As he approached the counter to order their drinks, Lindy mulled over what she could possibly tell him, or if she should say anything. And like Santa, she needed to watch the time. Billy had asked her to stop by the Wine Press that afternoon, plus she needed to get home early enough to help her mother set up for the church group following the evening candlelight service.

  Santa returned with two mugs of steaming cocoa and set them down on the table. Once he was seated, his gaze settled firmly on her. His look was gentle, understanding, sympathetic. “Now tell me what’s got you all twisted up inside. Decisions don’t need to be difficult, you realize, once you weigh the pros and cons.”

  If it were only that easy. “What makes you think I have a decision to make?” she asked, tilting her head to one side as she studied him. This man seemed to know far more about her than he should.

  “I’m Santa,” he said, as if that was all the explanation necessary.

  Lindy wasn’t that easily bamboozled. She had to assume he’d overheard her and Peggy’s conversation at the pizza parlor.

  “You have a choice to make. Do you like living in the big city?”

  “I like Seattle.”

  He nodded, encouraging her to continue. “I enjoy the cultural advantages available there. Celeste and I…” She’d been about to mention the Broadway shows they’d been able to attend, the sporting events, the shopping, and the fine restaurants. They splurged once a month on a fun outing. Lindy badly missed those girlfriend times. Going out with guys was a completely different experience than with her best friend.

  “Ah, Celeste,” he said, and shook his head. “She proved to be a real disappointment, didn’t she?”

  She nodded, preferring not to get into the past. Santa had definitely been listening in on her conversation with Peggy. Although she didn’t remember mentioning her former roommate.

  “What about Media Blast? Is that what’s holding you back?”

  She had to wonder how Santa figured out she worked for Media Blast. Seeing how much of her conversation he’d listened in on—she was tempted to ask if he enjoyed his pizza with or without anchovies.

  “Lindy?” Santa asked.

  She realized he was waiting for her reply.

  “Not entirely. They pay well, and I enjoy my work.” This was getting a bit eerie, that Santa would know all this. She returned his stare, which he held with gentle patience. Lindy was the first one to blink.

  “Starting your own business would require a giant leap of faith. It would be a huge risk. The thing is, Lindy, you’re fully capable of making it a success if you do decide to go for it.”

  His confidence nearly drew tears to her eyes.

  “But,” he said, “isn’t there something more—rather, someone—who makes this decision even more difficult? You want to give this new romance a chance and hesitate at the risk you’ll be taking. Am I right?”

  Lindy lowered her gaze to her drink, preferring not to answer.

  “Billy Kincade isn’t the same rascal he was at ten. He’s reformed his ways and learned some hard life lessons along the way. I have to say I’m rather proud of that young man.”

  Oh yes, Billy. He’d been with her in Leavenworth when she’d first seen Santa. She’d already decided not to mention Peggy’s idea to Billy, knowing he’d already asked her to stay. He wanted her to leave Seattle and move back to Wenatchee. The temptation was to give in, leave all that she’d worked toward in Seattle behind, and basically start over from the ground up.

  “It’s more than this young man, though, right?”

  Good grief, Santa must have been sitting right next to her to have this much information.

  “There’s a large project I submitted a proposal for that has yet to be accepted,” she said. A huge investment of her time, effort, and skill had gone into this bid. She’d waited a long time for the chance to work on a project like this. Now it felt as if she were standing on a cliff: afraid to look down, afraid to move, afraid to breathe, not knowing which way to turn.

  “It appears you have a lot to think about, Lindy.”

  “I do,” she agreed, seeing that he was finished with his drink and looked ready to go. “I appreciate you listening.”

  “I was happy to be a sounding board.”

  “You’re very good, Santa.”

  He shrugged off her praise and scooted back his chair.

  Lindy stood, too, leaving her mug half-full of cocoa. They left the coffee shop together and walked toward the street-level parking complex.

  It was already late; the sky was darkening. By four-thirty it would be pitch-dark. Lindy had always loved winters in the Pacific Northwest for the opportunity to view the northern lights. She didn’t get a chance to see them in Seattle because the city lights made it impossible.

  “Thanks again, Santa,” she said, as he approached his truck. “Have a good night.”

  “Always. Best night of the year for me and the missus. Plan for it starting every January. And, listen, if you do decide to take that big leap of faith, you write me a letter and let me know. I’ve always enjoyed your letters.”

  Lindy waited for the interior of her car to warm up and the windows to defrost before she headed to see Billy.

  He’d told her the restaurant was booked with reservations, so she wasn’t surprised that it took her a few minutes to find a parking spot. What did come as a shock was how busy the bar area seemed to be on Christmas Eve. One would think most people would want to be home with family. Billy was pouring wine, and when he noticed her, his face eased into a welcoming smile. They’d both gone into this with the thought it would be nothing more than a holiday romance. Somewhere, somehow, in the last few days that had changed. For Billy, and as reluctant as she was to admit it, for Lindy, too.

  Not wanting to distract him, she slipped onto a bar stool and waited until he’d filled an order before he approached her.

  “Hey,” he said, his eyes lighting up as they settled on her.

  “Merry Christmas,” she returned.

  “Merry Christmas,” he said. A couple minutes later, his replacement appeared, and he came around the bar to join her.

  Taking her by the hand, Billy led her into his office and closed the door. Right away she was in his arms. He kissed her as if this were the final scene of a romantic Christmas movie. Her arms went around his neck as she surrendered herself to his lips, giving as well as taking.

  “Wow,” she breathed, when they eventually broke apart. “What was that for?”

  “Missed you,” he whispered.

  It’d been less then twenty-four hours since they’d last been together. It made her wonder how he’d react when it was days or even weeks before they could see each other again. In her heart of hearts, she recognized that long-distance romances rarely survived beyond a few weeks or months.

  “You’re busy.”

  “It won’t be so hectic next week,” he promised. “I’ll take time off so we can be together. Didn’t I hear you promise Peter a sledding adventure? I volunteer to tag along.”

  Lindy doubted Billy knew what he was getting himself into. “You’re on.”

  “I’ve always loved the snow and was into snowboarding for a while.”

  So much of his life, his likes and dislikes, were unknown to her. She hoped to learn more and share more of herself. Billy seemed to want to make the most of the vacation time she had left, and Lindy did as well. What the week following Christmas, before she returned to Seattle, would mean for their future, Lindy couldn’t tell. Of one thing she was certain: Spending that extra time with Billy would make her decision all the more difficult.

  “I’ll be by your parents’ house tomorrow to play Santa for Peter,” he said, reminding her that he’d volunteered to give her nephew the thrill he would long remember.

  “Chad and Ashley plan to arrive around noon, so you could come any time after that.” She seemed to remember her mother suggesting he arrive around three and she selfishly didn’t want to wait until midafternoon to see him.

  “I’ll be there with bells on,” he said, smiling down on her.

  “Funny you should mention Santa,” she said. “I ran into him today.”

  “Oh? Just remember the only Santa for you is me.”

  She must have had a funny look because he grew serious.

  “Don’t tell me you fell for this other Santa?”

  “No, silly. It was the same Santa from Leavenworth. He seemed to know about the letters I wrote him…I’m being ridiculous.” She shook her head to clear her thoughts. “Santa needed my help with one of his appearances. He was amazing with all the children.”

  “That’s what makes Santa Santa,” Billy said. “Every kid writes Santa at one time or another, so the fact that he mentioned your letters is all part of his routine.”

  “You’re right.” Still, Lindy wasn’t fully convinced. It was far more than that, more than she wanted to explain. Santa had seemed to know more about her than what was feasible. Most likely, there was a logical explanation. He must have eaten at the pizza parlor, although she didn’t remember seeing him seated. Dressed as he was, he would be hard to miss.

  “Shall we head for the city park on the twenty-sixth?” Billy asked, taking her mind off Santa and back to the promise she’d made to Peter.

  “Sure.” Lindy didn’t have any other plans, and Peter had asked her several times already when they would be going. “That sounds great. Are you sure you can get away?”

  “I’ll make it work,” he said.

  Lindy knew Billy had been putting in a lot of extra hours because of the holidays. He needed the break. “If it doesn’t work that you can get the time off, I’ll understand. What’s important is you and the Wine Press.” She meant that from her heart. “We have all next week,” she reminded him.

  “Seven days doesn’t seem near long enough,” he said. “I’m already dreading the thought of you returning to Seattle.”

  No matter what her decision was, Lindy realized, she would need to go back.

  Billy closed his eyes as if the news was unwelcome. “I guess it’s wrong of me to want you to stay.”

  “Not wrong, Billy. It makes me happy you feel that way. It’s just that Seattle is where I live.”

  He lowered his head. “I don’t know how often I’ll be able to get away, especially on a weekend.”

  “I know.” She was well aware of the limitation with him owning and operating the Wine Press. He needed to be available to his staff and customers on the two busiest days and nights of the week. His day off was Wednesday, and it was highly unlikely he would be able to drive to Seattle and back on the same day.

  Lindy knew it would be a mistake to mention Peggy’s idea. If she chose to not start her own small business, he might consider this her way of saying she wasn’t interested in them as a couple. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

  Lindy left the restaurant and then drove home, her thoughts heavy. She shook them off, determined to make the most of Christmas Eve. How could she not, seeing she was with her family for the biggest celebration of the year: the birth of baby Jesus.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Her mother served a light dinner of sliced meats and cheeses so they would be ready for the Christmas Eve church service. Traditionally, her parents invited their Sunday school class over, following the church service, for cookies and hot cider. Her mother had been baking cookies for weeks, storing them in the freezer so she could send a plate heaping with an assortment of cookies home with each guest.

  Chad, Ashley, and Peter were set to meet them at the church before heading over to Ashley’s parents’ house for her family’s celebration. Ashley had four siblings, and it was sure to be chaotic and fun.

  Even before entering the church building, Lindy could hear the choir singing. The steepled church was brightly lit, both inside and out. The manger scene was arranged in the snow outside the building, and a light dusting started to fall in lazy, wind-tossed flakes, floating down from the heavens.

  Glancing up, she marveled at how perfect the night was. The burden of the future seemed far removed. She knew that whatever her decision, it didn’t need to be made that night, or tomorrow. As she looked toward the babe in the manager, she knew He would guide her.

  Christmas Eve was a time of joy and celebration. A time for family. A time to count her blessings, of which there were many. It hadn’t been an easy year, and she was just as glad to put it behind her, and yet there was much for which to be grateful. It had just taken her awhile to see and appreciate it.

  The service started with the singing of long-familiar Christmas carols. “O Holy Night,” “Away in a Manger,” and “We Three Kings” were some of Lindy’s favorites. She noticed some of the children were already dressed in their pajamas and slippers. She remembered coming to the evening service in her own nightclothes, in what seemed another lifetime ago.

  After the Christmas Eve service, she and Chad would be eager for bed, knowing that if they went to sleep right away, the morning would come quicker, and they would be able to open their presents from Santa. Chad had still been young enough to believe in Santa, and for his sake, Lindy pretended to believe, too. She wanted her little brother to have the same wonderful Christmas experiences she’d had.

  The church service was everything she knew it would be. As she walked out of the church, her gaze once again went to the life-sized Nativity scene on the snow-covered lawn. There, kneeling next to the manger, was the man she readily recognized as the Santa she’d met earlier that day. She turned to tell her mother, but when she looked back, he was gone.

  “Lindy, did you need something?” her mother asked.

  She shook her head. “I thought I saw someone I knew. Guess not.”

  From the church, several families headed to the Carmichaels’ house. It wasn’t long before every spot in both the living and family rooms were taken. Lindy helped serve, enjoying the myriad conversations as she went about the room, refilling cups and passing around a plate of cookies.

  “It’s so good to see you, Lindy.” She heard that again and again, and it never grew old. Most of these friends of her parents were ones Lindy had known nearly her entire life. They were as close to family as one could get without a blood connection.

  It was after eleven before the house was quiet once again. Lindy sent her parents to bed, as they were overly tired from the day’s activities. She cleared the plates and cups, filled the dishwasher and set it to wash, then headed toward her bedroom, too. Sitting up in bed, she looked over at her nightstand and saw the letter she’d written to Santa just a week earlier.

  She reached for it and started to read again.

  Dear Santa…

  * * *

  —

  Unlike her childhood, Lindy slept in late on Christmas morning. With sheer determination, she managed to focus on the holiday and put any decision-making off for another time. Today was for family and fun.

  Her mother already had the turkey roasting when Lindy made her way into the kitchen.

  “Merry Christmas, Mom,” she said, and gave her mother a peck on the cheek.

  “Merry Christmas,” her mother echoed. “I believe this is the best Christmas ever.”

  Her mother said the same thing every year.

  “I believe it is, too,” Lindy said, and this Christmas she felt it more so than any other. Her life had seemed to have made a positive turn. No matter what happened with Media Blast, she knew she’d given this latest project her best shot. Knowing that was what mattered most.

  “Dad’s making breakfast.”

  He sat in his recliner, next to the flickering fire in the brick fireplace, his iPad in his hand. “Just waiting for Sleeping Beauty to make an appearance,” he said.

  Her dad’s sourdough hotcakes were not to be missed. Her mother started sizzling the bacon. Within fifteen minutes they’d gathered around the kitchen table, passing butter and pure, warmed maple syrup.

  They’d decided to wait for Chad, Ashley, and Peter before opening the gifts. Seeing that the family would arrive at about noon, Lindy helped her mother get all the side dishes ready and the table set. She added an extra place setting on the off chance Billy could join them.

  Right on the dot, Chad, Ashley, and Peter arrived. Sleepy from the drive, Peter waddled over, yawning loudly, to hug Lindy.

  “Did Santa arrive at your house this morning?” she asked, picking him up and balancing him against her hip.

  He nodded with another big yawn. “I got a fire truck and LEGOs and new pajamas.”

  “Anything on your list that Santa forgot?” she asked. Knowing he loved working the wooden puzzles, she’d gotten him four that were currently under the tree. Her parents had wrapped up a child-style teepee tent for him that would fit nicely in his playroom. Peter would love that. He’d seen one in a catalog and had run to show his grandma.

  He was late for his nap, so Lindy settled them both in the rocking chair. Peter closed his eyes and started to drift off to sleep, all the while protesting. He wanted to open his presents, pointing toward the Christmas tree.

  “I want more presents,” he said with a pout.

  “Take your nap first, and then we’ll open all the gifts. Okay?”

  Asking was a mistake. “No, I want to open them now.”

  “Sh-h-h, in a little bit,” she whispered, and continued to rock. It wasn’t long before he stopped fussing and fell into a deep sleep. Content, Lindy brushed the soft hair from his forehead and continued to gently hold him against her heart.

  Soon after Peter was asleep, her brother approached her. “Let me take him. I’ll put him down in my old room.”