Chapter 27
VANNA
C hristmas music is playing through the speakers at the Twisted Throttle, and the sweet, buttery aroma of fresh-baked sugar cookies drifts from the kitchen just beyond the corridor.
Cherry, the patch-chasers, and I have been decorating the bar and baking for the event tonight.
As per the Saviors MC’s tradition, tonight is the night the neighborhood kids get to have their picture taken with Santa and pick an early gift donated by the members of the Saviors MC.
The remaining toys will be added to the ones we’ve collected for Toys for Tots, and all monetary donations from the parents will go to Medusa’s Gates.
The bar is decorated with garland and golden lights, the stripper poles in the back are wrapped in red and white to resemble peppermint sticks, and there’s a red carpet rolled out from the steel door to the area where they once set up Santa’s throne.
However, the ornately carved chair is now set up off to the side, surrounded by the wrapped gifts the children will choose from.
A framed photo of Snowy sits on the lush red cushion, with the red Santa hat he always wore, draped over the corner of the frame.
The first two years after Snowy’s death, the MC didn’t feel right about continuing without him.
I’ve seen firsthand the playful arguments Viking and Snowy would get into over who got to be Santa each year.
Snowy always won, and I think that played a part in this year’s decisions on how this event would go.
Viking didn’t want to sit in what had always been Snowy’s place, and so this year, the children will have their pictures taken with Santa on his big Harley Davidson Fatboy, all decked out in Christmas lights and garland, which he will be riding down that red carpet to make his grand entrance.
Also, since Snowy had always dressed up as the popular red suit Santa most are familiar with, Viking’s outfit is a more Odin-esque version.
He’s still wearing the red and white outfit, of course, complete with a red hat, but he looks more like a Nordic Warrior Santa than jolly old Saint Nick.
And according to what I’ve heard, still far less frightening than that year he crashed the party as Krampus.
Recalling the way Dean had laughed through the telling of that story brings a smile to my face.
Dean walks through the steel door of the Twisted Throttle, wearing his green elf hat, the bells on his boots jingling with every step as he approaches me.
“We’re all set up. Gonna head down the block before the crowd gets here. Is Ace coming with me, or are you keeping him here with you?” he asks.
“Did he say he wants to go?”
Dean chuckles. “ His mind was set the moment he saw Serene is Rudolph. I made a custom cover for her headlight, so it glows red. We’ve all got those fuzzy antlers on our bikes wrapped in Christmas lights, too.
I think we’re gonna have a tantrum on our hands if we don’t let him ride in on Rudolph with me. ”
“I need pictures of this, so while you’re waiting down the street, make sure you have one of your brothers take a few of you two together.”
Dean smiles and bends to kiss me briskly on the lips. I smile when his cold nose presses against my skin. “You got it, doll,” he promises, before heading for the door again.
“Be careful and make sure he has his scarf and gloves on, and that his elf hat covers his ears!”
“I’ll put his hat on when we get back here. He’ll be warm in his helmet,” Dean says, pausing at the door to glance around one more time. “This place looks really great. You girls did a fantastic job.” The patch-chasers beam with pride. “See you in twenty minutes or so.”
“Alright, have fun! Be careful!” I call after him.
“I’ve got the last batch of cookies if you want to watch them take off?” Cherry offers.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course! Hurry up and get out there.” She smiles and gestures toward the door.
I make it outside in time for Ace to spot me and wave, just before they take off out of the lot. I can’t see his little face behind the shield of his helmet and the fact that it’s already dark out, but I’m sure he’s smiling with excitement.
“ Quite the production ,” Legion’s voice says from the shadows. If he’s genuinely impressed at all, I can’t tell by his dry tone. “I’ve been assigned guard duty.”
I turn around to find him wearing the elf hat I requested and a pair of pointy ears, but instead of green with white trim, it’s black velvet with black trim, and as he steps closer to me, I don’t hear any jingle bells.
“I see you made an attempt,” I tease.
He only grimaces in response.
“Is this really so torturous for you?”
“This music is killing me. Is it too much of a request to play some Trans-Siberian Orchestra or at least something with a little edge ?” he gripes.
“I’m sure it will eventually come on. O Holy Night happens to be my favorite Christmas song.”
“Really?”
“Well, I may not be a catholic anymore, but yes. I still enjoy the season, and Christmas Eve is my favorite holiday.”
“We still have another week of this.” He sighs.
I can’t help but tease him a little more, joyfully singing along with the song while he stares at me. “A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices. For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!”
A wicked grin pulls at the corner of his mouth, and he sings the next verse, making it sound almost blasphemous in his sinister tone and obvious connotation. “ Fall on your knees… Oh, hear the angels’ voices… O night divine…”
“You know that’s not what it’s about.” I frown.
“A night with you would be absolutely divine.”
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that. If you want to be a grinch, fine. But it’s a beautiful song, regardless of what you actually believe. Now, you’ve got two more hours of this before the families get their kids’ pictures taken and leave. And you can’t smoke.”
He brings the cigarette to his lips and pulls one last, long drag, then exhales on another disgruntled sigh before extinguishing it in the outdoor ashtray.
I reach into my festive little Mrs. Claus apron and remove one of the peppermint sticks. After unwrapping the plastic, I hold it up to him. “Here, suck on this.”
He steps closer, until the peppermint stick is mere inches from his lips. “Say that again… slow.”
“ Oh, stop it . I’ve read that half the battle is overcoming the oral fixation. Maybe the peppermint will help you stave off your cigarette cravings for a little while.”
A crooked grin pulls at the corner of his mouth again.
“Do you want it or not?”
He opens his mouth and takes it from me with a suggestive, taunting “ Mmmm.”
“You really must have a permanent residence on the naughty list, but try to behave yourself tonight for the sake of the kids and our standing with the community. I have to check on the last batch of desserts. Would you make sure the prospects know where to direct the cars for parking, so they don’t block the guys’ grand entrance? ”
Legion grumbles something in agreement.
“Thank you.” I smile at him and head for the door. “Those elf ears look cute on you, by the way.”
“ Fuckin’ tease ,” he mutters.
“Excuse me?” I frown.
“ As you please .” He grins wickedly once more.
I shove the door open and lock it in place so Viking can ride straight into the area set up for him at the end of the red carpet.
Once the girls and I finish displaying all of the desserts and are satisfied with the way everything looks inside, we join the gathering crowd outside to wait for Santa’s arrival.
Within a few minutes, the sound of the rumbling motorcycles can be heard coming down the street.
Soon they pull into the lot, two by two ahead of Viking, except for Dean and Ace, who are riding in front with Serene’s glowing red headlight.
All of the bikes are mounted with antlers and lights, except for Viking’s motorcycle, which is decorated to look a bit more sleigh-like.
Ace is clapping excitedly along with the applauding crowd and can barely contain himself as Dean rolls Serene to a stop.
I can’t help but laugh along at his joy over the entire ordeal.
While the prospects make sure the path is clear for Viking to safely break away and ride into the roadhouse, Dean pulls off Ace’s helmet and replaces it with his little green elf hat that matches his outfit under his leather jacket.
“Easy, buddy!” Dean laughs at our son’s enthusiasm as he lifts him off the bike and puts him on the ground. Once Ace’s booted little feet hit the gravel, he makes a dash for me.
“Did you see me, Mommy? Did you see?”
“I did!” I laugh.
“Did you see me, too, Legend?” Ace asks, almost out of breath as he reaches me.
Legion clears his throat, and I realize he’s standing right beside me again. He smiles softly at my son. “I think you stole the show, Ace.”
“How come you’re not green?” Ace asks, pointing to Legion’s black elf hat.
“Oh, I’m green on the inside,” Legion darkly jokes.
I scoop Ace up before he can ask any more questions that might entice Legion into another not-so-subtle remark, just as Ace’s father approaches. The parents and their children are already gathering inside the roadhouse to meet our new Nordic Santa.
“Shall we?” I ask, hoping for Legion’s sake, Dean will let him come in from the cold.
Dean glares at Legion as if he read my mind. “You stay near the donation box,” Dean orders him, then slips his arm around my waist to escort Ace and me inside.
“ T his turned out so much better than I thought it was going to,” I say to Cherry after an hour or so has passed.
Ever since Dean told me about this holiday tradition, I’ve been looking forward to it.
There is a bittersweet feeling among the MC, though, but they are making the best of the situation.