Page 68 of Cross Check Christmas
"With who?"
He mumbles something under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Daisy, okay? I made a bet with Daisy!"
21
COLETTE
The faculty Christmas party is in full swing, with teachers clustered around high-top tables draped in burgundy linens in the ornate banquet room at Bella Luna Ristorante. The restaurant's crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the faculty party, and the scent of garlic and marinara mingles with pine from the decorated trees. The school really went all-out this year. There's even an open bar.
I adjust my sparkling snowflake brooch, my gaze drifting to Hendrix, who's chatting with the football coach near the antipasto display. He looks unfairly handsome in a navy blazer that makes his shoulders seem even broader than usual.
"Colette, my dear!" Mr. Phillips, the retired head of the history department who taught me as a teen, wobbles toward me on crutches, with a cast-covered leg dragging behind him. "I need to tell you something terrible."
"Oh my goodness, what happened?"
He sighs. "Black Friday at the mall. Margaret insisted we drive to Toronto for the doorbuster sales. I got trampled by a mob fighting over the last Baby Yoda plush." His cheeks are flushed pink, probably from the wine flowing freely this evening."Three people stepped on my leg before security could fish me out."
"That's horrible!" I steady him as he nearly tips into the dessert table. "Careful there. How many glasses of Chianti have you had?"
"That's not important." His eyes get misty. "I can't be Santa this year. Twenty-three years I've played Santa in the pageant. Twenty-three years of ho-ho-hoing my way to baby Jesus in that final scene." He sniffs dramatically. "I thought I’d be good as new by now but the doctor says I can't kneel with this broken leg. I've ruined everything."
“You haven't ruined anything." I pat his arm. The pageant will be fine."
"The children expect it, you know?"
"Mr. Phillips, please don't worry. I know several men in town who could step in. We'll find the perfect Santa replacement."
"But who else can capture the gravitas of Santa kneeling before the Christ child?" He dabs at his eyes with a red cocktail napkin. "The spiritual weight of that moment?"
“No one could possibly fill your boots. But we’ll make due.”
He grabs my hand. "You're an angel, Colette. A Christmas angel."
I help Mr. Phillips into a chair and flag down a passing waiter. "Could you bring him some garlic bread and coffee, please?"
Making my way across the room to where Hendrix stands, I'm intercepted by Janet from admin. She latches onto my arm, launching into a detailed account of her cat's recent dental surgery. I nod politely while watching Hendrix over her shoulder.
"Excuse me, Linda. I need to discuss something with Coach Ellis about the winter program." I finally manage to break free,only to find Wade and Sarah have joined Hendrix, with their newborn bundled against Sarah's chest.
"She's beautiful," I say, peeking at the sleeping infant.
"Thanks." Wade stifles a yawn. "Though I wish she'd sleep more than twenty minutes at a time."
Sarah bounces little Emma gently, dark circles prominent under her eyes. "We just needed to get out of the house. I'm going stir-crazy counting dirty diapers."
"The walls were closing in," Wade adds, taking a long sip of his drink. "We figured a quick appearance wouldn't hurt."
Sarah adjusts the baby blanket. "I'm not great at pumping yet, so Emma had to come along. But honestly? I'd take a party with a baby over another night staring at our living room walls."
Wade keeps glancing at the coaching staff gathered near the bar, his fingers drumming anxiously against his glass. I notice the way his eyes linger on his replacement just a touch too long. "The team's doing great under your leadership, Hendrix. Really great." He clears his throat, and there's an undercurrent of something that sounds suspiciously like worry in his voice. "Almost makes me feel unnecessary." The words hang heavy in the air, and I can't help but wonder if he's regretting taking his paternity leave.
"Yeah, the team's doing great," Hendrix says diplomatically.
Wade rocks on his heels. “I’ll bet you miss playing the Blizzard Dome, eh? You probably want to get back to Toronto.”
