Page 31 of A Crossroads Christmas

“Of course,” I answered without delay. “How else does Santa drive his sleigh?”

Miles blinked, thinking it over. “And Rudolph leads because of his big red nose.”

“That’s right.”

Miles hollered at Noah. “I told you it’s true!”

Noah seemed amused. “Yeah. I told you to ask your dad.”

“My dad knows everything.”

“Thanks, Bud.” I lifted my fist, and he bumped into it.

Parenting had been a lot easier than I first thought. When I found out Abby had gotten pregnant with Miles right before we separated, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make it right after she’d spent a few years as a single mom. I nearly lost out on having Miles in my life. It made me realize that Abby and Miles were all I wanted or needed, and since that day, I’d spent every day making it up to them. The three of us were a family despite a rocky past. Luckily, Miles didn’t seem to remember or focus on the time we were apart.

“Who wants chili?” Abby asked as she headed toward the porch and up the steps. “We’ve got plenty.”

As everyone followed her inside, I couldn’t help but think my life was fucking perfect, and there wasn’t a thing I would change. Well, one thing. I wanted another kid.

“I KNOW WHERE THE REINDEERare, Noah,” Jakey revealed. “It’s that barn with Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and all the animals.”

Noah shook his head. “None of them are real. It’s just a holiday display.”

“No,” Jakey insisted. “There’s a live one. It’s by that old church where Tommy goes on Sundays.”

“Who’s Tommy?”

“He’s in my class,” Jakey explained.

“Well, I don’t know where that is. If we’re gonna steal that reindeer, I want a real one. It’s a lot to risk for a prop,” Noah reminded him.

Steal one of Santa’s reindeer? That was naughty!

Would Santa bring them coal now?

“Hi, Miles.”

I turned my head, hoping Zara didn’t give away my hiding place. This was the best spot in the house for secrets. I could wait all night for Santa, and he’d never know.

“Shhh, Zara. You can’t come in here.”

This was my spot. Zara could find one at her house.

“I wanna sit with you.” Her voice rose, and I shook my head. She stomped her foot. “Now!”

“Fine. Get in here and be quiet,” I ordered.

Mama’s big closet had enough room inside for me to hide even with all her clothes. Zara was so small she didn’t take up much space. Once I closed her in and left the closet door cracked, I warned her not to talk.

“Are we spying?”

How did she know what that was? She was tiny, only three. I was two years bigger.

“No. Shhh.”

I focused on the words Noah and Jakey were saying. Neither one saw Zara or me in the closet, so I kept listening about the reindeer. I wanted to find the one they planned to steal and bring it home for Santa so nobody would get in trouble—no naughty lists.

“Are they gonna take Santa’s reindeers?” Zara sounded upset.

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