CHAPTER 25
The next day I’m back at the mall helping Santa and Blizzard. Blizzard has given me an elf hat to wear but I’m not in full elf costume like she is. Mum has even promised to bring Pippa by later to meet Santa.
“Any news on the Anti-Claus front?” I ask.
“Nope, he’s still there but he’s been pretty quiet. He’s not bothered us at all.”
“Glad to see your dad’s visitors are picking up,” I nod towards the small but steady queue of children and parents lining up to meet Santa.
“Yeah, apparently Anti-Claus is not doing photos with children,” Blizzard says. “They go to him for their free toy and then come to Dad for their photo. I don’t like it, but we can’t exactly turn them away. I wish we could tell people it’s one or the other and they have to choose to go to us or him, but everyone would choose the free toy over us. I don’t know how he can afford to do it, but he’s certainly got a good thing going with giving out free toys.”
I nod.
“Did you find out anything at home?”
“No, not much luck on that front. Seth has been out at work a lot lately so I haven’t had much chance to ask him anything. And I asked Mum about his job, and she just told me he’s a chauffeur for a businessman.”
“Is that what he’s calling himself these days?” Blizzard mutters.
“Hi girls,” Mum says, unexpectedly appearing next to me with Pippa in tow. Pippa is looking around in awe at the grotto and surrounding area. Blizzard has worked hard to make it look like a proper little winter wonderland.
“Hi Blizzard,” Pippa says shyly when she spots Blizzard standing there.
“Kait, be a dear and keep an eye on Pippa while I go and grab some shopping, would you?”
I go to object but Mum has left before I have a chance.
“Hey Pips,” Blizzard says, crouching down so she’s the same height as Pippa. She looks over at her Dad who is just finishing up with the last child in the current queue. “How’d you like to go and meet Santa?”
“I’d love to,” Pippa says.
Blizzard takes one of her hands and I take the other, and we stand in the queue.
Santa laughs when he looks up and sees us.
“Well, well, well, who have we got here then?” He asks.
“This is my little sister, Pippa,” I say.
“Hello there, Pippa. Your sister has told me all about you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
Pippa grins from ear to ear at that, and even though I don’t think I’ve actually said that much about her, I think it’s really nice of Santa to make her feel important.
“Do you want to come and tell me what you want for Christmas?”
Pippa bounds over and climbs up on his lap.
Blizzard is standing behind the camera ready to take a picture. “Say cheeeeese,” she says brightly and both Pippa and Santa grin as the flash goes off. Another picture to add to the Pippa with Santa collection from previous years, but this one’s different. This one is the real thing.
“Now then, Pippa,” Santa rumbles. “What do you want for Christmas this year? Have you thought about it yet?”
“Yes,” Pippa says happily. “I wrote a letter to you the other day. Did you get it yet?”
“Do you know, I’m not quite sure. I’ll have to check with my elves. I had to come and work in the mall this year so my elves are handling my letters for me. I’ll give them a ring tonight and find out if they got your letter. I’m sure they have it by now. How about you tell me what was in the letter, and then I can make extra special super sure that you get it on Christmas day?”
Pippa giggles as she rattles off her list of various Barbie dolls and Polly Pockets, which I know Mum already has a few of hidden in the attic.
“Make sure you check under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning,” Santa says. “Blizzard and I will deliver something extra special just for you.”
Pippa bounces on Santa’s knee at that.
“Now, how about your wish?” Santa asks her. “What do you really want for Christmas, Pippa? Something that might require a bit of magic to ensnare. Can you think of anything like that?”
Pippa nods.
“Lean over and whisper it in my ear then. You know wishes won’t work if everyone hears them.”
Pippa clambers up and whispers something in Santa’s ear. Judging by the soft smile on his face, I think she wants the same as me.
“Well then,” Santa says, patting her arm gently. “You keep believing in the spirit of Christmas and we’ll see what magic we can do. How does that sound?”
“Thank you, Santa,” Pippa says happily. She climbs off his lap and runs back to me, almost vibrating with joy.
“How about you, Kait? You want to come and tell Santa what you want for Christmas?”
“I’m a little old for sitting on Santa’s knee,” I say.
“Nonsense. You’re never too old for Christmas,” Santa says. He pats his knee. “Come on.”
“Yeah, go on, Kaity. Have a go. Gooo ooooon,” Pippa whines, tugging on my hand.
I look helplessly towards Blizzard who’s just standing there giggling.
“You know you want to really,” Santa says with a smile.
“Okay, okay,” I say.
I walk over and position myself on Santa’s knee.
“Say cheese,” Blizzard says and I can’t help but smile as the flash goes off. Even though I feel dumb for sitting on Santa’s lap at my age, I tell myself it’s different because I know him now, and really, he’s just my friend’s dad.
Pippa is standing watching with a smile on her face.
“So, Kaity,” Santa says. “What can I get you for Christmas this year?”
“I want… I don’t know,” I say after a while.
“Haven’t you asked for anything yet?”
I shrug. “I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. Presents don’t seem so important anymore.”
“Well, we can’t have that,” Santa says. “Everyone needs a present on Christmas Day. Let’s see… Well, I think you’re too old for Barbie dolls and teddy bears. And I don’t think you’re into cars and sports, are you?”
It’s all good-natured so I smile and go along with him.
“I bet you like reading though, don’t you?”
“Who doesn’t?”
“Plenty of people actually. They don’t know what they’re missing though. Now let me think… I can picture you curled up on your window seat, wrapped in a big fluffy blanket and a pile of books, how does that sound?”
I smile. “Sounds lovely.”
“Well then, you’ll have to make sure you check under the Christmas tree on Christmas Day, okay?”
I nod.
“Not the one in the living room though. Check under the one in the garden.”
I stare at him. “How on earth did you know about that?”
“I’m Santa,” he taps his nose and smiles.
Like being Santa explains everything, including practically psychic powers.
“Do you have a Christmas wish, Kaity?” he asks.
I think about it for a moment. Let’s face it; my family needs all the magic we can get. I lean over and whisper in his ear.
“I want my parents to get back together.”
When I pull back and look at his face, I see the same sad smile he had after Pippa told him her wish.
“I can spread a bit of magic, but I can’t change fate, lovely,” he says quietly and he sounds so sad that it makes a lump form in my throat. “Keep your faith in them, and don’t give up on love, Kaity, but realise that sometimes relationships end for the right reasons even if it doesn’t seem so at first.”
I nod and swallow around the sudden urge to bawl my eyes out. I had expected him to say something like that.
“If I try,” I say. “Will it work?”
I know I don’t need to explain it any further. I know that he already knows.
??
?I don’t know, lovely. But no harm ever came from trying.”
I nod.
“Okay then, you had better give me a hug because we’re holding up the queue.”
I glance behind and realise there’s a few children waiting for Santa’s company now. I quickly hug him and jump down, batting uselessly at my eyes, which are determined to water. In public.
“Fun, huh?” Pippa bounces over and grabs my hand.
“You have no idea,” I say.
We stand for a while and just watch as the steady stream of children clamber onto Santa’s lap, smile for Blizzard while she takes the photograph, and whisper their Christmas wishes in Santa’s ear. I can’t help but wonder how many of them are going to be disappointed come Christmas morning.
Mum comes back after a while, loaded up with shopping bags. She drops them at my feet.
“Quick, Pippa, there’s something I want to show you,” she takes Pippa’s hand and drags her off down the corridor. “Kaity, keep an eye on those bags for me. And don’t even think about looking inside, they’re Christmas presents,” Mum calls over her shoulder.
The truth is that Mum knows she can trust me with Christmas presents. I’m not one to go snooping around trying to find what she’s bought me. I prefer the surprise on Christmas morning. That is half the fun after all.
A while later, I see Mum and Pippa walking back. I’m horrified to see Pippa is pulling along a life-sized doll.
“Where on earth did you get that?” I ask, even though I already know the answer.
“The other Santa. I know you like this one for some reason but the other one is giving away free toys. This one should consider doing something similar if he wants to make any money at all this season. That guy has a queue a mile long.”
“He’s not in it for the money,” I snap. “Besides, this Santa is giving away something far more valuable than some stupid toy.”
“My doll is not stupid,” Pippa interrupts.
“What?” Mum asks me.
“He’s giving away the spirit of Christmas,” I say defensively, even though I know she won’t understand. “Magic and wishes are more important to children than useless toys.”
Mum rolls her eyes. “This Christmas thing really is a load of rubbish, isn’t it?”
“Urrrgh.” I don’t even care that I said it aloud. Mum will never get why my dad and I love Christmas so much. Thankfully, Pippa is taking after us too.
“Come on, Pips, let’s go home and put the shopping away.”
“No,” Pippa says. “I want to stay.”
“You mind bringing her home with you, Kait?” Mum asks.
“Course not, she’s welcome to stay with me.”
“Good, that’ll give me more time to hide the presents,” Mum grins at us. “Don’t stay too late. I’m going out on a date with Seth tonight so if you’re not home before tea you’ll have to do something for yourself and feed your sister too. Mrs Johnson from next door will be round at seven to keep an eye on you both.”
I don’t respond. Ugh. Somehow the thought of Mum going on a date with Seth makes me feel physically sick. It’s even worse than her thinking I need a babysitter. I wonder if Dad is watching. I mean, thankfully he doesn’t get sound, but I know he’s up in his office watching his security feeds. I wonder how he feels watching his wife do the Christmas shopping that they always used to do together. I wonder if he hurts as much as I do.
“Kaity, do you like my doll?” Pippa asks.
“No,” I snap. Then I realise I shouldn’t have snapped at her.
“Sorry, Pips,” I say. “I didn’t mean that. It’s a very nice doll.”
“She’s called Ivy,” Pippa says. “Like in The Holly and the Ivy because it’s Christmas.”
“Very clever,” I say.
The doll is quite creepy actually. It is literally life-size, out of the corner of my eye it looks like I have two children standing next to me. It’s one of those momentum walking things. You know the kind that you pull the arms forward and it propels the bottom half along so it looks like it’s walking. It’s creepy. Very creepy.
“What did you think of the Santa that gave it to you?” I ask innocently.
Pippa screws her nose up in thought. “I didn’t like him. He smelled funny and he kind of growled when I got on his lap. And he wasn’t old enough either. He was just a guy in a suit. Blizzard’s dad is much nicer.”
As if on cue, Blizzard appears next to us.
“Hey,” she says. “Nice doll.”
“Mum took her to see Anti-Claus,” I explain.
“I’ve wanted a doll like this forever,” Pippa says. “Mum would never get me one though and now I have one.”
“Cool,” Blizzard says.
“Mum said he was still packed out down there,” I say to Blizzard.
She sighs. “I know. I don’t know what we’re going to do about it. We can’t compete with him.”
“We’ll think of something,” I try to reassure her, even though I have no idea what that something might be.