EXCERPT 1
When I open the back door to the parking lot, I practically walk into someone. “Sorry about—”

With my mouth still hanging open, my dog whines as I search the beautiful woman’s eyes before me saying, “Rochelle, hey! Did uh, did you get my text last night?”

“Excuse me, can we get by?” An elderly man asks.

“Yes, of course. Sorry about that.” I state while Beau and I step to the side, holding the door for him and a woman close to his age before moving so we don’t block anyone else.

“Hello, Jesse.” Rochelle locks eyes with me, appearing a bit nervous. “Uh, sorry, but I didn’t notice your message until I dropped the kids off at school.” She glances at my dog.

“It’s okay. This here is Beau. Can uh, can you sit with me for a few minutes?” I ask raising a brow.

Rustling my dog’s ears, she looks around and says, “I guess so.”

As we go back inside, Bridgette cuts her eyes at us from behind the coffee bar. Smiling at Roe, she says, “I think there’s a table open by the fireplace, if that works?”

My eyes lock with Rochelle’s as she concedes, “Sure, that’ll work.”

Bridgette smirks at her and leads the way to our table. “Here we go. Would you like some coffee?” She asks while I point to the floor near the wall for Beau to lay down out of the way.

“Yes, please.” We answer at the same time grinning.

Following a few minutes of silence as we stare out the front window facing the park, I turn and say, “Thanks for agreeing to sit with me. I um, wanted to apologize for not responding to your message. It took me by surprise since I hadn’t heard from you for so long and—”

“No, you don’t need to do that. If anyone apologizes, it should be me. There’s something I have to tell you so please bear with me.”

She starts blinking as if she has something in her eye, but I see a tear making its way over her perfect cheekbone. Why is she crying?

“Hey, what’s wrong? Are the kids okay?” I lay my hand on top of hers gently squeezing it.

Nodding, she explains. “It’s my Mom. She was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. She had to have a double mastectomy and go through chemo.”

Scooting my chair next to hers I tuck Rochelle under my arm holding her for what seemed like hours. When I feel her relaxing against me, I kiss the top of her head.

“I can’t begin to express how sorry I am for your mom and for what your family has been through. If only I had known, I would have been there for you.”

It was then when she lost all composure and slowly melted into me. At that moment two became one and the crowd around us disappeared and nothing else mattered.

 

EXCERPT 2
“Kids, you better get downstairs, Jesse will be here any minute to pick us up.” I holler from the foyer.

As feet quickly pound the steps, Lilly proclaims, “We’re getting our tree today!”

“Yay, we’re getting our tree!” Ty says when I hear the crunching of tires coming up the driveway.

The grandparents went in town for brunch at the Twinkle Falls Inn before watching the kids this afternoon when me and Trace go downtown.

Before Jesse knocks on the door I pull it open to his amazing smile as he scans the kids saying, “There’s two of my favorite kids.” They smile while all sharing a hug.

“Who wants to get a Christmas tree?” He asks full of enthusiasm.

They both scream while jumping up and down. “We do, we do!”

“Okay then, let’s get going.” He says leading Ty out to the truck so he doesn’t slide on the patches of ice while I hold Lilly’s hand walking carefully.

While Jesse looks for a parking spot Ty asks, “Mommy, is Mr. Kris really Santa Claus?”

Cutting my eyes to Jesse, my mouth opens then closes when I shrug at him and say, “Well, I can’t say for sure, but there are a lot of people that have lived here for a long time who kind of think so. Then again, why would Santa be working at a tree lot?”

Lilly matter-of-factly states. “Because he gets to talk to the parents and see which kids are naughty and nice.”

Giving me a brief sideways glance, Jesse cackles. “I think you might be onto something Lilly.”

After parking, I grab Ty’s hand so Jesse can have some time with Lilly. “Come on little man, let’s find the perfect tree.”

“Not if we find one first.” Jesse states while holding Lilly’s hand as they go to the left while I lead Ty to the right.

A while later we show each other the trees we like the most when Jesse suggests, “How about we flip a coin to see which one to take home?”

The kids look at each other and Ty shrugs, “Alright, can I flip it?”

Peeking at Lilly, she nods at me so I answer, “That sounds good to us, but we get heads.”

Whispering in Ty’s ear, my son says, “Okay,” before Jesse gives him a quarter which he quickly flips.

The coin bounces on the ground and lands on tails. “We won Mr. Jesse, we won!” Ty jumps up and down giggling and getting someone’s attention.

“That was a wonderful coin flip Tyler.” Kris bends over sharing his usual jolly smile with my son.

Ty’s jaw sinks down while staring at him for a minute then turns to me. “Mom, it’s Santa—I mean Mr. Kris.”

“Can you say hello to Mr. Kris?” I coax him.

Beaming, he looks him in the eyes and says, “Hi Mr. Kris. Are you really Santa Claus?”

Looking at Jesse, my face feels like it’s on fire. Sighing, I say, “I’m sorry Kris.”

“Oh it’s alright. I get that all the time. We do rather resemble each other, don’t we?” He lets out a long belly laugh while holding his round belly.

“How are you young lady?” He asks turning to Lilly.

Smiling, she says, “I’m good Mr. Kris.”

“That’s great to hear Lilly.” Her brows raise when he says her name.

He looks at Ty. “Have you been a good boy this year young man?”

Nodding, my son says, “Uh-huh.”

“That’s wonderful to hear. It looks like you’ve found the perfect Christmas tree. Well, let me get someone to help you take it to your car.”

As he walks away, the kids yell, “Bye Mr. Kris.” He chuckles and waves his hand through the air.

On the drive to our house the kids talk mostly amongst themselves about Mr. Kris, debating whether he is really Santa Claus or not while me and Jesse muffle our laughs.