I nod, and fight back a wave of tears threatening to come forward. “I have to go back to work.”
She doesn’t say anything, but does rest her head on my shoulder and stays there with me while we watch the children go sit on Santa’s lap. I’m surprised I haven’t seen Aiden. Maybe he knows Holly and I need these last few moments together and is granting me this Christmas wish.
Soon it’s Holly’s turn to sit on Santa’s lap, and she returns with her present, ripping open the paper to unveil a new doll. “I’m going to name her Laney,” she says.
My mom reaches across the table and sets her hand down over Holly’s. “What a beautiful name for a baby doll.”
“Do you like it?” Holly turns to me.
I nod. “I love it.” Watching Holly with her new toy makes me excited for when she opens all her gifts on Christmas morning. Thankfully, my brother doesn’t mind helping me out and has promised to have all Aiden and Holly’s Christmas gifts delivered and set under their tree tomorrow while we’re at the festival play. Dominic swore he has a key to Aiden’s and won’t do anything illegal. I’m not sure I trust him, but I want everything to be a surprise for them.
When the last child has gone up, Dominic rushes up to Santa. “Oh dear, what is he doing?” my mom asks. She covers her face as her grown son sits on Santa’s lap.
“What does Dominic want for Christmas this year?” Santa yells.
“Well Santa, I’ve been really good this year and there’s only one thing I want.”
“And what’s that?”
“For Eileen Barnett to be my wife!”
There’s a collective gasp among the entire room and all eyes are on Eileen, waiting for her reaction.
“Eileen?” Dom’s voice has me turned to watch him. He’s down on one knee with a box in his hand, waiting for his bride to be to come to him. My mom had said something about him asking her, but I figured he’d wait until Christmas to do it.
“Dominic, what are you doing?”
He clears his throat and holds the ring up higher. “Eileen Barnett, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Eileen covers her mouth and nods vigorously. “Yes. Yes I will.” The entire lodge erupts in applause and my parents, along with Eileen’s go over to greet the happy couple. I do what feels natural and pull Holly close, knowing that the next time I come to visit, she’ll have a new mother and her father will be happy.
“Delaney Du Luca?” Santa yells my name. Holly looks and smiles.
“Santa wants you,” she says, crawling off my lap. Ever so slowly, I get up, wondering what my parents have done. Don’t they know I’m more than capable of sharing the spotlight with my brother?
“Ho ho ho,” Santa says as I sit down on his lap. I can honestly say I haven’t done this in years, so many years. “And what would Delaney like for Christmas this year?”
“Oh Santa, I have everything I want.”
Lies.
“Surely there’s something you want?” his voice is a bit quieter this time and I figure, what do I have to lose?
“I wish Aiden had chosen me, Santa.” Without waiting for his response, I leave his lap and return to my family. My mom shoots me a look and I shrug, not willing to share what I’ve told some man dressed up in a red suit. Chances are, I’ll never see whoever is under the fake white beard again, so I’m not worried about any rumors being spread.
As the dinner winds down, my mom invites everyone back to our house to celebrate the engagement of Dominic and Eileen. Calvin and I leave early, to stop at the store and buy everything we can, just in case everyone takes my mom up on her offer.
By the time we arrive at my parents’, cars line the street. “Does she do this often?” Calvin asks as he maneuvers the SUV into a tight spot in the driveway.
“I think Mom looks for any excuse to have a party or to have people over. Announcing it at the dinner makes it seem like no one is left out.”
“You know this would never happen in California,” Calvin states.
“I know. Ramona Falls is different. Vermont is different. The mayors are normal every day citizens who still live in their own houses and drive their own cars.”
Calvin carries most of the groceries in with my dad there to help. The house is bustling with people and I find myself looking for Aiden, even though I know he wouldn’t bring Holly over. The one time he was here, it’s because I suggested it to his daughter, which left him no choice.
Once everything’s unloaded and set out, I excuse myself, leaving Dominic and Eileen to shine in the spotlight.