beautiful.”

“Thank you. I thought you were coming over to do my hair.”

I rack my brain, going over any of the conversations we’ve had and can’t recall where I told her I’d come over and fix her hair. “You did? Why did you think that?”

She shrugs. “Because I thought you liked me.”

I’ve never felt my heart break this much. I have to take a deep breath before I speak out of fear my voice is going to crack. I touch my nose to hers and smile before pulling back to look at her. “I do like you, Holly, so so very much. If you knew you wanted me to do your hair, all you had to do was call me.”

“I don’t have your number.” Her hands go up, as if it’s as simple as that.

“I’ll give it to you, if you promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“You call me, whenever you want to talk.”

Holly’s expression changes from glee to sadness. “Are you leaving soon?”