Page 5 of Falling for Santa

Ruby relaxed slightly, holding up the stuffed animal for him to see.

“That’s Mr. Bear,” Megan supplied with a chuckle. “He goes everywhere with us.”

Scott stood, brushing sawdust from his jeans. “Good to know we’ve got an extra helper today. Come on, I’ll show you around.”

As they walked through the square, Scott pointed out the various stations and explained the role of Santa’s elf. Megan listened attentively, occasionally shifting Ruby’s scarf or picking her up when she lagged behind.

“You’d mostly be helping kids in and out of the sleigh,” Scott explained, gesturing to the centerpiece. “Handing out candy canes, managing the line for photos, that sort of thing. It’s only a few weekends, but it can get pretty busy and the days are long.”

Megan nodded, her expression thoughtful. “I think I can handle that,” she said, glancing down at Ruby, who had begun tugging at her mother’s coat sleeve.

“Sorry,” Megan said quickly. “She’s not used to all this yet.”

“It’s fine,” Scott said, waving it off. He crouched down again. “Hey, Ruby, you want to see something cool?”

Ruby’s wide eyes brightened with curiosity as she nodded.

Scott led them to the sleigh, lifting Ruby up and setting her gently on the seat. “This is where Santa sits,” he said, tapping the sleigh’s armrest. “Think you’d like to ride in one of these someday?”

Ruby giggled, her small hands gripping the edge of the sleigh. “Mama, look!”

Megan smiled, her shoulders relaxing as she reached out to steady Ruby. “She loves anything to do with Christmas,” she said softly.

Scott stepped back, giving them a moment. He observed how Megan gently interacted with her daughter, her patience unwavering even as Ruby’s attention flitted between the sleigh and her stuffed animal. There was a quiet strength in the way Megan handled herself, a resilience that intrigued him.

As Ruby climbed down, Megan turned back to Scott. “I’ll be honest,” she said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I haven’t done anything like this before. Most of my work experience has been different.”

Scott raised an eyebrow, curious.

“But I’m eager to learn,” she continued. “And honestly, I’m looking for something steady. I know this job is temporary, but I’m willing to take anything right now to get started.”

Scott studied her for a moment, noting the way her gaze flickered to Ruby as she spoke. It wasn’t just about finding work; it was about creating stability for her daughter. That kind of motivation was rare, and it resonated with him.

“You seem like someone who gets things done,” he said finally. “Let me see what I can do about the pay. It’s not much, but I’ll make it fair.”

Megan’s face lit up with gratitude. “Thank you,” she said.

Scott glanced down at Ruby, who had started drawing shapes in the sand near the sleigh. “And I’ll make sure you’ve got someflexibility if you need to cut out early or take a longer lunch to check on Ruby.”

Megan nodded, her expression softening. “That means a lot. Thank you.”

“There’s one more thing,” Scott said, his lips twitching as he fought back a grin.

“What’s that?” Megan asked, her tone cautious, but those soulful eyes of hers brimmed with curiosity.

“The elf costume.” He turned and walked toward the shed that served as both a backdrop and a changing room for Santa’s Village, disappearing for a moment before emerging with a bright green and red outfit draped over his arm. The costume was complete with jingle bells on the shoes, striped tights, and a hat that drooped with a jaunty puffball at the tip.

“Oh,” Megan said, her brows lifting as she took in the sight of it.

“This is a Palmar Island tradition,” Scott explained, holding it up. “Every elf wears it. It’s part of the charm.”

Megan bit her lip, a faint laugh escaping as her gaze flickered to the costume. “It’s something, all right.”

Scott chuckled. “It’s festive,” he said, his tone defensive but playful. “And it’s a hit with the kids. Plus, the bells are great for getting their attention when things get chaotic.”

Megan tilted her head, a hesitant smile creeping across her face. “I’m not sure I can pull that off.”

“You’ll do fine,” Scott said, still grinning. “The trick is to own it. The kids don’t care how silly it looks. They love it. And by the second weekend, you won’t even notice how ridiculous it feels.”

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