Page 3 of Wrong Number, Right Santa

“No, hardly.” He took a long sip, and as much as I wanted to pepper him with questions, I stayed silent. “I think we’re gonna make it just fine. But I think that you think we’re not going to make it.”

Fair enough. I didn’t. We were cutting it close this year, closer than I’d like.

He took another long sip, and once again, I remained silent. What could I say?Nope. I’m really worried.What good wouldthat do? None. It was best to wait him out. He was my right-hand elf for a reason.

“Or… you’re seeing things worse than they are because you’re stressed out. Last I checked, you have not gone on any surprise visits lately.”

By surprise visits, he was referring to when I randomly showed up at Christmas events as myself. I’d hand out gifts, listen to children’s wish lists, read books, and sing songs. I loved doing them, but that didn’t mean I had the time.

“No, I haven’t, but that’s because we’re behind.” I wriggled my nose; just hearing about me popping into an event had my body ready to go.

He gave me some serious elf-eye, not liking my excuse. I didn’t like it either, but that didn’t make it less fact.

“Ah. You think we’re behind, so you shouldn’t go on visits.” It felt like there was a hugebutmissing in that sentence. He was talking in circles. “Santa, are you stressed out?”

I leaned back in my big, fluffy red chair and closed my eyes. “Sugar plums, yes. So very stressed. I don’t know what it is about this year. It’s different.”

“Do you want to know why?”

That had me opening my eyes, and I let the question hang in the air before I answered. With Ryfon, it could go either way on whether I did or not. He was one of the only elves that didn’t think they had to keep everything candy canes and tinsel with me. I appreciated it more than he knew.

“Sure. Why am I so stressed?”

“Because the only people you see are your crew. You haven’t seen anywhere else, gone anywhere else, in almost a year. Go out. See the children. Meet the families. See why we’re doing all of this. Most years, you can’t wait to get to it.” He grabbed a cookie off my plate. “It’s the only reason you feel overwhelmed and behind. Trust me, everything is under control here.”

Had it been anyone else, I might not have believed things were as under control as he was stating, but this was Ryfon. If he said we were going to be good to go, we were… with the exception of me. I was the problem in all of this, and if going on some outings could rectify that, I was all in.

“Okay. I’ll go do some visits, as long as you promise to keep me updated on things up here. Because if we get behind because I’m out handing out candy canes and stickers at some festival?—”

“I promise you, Santa, I will call if we even get a tiny bit behind.”

I wasn’t sure I believed him on that, but he’d make sure things got done, and if anything major happened, he wouldn’t hold back.

Now that I had it in my mind to go and take the place of some Santas-for-hire, I was getting kind of excited about it. Maybe I’d do some hospital visits or stop by one of those small, independently run toy stores. Or maybe a community center. There were so many options and each one sounded better than the last.

Chapter 3

Dario

None of these will fit me.

I’d spent hours searching for Santa suits because there were no pretend Santas available. I didn’t feel much like ho-ho-ho-ing, but I’d do my best. My finger hovered over the buy button. I’d have to purchase the suit by tomorrow or it wouldn’t be delivered in time, and if that happened, I’d have to drive to the city and pick it up.

I’ll wait until the morning. Something might turn up.

My reindeer was bored with online shopping and the will I or won’t I. I didn’t blame him.

As I sprawled on the couch and Max jumped up and snuggled into me, I studied Ed’s files scattered over my dining room table. I’d gone through them again, hoping to find a reference to a list of Santas, guys I hadn’t contacted.

Max didn’t move when I got up and piled them back into the box. I’d done my best to organize the spectacular, and I’d be the best Santa I could be, but I was niggled by guilt that I could havedone more. I’d learned not to rely on Ed, whose head was now in retirement mode.

But as I shoved the papers into the box, one fluttered to the floor. Not a note or a list but a name card. And it was for a Santa! The card just readSantaand a phone number.

“Thank you, universe.” It was my lucky day. Someone had heard me and placed this card in the box. I stuck my head out the window and gave a thumbs up.

Maybe he’s busy!My reindeer brought me down to earth with a crash.

He probably was, but he might know someone else. And if he did, let’s hope it wasn’t Ed’s cousin.

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