Page 102 of The Snuggle is Real
“Oh, we haven’t sold it,” Nicholas said.
My heart skipped with hope. “Really?”
“Someone put down a deposit on it, so we pulled it from the floor,” Nicholas said. “I was asked to wait until the right customer showed up to buy it.”
“So, it’s still gone.”
“Unless you’re the right customer?” He raised a bushy eyebrow. “What’s your name?”
I couldn’t see how I’d be the right customer. That’d be the person who paid the deposit, but Nicholas had an odd twinkle in his eye that made me answer.
“Ford Donnelly. The dollhouse is for my daughter, Charlie.”
“That’s right. I remember you now.” He turned to his grandson. “James, go check the note on the dollhouse. I think we have our man.”
James shook his head muttering about eccentric old men. He returned a few minutes later. “Guess Grandpa was right. This is reserved for you.”
“But how…”
James handed me a note. It was written in a calligraphy style.
Timing is everything. This gift is reserved for Ford Donnelly. He’ll come for it when he’s ready. Secret Santa.
I gaped at the note. “Who the heck is this Secret Santa character?”
“Well, I don’t know,” Nicholas said with a sparkle in his eye that suggested hedid.“I reckon we’ll have to chalk this one up to the magic of Christmas.”
I’d shared my desire to get this dollhouse with a few people. Nicholas knew, because we’d visited the store. Mason knew—and hell, he would be the type to play Santa to everyone, wouldn’t he? I might have mentioned it to Tony at the bookstore. And Dottie. They wouldn’t play Santa, but that wasn’t to say they hadn’t told someone else who told someone else…and, yeah, it was impossible to know.
I eyed Nicholas. “Is it you? Are you the Secret Santa?”
He chuckled. “Oh no. I don’t have time to play Santa, outside of making toys he can give to boys and girls, that is. Now, tell me, Ford Donnelly, is the time right? Would you like to buy this dollhouse?”
“Yes,” I said quickly, unwilling to let this chance slip through my fingers.
Being able to get Charlie this gift was a damn holiday miracle after the year I’d had.
A whole series of miracles, really. All thanks to the generosity of other people: Mason through the Holiday Hope Foundation; Logan and Griff, with festival work they’d thrown my way; Dottie, with her free childcare; and now, Secret Santa—and Nicholas for trusting I’d show up.
I’d been so afraid of failing Charlie on my own, but I’d never actually been alone, had I? Not in a place like Christmas Falls. Not with loving people in my life like Mason and Dottie.
Over the front door, the dollhouse had a little placard that read, Christmas Falls Cottage. Inside, by the miniature Christmas tree, a tiny father held his tiny daughter while they read’Twas The Night Before Christmas.
I marveled over the level of detail all over again. This one present would take just about everything I had to spare, but itwas worth it. Not because I could give Charlie an expensive gift—or even the one she wanted most, as I’d originally thought. Not because it would prove I was agooddad, though I wanted that with my whole heart. No, this was special because it would be a lasting reminder of Charlie’s time with me in Christmas Falls.
I hoped she’d treasure those memories as much as I would.
“Thank you for waiting for me.”
James smiled. “Thank Secret Santa, whoever he or she is.”
I nodded. “Oh, I do.”
CHAPTER 27
Mason
Fordand I walked down my driveway, the snow glittering under the warm glow of my porch lights.
