Page 142 of Santa Daddies

“Oh yeah? Well I think you should go pick out some cookies before Daddy decides you’re way too sassy for a girl that just got her naughty butt spanked,” I teased, then swatted at her as she scurried away laughing. It was a fun, carefree laugh that I hadn’t heard in a long time and the sound settled something in my soul.

I sat with the happy vibes for a minute before I found my phone and shot off a quick message to Bernadette. I’d alreadywarned her I wouldn’t be back for the rest of the day, but I really wanted to reiterate that to her and also let her know if there was a true emergency, she could reach out to my father. With how bored he was and how crazy he was making Mama, I was sure he would welcome the chance to jump in and help with whatever was necessary. It wasn’t like he didn’t know what he was doing.

Just as I tucked the phone away, Crystal came in with a tray piled high with all different types of cookies.

“You know, you barely touched your pizza, I’m not even sure I should let you have cookies yet.”

She stopped in her tracks and did one long, slow blink.

“But you said we were going to have cookies and hot chocolate and watch movies,” she reminded me. “You told me to fix a plate of cookies.” She raised the tray in my direction.

“I know what I said.” I sighed. “We’ll just make sure to have a really healthy dinner, I guess.”

Looking around the room, I noticed for the first time that while it was perfectly decorated for Christmas, it was almost too perfect. It felt a little bit impersonal and cold. I didn’t like it. With a snap of my fingers, I changed the entire thing.

Suddenly the smell of fresh pine filled the air. The fireplace crackled, casting a warm, dancing glow across the room.The mantelpiece was wrapped with a thick garland of thick fresh evergreen, punctuated by pinecones and red berries. Bright red-and-gold candles of varying heights flickered gently among the greenery, their light reflected and multiplied by a large mirror hanging above the mantel. Three traditional red-and-white stockings hung from hooks, our names embroidered in a fancy silver script. One for each of us and one for Dixie. The elves would see that they were filled when they delivered our presents while I was away and Crystal was fast asleep on Christmas Eve.

The tree was the true focal point. It was large and full, strung with colorful lights and an obnoxious amount of tinsel. Eachornament that hung from its branches was unique and carried a meaning or a memory. A velvety white tree skirt gave the illusion of snow beneath the branches and an old toy train clicked against a track that made its way around the entire base.

“There, that feels a bit more like home now, doesn’t it?” I smiled and turned to my sweet wife.

“It does. I’ve been wanting to change a few things but the helper elves had worked so hard and I didn’t want to hurt their feelings by messing up their vision.”

“Little elf, I don’t care if a hundred elves spent thousands of hours decorating and you changed every single thing. This is your home, our home, not theirs. They’re sent in to make things easier, that is their only purpose.”

She smirked. “A hundred elves and thousands of hours? So dramatic. I’m really starting to worry about you.”

“Ha ha ha. Pick a movie and I’ll get the hot chocolate, brat.”

“Gladly.” She smiled and set the tray of cookies on the coffee table before grabbing a big fluffy blanket covered in colorful penguins wearing Santa hats and snuggling into a heap on the couch.

I picked up the remote and attempted to hand it to her but she shook her head with a cheeky smile.

“I don’t need that.” She gestured to the television with a tilt of her chin.

It turned on behind me and I shook my head. Her magic seemed to be getting pretty strong and I’d only seen glimpses of it. However she was getting really comfortable tossing it around whenever it suited her. I didn’t mind, but I idly wondered what all she could really do. I just hadn’t wanted to pry too much. Mama Claus’ magic had been minimal, either that or she simply didn’t like using it because I didn’t remember ever seeing her use it when I was a boy. I hadn’t even known she had any magic until my teens when I’d rolled my snowmobile and had been stuckunder it in a snowbank and she’d used her abilities to pull me out.

So was Crystal’s magic strong enough for something like that? I thought about it for a moment before deciding that it was a conversation for another day. Maybe we would save it for our month-long vacation away. For now it was an afternoon full of hot chocolate, cookies and movies with my sweet, albeit naughty, wife. I headed to the kitchen to get some mugs and magic in some of Mama Claus’ special hot chocolate. I technically could have done it all from the couch, but if I used magic for everything then life would get really boring and my body would pay the price for sure.

“Okay, little elf, what’s first on the movie list?”

“When I was little, I used to love to watch the really old Christmas movies with my grandparents. The black-and-white ones. This one is called Bright Eyes.”

“Shirley Temple, came out in 1934. Good choice. A lot of the new Christmas movies don’t really capture the magic the way the older ones do,” I agreed as I sat next to her on the couch and handed her a mug. She leaned in to me best she could while still inside her blanket mound. I knew it was only a matter of time before she would remove the barrier between us so I could snuggle her better, but I would let her take lead on that.

“You know I would understand if you need to go back to work, right?” she asked, all of a sudden very focused on the mini marshmallows floating in her hot chocolate.

“I know you would understand, but I also know you would be bummed and, babygirl, so would I. I’m not going anywhere and if you try to get rid of me again, I may have to take action.” I nudged her teasingly.

“What kinda action?” She peaked up from her lashes. The fire in her eyes told me exactly what she was hoping the answer would be.

“Not the kind you’re hoping for. You know the rules.”

Her eyebrows knitted together and let out a frustrated huff. Apparently we were finished talking after that as was evident when the movie began to play. She didn’t hold it against me for too long because she was snuggled into my side half asleep long before Shirley Temple belted out the notes toThe Good Ship Lollipop.

Chapter Seven

December 21st