Page 52 of Fire in My Heart

I led Teddy inside and asked him, “What was that?”

“Didn’t you want me to play the part?” Teddy asked as he moved around the space.

“I wasn’t expecting you to do it so well.”

Abby shook his hand. “I’m the photographer.”

“Santa.” Teddy replied. “I’ll sit here, and you’ll send the kids to me?”

“That’s the plan. Just ask them what they want for Christmas and wish them a merry one.”

Teddy swallowed, and I wondered if he was nervous. “That sounds easy enough.”

Fiona popped her head inside. “You ready to get started?”

At Teddy’s nod, I said, “Send them in.”

Teddy snagged my wrist, his thumb dragging over my pulse point. “I wasn’t sure I’d be good with the kids.”

“You’re going to be great, and I’ll be next to you the whole time if you need help or a break.”

The first kid stepped up.

“What’s your name?” I asked him.

“Alex.”

We fell into an easy rhythm. Teddy asked their name, gestured for them to sit on his lap. He asked what they wanted for Christmas, then directed them to smile at the camera for Abby to take a picture. I handed them a candy cane and a postcard to their parents.

There were a few tears, but I stepped in to help with promises of candy. Some kids just didn’t like seeing someone in costume.

Thankfully, I was able to put aside Rick’s text message long enough to focus on my elf duties, but I couldn’t shake the cold feeling of dread in my stomach.

We took ten to give Teddy a break, and I stood with him near the back of the barn. The door was open to the fields so the cool air filtered in.

“Is everything okay?” Teddy asked me, his beard pulled down to his chin. He held a water bottle in his hands.

“I should be asking you that question.”

“It’s not as bad as I thought it would be. But I’ve made more than a few kids cry.”

I waved a hand to dismiss his concerns. “They’re scared of anyone in a costume. It’s not you.”

Teddy leveled me with a look. “You seem a little off today. Like you’re worried about something.”

I sat on a nearby hay bale, one that we used for fall. “I was concerned we wouldn’t get anyone to attend.”

Teddy shook his head. “If the line of kids to see Santa is any indication, there’re a lot of people here.”

“There are.” I’d been getting pictures from Fiona and Daphne all day. They assured me that people were buying arts and crafts, baked goods, and food from the trucks. I wanted to compare the tree sales to a regular Saturday though. Had the festival detracted from the Calloway’s core business?

“So, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“This is a big deal for me. I’m trying to prove myself, and I want your farm to do well. That’s why I’m here,” I kept rambling, hoping something would stick. I didn’t want to talk about Rick. Just thinking about him felt like he was darkening my life again, and I didn’t like it.

Teddy rested a hand on my shoulder. “I can’t see how this isn’t good for the farm. Everyone will be talking about how I dressed up as Santa for weeks. Or at least my siblings will be.”

“You make a great Santa. I was nervous at first, but you seem to have a way with kids.”

---