Miss Kane's Christmas (6 page)

Carol stood next to the SUV, motioning for him to get in the passenger side. “Hurry up, Mr. Hanson. We don’t want to keep Santa Claus waiting. This is his busy season after all.”

Ben felt suddenly energized. Focused. The solution was obvious. All he had to do was help Carol get over her ridiculous obsession with Christmas.

Chapter Six

The Indian Village Mall parking lot was overflowing with cars. It took six trips through the entire lot to finally find a spot. Carol tried to ignore Ben’s grumbling as she held his car door open for him. He was Beyond Bah Humbug personified. She seriously doubted he’d had any trouble coming up with the title for his book.

Her mood improved greatly as they neared the mall entrance. Christmas music blared from the speakers and the outside of the building was bedecked in festive green and red trim with silver giant bells. When they entered the three story atrium area she stopped short. “Oh, look, kids, it’s just like home.”

Hillary and Patrick, each with one mitten clad hand in hers, glanced up at her, matching quizzical expressions on their faces.

“For Santa, I mean. It must feel so like home for Santa,” she quickly corrected herself. She ignored Ben’s eyes on her. His watchful gaze was disconcerting. Had she given herself away? No, of course not. If he didn’t believe in Santa, then he would never believe that Santa had a daughter.

She and the children circled the North Pole display several times, oohing and aahing over the toy workshop. Fourteen elves carved, chiseled and hammered away at wooden toys. Fourteen. Ha. Fourteen hundred was more like it, and even with that number they were barely hitting their quota on time. It also struck her as funny that the workshop area was so neat and orderly. This close to the twenty-fifth the elves would be ankle deep in scraps of wrapping paper and ribbons. Wading through the chaotic workroom invariably meant she’d find scotch tape on the bottoms of her shoes. She smiled.

“I like it too,” Hillary beamed. “Thank you for bringing us, Miss Kane.”

Carol smiled down at her. She loved the joyful sparkle in Hillary’s eyes. This was what Christmas was truly about. Now she just needed to get Mr. Humbug to wake up and recognize it. To her surprise, she realized just how much she liked Ben Hanson. He was handsome, intelligent, kind and, if you didn’t count his bias against seasonal joy, he was a wonderful father.

“Oh, and thank you too, Daddy,” Hillary added.

Ben shook his head. “Trust me, the idea was all Miss Kane’s.”

Carol glanced over at him. If he’d had the use of both arms she had no doubt he’d have them crossed over his chest in a sulky protest.

“So, are we ready to meet Santa?” she asked the children.

A delighted chorus of yeses was exactly the response she’d hoped for. “Let’s go then. The line starts over there.” She pointed to the end of a line that started at the entrance to the North Pole and snaked around the side of the display where animated penguins skated around an igloo. She quickly counted the people in line ahead of them as they took their position at the end. Only thirteen families in front of them. Not bad for this time of year.

“Good God, Carol, there has to be at least ten families ahead of us.” Ben ran his good hand through his hair. She tried to ignore how roguishly attractive he looked with tousled hair. His churlish attitude, on the other hand, was comparatively much easier for her to disregard.

“Thirteen, actually.”

He groaned.

She turned and looked up into his brown eyes. “You have something more important to do this morning than spend time with your children?” Her tone, although challenging, stopped just short of rude. “Your book won’t be out in time for this Christmas so you have months to work on it. It can wait.”

He narrowed his eyes. “How do you know about my book?”

She paused for a long moment. “Your mother told me about it.”

His eyes instantly widened. “My mother? You spoke to my mother? When?”

“Last night. She phoned again after you were asleep.” Carol had rather enjoyed her conversation with Ben’s mother. Much like Ben’s sister, his mother seemed a very reasonable and perfectly pleasant person. Ben must take after his father. “We had a perfectly lovely conversation.”

“About my book?” His voice sounded strained. His shoulder must bother him more than he wanted to admit.

Carol shrugged. “We talked about it enough to know it’s ridiculous. The whole premise is entirely negative. What good can come of spreading a falsehood with the sole intention of taking away people’s joy?”

“What falsehood?” His brow was furrowed. “That Santa is a myth?”

“Sshh…lower your voice.” She looked around to see if anyone was paying them any mind. “There are children around.”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re…you’re just…just so…” he stopped when he saw that his son and daughter were looking up at him expectantly.

“Miss Kane is so what, Daddy?” Patrick asked. “So nice?”

“Yes, of course she’s nice,” he conceded.

“So pretty too, don’t you think?” Hillary chimed in.

Carol felt her face flush as Ben’s eyes roved over her. After a long moment she looked away.

“Miss Kane is very pretty,” he finally said, his voice a bit softer now.

She still kept her eyes averted from his. They all moved up in line as another family went into Santa’s inner sanctum. Thank heaven the line was moving.

“What do we say to Santa?” Patrick asked.

Carol opened her mouth to answer him but Ben spoke first.

“Listen, kids, we need to get this straight right now. There is no Santa Claus.”

Carol cringed. Ben’s voice was entirely too loud and far too adamant. This wasn’t either the time or place. She shook her head, desperately trying to signal him to be quiet but he ignored her.

“Santa Claus is a lie,” he went on. “It’s nothing more than a story parents make up to control their children’s behavior for one month out of every year. In fact-”

His next words were drowned out by the sound of crying children. And angry parents. Voices were raised, nasty looks were aplenty and Carol was sure that the woman behind them wanted to physically harm Ben but instead she settled for hissing at him, “I hope there’s a coal mine in your stocking, you Grinch.”

Carol’s heart sank. This was a disaster. And it was at least half her fault. She should have known he wasn’t ready for a visit yet.

“Elf coming through, excuse me, elf coming through,” a voice called as families stepped to the side to make room for one of Santa’s helpers. “Pardon me, please.”

As the voice grew nearer, Carol’s heart leapt. It was Jolly.

“It seems there’s a situation here,” Jolly said once she stood before them. The elf gave no indication she recognized Carol. “Anything I can help with?”

Carol waved her hand in Ben’s direction. “We have a non-believer here.”

It didn’t escape her notice that Ben had the good grace to flush but he, wisely she thought, remained silent.

Jolly looked up at Ben and made a tsking sound. “We can’t have that. I think you’d better come with me.”

“Where?” Ben asked.

“Wherever Santa wants you to go,” Carol said.

“Now, that’s just enough, Carol.” Ben’s voice grew louder. “You have to stop this Christmas nonsense. The children find you enchanting. I see why, but this fixation on Santa is just going overboard. It’s too much. It’s all going to end in misery for everyone.”

“If you don’t stop grousing then yes, I agree, you’re going to make us all miserable,” Carol said. She turned her back on him, focusing her attention on the shrinking line in front of them. She was only four families away from seeing her father. That was enough to keep her tears of frustration at bay. Ben Hanson was too much. She couldn’t take any more of this. And she wasn’t too proud to beg her father to let her go back to the North Pole with him. She couldn’t do any good here.

She steadfastly refused to turn around despite the fact that Ben was now quarrelling with the woman in line behind them. She felt Patrick slip his hand in hers and squeeze it gently. She squeezed it back. Patrick tugged on her arm. She bent down.

“Do you want to leave, sweetie?” she asked. Ben’s boorish behavior was so unfair to the children.

“No, I want to see Santa. But I need to tell you something.”

“I’m listening, Patrick.”

“Daddy has trouble being happy. Please don’t be mad at him.”

Carol stared down at the boy. His wide eyes begged her to understand. She nodded. “I’ll try not to be mad with your father, Patrick. I promise.” She blew out a long breath. This was a promise she needed to keep. Her father was right. Patrick was right. Ben needed her help. “We’ll all help your father learn to love Christmas.”

Patrick’s wide smile warmed her heart. She took a deep breath and turned back around to placate Ben. One glance at Jolly’s face was all she needed to know that Ben was still going at it. She felt Patrick nudge her forward as yet another lucky family got into see Santa. Three families and counting.

“Mr. Hanson, I really think it’s time to take a deep breath,” Carol suggested.

“I think the elf wants Daddy to apologize,” Hillary said.

“For what?” Ben’s expression was incredulous. “For telling the truth? For denouncing a lie that parents perpetuate for no reason other than to-”

The appearance of a beefy security guard signaled that Ben’s tirade was coming to an end soon. One way or another. “Ma’am,” he addressed Carol. “I’m going to ask your husband here to step out of line with me.”

Hillary wasted no time in setting the record straight. “Oh, they’re not married. She’s just moved in with us but my Dad hardly knows her. Isn’t that right, Miss Kane?”

“Umm….” Carol’s mind raced to find a suitable response. “Technically, that’s true.”

“So he’s not your husband?” the guard clarified.

“No, he’s not,” she admitted.

“Lucky miss,” the woman behind Ben said, drawing a few laughs from the crowd. “I’d suggest you move out while you still can.”

Ben flushed. “I’m not budging until my kids have a chance to see this Santa fellow.”

“Look, mister, I’m not letting you get anywhere near the Big Guy.” He reached out for Ben’s good arm but Ben moved aside.

“Touch me and I’m calling the police.” Ben narrowed his eyes and stared at the guard.

“Saves me a call,” the guard shot back.

“Stop, stop, stop…please,” Carol begged. She smiled encouragingly at the guard. “Please let us just see Santa. The children are so excited.” She waited hopefully as he looked at Hillary and then Patrick. Just as she thought, their adorable faces did the trick.

“Okay, but only because you’re at the front of the line now.” He shook his head and sighed deeply before addressing Ben. “Not another word or I’m escorting you out of here.” He turned to Carol. “I’ll be right over there, Ma’am.” He pointed to a spot a few feet away.

Carol smiled her thanks. She ushered the children to the front of the line and then put her hand on Ben’s back and gave him a tiny shove forward.

“We can ask Santa for anything we want?” Patrick asked.

She nodded and smiled. “Anything. Santa’s a great listener.”

Hillary and Patrick put their little heads together for a last minute conference. Carol looked up at Ben. To his credit, his expression was sheepish.

“Don’t get your hopes up, Mr. Hanson,” Carol said. “That was coal worthy behavior back there.”

He sighed. “Ben. Just call me Ben.”

She raised an eyebrow and fixed him with as stern a look as she could muster. “Okay, Ben, not one negative word out of you while we’re in there.”

He nodded.

Jolly motioned them forward. “Your turn now, Santa’s ready to see you.”

Finally.

Chapter Seven

Despite her delight at seeing her father, Carol managed not to throw herself into his arms. Christmas magic was always about children, first and foremost. She gave Hillary and Patrick a gentle push forward. She did, however, smile widely when her father winked at her.

“Who do we have here?” Santa asked. He motioned for them to come forward. When they stood before him, suddenly shy, he reached out and shook their hands in return. “Don’t tell me, I know who you are! You’re Hillary and Patrick Hanson.”