Page 29 of Falling for Santa

This wasn’t about her, Megan reminded herself. It was about creating joy for Ruby, about giving her daughter the kind of Christmas memories she deserved.

Steeling herself, Megan smoothed her sweater and stepped back, surveying her reflection. She looked fine. Pulled together, festive enough to blend in, but not so much that she’d draw attention.

“Mommy!” Ruby called from the living room. “Are we ready now?”

“Almost,” Megan said, grabbing her bag and taking one last glance in the mirror.

This was about Ruby, she reminded herself again as she headed out to meet her daughter. But somewhere, deep down,she couldn’t ignore the flicker of hope that maybe—just maybe—this evening could be special for her too.

The sky had turned a deep shade of indigo by the time Megan parked in front of Scott’s house. Ruby gasped in delight from her car seat, her small hands clapping together.

“Mommy, look at the lights!”

Megan smiled as she followed Ruby’s gaze. Soft, warm lights framed the windows and doorway of Scott’s home, casting a gentle glow against the dark evening. A wreath with a bright red bow hung on the front door, and a strand of multicolored bulbs twinkled along the porch railing.

“Santa lives here!” Ruby declared with certainty.

Megan laughed softly as she unbuckled Ruby. “I don’t know about that, but it does look magical, doesn’t it?”

They walked up the path together, Ruby clutching Mr. Bear in one hand and Megan’s fingers in the other. Before Megan could knock, the door swung open to reveal Scott, his smile warm and inviting.

“Right on time,” he said, stepping aside to let them in.

The aroma of roasted vegetables and something savory greeted Megan as she crossed the threshold. Ruby’s nose wrinkled, and she sniffed dramatically. “It smells like Christmas!”

Scott chuckled, bending slightly to Ruby’s level. “Well, we can’t have Santa’s special guest going hungry, now can we?”

Ruby giggled, then her eyes widened as she spotted the Christmas tree in the corner of the living room. She broke free from Megan’s grasp and ran toward it, stopping short to point excitedly. “Mommy, look! It’s Cupid!”

Megan followed her gaze and saw it—a small wooden ornament shaped like a reindeer, with “Cupid” carefully etched into the side.

Scott joined her, his hands resting casually in his pockets. “Figured Ruby might like a little keepsake from Santa’s Village,” he said, his voice low and sincere.

Megan’s chest tightened with gratitude. “It’s perfect,” she said softly, glancing at him. “Thank you.”

“Anything for Ruby,” Scott replied, though his eyes lingered on Megan for a moment longer than necessary.

Dinner was a cozy affair. Scott had set the small dining table with care, a simple red tablecloth and mismatched holiday-themed plates giving it a charming, homey feel. Ruby climbed eagerly into her seat, chattering about the ornament and asking if Cupid really missed her.

Scott, ever the entertainer, nodded solemnly. “Cupid told me this morning that he’s been waiting all week for you to come visit. He even pranced a little extra just for you.”

Ruby’s eyes went wide. “He did?”

“Oh, absolutely,” Scott said, his tone conspiratorial. “And he said if you’re really good, you might even get to meet his cousins next year.”

Megan bit back a laugh as Ruby gasped, clutching Mr. Bear tightly. “Mommy, did you hear that? I have to be extra good!”

“I did hear that,” Megan said, her lips twitching into a smile. “But let’s focus on dinner first, okay?”

Scott brought out the food, and Megan was pleasantly surprised by the spread—roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and a medley of colorful vegetables. Ruby dove into her plate with enthusiasm, though she insisted on keeping one hand on Mr. Bear at all times.

Between bites, Scott told stories from Santa’s Village, exaggerating just enough to keep Ruby giggling. “And thenCupid decided he wanted a candy cane, so he stuck his nose right into the basket! I had to explain that reindeer don’t eat candy, but I’m pretty sure he didn’t believe me.”

Ruby laughed so hard she nearly knocked over her cup of juice, and Megan reached out to steady it, her smile growing.

“You’re pretty good at this,” Megan said quietly, glancing at Scott as Ruby busied herself with her plate.

Scott raised an eyebrow. “At what? Making a fool of myself?”

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