Page 70 of Santa of the Creek
I stare at the closed door for a long while processing what he said to me. He loves me.
Echo loves me.
What in heaven am I going to do about that?
I drive home in a daze to be honest. I’m lucky I don’t crash into anything. When I get inside my house it seems so quiet. Echo fills the place with his laughter and his excitement, even his odd grumbles.
I’m tempted to go to bed, just to hold his pillow and breathe in his scent, but Danny coerced me into delivering a few Christmas parcels from the mayor’s office to needy folk inCollier’s Creek. I’m sure he’s got staff who can do that, but apparently, he’d rather use his brother. I’m surprised he hasn’t made me dress up in the Santa costume to deliver them. Still, it gives me a chance to catch up with old Creekers I don’t get to chat with often enough.
I spend fifteen minutes tidying up my bedroom, relieved when I discover Echo’s keys under the chair. “Your daddy will be happy,” I say to Ariel, who’s claimed my pillow now the bed has been made. She’s a funny girl. She won’t come on the bed if we’re both sleeping but the second the bed has been made, she claims my pillow as her own. She chirrups as if in agreement, but that’s the extent of our interaction.
I message Echo.Found keys.
Keep them. See you later.
Want me to take you to your home?
No yours.
I pet Ariel. “You’ll be staying another night, princess.”
I could take her home, but Echo will be back here tonight, and I like her company. She seems quite relaxed here. I spend a few minutes stroking her and telling her how much I like her daddy. She knows this of course, but she doesn’t laugh at me, just absorbs the attention like a sponge. I should really get a cat of my own, or maybe Echo will let me borrow Ariel like the sheriff borrows Barky. Maybe Echo will let me borrow him too.
I leave Ariel with a treat Echo insists she loves. It’s something smelly and horrid but she leaps on it like it’s caviar. Then I head out to deliver my packages. After they’re delivered and I stop to chat to everyone, I decide to veer over to my brother’s before it gets too late and hand over the Santa suit.
JoBeth who looks confused when she opens the door and sees me standing there. “Dean, I didn’t expect to see you today. Danny’s still at the office. I can call him and let him know you’re on your way over.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t come to see him. I just came over to return the suit.” I held it out to her. “I cleaned it for you.”
A second time. I wasn’t going to explain what happened to it the first time I cleaned it.
“You don’t have to give it back.”
Now I’m confused. “Why would I want to keep it?”
Her lips twitch. “You could wear it next year. It fits you so well.”
I thrust it at her so hard she has to take it. “Oh no, I’m never playing Santa again. One year is enough. Even if you made that suit for me.”
I notice she doesn’t deny the accusation. “I thought you liked being Santa. You certainly seemed to be having fun last night.” She waggles her eyebrows at me.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I lie.
“So Deputy Ben didn’t see you kissing a bartender last night?”
I grunt, because now I can’t deny it, and she laughs.
“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”
I’m not sure how much of a secret it is, considering the whole town has caught us kissing at one time or another.
My niece wanders out of the kitchen, smiling when she spots me. “Hey, Uncle Dean. I made a cake this afternoon. I tried a new recipe and need someone to try it. Everyone says they’re full up after dinner.”
She returns to the kitchen. I can’t hold back my grimace. JoBeth gives me a half-pleading, half-if-you-try-to-run-away-I’ll-tackle-you-to-the-ground look.
“Can’t you feed it to the sheriff? He likes cakes,” I hiss.
“The last time he ate one of Kathy’s cakes he had such bad indigestion Ben thought he was having a heart attack. Now I’m banned from bringing them to the office. Ben actually reamedme out for attempting to kill his husband. Me! The mayor’s wife!”
