“Merry Christmas!” Nicholas kept his voice confident, even as he chuckled at his own mistake.
Ah, well.
Maybe next year he’d be able to get it right.
Nicholas went still at the thought.
Maybe next year?
He scoffed at the silliness of his own mind.
Of course he wouldn’t be here next year. By this time next year, he’d be back in his Manhattan office, hoping that the street carolers hadn’t found a loophole to regain access inside the company building.
Nicholas was taken out of his business daydream by the sudden stop of the float. They'd arrived at the town square. There were children everywhere, crowding around the float and he was surprised when Molly lowered the ramp to the back of the float and let them come up.
Kids rushed onto the float, running for the candy cane tree.
Molly was laughing in the corner of the float as she kept a watchful eye on the children. Their laughter was a joyous, thunderous sound. “Get your candy canes and then go line up. Santa will be down in a moment to hear your wishes!”
Out of the corner of his eye, Nicholas could see a little girl, much smaller than the others, attempting to reach for the green and purple candy canes at the top of the tree.
Without thinking, Nicholas stepped towards her, taking her into his arms and lifting her high enough to take the highest ones that the bigger kids hadn't gotten to yet.
The little girl then turned back towards Nicholas, her smile bright. “Thank you, Santa!”
“You’re welcome, little one,” Nicholas said softly as he sat the girl back down at his feet. She hugged his leg and then ran off to play with the rest of her friends alongside the street.
“That was very sweet of you, Mr. Claus,” Molly told him. He whirled back around to face her, his face heating from being caught doing a good deed.
“Why, thank you, Mrs. Claus. I do try my best to be... sweet.” Nicholas held up a purple and green candy cane he'd managed to grab before they all disappeared. He handed i
t to her.
She grinned at him. “I think you're ready to be Santa.”
Nicholas slowly smiled. For the first time ever, he actually was ready to be Santa.
Chapter 19
Molly
For a man who claimed to be so uninterested in candy, Nicholas seemed to have no problem with helping little Naomi with reaching the top of the Christmas tree so she could have a candy cane.
Molly thought that the gesture was just so sweet, not expecting Nicholas to be so generous with his height, or as comfortable with his place as Santa in the middle of the town’s parade.
Nicholas Kerstman was full of so many surprises and Molly wondered if there would ever be an end to him pulling rabbit after rabbit out of his unassuming hat.
It was time to walk off the float and over to the chair set up in the town square for Santa to sit. Nicholas offered her his arm, and together they walked like they really were Mr. and Mrs. Claus to the seating area. All around them, children cheered.
At one point, the path was too narrow for them to continue walking arm in arm. Instead, Mr. Claus took her hand as they slipped through the narrow spot. He didn't let go and she found herself enjoying the way her hand felt in his.
They came to the seating area and she realized she was still holding his hand, even as he moved to sit down on the large comfortable chair. Quickly, she let go, her cheeks going hot. The whole town did not need to see them holding hands. She didn't even want to think of the gossip it would start.
Molly, now feeling awkward, stood off to Nicholas’ side, not sure how to return things back to normal. She was thankful when Liam showed up to sit on Santa’s lap, their first customer of the day.
Liam frowned as soon as he took a seat on Santa’s lap, his focus turning towards Molly. “This isn’t Santa,” he announced. He turned his face back towards Nicholas. “You’re not Santa. You're beard isn't real.”
“Oh... um...” Molly stumbled when it came to explaining why Santa was different this year, not being prepared for the children to catch on so quick. At least Liam hadn't realized it was Nicholas yet.