Page 18 of A Curvy Wonderland (A Curvy Girl Christmas #3)

18

HOLLY

E ldan’s exit confused me, because I knew that he'd been Santa all this time. Was he actually just getting their presents?

The question swirled through my mind while I went to the hot cocoa bar and got myself a dark hot chocolate, piling it high with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles on top.

I’d taken it to a table, sitting by myself for a moment of reprieve when the door to the café opened again.

I looked in that direction, seeing Eldan come inside, followed by someone wearing a Santa suit.

But the man in the suit wasn't Santa…

It was their dad.

My mouth fell open, and I covered it with my hands as I looked around for the girls. They were standing near the speakers, dancing to “Jingle Bell Rock.” I wanted to tell the girls their dad was here, but I was completely speechless.

Clarence was home.

And somehow, Eldan had made it happen.

The next part seemed to happen as if in slow motion.

Someone tapped Delilah on the shoulder, and her knees went weak. “Is that you?” she mouthed. He nodded back at her, smiling.

The song ended, and the girls noticed their mom staring, and followed her gaze.

Tatum whispered, “Daddy?”

Then louder, “Daddy!”

She sprinted toward him, her dress skirt flying around her. Lucy, realizing what was happening, followed her sister.

Their dad smiled big, getting on his knee and catching Tatum and then Lucy in his arms. He closed his eyes, a tear leaking down his cheek as he wrapped them up. Then Delilah was there too, tears forming rivers from her eyes.

Lucy and Tatum were still in his arms, refusing to let go and so he took in his wife and hugged her too. The four of them held each other in such a sweet reunion it made tears spring to my own eyes.

But then I had to glance at Eldan. He was watching them too, a true smile on his lips.

I reached Alden and touched his arm. “Can we talk outside?”

He nodded, looking at me with an expression that gave none of his emotions away.

My heart hammered against my ribcage, almost painfully, as we stepped out of the warm café into the frigid night air.

I wrapped my shawl tighter around me as I stepped off the path and into a row of Christmas trees backlit by Christmas lights. It was beautiful, and a part of my mind wanted to freeze the image forever. But I knew I was seconds away from facing feelings that were less than magical.

So once we had some privacy, I turned to face him, squaring my shoulders and trying to steady my breath. Finally, I asked, “How did you do it? How did you get him home?”

One corner of his mouth lifted in half a smile. “When I heard he wasn't going to make it back in time, I found a charity to help get him on a private flight.”

I put my hand over my heart, because it was so sweet. Regardless of what had happened between us, he had given the girls such an incredible gift, and I couldn’t be more grateful. “Thank you so much for bringing him home. I think they’ll always remember this as the best Christmas ever.” And it hit me that that had been my wish. I'd wished for the best Christmas ever, but I hadn’t exactly specified for whom. Maybe this was just some Garland magic making my wish come true. “So when I told you their dad wasn't coming back, you just got to work?”

“Actually, their wish was the first one on the tree.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a white wooden ornament and flipped it over so I could see Lucy’s beginner handwriting and red marker.

Bring my daddy home. Lucy Wright.

Eldan said, “When I saw it, I asked my mom what it meant, and she got to talking with Delilah. That's how this whole thing came about with the four of us… I know I'm not always the warmest person or the most welcoming, but I do care.”

There was something behind his words—a vulnerable pain at being misunderstood.

“I know.” Despite myself, I reached out and squeezed his hand, only for a second. “It’s amazing what you did—getting all of those wishes and making them come true. It's like you're the Garland star.”

He tilted his head with a wry smile. “Actually, there was one wish I still haven't gotten to yet.”

Something in me sparked. Maybe nostalgia, or just my inner romantic. I loved the idea of one last mission with Eldan. Maybe it would make all my heartache feel worth it. “Can we make it happen tonight?” I asked him.

“Maybe.” He reached into his pocket, retrieving a second ornament, and passed it to me.