Chapter 8
PRAIRIE
M y parents gave me a few odd looks at breakfast, but thankfully they didn’t ask any questions about my date last night. I was still reeling from everything that had happened in the past twenty-four hours.
After I cleaned the kitchen, I went to my room to unpack a bit, then got ready to meet up with Daniel.
As soon as I was ready, I grabbed a sketchbook. Drawing always calmed me, and it didn’t matter what it was.
Looking around my bedroom at the old-fashioned wallpaper and antique wooden furniture, my eyes fell on a small glass beside the mirror. I’d put the corsage Daniel had given me in water, so that it would last longer.
I pulled it closer and began to sketch the rose, then dove for my phone as soon as it rang.
“You looked super cozy with Daniel last night,” Lila said immediately.
“Good morning to you too,” I said pointedly. “How was your night?”
I could almost hear her rolling her eyes as she sighed. “Well, I heard some of the latest gossip. Tina, Sandra and I had a bit too much champagne. A pretty good night. Nothing like yours though. Tell me everything.”
Although Lila and I used to be close, I certainly wouldn’t be telling her all of the details of my life anymore.
We had grown apart, and I wasn’t sure how much I could trust her these days.
Besides, the things that I felt for Daniel were still so new and fresh that I couldn’t even articulate them to myself, let alone anyone else.
“It was amazing,” I said simply. “I’ve never danced so much, and we had a great time.”
“That’s it?” She scoffed. “Did he at least make a move?”
“No comment,” I said, trying to sound snobby, but giggling.
She laughed at my tone. “Okay, keep your secrets. I’ll just assume that you guys screwed in the back of his pickup outside in a field somewhere.”
“Are you nuts? It was way too cold for that.”
We laughed together, then Lila said, “I have to jet. Meeting up with some folks for coffee. Have a good Christmas Eve.”
“Thanks. You too.”
I had just picked up my sketchbook again when I heard a ping.
Daniel: Hey – do you have a bright red dress?
I went to the closet where Mom had moved all of my old clothes to confirm that it was still there.
Me: Yes, but it’s bright red, with a ruffle around the bottom. It’s from a rag doll costume three years ago.
Daniel: Perfect. Sorry, this is a rush. I’ll explain later. Can you please wear that dress, and tie your hair back? I’m sending Andrew to pick you up in twenty minutes.
Although it was definitely odd, I couldn’t see the harm in wearing a stupid old dress.
Me: OK. I’ll be ready.
Daniel: Great. Thanks. I can’t wait to see you, baby.
I threw on the dress, then rolled up a normal dress and tucked it in my shoulder bag.
Since I looked strangely pale in the bright red color, I added some blush and berry lipstick. If it was some sort of Christmas photoshoot, at least I would look healthy and festive.
Rushing outside as soon as I heard a pickup in the driveway, I waved to the burly man who looked a lot like Daniel. He jumped out to shake my hand. “Hi, Prairie. I’m Andrew. Sorry we didn’t really get a chance to meet last night.”
“Hi.”
He took one look at my dress and grinned from ear to ear. “Wow. That’s perfect.”
As we drove away, I asked, “Can you tell me why I’m wearing this thing?”
“Nope,” he laughed. “I was supposed to, but it’s going to be much funnier if I don’t.”
“And here everyone said you King boys were nice,” I grumbled.
“Seriously, you’re a great sport to do this.”
I had no idea what he meant by that, but didn’t want to distract him anymore since he was driving pretty quickly.
It was ten minutes to noon when we pulled up to the Town Hall, where a bunch of people were gathered in front. Andrew drove toward the back door, then grabbed his phone. “We’re out back.”
I got out and waited for a few seconds until the door popped open.
“Ho ho ho.”
The rich laugh was unmistakable, and I doubled over in laughter.
Santa’s white hair and full beard looked pretty realistic, as did his cherry velvet suit that matched my dress perfectly.
Those deep brown eyes sparkled as he gave me a wink. “You look absolutely perfect, baby. They’ve got a wig for you.”
We hurried inside, then he gave me a quick kiss. “The beard tickles,” I laughed. “How did you end up as Santa?”
“Mr. Hermiston usually does it, but he threw his back out. Since I was the first guy here, they just shoved me into the suit.”
Before I could ask the slew of questions dancing like sugar plums in my head, two older ladies stuck their heads into the hallway. “There is our Mrs. Claus!” one of them exclaimed.
“Your dress is perfect, honey,” the other one said, as they dragged me over to a makeshift makeup table.
A white ruffled pinafore was slipped over my dress, then they added a white wig and gold-rimmed glasses. One of the ladies dabbed on a bit more blush, then they stepped back.
“The prettiest Mrs. Claus we’ve ever had,” the woman with salt-and-pepper hair said.
Daniel had disappeared into the side room where I heard boxes being shuffled around.
It hit me that I was going to have to speak to the lineup of people who were waiting to come in. “What am I supposed to do?” I asked.
“Relax, sweetie. You can play it anyway you want. Just sit beside Santa and smile a lot, or you can throw yourself into the role and help out.”
The taller woman smiled. “It just looks better when Santa’s wife is with him.”
“All right,” I said, standing up and smoothing my skirt.I was going to have to get used to being the center of attention if I was actually going to date a member of the King family.
On the other hand, nobody in town knew me yet. And if I’d met them last night, they saw me with strawberry blonde hair, not a white wig. I was free to be anyone I wanted today.
In the spirit of the holiday season, just for today, I was going to practice being the wife of Daniel King.
I mean…Santa.