Page 64 of Santa of the Creek

“I brought it with me.”

Of course he had.

The last kid vanishes out of the grotto with his Dad, talking excitedly about something. I look over at Dean sitting on Santa’s chair. I swear he has his eyes closed.

“Are you asleep?”

“No. Yes.”

“There are more exciting places to sleep than here. Your bed for instance.”

“Then I’d have to move. I don’t want to move.”

“You’re gonna get cold here, honey. Why don’t we go home.”

“Which home?”

“Yours.”

I know Dean needs to be in his own bed tonight, whether I’m there or not.

Dean lets me haul him to his feet. “Don’t you want to stay for the rest of the Bash?”

“There’ll be another one,” I say, knowing Collier’s Creek always had another celebration in the wings.

We dress in hoodies and sweats over the costumes because it’s freezing now.

“I look huge,” he grumbles, looking over his shoulder. “Does my butt look big in this?”

He does look rounded. I sensibly keep my mouth shut.

I wrap him in his coat, hat, and gloves, ignoring the amused look the two women manning the grotto give us.

“Bye Charlotte, bye Suzie. Thank you for being Santa’s helpers.” Dean hugs them as we leave the grotto. They look startled. I get it. This is a new Dean. Then they give us a cheery wave and finally, we are free.

Or not.

I see the mayor and his wife head toward us.

“Dammit,” I mutter.

“What’s the matter?” Dean’s so tired I don’t think he’s noticed his brother.

The mayor smiles at us. “Dean, Echo. Or should it be Santa and Mister Elf?”

I nod at them, not sure whether to offer my hand or not. “Sir, ma’am.”

“Daniel, please,” the mayor says, “and this is JoBeth.”

I have to bite back the urge not to say, “Yessir,” and salute.

“Hey, Danny. JoBeth.” Dean leans forward to kiss his sister-in-law on the cheek.

“Where’s Kathy?”

“Anywhere except where her parents are. She’s with her friends.” JoBeth sighs. “Feral, the lot of them.” But her expression is resigned, rather than annoyed. Dean has told me how much Kathy is adored.

“I’ve told them not to get arrested,” the mayor—Daniel—says. “The sheriff’s got better things to do than arrest my kid.”