Page 14 of Daycare Santa

Gina didn’t offer any resistance. She’d go to Wintertime and prove her point, plus satisfy Seya, who had the focus of a bloodhound when something mattered to her, and Luca was at the top of that care-and-concern list. He came a few steps ahead of their parents, Julian, and their other relatives who lived abroad. From the moment he was born, Luca stole Seya’s heart, and she was fiercely protective of him.

“Fine. We’ll go. Now give it a rest.”

After drying her hands, Seya pulled Gina into a side hug. “See how simple life can be when you’re not so stubborn?” She walked out of the kitchen and her voice floated to Gina. “It’s Christmas. If you weren’t so old, I’d tell you Santa will fix everything, but we’re halfway down the road to old age.”

Gina cracked a smile, then chuckled as her sexy Santa came to mind, but her humor faded when she remembered him trying to make excuses for the dog. Of course, she refused to listen to any of them.

Seconds later, Seya re-appeared in the doorway with a bottle of chocolate rum cream.

“Isn’t it too early in the day for that?”

Tipping it this way and that, Seya chuckled. “It’s Saturday. It’s also midday, and Luca is with the grandparents. I vote we reward ourselves with a teeny-tiny drink for the hard work we did this morning.”

“Since you insist on making this trip and I’m driving, I can’t have any of it ... but enjoy.”

“You know I will.” Seya searched the cupboards, got ice from the fridge, and poured herself a drink.

Gina moved to her bedroom to pick out something to wear and, after rejecting several pieces of clothing, she settled on a shirt and a pair of jeans. She hit the shower and then sat on the queen bed, oiling her skin, when Seya breezed in and sank on the loveseat in the corner. “I meant to ask you, what’s this I hear about Santa being on duty at Wintertime?”

“Where did you hear that?” Gina crossed to the dresser and replaced the moisturizer while looking at Seya in the mirror. Between Luca and her mother, they kept Gina updated on things that did and did not concern her.

“My brilliant little nephew told me. He said this guy wears identical glasses and has a beard.”

“That doesn’t make him the same person.”

Seya sipped from the glass and stared at Gina over the rim. “It doesn’t?”

“You know what I mean.”

“No, I don’t.” Seya lowered the glass and shook it, making the ice tinkle. “But I have a theory.”

Avoiding her sister’s gaze, Gina spritzed her skin with body mist. “I can’t wait to hear this.”

“I think you have something against Daycare Santa because of Champ.”

“You know the dog’s name?” Gina shook her head. “Is there anything Luca didn’t tell you? Or maybe I should ask if there’s anything he doesn’t share with you.”

Laughing, Seya tipped the glass toward Gina. “Only the part where you demanded your money back, but there’s a reason you didn’t tell Luca he’s not going to Wintertime on Monday.”

Returning to the bed, Gina scoffed. “You’re entitled to your opinion, of course.”

Seya rose from the seat and aimed for the doorway. “I think you changed your mind because you’re afraid of more than just the dog.”

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