Page 104 of Santa Daddies

My head jerked up to see he was no longer behind the wheel. A chuckle drew my attention to my right side where I saw him leaning into the car. “When? How?”

His chuckle turned into laughter as he unfastened my seat belt. “This feels a bit like déjà vu,” he teased. “When, about a minute ago. How, in a car. As for the unspoken questions, I believe you’ll find the answers in there.” He reached down to gently tap the slip I was still holding. “Well, that is if you’re going to get out of the car. Though I suppose it’s possible to complete the task outside, but?—”

“Not necessary,” I said, shoving against his chest. “I’d already be inside and reading if some big ol’ Santa wasn’t blocking the door.”

“I do so love to watch those numbers climb.” He dropped a kiss on top of my head before backing up. Sweeping his hand, he bowed low. “After you.”

“Thank you, kind Sir, but please, feel free to go ahead,” I said, hoping that politeness might erase whatever the number his count had reached. His grin told me he wasn’t buying it. I climbed out of the car and then quickly turned my butt away from him and scooted toward the door leading inside. Laughter followed me as I punched in the code and ducked through the door into the kitchen. I’d deal with that count later. Right now, I had a piece of the list to read. I shucked out of my coat as I walked through the living room, risking another tick of that number by simply draping it over a chair instead of hanging it up in the closet. I’d waited long enough and couldn’t wait a single moment longer.

Unfolding the paper as I walked, I made it to the bedroom and flipped on the light. Drawing a deep breath, I released it slowly and only then undid the final fold.

Tonight we look back—remembering where we’ve been,

For successes we have now are because of then.

To honor the memory of the steps that brought us to today,

I ask you to think back on when we became more than our play.

Without the past, we’d not cherish the now,

So, little elf, all you must do is think of the how.

Will your memory match mine or will it be something new?

We won’t solve the puzzle until I come to join you.

I trust you to follow that voice from deep down within,

And when Santa calls, know it will be time to begin.

I’d gotten my poem was my first thought, my second was that my Daddy hadn’t lost a bit of his poetic ability, but it was the third that truly mattered. Actually, it was the fourth stanza that had me catching my breath.

I ask you to think back on when we became more than our play.

It wasn’t that I was going to panic because that was an awful lot to ask for since we’d been dating for years, and had lived together for the last two. But, could I remember every detail so as not to disappoint a man I had no doubt remembered every moment? I clasped the note to my chest and closed my eyes.

“Just listen,” I whispered. Not to the thoughts of what I might be forgetting that were bouncing around in my head, but to that voice I normally tried to ignore. I needed her now and, once again, she seemed to know me better than myself.

You remember.

Two words, each one simple, and yet they were exactly the ones I needed to hear. “Thank you.” I smiled and opened my eyes. Tonight’s piece didn’t give me step-by-step instructions on what to do or even how to prepare, but that wasn’t going to stop me. I grabbed Lord Pigsley off my pillow then turned and ran out the door and down the hall, darting into a room that basically held my “Little” life.

“You can visit with your royal subjects, milord.” I gave the stuffy a kiss on top of his head before setting him down amongother stuffies I loved. Now that I was free to enjoy Big-girl games without an audience of but one, I began to work on solving the poem. I only had a brief moment of panic when I couldn’t find the first item on my mental list, then turned and saw the boxes I’d just sealed. A few snips of the scissors cut through the tape, and I flipped back the flaps. Digging through it, I found what I needed near the bottom and pulled it free.

“Yay!” I shouted, then slapped my hand over my mouth. I didn’t want to call attention to what I was doing. Not before I was ready. Listening intently, I gave it a beat of five before taking another breath. I gathered a few more items, including some I had to dig through the drawers in the attached bathroom for, and then I poked my head out the door and looked both ways. Finding the hallway empty, I dashed back to the bedroom.

I paused in the doorway and scanned the room with a critical eye. Would he expect me to move furniture around and switch out lamps or books that hadn’t been here that night?

Sure, oh, and while you’re at it, why not call up the weather department and ask if there is any way to make it snow?

“There’s no need to get snarky,” I mumbled. But, I sorta wished that was a possibility. That snowstorm had been out of the ordinary, and, in fact, had been one reason why that night had been so magical. Grinning, I dropped the items I’d brought with me, toed off my shoes, and slunk back down the hall. Channeling my inner ninja, I oh so slowly peeked around the corner. Hearing sounds in the kitchen, I took a chance on Daddy remaining there while I ducked into his office.

“Where is it?” I was about to give up and admit mimicking the setting was outside the realm of my abilities when I spotted it. “Gotcha!” I whispered-shouted. Entering the hall again, a loud bang almost had me dropping it and squealing, but the sound of water running soothed the panic. He was still in the kitchen doing only who knows what. I tucked the prize under myshirt just in case he happened to glance out and see me and then had to strangle a giggle as the memory of Dawn’s story played again.

Concentrating onyourstory might be more productive.

Right!