Chapter 25
Garrick
It is important to me that we show the good that Fairytale Gardens does for the community.
After everything with the scandal last summer, people forget that FTG does a lot of legit charity work.
It was another thing Mom was passionate about.
She always said if you are able, you should give, even if it’s just a helpful hand.
So today I’m donning my Santa suit once again and we’re going to a local shelter.
After my chat with Ripley this morning, I need to make sure I’m coming off genuine – not that it’ll be hard here.
I can almost forget the cameras, and the seven remaining contestants vying for my attention.
The whole team will come with us today, including Tristian and Imogen.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been collecting money and donations of toys and clothing for Christmas.
We set up giving boxes around the park and encouraged guests to help.
My family and the Beeloved team also chipped in.
Everyone got really into it. We had to rent a truck to bring all the gifts here – the back stuffed with colored packages decked out in ribbon and bows.
The contestants spent this morning wrapping everything.
Nathan showed me pictures from the shoot on the way here – I wasn’t there, so the girls were free to gush about me.
Even though Ripley wasn’t on camera, she did wrap some gifts.
I could spot hers right away because they were by far the best. She could even give me a run for my money, and I’m the best wrapper in the Walton family.
This date style will also be a great way to see how the girls react to this situation and their feelings about helping others. Many of them will put on a show – cough, Desiree, cough. I’m excited to see the kids’ faces when I hand out the sweet toy cars and jousting sets I got.
After helping set up the Christmas tree with Melika’s expert eye for design and the snack table – like I was going to let us visit without baked goods – the kids and adults line up to meet Santa.
I’m sitting in the chair in my North Pole best, while the girls work as my elves and hand out the presents.
Desiree keeps trying to inch closer to my chair to make sure the camera never loses sight of her.
‘Tell me, buddy,’ I say to a kid, around six, on my lap. ‘Have you been a good boy this year?’
He screws up his face, and I can tell he’s trying to work out how much he should spill. I know because it’s a look I’ve worn often. ‘Well, I really tried, but it’s hard.’
Don’t I know it.
‘What d’ ya say we make a deal?’ I keep my voice low. I’m not mic’d, and the cameras are far enough away they won’t be able to hear me. ‘You promise to keep trying to be good, and I’ll give you a present for doing the best you can so far.’
He nods enthusiastically. He reminds me so much of my nephew, Bradley. I tell Desiree to give him two gifts.
Desiree gives me a dimpled smile as the kid runs off to show off his new toys. ‘You’re a good Santa. Everyone seems really happy.’ She runs a hand over the fur around my collar.
Ripley and I decided to plan the fake kiss for another day. We didn’t feel it was appropriate here. But the way some of the girls look at me – including Desiree right this second – it might not have to be staged.
Do I want that? When I look out across the room to all the girls I should be trying to connect with, my eyes snag only on Ripley.
She’s in the corner with Imogen, helping a girl set up a makeshift kitchen with plastic food and dishes.
Ripley’s got this beautiful, soft smile.
Her face is easy and happy, and those lines of stress across her forehead are gone.
Something in my heart dislodges and a warm sensation overtakes me.
It’s nice to see her relaxed. I’ve got a glimpse of it over the last few weeks, but only in sporadic moments when she forgets about all the responsibilities we’re both shouldering.
I yank the front of my costume back and forth to get some air.
‘You good?’ Tristian asks, pausing on his way to pass out some candy cane cookies Arianna made.
‘Santa is a hard job.’ I quickly sweep any unwanted emotions off my face. I told Ripley I’d make the audience believe I was fully invested in finding my Beeloved – thoughts about someone who is not an option need to stay far away from the prying camera lens.
‘We really appreciate it,’ a mom tells me as Zoya gives her daughter a large purple box. The woman takes my hand, squeezing it. ‘It’s been tough this year. I didn’t …’ She tears up and can’t finish.
I nod my understanding, throat thick. ‘I’m happy we could help. Maybe give you a breather. Don’t forget to get a little something for yourself.’ The adults were given a choice of gift cards and a present because we didn’t want them to miss out on opening gifts.
We’re running low on toys, so I offer to slip away and grab more from my sleigh.
‘You don’t need to do that,’ Brett says. This guy always likes to one-up everyone around him to make himself seem more important.
I wave him off as he tries to go instead. ‘I insist. Santa has to make sure they’re the right ones. Desiree, why don’t you entertain the kids with a Christmas story while I’m away?’ Her face lights up, giving me time to shimmy past the crew before anyone can stop me.
We do need more presents, but I also just want a break. Not from the kids – they’re fantastic. Mainly from the girls I’m showing interest in for Ripley’s sake – for the show’s sake, I mean. I’m doing this for Beeloved and FTG, and for all those kids I’m going to help with my fencing camp …
But also Juliet, if I’m being truthful to myself. I started calling her Juliet at first just to get a rise out of her, but now the name feels so perfectly right.
When I step out back, the first thing I hear is Juliet’s voice.
She’s talking to someone on the phone. I hadn’t seen her leave the main area, which is surprising since I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off her despite my better judgment.
Which, in fairness, isn’t the most sound judgment to start with.
‘Anna, I told you, you deserve to be treated better.’ There’s anger in her words, but I can tell it’s not directed at the person on the other end.
This definitely doesn’t sound like a conversation I should be eavesdropping on. As I step back, I bump into a bunch of cleaning supplies, and if I move any more, I’ll knock it over.
‘No, it’s not OK that he up and decided to take an extra trip on Christmas.
He promised you he’d be home. Molly is looking forward to it.
’ Juliet lets out an exaggerated sigh. And this one’s the real deal, unlike the one she gives me when she’s pretending to be annoyed.
Those are cute. I can tell this one comes from genuine distress.
My gut twists, and I want to make it better. I don’t know what it is, but I don’t like hearing her like this. I peek around the room divider. She’s running her nail over her bottom lip, hovering so close to giving in to the bad habit of biting it.
I try to get in my head so I can’t hear more of the conversation.
When she finally hangs up the phone after making little progress with the person on the other line, I walk out like I just got there, creating a lot of noise.
‘Hey, Juliet, are there any more presents back here?’ I try not to sound like I just heard everything.
She twirls the bottom of her hair before wiping her palm across her face. ‘I think there’s some in the truck. I can grab them.’
‘I’ll come with you.’ I follow her into the freezing air, the harsh sun of winter doing little to warm anything. She’s not wearing a coat, and I would offer my Santa suit but it’s not easy to get out of.
‘Sorry I wasn’t out there to see we were running low.’ She opens the door to the truck and grabs a box full of brightly wrapped presents.
‘You know it’s not your job to carry the weight of the world.
’ I lean against the side, transfixed by her.
Her hair is in a half ponytail, and she’s wearing the most adorable holiday sweatshirt with little sausage dogs in sweaters.
I love when she lets her whimsical side out.
It feels like I’m getting a peek at her brain.
‘Not the world, just this show.’ She pulls on a ribbon curl, straightening it and releasing it to spring back. ‘We already messed up with the last episode … and then there’s Brett.’
‘The intern?’ I raise an eyebrow. ‘What about him? Was he hitting on you or something?’ My heart gives an involuntary spasm at the idea of Ripley going on a date with someone.
‘What?’ She grimaces. ‘Ew, no, gross. Apparently, he’s the one who told Ivor we were getting “too friendly”.’ She air quotes the last words. ‘He called me out on it again this morning.’
My jaw tightens at the idea of Ripley getting reprimanded. ‘I’ll talk to him. Set him straight.’ That’s not really my area of expertise, but I’m sure Tristian can give me some tips on how to be more grumpy.
She shakes her head. ‘Don’t. It’ll just make things worse. I handled it. We just can’t screw up any more – especially because I want these families to have some joy.’
‘They are – don’t you worry, Santa’s got them covered. And as far as the negative reactions to the last episode, we’ll fix that. The masses are easily swayed. They’ll be back on our side in no time.’
‘Probably will, since you’re such a good actor.’ She climbs up the small step and further into the truck.
‘I’m not sure if that was a compliment. But I’m gonna take it as one.’ I grab the box she hands me, our fingers brushing as I do. An electric shock runs up my arm and I almost drop the package. I clear my throat. ‘You don’t seem happy about that, though.’
‘I am happy about that,’ she says. ‘It’s just … life.’ She shrugs, grabbing another gift.
‘Tell me about it.’ It sounds like a line you say just to agree with the sentiment, but I genuinely mean it. I want to know what’s bothering her. How I can make it better.
When she looks up from collecting a handful of boxes, her eyes widen as she sees me waiting for an answer. ‘Oh, was that an invitation to spill my guts?’
‘I work at a theme park, I’m used to gut-spilling.’
She dips her chin to her chest, shoulders shaking in a silent laugh.
‘Come on, Juliet, admit it, you think I’m funny.’
Her head does a giant circle, like she’s trying not to look at me, but she fails and finally meets my eyes. ‘Perhaps you’ve worn me down, and I might find some of the things you say worthy of a laugh or two.’
‘Or two? Juliet, stop! The flattery is going to kill me.’
That gets a bigger giggle.
My smile is so broad it makes my cheeks hurt. God, her laugh is the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.
‘So, the spilling of guts?’ I ask when she jumps down with the final packages.
Juliet’s mouth is about to open when Sofia comes outside. ‘The kids might riot if Santa doesn’t get back in there soon.’
‘Coming,’ I call over my shoulder, wishing that time would stop for just a moment so I could keep making her smile.