Page 24 of Close to My Heart

“By making me Santa?”

“You’ll wear the costume and a hat. No one will know it’s you.”

“Oh, we’ll know,” Jameson singsonged unhelpfully as he came around the tree.

Charlotte shot him a disgusted look. “You’re not helping.”

“I don’t want to dress up as Santa,” Teddy said.

“You’ll look great in the pictures with the kids. You’re the perfect one for the job. Don’t you want to make kids happy?”

“Not really,” Teddy mumbled.

Charlotte floundered, clearly not knowing how to convince him.

“Our dad could do it. He has the gray hair and a less surly personality. You don’t want Santa to scare the children, do you?” I asked, knowing that would piss off Teddy even more.

Charlotte sighed. “That’s not a bad idea.”

Teddy was similar in stature to our father. He was a big guy even if he’d lost some of his weight as he’d aged. But he had the gray beard for Santa, and he adored little kids.

“I was just hoping Teddy would do it. If you’re the face of the farm going forward, then you should be the one involved in the activities.”

“Ask my dad. This was all his idea,” Teddy said as he turned and walked away.

“Is he always this difficult?” Charlotte asked us.

She was this petite ball of personality that most of us enjoyed having around. She was always quick with a good morning, or a happy Friday.

“More so. You caught him on a good day,” Jameson said.

Charlotte’s gaze swung from Jameson to me. “Is he being serious?”

I shrugged. “He’s generally grumpy.”

Dad mentioned something about letting Teddy take charge after Mom died, and now he was trying to take some of it back. He wanted Teddy to have a life outside of the farm and his job. So far, it wasn’t working, but maybe it would if we could generate more income for the farm; it would take the pressure off Teddy.

“We’ll talk to him,” I promised, used to my peacemaker role.

“It won’t matter,” Jameson said as he grabbed the next tree.

Charlotte’s shoulders lowered. “I’m trying to do my job, and he’s fighting me every step of the way.”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? If he can interfere with your plans, you don’t get the job,” I said, wanting to be honest with her.

“He’s absolutely infuriating. I need this job.” Then Charlotte spun around and left.

“I’ve never seen her this upset. She’s usually so positive.”

“Teddy can make anyone insane.”

“I understand where he’s coming from. But I don’t know why he’s so resistant to her suggestions. She knows what she’s doing.”

“He doesn’t want to play dress-up.”

Teddy liked to be in control, and that might have something to do with Mom dying. It was hard to watch her go through treatments and get sicker.

After she died, I could see why Teddy would hold onto everything with a tight rein. Unfortunately, he was going to have to learn he can’t control everything in life, especially not someone as bright and vibrant as Charlotte.

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