CHAPTER TEN #2
A loud laugh burst out of Avery. She covered her mouth. Of course, Gram’s Christmas memories would go down swinging.
“After we transported her home, we suspected that her Christmas memories hadn’t been fully erased.
And that, if she did start a family, her child might possess her same gifts.
So, we decided to keep an eye on her. We set up a base of operations at the Candle Emporium to be close to your house. Just in case,” Santa explained.
“Santa and I remained mostly at the North Pole, with a small group of elves stationed near the candle warehouse full-time. I visited on occasion. As we suspected, your grandmother’s Christmas spirit only grew,” Louis said.
“She won first prize in her neighborhood’s decorating contest the next year, if memory serves,” Ander said.
Avery was reeling. Louis rubbed her back.
“Around 1986, the elves reported some signs of magic, and Louis suggested that I pay the candle store a visit. That’s how I met your mother,” Santa said, tears again welling in his eyes.
She looked to Louis. “Did she—?”
“We interviewed her, too,” he confirmed.
“Oh, I do miss Betty,” Tilly said softly.
Avery whipped around.
“You’re her spittin’ image,” Gregory chirped.
“A fine candidate, indeed,” Ander agreed.
Santa looked to Louis. “How do I…?”
Louis patted Santa on the shoulder. “Betty was here for almost a year,” Louis explained.
Avery shook her head in disbelief, looking to each of them for confirmation.
“In 1987, she joined the team,” Louis continued.
“As far as your grandmother Jane was concerned, she was studying abroad. And she was, really. She did a trial run, second-seating Santa that Christmas. They were a well-oiled machine. That might have been our best year—” Louis said, his smile fading as he looked back at Santa.
“I loved her so much,” Santa croaked out.
“You—” Avery couldn’t finish her sentence.
“But we received word that Jane got sick,” Louis jumped in.
“There was no one else to care for her. Betty had to go home. It destroyed us to wipe her memory, but she insisted. She—gave it all up, for her mother. To protect us. To preserve Christmas. I think we all secretly hoped it wouldn’t take.
It wasn’t until we transported her home that we realized,” Louis explained, inviting Santa to go on.
“That you were on the way,” Santa finally said.
Avery felt faint, and her legs began to give out. Louis magically produced a living room set, and they all sat, Avery between Santa and Louis.
A heavy silence fell on the group as realization dawned on Avery.
“You knew about me?” Avery managed through hot tears. “And you didn’t—”
Everyone began speaking at once in Santa’s defense. Santa held up a hand to quiet them.
“Avery. I am so sorry. Her—her memories were gone. She left. To take care of your grandmother. To protect the holiday. I couldn’t bear the thought of undoing that sacrifice and causing her the pain of remembering me.
Remembering us. She had a life she couldn’t leave. So did I. But once I knew about you—”
“He bought the house next door to the candle warehouse,” Stephen explained from the chair beside Louis.
“Whenever he wasn’t urgently needed in the North Pole, he was there.
Louis and I kept things running here. He made sure, one way or another, that you always had everything you needed.
He was there. Every game. Every recital. Every chance he had to see you.”
“That candle store had no idea how good they had it. The real Santa,” Tilly said, shaking her head.
Gregory honked in agreement.
Avery’s mind was reeling. “If she didn’t remember, why did she bring me to see you?”
“I don’t know,” Santa said, shaking his head. “I never knew how it happened.”
“As long as we’re, erm, telling the truth,” Tilly said, hesitation in her voice.
“Right. Might o’ tipped the scales a bit on that one, guv'nor,” Gregory admitted, smacking Ander with his fin.
“Oh dear,” Ander said.
“What are you lot going on about?” Louis asked.
“We—well, we remembered how much she loved candles,” Tilly began. “We didn’t think there was any harm in mailing her a few coupons. Free candles if you bring your kid to get your photo taken with Santa? That sort of thing?”
Santa put a hand to his heart. “Tilly,” was all he could manage.
Avery took his other hand. Santa turned to her; his eyes full of hope.
“One day, I saw her there in line. With you in her arms. I thought it was a miracle. I got to see her, and hold you, and—”
Avery practically tackled Santa into a hug. He wrapped his arms around her and rocked her as she sobbed into his velvet jacket—the one she had been wearing only a few days before.
“I thought seeing you both once a year was all I’d ever get, if I was lucky,” he said, holding her tight.
“But then I got to know you and watched you grow and realized just how much like your grandmother and mother you were. Are. When I saw you last week, when you said you were ready for a change, when I felt the depth of your loss, I—oh, Avery, I hope I haven’t caused you any harm. ”
Avery pulled back and wiped her face.
“Harm?” She shook her head, tears falling freely. “You gave me my family back,” she said. “I am just devastated. For you. That you couldn’t—”
“I was lucky to have her for as long as I did,” Santa said in a way that made Avery think he’d said it to himself a million times. “Some of the most precious gifts are fleeting.”
He seemed to have found some peace with his loss, which Avery did not wish to disturb. So she did not venture a guess aloud as to why her mother, on her deathbed, made Avery promise to go see Santa one last time.
A heavy quiet returned to the circle until an elf came by with a fresh tray of sparkling golden drinks.
“Just what the doctor ordered,” Gregory pronounced, as they all grabbed a glass.
“To Jane,” Stephen offered, toasting.
“To Betty,” Tilly, Ander, and Gregory said together.
“To the Hoarfrost family,” Louis said softly.