Page 21 of Everything I Want

My buddy is the engineer for the train company and I called to see if I could still get some tickets. Oliver will even get a backstage tour of the trains, and get to meet Santa before the ride.

I ran to the store in the city this morning to get us matching Christmas shirts for the ride too. Oliver will love it. He’s been watching the Polar Express non-stop since Thanksgiving with Lorelei. I think she is sick of it but maybe the real life thing will make her enjoy it again.

Lorelei:Um, why do we need slippers? What are we doing? And of course I can get Oliver. He will be so excited to see you.

Me:You will see. I’m not spoiling the surprise, especially not for him. This is more for him than you though, sorry about that.

Lorelei:Any man who includes my grandbaby is good with me. Can’t wait.

“Okay, we're here!” I pull into the parking lot.

“Oh my gosh. Scott. You didn’t,” Lorelei whispers, she knows exactly what we are doing now.

“What are we doing, Grammy? Where are we?” Oliver asks. He swivels his head from left to right trying to figure it out by looking out every window.

Luckily, he doesn’t know the company’s logo so he still doesn’t know where we are. I text my friend that we are here and he says he will come to meet us at the front.

“You’ll see, kiddo. Are you ready?” I don’t even have to wait for his answer.

He’s bouncing up and down, already trying to open his door, even though I child locked it before they got to my house. I forgot one time with Keith, and luckily we were in a parking lot, but I will never leave that child lock off again with kids.

Lorelei steps out and opens his door for him as I gather all the coats and tickets from the backseat.

“A train ride! Are we really going on a train ride Mr. Scott?” Oliver asks, jumping up and down.

“We sure are. It’s a real Polar Express train ride, and my friend works on the train so he said he’d show us the train up close before the ride starts! What do you think about that?”

“Will we get to see Santa?” Oliver crosses his arms over his chest as if this is the true test of a Polar Express ride.

“I don’t know, Baby. I guess we’ll have to go in so we can find out.” Lorelei grabs both of our hands and starts to walk toward the lobby.

Mark is standing out front waving us over. He is dressed up just like the guy in Oliver's movie. “Well, I didn’t think I’d see you here again, Scott. Those boys of yours don’t seem keen on giving you any grandkids anytime soon,” he laughs.

“You’re not wrong. Luckily, I found a little guy who loves Christmas and train rides.” I ruffle Oliver’s hair, “This here is Oliver, he is a Polar Express professional.”

“Yea, and you gotta have Santa to be therealPolar Express,” he says, narrowing his eyes. His look clearly displays his skepticism.

Mark takes Oliver over to the train, letting him tell him all the things he is looking for to make sure this place isthe real deal.

I loop my arm around Lorelei’s waist and pull her into me, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. I love that she is so much shorter than me, she molds into my body in just the right way.

“I hope you don’t hate me for making the whole night about the Polar Express.” I chuckle as she whips her head up to look at me.

“I am sick of that movie but Oliver loves it so I can’t complain, plus I get to spend the evening with you. So I really can’t complain about that either.” She snuggles back into my embrace before pulling away. “Let’s go find him so he doesn’t scare off your buddy from ever inviting you again!”

Mark’s tour ends at our table shortly after the train takes off. Oliver mingles around us, making friends with some of the other kids in our train car. We all have a great time listening to the story, eating cookies, and drinking hot cocoa. Oliver and the kids are finishing up their cocoa when they hear someone open the door to the car. All their heads swivel to the now open door.

“Ho, ho, ho,” says a deep voice.

“SANTA!” All the children jump up, abandoning their cookies and cocoa to run over to Santa. Except Oliver who comes over to me and throws himself in my lap for the biggest hug he’s ever given me.

“Thank you for bringing me on arealPolar Express train ride!” He gushes as he pulls off and runs away to join the other kids with Santa.

The kids sit on Santa’s lap one by one telling him their Christmas wishes. My heart breaks when I hear Oliver ask Santa for his wish.

“Santa, my Daddy didn’t want me no more. But my mommy found us Colton, and I really want him to be my new daddy. I know kids can have new daddies. Can you do that?” I turn to look at Lorelei who has tears in her eyes.

I give her hand a little squeeze in mine. If Colton were here he would be touched, Colton and Lacey have gotten really close lately. I wouldn’t be surprised if he proposes soon. I think he’d be happy to oblige with Oliver’s Christmas wish.

---