Page 12 of Christmas On Anchor Island

“You’re a terrible liar.” Callie lifted Roxanne from her chair. “Grab Rachel and let’s head out there. Santa will be here soon and I want a picture with all three of them together. Keep your fingers crossed the girls aren’t afraid of him like Conner is.”

Henri remembered Conner’s last encounter with jolly old Saint Nick. The poor boy had screamed as if they’d plopped him onto Freddy Krueger’s lap. Later the same day, Callie had had to remove the cardboard Santa they’d used as a decoration on their front door before Conner would walk into the house. Though young, the girls already showed very different personalities from their brother’s, so with luck, they’d be happy to see the man in the suit.

“Who wants their face painted?” Mia asked.

More cheers filled the room as tiny hands went up in the air, then she greeted each child by name and listened intently to their requests. When it was Conner’s turn, he asked for a dinosaur like the one she’d painted in his room. Several of the children were impressed that Miss Mia had created a special wall just for him.

Once the last child had her say, Helga gathered them back to the mats so that Mia could set up her paints. When she picked up her toolbox and turned their way, she stopped with wide eyes. “I didn’t realize you guys were here.”

“Knowing how Conner typically reacts to Santa Claus,” Callie said, “I thought it best to join the festivities.” Switching the baby to her other hip, she added, “I also want to get a picture with all three of them if I can.”

Mia nodded as her eyes kept darting Henri’s way.

“I tagged along,” Henri said. “Do you need help setting up?”

“No, I’m good, thanks.” She placed the case on the table beside them, then began removing small paint bottles and lining them up along the wall. As she continued to work, the front door swung open and Sid and Beth Dempsey rushed into the center. Or rather, Beth rushed in dragging Sid behind her.

“Curly, you’re pulling my arm out of the socket. I’m telling you, we aren’t late.”

“Did we miss the pictures?” Beth asked, glancing around the large room.

“Santa isn’t here yet,” Callie replied, waving the pair over. “Mia is about to do face painting while we wait.”

“Mommy!” called out a beautiful little girl with jet-black hair and wearing a jaunty elf hat. Pilar nearly tackled her mother before she’d taken two steps. “Santa is coming to see us.”

“That’s what I heard,” Sid said, “but you have to stay with the other kids until he gets here. You don’t want him to see you breaking the rules, do you?”

The toddler instantly realized her mistake. “Oh, no, no, no,” she said, running back to her seat.

A smaller child with big green eyes joined the newcomers next. Beth’s three-year-old daughter Daphne stood before her mother with arms held high above her head. “I want up.”

“You heard what Aunt Sid told Pilar. You have to stay with the other kids until Santa comes.”

Daphne was not swayed. “I want up.”

With a roll of her eyes, the mother conceded and swept the child off her feet. By the time the two women crossed the room, Daphne’s thumb was in her mouth and her forehead was tucked against her mother’s neck.

“I heard you were back,” Sid said. “How long are you staying this time?”

“Just through New Year’s,” Henri said.

Mia pointed to her table in the corner. “If you all want to join the fun, I can paint your faces, too.”

“Do you have a lot of green paint?” Callie asked. “If so, you can turn Henri into the Grinch that she is.”

“Being anti-tinsel does not make me a Grinch.”

“You can’t have a tree without tinsel,” Callie argued.

“I’m with Henri on this one.” Sid made a face like she’d tasted something gross. “That crap is ugly and gets everywhere.”

Beth joined team tinsel. “Don’t listen to them, Callie. I’m with you.”

“You don’t have it on your tree either,” Sid pointed out.

“Only because Dozer eats it.” Beth turned to Mia. “What do you think? Tinsel or no tinsel?”

Sending Callie an apologetic frown, she answered, “No tinsel.”

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