Page 14 of Christmas On Anchor Island

Chapter Four

Oh no.

While the kids cheered, and even the moms displayed the proper level of enthusiasm for Santa’s arrival, Mia felt quite the opposite. She recognized the jolly man’s eyes right away. They belonged to Jeremy Baker. She didn’t dislike the man, but the more Grandma pushed, the more Mia avoided him. She suspected that Nota had encouraged Jeremy to ask her out. Thankfully, he hadn’t taken the older woman’s suggestion—yet—but Mia feared the day would come so she made sure never to give the impression that she welcomed the invite.

With a giant bag slung over his shoulder, he greeted the children, offering handshakes and high fives, before taking his place in the large wingback chair placed between two cardboard pine trees decorated by the kids. Mia had helped them make the various ornaments the week before. Setting the bag beside the chair, Jeremy dropped onto the seat with a ho ho ho before adjusting what she assumed to be a round pillow beneath the wide black belt.

Mia had barely finished the Pooh bear on Phoebe’s left cheek when she bolted from the chair. Santa took precedence over face painting any day. At least for Phoebe.

The kids were lined up to meet Santa, and Raina—one of the young workers who was adorably dressed as a reindeer—snapped pictures of each of them. Getting them to sit still was difficult, but the ones who were afraid to go near him were even tougher to manage. Conner Edwards fell into that category. Callie and Henri set the twins on the big guy’s lap and attempted to have Conner squat between his knees. The boy was having none of it, so Henri volunteered to sit on the floor in front of Santa so that Conner could sit on her lap instead.

The plan worked and Callie looked ecstatic to get the picture she wanted. Or something as close to it as possible. Once they’d gotten the shot, Santa pulled a present from his bag with Conner’s name on it. Helga had asked every parent to provide a gift, and for the few who struggled to do so, Will and Randy Navarro had covered the expense. Though the Navarros had no children of their own, they donated to any program that benefited local kids. From providing books for the library, to their annual fall drive that provided every student in the Anchor Island schools with a new backpack, lunch box, and all the school supplies they needed.

“That was nice of you,” Mia whispered to Henri once Conner was back with the other kids.

The slender blond glanced over her shoulder. “You want to know a secret?”

Mia nodded.

“I was the same way when I was his age. Drove my mother nuts. She’d get me all dolled up in a pretty red dress with a head full of bright-white sausage curls, and the minute I came within five feet of Santa, I’d burst into tears.”

“I can’t imagine you being afraid of anything. Even as a kid.”

Henri’s grin faded. “I guess I just blew your image of me then.”

“No,” Mia said. “Having a few soft spots makes you more attractive.”

Turning her back to the rest of the group, Henri lowered her voice. “You find me attractive, huh?”

Heat danced up Mia’s neck. “You know the answer to that.” Despite the facade she maintained for the rest of the world, Mia had never been able to lie to this woman. “I think you’re beautiful, inside and out.”

Her expression softened. “I think the same about you.”

Mia’s eyes dropped to Henri’s full lips, and the heat in her cheeks had nothing to do with embarrassment. “That’s nice to hear.”

Seconds passed in which Mia nearly forgot they were standing in a room full of people. She was abruptly snapped back to her senses when the tall man in the bright-red suit stepped up beside her.

“Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas, ladies.”

Mia tensed and turned to pack up her paints.

“Hey, Santa,” Henri said. “Your belly is sitting a little low there. Maybe you should go adjust it.”

Did she recognize the man behind the costume? Mia assumed so since Sam threw occasional fundraisers for the medical center, and Henri had attended many of them over the years. As the hospital administrator, Jeremy always played a role in the events.

“I thought one belt would keep it in place,” he said, shifting the stuffing inside the suit. “I was wrong. When did you get in, Henri?”

“A few days ago. When did you get roped into this?” she asked, clearly knowing it was Jeremy.

He nodded. “Probably about the same day you got here. Bernie Matheson was supposed to do it, but he came down with a cold, so I was asked to step in.” Turning to Mia, he said, “It’s nice to see you. How’s Nota?”

Mia tossed the last bottle into her toolbox. “She’s good, thanks for asking.”

“Of course. I’m still dreaming about that baklava she brought me last month. She said you made it.”

Not wholly accurate. “I helped, that’s all.”

“It’s clear your brother isn’t the only amazing cook in the family. I’m a bit of an amateur cook myself. Maybe you could teach me how to make it sometime.”

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