Page 71 of Intercept
Since the kids might wonder if Santa was cheating on Mrs Clause, I put a hand in my pocket instead.
"I have something for you." I curled my fingers around a small box and pulled it out. "I couldn't let the woman on the top of the nice list miss out on a present."
She blushed, but took the box and eyed it. "You shouldn't have."
"Maybe, but I did." I shrugged. "Open it."
She eased the lid up and gasped at the pair of earrings with sapphires in the centre.
"They're beautiful," she breathed.
"Can we talk?" I asked.
"Isn't that what we're doing?" She cocked her head at me, but one eye was still on the earrings.
"Yeah, but let me get out of this first." I wanted her to listen and take me seriously, and that would be hard when I was dressed like this. Ugly jumpers have nothing on the padding I had under my shirt.
Grace smiled.
"I meant into my ugly jumper and jeans, but if you wanna skip right to that, I'm all for it." I grinned.
She snorted. "Talking first."
At least she wasn't ruling out the chance of getting naked later.
"Right. I'll be back in a minute." I waved to the kids and hurried out the door as fast as my padded belly would let me. Okay, I might have waddled. Whatever, I got out the door.
"Rapids bad boy plays Santa, hmmm?" Harvey Danbury stepped out of the elevators, phone in hand.
"You must have me mistaken for someone else," I said.
He peered at me. "I would know Bam Clinton's arrogant face anywhere," he said. "Even dressed up."
"Cool, cool," I said. "There's no story here, asshat. Unless you plan to run something about me pretending to be Santa. If you are, I have news for you."
Harvey smiled that reptilian smile of his. "I might be here for a feel-good story."
I barked a laugh. "Did hell freeze over?"
He made a face. "Yeah, that's not very plausible, is it? I wouldn't waste my time on a story that won't pay. People much prefer dirt."
"People need to get a life," I said. "You in particular. Did your mum not hug you enough?"
His lip curled.
I guess I hit a nerve.
"Actually I'm here because my niece was admitted yesterday," Harvey said. He nodded toward the cancer ward.
"Pull the other one," I said, "it plays Jingle Bells." I stared at him for a moment before I realised he was serious. "Oh."
"Yes. Chelsie and her mother are the only family I have left." He shrugged.
I wanted to tell him to cry me a river, but Chelsie didn't deserve to have us fighting just outside the door.
"I'm sorry," I said instead.
I almost felt sorry for him, but then he held up his phone and said, "I'm not off duty. Ever."
