Chapter 31
LILA
I haven’t heard from Amos, and Mom has only left one message saying she’s going to give me some time to calm down and come to my senses. Amos isn’t the only one used to getting his way. She’s going to learn this time.
I haven’t let the whole thing upset me. I’ve been busy and it’s such an exciting time.
Maren’s offer to provide toys for the kids at tonight’s Christmas party was so kind, and Cara also started reaching out for monetary donations.
After the fire department made an extremely generous cash donation, we realized we could do something special for every kid who’s signed up to come.
In addition to the kids from Happy Haven, we were able to include some others in town whose parents are struggling.
“Do you want us to put out the cupcakes and stuff now?” Fern asks.
“As soon as I get these tablecloths on.” I paid her and her friends to help me set up and supervise the kids tonight.
Their parents will be with them, but if there’s a problem, I want to know quickly.
Fern also asked about working here in the afternoons on her summer break and I promised I’d talk to Holly about it.
It’d be a good job for a teenager and she could make a little of her own money.
Assuming this place doesn’t fail and fall apart by then.
Everything has been finalized for me to open for business in ten days.
I don’t know whether to be sick or excited.
It feels like I’m standing at another starting line just like I was when I carried my things into that trailer park.
I’m starting a new part of my life. It’s thrilling and terrifying and so fucking wonderful that I can’t stop smiling every time it hits me.
I’ve just finished putting the brightly colored disposable tablecloths over the tables when Sutton walks in with his mother. He’s carrying a stack of thin cardboard containers.
“Hey!” I call out. I’ve only met his mom, Cathy, a couple of times.
Once when we took her to dinner and once when Sutton brought her to see his place.
She was so proud of him, exclaiming over everything and tearing up when he told her he could always put another container on the property for her if she ever wanted to live there. She’s the kindest person.
“Wow, this place is amazing! I can’t believe what you’ve done with it,” she exclaims.
“Thank you so much.” Sutton told me he was going to visit her earlier, and he’d be here in time for the party. “What have you two been up to?”
“Sutton told me about your party and I wanted to bring some cookies! We’ve been baking them all afternoon.”
I slide one of the boxes out of Sutton’s arms and set it on the table to open it. It’s filled with an assortment of holiday cookies. All iced and glittery.
“Oh my goodness! You didn’t have to do that!”
She chuckles as I give her a hug. “Sutton bakes cookies and treats with me every Christmas. This time I really put him to work.”
I’m not sure what’s sweeter, that he went to bake cookies with his mom or that she made them for the kids. “You sure did. There’s more than enough. I may have to eat the surplus.”
Sutton grins when I munch on one of the sugar cookies. “She can’t resist my baking,” he brags. “You should hear her beg for me to make muffins.”
“Well, she shouldn’t have to beg. You should keep her in a steady supply of goodies,” Cathy teases.
“I’m sorry I can’t stay. My knitting club holiday party is tonight too, but Sutton said you had some flyers for your opening day?
I thought I could hand some out at the party.
Lots of them would bring their grandkids. ”
The knot that appears in my throat is hard to swallow and I can’t hide the emotion in my voice when I turn to walk away. “That’d be great. I’ll go grab them.” She’s so supportive of me when we barely know each other. I love that she and Sutton are close after all they made it through.
After she takes the flyers and leaves, I glance over at Sutton.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you saw a puppy trip over its ears.”
“I can’t help it. Baking cookies with your mom. You’re cute.”
He marches over, then glances around to make sure Fern and the others aren’t near. His deep voice is in my ear. “We’ll see how cute I am when I spank your ass and fuck you to sleep tonight.”
A shiver runs through me, and he chuckles, dropping a kiss on my neck, then walks away. “Don’t go upstairs!” I warn him. We agreed to trade gifts tonight and his is waiting in my apartment.
“I remember. Santa is here!” he announces. We hired Donna and Milton to play Santa and Mrs. Claus and they’re already in their costumes when they come through the door.
An hour later, the party is in full swing. It’s such an amazing sight, watching my vision for this place come true. All the kids running and playing. Their laughter drawing smiles from the parents watching or playing with them. I’m surrounded by happiness.
Sutton and I are chatting with some of the other adults when Milton approaches us in his Santa suit. “Do you know who that boy’s parents are?” he asks, gesturing to Freddie.
Colleen raises her hand. “Oh no. He’s mine. What did he do?”
It’s clear he’s trying not to laugh as he hands over a baggie containing a set of dentures. “I think you’re going to find that a grandparent is missing these.”
Her jaw drops as she accepts them, her cheeks turning red. “Oh my god. We were blaming the nursing home for losing them. Why the hell—”
“He asked me to give them to the Tooth Fairy for him. He said that should be enough teeth for a new video game. Apparently, he kept them under his pillow for the last few nights, but she never came.”
Everyone cracks up, and Colleen tucks the dentures into her purse. “Thank you. God knows what he plans to bribe the Easter Bunny with.”
Two little girls about three and four years old ride one of the pedal cars past us. One of them turns the wheel and beeps the horn while the other shouts, “Go! Push the gas, asshole!”
“And that would be mine,” one of the dads says, chasing after them.
About thirty minutes before the party is supposed to end, the kids are taken to the rocket room for snacks and story time with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
It gives us time to set out the gifts in the main room.
Instead of a bunch of toys, we used the donations to buy each kid a new bike.
We made sure we had all the ages and asked their favorite color so we could make it special. The littlest ones have tricycles.
We tied a balloon with the child’s name to each of the handle bars. Once story time is finished, I step into the rocket room. “Santa, I don’t want to interrupt but your elves have finished carrying in the gifts. Is it time to open them?”
The kids all turn to him and he waves his white gloved hand. “Well, what are you waiting for? Move your britches!”
A cheer goes up as the kids rush into the main room, followed by their parents.
Sutton leans over so I can hear him over the uproar. “That’s one country ass Santa.”
I’m still laughing when I step up on one of the chairs and hold my hands up until it’s quiet enough to be heard. “Look for your name on the balloon to find your new bike! Merry Christmas everyone!”
The screams and cheers from the kids are deafening as their parents help them find their bikes. Sutton scoops me off the chair and kisses me before setting me on my feet. “Look what you did,” he says, gesturing to all the happy kids.
“It wasn’t just me. The whole community helped pull this off.”
It’s the best kind of chaos as we hand out gift bags of cookies and candy, and help some of them get the bikes into their vehicles. The party is dying down and only about seven or eight kids are left playing while we hang out with their parents. It really couldn’t have gone better.
“I hope I can make this an annual thing,” I remark to Cara. “Thanks so much for all the fundraising you did.”
“Of course! We should absolutely do this every year.”
A sudden shout comes from the rocket room and a boy about ten years old races out. “Mrs. Claus has gone crazy!”
Oh no. What’s going on? I don’t have to wonder long or even go to check. Milton comes running down the hall with Donna hot on his tail. Both are still in costume.
All the kids rush to watch as Mrs. Claus shouts, “Seriously? With that nasty skank?”
She grabs for him but only catches the back of his coat with her fingertips. “I didn’t do nothing with her!” He starts climbing the ladder on the challenge course.
Frustrated, she starts scooping up balls from the ball pit and chucking them at him. She’s got good aim. The sound of one of them bonking off his head echoes, and the kids watching burst out laughing.
She gives up on throwing the harmless balls and climbs up after him. “Looks like Milton cheated again,” Cara says, stepping up beside me.
“Again?” Sutton asks.
“Yeah,” I sigh. “It’s a thing with them.”
Everyone watches as Mrs. Claus chases Santa up to the top of the play structure. Two tunnels cross the top, and Santa dives into the smaller one. Mrs. Claus clambers into the bigger one to get ahead of him.
“She’s got him now,” Maren says.
Meanwhile the group of kids are cheering for Santa. “No, go back, she’s right there!” a boy calls out. He listens to him, and tries to back out but gets wedged at the entrance. Mrs. Claus sees it and backtracks. She pulls her foot back and kicks him right in his red clad ass.
Laughter erupts from the kids, and Santa shouts, “Ow! Stop it! I’m stuck.”
Uh-oh. This isn’t good.
Mrs. Claus is still going off on him, but she’s dropped her voice at least. We can’t tell what she’s saying as she keeps kicking him in the ass.
“One of the teenagers is recording,” Holly points out.
Wonderful.
“Come on, let’s get him out,” Row says with a laugh. Sutton climbs up with Cooper and Row. The parents call their kids over to get their coats on. What a way to end the party.
“But if he’s stuck, he won’t be able to bring presents on Christmas Eve!” Colleen’s little girl, Kiera, wails.
Row has climbed back down to get some tools and he holds one up. “Don’t worry, we’ll get him out.”
“Why is Mrs. Claus mad at him?” she asks.
“He probably wouldn’t share his milk and cookies,” Freddie says.
“I think he shares plenty,” Holly mumbles, making the adults laugh.
When the last of the parents and kids have left, they get the top of the tunnel popped off and free Santa. Donna has gone home without him so Holly gives him a ride back to Happy Haven.
Sutton and I are finally alone. “Well,” I sigh. “Now I know I need a kids only sign on that tunnel.”
“The kids loved it,” he assures me. “You know someone is going to post that video.”
“Of course.” I don’t care. The party went great and I’m confident my opening day will too. There’s a lot of cleaning up to do but that can wait until tomorrow. Now, all I want to do is give Sutton his gift.
I ask him to lock the doors while I run upstairs to get it. I’m excited to see his face.
I stop to pet Dusty, who is happy to see me as always. “I’ll be back in just a little bit and we’ll go to Sutton’s. Now be good.”
Sutton’s gift is asleep in my room when I scoop him up, tuck him into a box and carry it downstairs. “I couldn’t wrap it,” I explain, setting it gently on the table.
A small whine comes from inside the box and Sutton’s gaze jerks to land on mine. “Delilah.” He unfolds the flaps of the box. I’ve never seen a bigger smile on his face than when that little black puppy head pops out.
“The shelter said he’s a lab mix,” I tell him.
He lifts the pup out of the box, and it goes crazy with excitement, trying to lick him in the face. Sutton’s deep laugh echoes through the empty space and it’s the best sound. It’s instant love between them. Sutton sits down and holds up one of the pup’s feet.
“Oh, look at the size of your paws! You’re going to be a big guy!” He grins up at me. “I love him. You’re the best girlfriend in the world.”
“Of course I am.” I hug him and the pup scrambles to lick my face. “He’s going to be a handful.”
“I’ve had plenty of practice with Dusty.” He gets up and plants a kiss on my lips. “Let’s get Dusty and go to my place. I have something for you.”
I surprised Sutton with his gift, but he absolutely floors me with his. He has me sit in the living room and keep my eyes closed while he carries it in and sets it on the coffee table. “Okay, you can look.”
“Sutton,” I whisper, taking in the sight of the dollhouse. It’s identical to the one I had as a kid. I’ve never seen another one for sale like it. “How?”
“It was left in the shed. Amos said you used to have one like it so I restored it. Some of the furniture isn’t perfect, but—”
I interrupt his words with a kiss. “It’s perfect. I love it. Thank you.”
He beams at me as I explore the dollhouse and look through the furniture. It brings back memories of all the happy hours playing with it as a child. Amos fell on it wrestling around when I was nine and it couldn’t be repaired.
“I know the perfect spot for it in my apartment, right in the window.”
The new puppy comes romping into the room, chased by Dusty, and we laugh as they crash into the wall before running back out of the room. “We’d better put it somewhere safe until then,” I suggest.
“I’ll put it in the closet for the night.” He gets to his feet. “Meet you in bed?”
I can’t remember a time when I was this happy. Not with my job, or home, or relationship. The business wasn’t the only risk I took, and now look at me. Ridiculously, hopelessly in love. I reach up and squeeze his hand. “Every night.”