Chapter 24
Twenty-Four
Julie
My palms were sweaty despite the below-freezing temperatures outside. Even though the roads had been cleared, that didn’t mean that the weather had improved. Snow blew around us, dusting the freshly cleared streets as we made our way down Main Street.
It had been years since I’d been to Silver Falls, and I’d forgotten just how charming the small town was at Christmas.
The street was lit up with strings of soft white Christmas lights and pretty red bows tied to the light posts.
All the shops were busy with people bustling about, trying to finish their Christmas shopping.
I knew how much Daisy would love going into each of the shops because they all felt so magical, but we were headed to the one store that could top all of that: Silver Falls Express.
Silver Falls Express had everything a child could ever dream of, from toys galore to Santa’s workshop, where they could watch the elves make toys.
There was also an area in the back of the store where children could visit Santa and take pictures with him.
I’d brought the letter Daisy had written so we could drop it off at the North Pole.
I figured it was the best way to bring back some of the holiday cheer and ignite the Christmas magic she so desperately needed.
We pulled up outside, and her eyes widened in shock as she stared at the gigantic store in front of us.
“What is that?” she asked, leaning forward to try to see it better.
Patrick and Gage laughed as they unbuckled and climbed out of Patrick’s beast of a truck.
My parents had decided to stay at the inn and work on a few things there—though they wouldn’t tell me what.
We figured Patrick’s truck would be the best to get us through any bad weather—or to run someone over with, as he put it.
I helped Daisy out of her booster seat and watched as Patrick smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and refused to let him set her down.
I laughed and took Gage’s hand as he assisted me so I didn’t fall on my ass trying to get out of the truck.
Between the lift and the black ice that lurked beneath the thin blanket of snow, I had a lot counting against me getting out successfully on my own.
We walked into the store, and I grinned when I saw Daisy’s eyes light up.
The store was packed, which I expected, but I couldn’t stop the panicked feeling that kept threatening to consume me as I realized just how many people were there.
Not only was it easy for a child to get lost in a place like this, but it was also incredibly easy for someone to blend in with the crowd and watch us without our noticing.
“Everything will be fine,” Gage assured me, pulling me into his side as his fingers gently dug into my hip. “We’ve got eyes on everyone. You just need to focus on shopping with Daisy.”
I nodded, forcing a smile as I tried not to let my worry ruin the day for her.
“Okay, my love, where should we start?” I asked, pulling her to the side so we were out of the way as I bent down and smiled at her. “Do we want to shop for toys first? Or should we go say hi to Santa real quick?”
“Santa is here?” she questioned in disbelief, her eyes widening.
“He is. Do you want to go say hi and take your picture with him?”
She nodded quickly as she reached for my hand and let me lead the way.
I didn’t have to look behind me to know that Patrick and Gage were right there, keeping a close watch on everyone and everything.
The line for Santa was surprisingly short, which was comforting.
I glanced down at Daisy, loving the way her little face lit up as she took everything in.
From the elves rushing around to the soft Christmas music playing overhead to the stage right before us where Santa and Mrs. Claus sat, everything was beautiful and perfect.
“Santa is ready to see you,” a cheery elf said, extending her hand to invite Daisy to go see him. Daisy looked nervously at me, then over her shoulder at the guys.
“Can they come with us?” she asked.
“Of course,” the elf replied. “Why don’t we get you settled on Santa’s chair so you can tell him what you want for Christmas, then we’ll get a picture with everyone?”
“Yes, please!” Daisy said, beaming.
I scrunched my face in apology at the guys before following Daisy’s lead over to Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The elf helped Daisy climb up onto the large, wooden arm of Santa’s chair so she wasn’t sitting on his lap but was close enough to tell him what she wanted for Christmas.
I tried to lean forward so I could hear too, but she lowered her voice and spoke behind her hand to keep us from hearing.
Patrick and Gage exchanged a confused look with me, none of us knowing what that was all about. Santa’s eyebrows rose as he looked at us and then nodded his head before whispering something back to her. Daisy turned to face us, a huge grin spread across her face that I hadn’t seen in a while.
“Are we ready for our photo?” the elf asked.
Santa nodded as Mrs. Claus reached behind Daisy to hold his hand as she sat between them.
“Perfect! We’ll get one shot with the three of you, and then we’ll add the adults in,” the elf said as they stood at the camera mounted to the tripod and started pressing buttons. “Smile!”
Daisy continued to smile and hold still while the elf got a few pictures before waving for us to join them.
“Alright, if we can have Mom in the middle with each of you on one side of her, please,” the elf continued, looking at us as she pointed where she wanted us to go.
We all got lined up, and I couldn’t help the flutter that rushed through my chest the second Gage’s fingers brushed against mine. I smiled a real, genuine smile that had nothing to do with the holiday photo we were taking and everything to do with him.
“You guys did great! We will have these ready in a few minutes if you want to stop by the workshop to view them.” The elf smiled and gave us a wave as we walked off the stage and exited into the calmer part of the store.
“That was so much fun!” Daisy squealed, squeezing my hand. “Can we buy the pictures? Please!”
“Oh. Umm...” I didn’t know how to respond to that because I knew how expensive these things could be, and I didn’t have the luxury of overspending right now when I didn’t have a job.
“I’ll buy the photos and meet you guys in the toys,” Patrick said, not giving me an option to disagree as he winked at Daisy and walked off.
“Okay,” I replied through gritted teeth as I narrowed my eyes at my brother, trying to keep my irritation to a minimum. I knew he meant well, but I didn’t need him teaching Daisy that she could have everything she wanted. I turned to Daisy and smiled. “Shall we go do some shopping?”
Daisy let out another squeal and pulled on my hand as she dragged me through the crowd and back to the toy section we had passed by earlier.