Page 2 of Falling for Santa

“Yes, it’s me,” Megan replied, approaching with a cautious smile. “And this is Ruby. You met her once when she was a baby.”

Miss Doris stood, brushing sand from her skirt before holding out her arms. “Well, aren’t you just a big girl now,” she cooed at Ruby, who shyly ducked behind Megan’s leg.

“She’s a little shy,” Megan said, smoothing Ruby’s curls.

“She’ll warm up,” Miss Doris replied kindly before turning her attention back to Megan. “Where’s Danny? Did he come with you?”

The question hit Megan like a splash of cold water. She felt the familiar ache in her chest but pushed it down, forcing herself to speak. “Danny passed away last year.”

Miss Doris’s smile faltered, replaced by a look of sympathy. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

Megan nodded, her throat tightening. “Thank you. It’s been a difficult year.”

“Well,” Miss Doris said gently, “why don’t you come up to the house for a cup of coffee? It’ll do you good to sit down for a spell.”

Megan hesitated, her instinct to decline warring with the warmth in Miss Doris’s voice. Finally, she nodded. “That sounds nice. Thank you.”

Miss Doris smiled and motioned for them to follow. As Megan took Ruby’s hand and began walking up the sandy path, she felt a flicker of relief. For the first time since arriving on Palmar Island, she wouldn’t have to face her worries alone. At least not for the next hour.

Miss Doris’s cottage was exactly as Megan remembered it—warm and inviting, with the faint scent of cinnamon lingering in the air. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled to the brim with well-worn paperbacks and family photo albums. A smallartificial Christmas tree sat in the corner, glowing softly with multicolored lights. Ruby’s wide eyes darted around the room, taking in every detail.

“Make yourselves comfortable,” Miss Doris said, ushering them toward a cozy living room. “I’ll fix us something to drink. Megan, coffee or tea?”

“Coffee would be wonderful,” Megan replied as she sank into a floral armchair.

“And how about you, Ruby? Do you like hot chocolate?”

Ruby nodded shyly, clutching her bucket of shells.

“Hot chocolate it is,” Miss Doris said with a warm smile before disappearing into the kitchen.

Ruby wandered over to the coffee table, setting her bucket down carefully. “Mama, look at the books!” she whispered, pointing to a stack of brightly colored children’s books that seemed to be waiting just for her.

Megan smiled. “You can look at them, sweetheart. Just be gentle.”

Ruby eagerly grabbed the top book and climbed into the chair beside Megan, her curls bouncing as she flipped through the pages.

A few minutes later, Miss Doris returned with a tray carrying two steaming mugs and a smaller cup for Ruby, complete with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cocoa powder. “And some pumpkin bread, fresh from the oven,” she said, setting the tray down on the coffee table.

Megan took a grateful sip of the coffee, the rich, slightly spiced flavor warming her from the inside out. Ruby let out a delighted hum after her first sip of hot chocolate, leaving a small whipped cream mustache on her upper lip.

“Hang on, I’ve got something for her,” Miss Doris said, disappearing again and returning moments later with a pad ofpaper and a box of crayons. “Thought she might like to draw while we chat.”

“Say thank you, Ruby,” Megan prompted gently.

“Thank you,” Ruby said, beaming as she grabbed the crayons.

Miss Doris settled into the chair across from Megan, her own mug in hand. “So,” she began, her tone gentle, “how are you holding up?”

Megan hesitated, but the kindness in Miss Doris’s eyes made her feel safe enough to open up. She shared bits of her story—the move to Palmar Island, the financial struggles, and the constant worry about what the future might hold.

“I thought once we got here, I’d feel relieved,” Megan admitted, her voice trembling. “But now I’m just scared. My savings are dwindling, and I need to find work. I don’t even know where to start.”

“What did you do before?” Miss Doris asked.

“I worked as a lawyer before I had Ruby,” Megan said. “But without a license here and the long hours the job requires…” Picking up her old profession didn’t seem feasible. Besides, there didn’t seem to be a lot of need for someone trained in international business law here on the island.

Miss Doris reached over, resting her hand on Megan’s. “You’ve been through a lot, dear, but you’re here now, and that’s a start. Sometimes, just putting one foot in front of the other is the best you can do.”

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