Page 38 of The Santa of the Mountain

“Are you an elf? Did you do this?”

One of them motions to the decorations as I glance down at my outfit. I completely forgot.

“Oh god, don’t tell me Santa slept with one of his elves. Margot!” he calls out behind him. “Did Cole bump more than his head at Santa’s workshop?”

Awkward. Awkward. This isawkward.But then his mother comes in, and she’s a bright ray of sunshine wearing an ugly Christmas sweater, reindeer antlers, and a festive apron that saysChristmas Calories Don’t Count.I like her already.

“Merry Christmas,” she says, greeting me. “Now I hope you don’t mind, but I always make Cole something special—” She stops mid-sentence, turning around. “Don’t just stand there,move!We’ve got Christmas to save. Now as I was saying,” she continues without skipping a beat. “I know Cole said we’d celebrate once the roads were cleared but I know what he really wants. A Chrismasbirthday party with everyone. Love the outfit by the way.”

“Oh my god,” Cole says when he comes out of his bedroom wearing his Santa suit.

I glance behind me and see a swirl of activity. Platters of food and all sorts of utensils are moving swiftly throughout Cole’s cabin. Three men the size of mountains carry stacks of presents so high I swear they’re going to topple.

Christmas music is coming from somewhere. The smell of sugar cookies, cinnamon, and chocolate from elsewhere. I’m getting dizzy just looking at all of it.

“Cole,” his mother shouts. “Happy Chrismasbirthday!”

So I guess it’s a thing. He closes the gap between us, wrapping his arm around me, and whispers, “Didn’t want you to be the only one dressed up.”

I melt because he’s so thoughtful. And then again because I can’t believe I nearly got caught blowing him. Good grief this is going to be a Christmas to remember.

“Thanks,” I say.

He kisses me on his head, and then we both turn back to his family who’s staring at both of us, wide-eyed.

“This is Kate,” Cole says. “She’s my girlfriend.”

Who knew there wasn’t a limit on how many times I could melt?

“Predictable,” one of his brothers says. “I always knew Santa had a thing for elves.”

Another brother punches him lightly in the shoulder and his mother glares at them both. “Don’t you have work to do?”

Both of them kick into gear as Cole’s mother turns back to us. “I’m so happy,” she says. “Now I know why Cole didn’t want to come over for his Christmasbirthday party. He wanted to keep you all to himself. But,” she says, snagging me from Cole. “She’s mine now. Do you know how to make sugar cookies?”

“I-Yes, of course. I make them every year.”

“That’s wonderful. You’re with me.”

And like that, I’ve been absorbed into the Kringle family. It was seamless. Easy. And everything I’ve ever wanted. Exactly like Cole. My boyfriend!? Yes! It started shaky, but I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas. And as I look back at Cole and he looks back at me, smiling, I couldn’t have asked for a better man.

EPILOGUE

COLE - ONE YEAR LATER

I wakeup from a dead sleep and reach for Kate. Nothing but cold sheets. After a night like that, I’m surprised she can walk. Hell, I’m barely able to sit up, struggling as I raise myself.

I groan, rubbing my eyes, face, and beard, and glance around our bedroom. It’s already light out. And when I pull back the curtain, snow’s falling but that’s unsurprising. It hasn’t stopped snowing this entire week. And thank Saint Nick for that—my wife was stuck with me for the whole week. Well, soon-to-be wife. We’ll be married in less than a month. And if this snow keeps up, she’ll get her dream of a proper winter wedding, and I’ll be marrying mine.

I pinch myself every day because I still can’t believe Kate’s real. That she agreed to be mine. One day it will finally hit me that I’m not having the longest dream. Maybe.

I pull the covers off and swing my legs off the bed. I consider putting on clothes but I’d be taking them off in a few minutes anyway. I know what’s waiting for me under the Christmas tree. Unwrapped it more times than I can count. But I swear each time I do, I’m just as excited. It’s the only thing I want. The only thing I need. And as I reach for the door handle… I hear music.

“…saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus…”

I can’t help but smile as I imagine Kate next to the Christmas tree. My morning wood becomes steel as I walk toward the dresser and pick up my Santa’s hat. I’ve come around to the idea of transforming into Santa Claus. It helps that my girl loves me in a white beard. I swear the moment I put on the suit this year, she was ripping it from my body. Couldn’t get her off me. Not that I tried.

I put the cap on my head and then walk toward the door, pausing because I have another thought. I remove the cap, letting it hang off something else and then open the door.

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