Free Do You Believe in Santa? by Sierra Donovan

there was more where that came from.
    â€œLook what you started,” Jake said. “I should have saved some of mine.”
    â€œSometimes I come here with leftover bread.”
    â€œWe could do that next time,” he said.
    Next time. The two simple words had a sweet ring to her ears. How quickly all this was starting to feel normal. Like something that was meant to be.
    Two other, unwelcome words crowded into her brain: Tell him.
    She shivered, and Jake put his arm around her shoulders, shutting out a chilly breeze that was just starting to creep past the barrier of Mandy’s sweater. But that wasn’t what had made her shiver.
    She gazed out at the water, the ducks and geese on its surface beginning to darken into silhouettes. “How long will you be here, Jake?” Her voice sounded wobbly to her own ears, less casual than she’d intended.
    â€œWell, your city council might decide that.”
    â€œTown council,” she corrected him. “We call Tall Pine a town, not a city. Don’t forget that.”
    â€œThanks.” He rested his cheek on top of her head. “Well, if the council gives me the go-ahead, there’s a lot to do to see a project like this through. Usually six or seven months. If they say no—”
    The thought set off little flames in her stomach, tickling at the bottom of her ribs.
    He sighed. “I don’t know. I’ve never had a project turned down before. But I don’t plan on giving up without a fight.”
    She dreaded having Jake leave. But she was almost as afraid to have him stay long enough to find out her whole story. So far, things were perfect, and part of her wanted to leave them that way.
    She shivered again, and Jake brought his other arm across her waist, encircling her. It shut out the cold air wonderfully. It even did a little for the chill she felt inside.
    â€œIt’s getting colder,” he said.
    Mandy felt the beginnings of goose bumps on Jake’s bare arms. Belatedly, she realized that in his short-sleeved polo shirt, he must feel the chill in the air more than she did. “You need a jacket.”
    â€œI brought a couple with me. Thing is, they’re all suit jackets. Someone told me this was Southern California, and this was summertime.”
    â€œSomeone should have told you it’s colder up here in the mountains.” Even with Jake’s arms around her, Mandy could feel the breeze from the lake starting to cut through the knit of her sweater. She huddled a little closer, this time trying to share some of her warmth with him. “And it probably doesn’t help that you’re full of ice cream.”
    â€œGood point.” He kissed the top of her head. “You could talk me into watching the sunset from the truck.”
    As they reached the parking lot on Evergreen Lane, they saw a pretty blond woman with two little girls, even blonder. The woman was sliding open the door to the backseat of a family van parked next to Jake’s truck.
    The bigger girl, about four years old, turned toward Mandy. “It’s the Santa lady!”
    â€œSanta lady?” their mother echoed.
    Tongue-tied, Mandy took in the blond trio now staring at her. The older girl’s eyes were brown, like her mother’s. The younger sister’s eyes were a blend of blue and green. Such pretty variations on a theme. She remembered the similarities and the differences....
    â€œYou were at Christmas in July, weren’t you?” Mandy said.
    The girls nodded, their eyes even bigger than before.
    â€œI met them at our sidewalk sale,” Mandy told their mother. “I work at the Christmas store. They were there with their daddy.”
    And, of course, she’d told them about Santa. Aware of Jake standing behind her, Mandy’s heart hammered.
    â€œJuly,” the mother said. “It must have been when I was out of town at my sister’s.”
    The older girl tugged at her