Nicholas nodded, liking the idea. The businessman in him appreciated the marketing technique. He started helping to place the candy canes in the holes, taking a systematic top-down approach while Molly did a more artistic haphazard approach.
They were almost done with the last box when Hannah's phone rang. She jumped off the float to answer it and when she came back, she looked worried.
“Vernon’s sick,” she announced. “What am I supposed to do without him? He was supposed to drive so I could hand out candy.”
They all looked at the massive truck. Nicholas thought it looked like driving a boat.
“Do you know how to drive the float?” Molly placed a random candy cane in one of the holes. The tree wobbled slightly and Nicholas reached out to steady it. Fully laden with candy canes, the tree leaned slightly to the left.
“Yeah, I did it last year. But what about the tree?” Hannah motioned to the now very colorful sugar-filled tree. “Who will throw the candy and make sure this thing makes it to the town square? I don't want it to fall over like it did last year.”
“Yeah, that was bad.” Molly frowned, shaking her head. Then, a smile filled her face. “Don’t worry, Nicholas and I can handle it.”
At the mention of his own name, Nicholas felt a little bit of dread. What was she getting them into now? Strangely though, he didn't really mind as much as he thought he would. “Nicholas will be handling what now?” he asked.
“Relax. I just figured out a way that you don't have to walk anymore. I know how you hate it,” Molly said with a grin. “All you have to do is stand there and wave at people. I promise.”
“And do some Christmas-y stuff,” Hannah added. “But that’s it. We promise.”
“Well, will it be more or less Christmas-y than dressing up as Santa Claus? I don’t know if Molly has already told you, but she has me doing that this year, too,” Nicholas told her with only a hint of annoyance. “There’s nothing more Christmas-y than Santa Claus, right?”
“Well, you're right,” Molly agreed. “There's nothing more Christmas-y than Santa Claus.”
Chapter 18
Nicholas
Nicholas felt like a complete imposter. He was the last person on Earth that should be dressed like this.
He checked Molly's now empty duffel bag one last time and tried to adjust the white beard. It was scratchy on his face and smelled a little dusty. His own father, the usual Santa, had a real beard. He wondered just how long this one had been in storage.
He came out from the back of the shop ow decked out in Santa’s over-sized black boots, Santa’s long, white beard, Santa’s pair of ever-present, tiny glasses, and Santa’s tell-tale, jolly stomach, which now protruded out from Nicholas’ slim frame.
Molly was grinning at him. “Nicholas, you look—”
“Don’t. Don’t say a word,” Nicholas cut her off as he rolled his eyes behind his glasses. He motioned to Molly to move to the side so he could get on the float. “At least let me get up there before you start making fun of me.”
“I wasn’t going to make fun of you. I was going to say you look kind of... cute,” Molly said, smiling as she moved to give him access to the ramp up the float. “In a very classic, Christmas-y way.”
Nicholas suddenly didn't feel so stupid. He felt a little lig
hter as he walked up onto the float with the candy cane tree.
“You look kind of cute, too,” Nicholas told her. He looked her up and down. “The Mrs. Claus outfit complements you a lot better than that Head Elf costume.”
It was true. The red velvet outfit brought out the blush in her cheeks. She hadn't put on the cap with white hair yet, so she looked young and radiant. To be honest, he thought she would probably look beautiful wearing anything. Or nothing at all.
He quickly pushed the thought of her not wearing anything out of his mind. That was not an appropriate thought for Santa to be having.
“Then maybe one day you’ll promote me to Mrs. Claus,” Molly joked, tucking her hair up into a bun and sliding it up and into the Mrs. Claus wig and hat. However, after a moment, a blush crept up her cheeks as she realized that her words could be taken in two very different ways.
Molly could’ve been saying that Nicholas should literally give her a promotion, since he was the rightful owner of the store, or she could’ve been saying that Nicholas should promote her by marrying her, which would make her the new Mrs. Claus, as it would also make her the new Mrs. Kerstman, too.
Nicholas averted his gaze away from hers, undecided as to how he wanted to take the phrase. It combined with his thoughts of her not wearing anything too easily. Instead he busied himself with the candy cane tree, making sure that all the candy canes were in neat order and the tree secure.
Molly came over and stole purple and green candy cane from his carefully filled tree.
“Isn’t that for the kids?” Nicholas asked, giving her a stern side-eye.