Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

Lulu

Lulu sat at the big wooden desk in the Nursery, colorful papers and glitter-glue scattered before her. She gnawed on the end of a pencil, her brow furrowed as she attempted to finalize the Christmas carnival plans. The usual giggles and chatter of her Little friends echoed from down the hall, but even their merriment couldn't fill the Ben-shaped void she felt.

With a sigh, she slumped back in her chair, hugging Flopsy tight to her chest. "It's just not the same without Daddy Ben here, is it Flopsy?" she murmured, nuzzling the soft fur. "He was our teammate.”

Lulu's mind wandered to their last moments together, before he headed back to Texas. Strong arms enveloping her naked body, woodsy cologne tickling her nose as he promised he'd be back as soon as he could. Then he was gone, off to wrangle permits and fight for his dream ranch.

"I know it's silly to miss him this much already," Lulu admitted to Flopsy with a sniffle. "I always knew it would be temporary. And he's gotta take care of grown-up stuff. But the ranch feels so lonely without him."

She gave herself a little shake. Everyone was counting on her to make this carnival the most magical yet. Lulu grabbed a purple marker and began sketching out the running order for the carnival with renewed determination. The switching on of the lights, the peppermint stick treasure trail, the storybook reading. . . Maybe if she poured her whole heart into it, it would hurt a little less.

As she worked, a single tear plopped onto the paper, smearing the ink. Lulu hastily wiped at her eyes. "No more crying," she ordered herself. "Daddy wouldn't want me to be sad. We're gonna make him proud, Flopsy. The merriest Christmas carnival ever!"

A sad thought entered her mind.

He’s not your Daddy anymore.

And then another one.

You’ll never see him again.

And then an even worse one.

He never really cared about you in the first place. You were just a bit of holiday fun. Fun that’s well and truly over.

Flopsy didn’t say anything, but she knew that he wanted her to pull herself together. That the whole carnival was depending on her. Without Ben here, the responsibility was hers and hers alone.

Squaring her small shoulders, Lulu dove back into her plans, Ben's encouraging smile fixed firmly in her mind. She'd be brave. She’d changed since coming to the ranch. She wasn’t someone who hid in the shadows anymore. She was in charge of her own destiny.

So, to distract herself from the pain of the present, Lulu threw herself into the carnival preparations with gusto. She flitted about the ranch like a Christmas fairy, spreading cheer and glitter in equal measure. Under her direction, the woodland around the Maple Cabin transformed into a wonderland of red and green, with garlands of tinsel draped from every rafter.

"A little to the left!" she called out to Millie, who was precariously balanced atop a ladder hanging mistletoe. "Perfect! Now every pony can get smooches. Especially Strawberry, my favorite girl."

Millie laughed. “You really do have a thing for Strawberry, huh?”

“Totally,” Lulu quipped. “I’m not saying I’m going to marry a horse, but if I had to, then Strawberry would be my choice.”

The Littles laughed together. It felt good to know that Lulu was capable of finding humor even in her darkest moments. She was stronger than she thought.

Zoey giggled as she helped Lulu string up colorful lights. "You're a regular Santa's little helper, Lulu-belle. This place looks more festive than the North Pole!"

Lulu beamed at the praise, but a wistful sigh escaped her lips. "I just wish Ben was here to see it. He put a lot of thought into this event."

"I know," Zoey said, giving her a sympathetic smile. "It’s a real shame. Everyone’s disappointed for you, knowing that he was your Daddy and everything. It would have been so lovely to spend Christmas together. But you’ve got all of us, you know? Your new family at the ranch.”

Lulu smiled, but deep down, she knew that even being around these guys would be short-lived. In just a few days, she’d be heading back to Philly, to her soulless apartment and a boss who didn’t respect her.

As the final decorations were hung and the last peppermint stick planted, Lulu surveyed her handiwork with satisfaction. The ranch had been completely transformed, a glittering testament to the power of Christmas magic and one determined Little girl.

"We did it, Flopsy!" Lulu whispered to her faithful stuffed companion. "The most amazing Christmas carnival ever."

As she took in the scene before her, Lulu made a promise to her stuffie. “This time next year, Flopsy,” she said in a quiet but determined voice, “we’re going to be fulfilled in every sense of the world. I’m going to find a way to be Little all the time, to be around good people like these ones, and to use my art for good, not . . . for boring greeting cards.”

Flopsy gave her a solemn look, as though aware of the gravity of her words.

“But now,” she said, speaking louder, “it’s time to focus on the main event!”

Lulu smoothed the festive green velvet of her dress, taking a deep breath as excited Littles and indulgent Caregivers began to arrive at the enchanted forest.

Zoey, dressed somewhere between an elf and a kitten, stood beside her, practically vibrating with excitement. "I can't wait to read our story!" she whispered, clutching their hand-made picture book to her chest. "Everyone is gonna love it! It’s so much better with your pictures in it, Lulu. Thank you again."

Lulu hugged her friend. “I couldn’t have done it without your awesome words as inspiration. And by the way, don’t you dare make a sequel without getting me involved!”

Zoey squealed with delight. “A sequel! Now, there’s an idea!” Just then, Zoey noticed her Daddy, Silas, and ran over to him.

Lulu managed a smile, trying to focus on the joy of the moment rather than the ache in her heart.

As if sensing her thoughts, Chuck appeared beside her. “Are you okay, little one?” he asked her kindly. “Today’s a very big day for you. If you need any help with anything, let me know.”

“Thank you,” Lulu said. “It’s all under control, though. It’s just been a bit . . . hectic, trying to sort it all on my own, since Ben left.”

Chuck nodded, scratching his scruff. “Lonely, too, I should think.”

Lulu blushed. “Yes. A little.”

“You know, Ben really likes you, Lulu,” he said. “If it’s meant to be, this won’t be the end of your story.”

She swallowed. “Some things don’t last forever, even when they’re good,” she replied bravely. “Like chocolate pudding. And Christmas.”

“That’s true,” said Chuck. “Although they do often come around again.”

His eyes twinkled as he delivered that last line, and then he walked away, humming under his breath.

Lulu took a deep breath, trying to ground herself. Everyone here was being so nice, so positive, and yet. . . Never mind.

Focus on the here and now, Lulu .

The start of the carnival was a great success. Everyone gasped when the beautiful lights came on in the enchanted forest. Amazing smells and sounds filled the air: Little’s laughter, hot apple cider, the sweet sound of carol-singers. The excitement was palpable in the crisp winter air, and Lulu couldn't help but feel a warm glow at seeing her vision come to life.

Lulu watched with a mixture of excitement and nervousness as the Littles lined up eagerly for the peppermint treasure trail. It was her idea to have this fun, interactive game, where the participants would follow a trail of peppermint candies around the ranch to find hidden treasures. The treasures were mostly candies and tiny Christmas tree decorations, but the Littles looked so delighted each time they found one it was as though they’d stumbled upon a chest of gold.

As the last Little ran off to hunt down peppermint treasures, Lulu finally had a moment to catch her breath. She leaned against a nearby tree, the bark rough against her back, and closed her eyes for a brief second. The rustling of leaves and the distant chatter of happy voices enveloped her in a comforting cocoon.

“Lulu!”

She opened her eyes to see Chuck approaching with a warm smile. “I just wanted to say how amazing this is. You’ve truly outdone yourself, little one.”

Lulu blushed at the compliment, grateful for his kind words. “Thank you, Chuck. I couldn’t have done it without everyone’s help.”

Chuck’s gaze softened as he looked at her. “You’re a remarkable young lady, Lulu. I hope you know that.”

Lulu felt her heart swell with emotion at his words. It was moments like these that made the ache of missing Ben just a little more bearable.

Finally, it was time for her special event. She let Zoey lead her to the small stage, decorated to look like a magical gingerbread treehouse, with garlands of holly and shimmering tinsel. And, of course, a wise old owl on top. She hadn’t managed to put a speaker in the owl, but he still looked very grand, nonetheless.

"Once upon a time," Zoey began, her voice ringing out clear and strong, "in a magical place called Pinewood Forest, there lived a very special group of animals. . . "

Lulu showed her pictures, one at a time, and she felt herself getting swept up in the story, smiling at the colorful illustrations she had worked so hard on. By the time the story finished, the whole audience was completely enraptured, and Lulu felt prouder than she ever had in her whole life.

Everyone whooped and cheered when the story was over, but after a minute or so, the cheers were replaced by a strange commotion.

Gasps and giggles rippled through the crowd as a figure pushed its way forward. Lulu's heart leapt into her throat. Could it be . . .?

The figure finally emerged, and Lulu's jaw dropped. It was Santa, but not like any Santa she'd ever seen. His boots were enormous, curled at the toes like snails. Two heads bobbed atop his shoulders, one grinning manically, the other smirking. A forked tongue flicked out from an obviously fake beard. And instead of the traditional red suit, this Santa wore a bright orange dress, ruffles and bows aplenty.

"Ho, ho, ho!" the strange Santa bellowed. "Merry Christmas, Littlecreek Ranch!"

Lulu blinked, hardly daring to believe her eyes. Then the Santa winked, blue eyes twinkling with mischief and love, and she knew. Tears of joy streamed down her face as she flew off the stage and into Ben's waiting arms, not caring that he looked utterly ridiculous.

He was here. Her Daddy had come back to her, just like he'd promised. And suddenly, it felt like Christmas all over again.

"Ho, ho, ho!" he called out again. "It's me, Strange Enchanted Forest Santa!"

Everyone snickered, utterly confused.

Lulu can't believe she remembered their private joke so well.

"I heard you folks were having a Christmas Carnival, and I had to let you know I wouldn't miss it for the world! This is my number-one priority."

Lulu sobbed with happy tears now. She couldn’t believe Ben would do this for her.

“I love you, Santa!” she called out, dizzy with delight.

“I love you, too, Lulu!” called out Santa. Except he wasn’t Santa at all. He was Ben. And she could tell from the way he said it, that he really meant it.

“What an incredible reading!” he called out. “I just found myself a new favorite book. Now, let’s get back to the party, everyone!”

The audience clapped and cheered and Lulu jumped down off the stage and ran up to Ben. She buried her face in Ben's ridiculous outfit, breathing in his familiar scent beneath the mothballs and peppermint. "You remembered," she whispered, voice muffled by the fabric.

Ben chuckled, the sound rumbling through his padded belly. "Of course I did, babygirl. How could I forget such an important discussion about the real Santa?" He tightened his arms around her. "I told you I'd always be here when you needed me."

Lulu pulled back, sniffling, and gazed up at his two grinning faces. "I still can't believe you actually dressed up like the Santa from our silly joke! You look. . . " She giggled. "You look completely ridiculous. But also adorable."

"Worth it to see that smile," Ben said warmly, tapping her nose with a white-gloved finger. “And by the way, that really was an excellent reading. Those illustrations of yours are exquisite.”

Lulu glowed at his words. “I am rather proud of them.”

“You’ve worked wonders on this entire festival,” he told her. “How about we grab ourselves a hot apple cider and you show me around?”

Lulu smiled and nodded, still crying, but laughing at the same time.

Ben’s silly costume had been discarded in favor of a cozy green sweater that brought out the warm flecks in his blue eyes. He pressed a steaming mug of mulled cider into her hands, the spicy-sweet scent mingling with the crisp pine air.

Lulu ducked her head, a pleased flush spreading across her face. "You being here... it means everything."

They settled onto a log bench, thighs pressed together as they sipped their cider and watched the carnival-goers frolic among the twinkling lights. A question niggled at the back of Lulu's mind, one she couldn't quite hold in.

"How's the ranch coming along? Did you get the permits sorted out?" She held her breath, both eager for and dreading his answer.

Ben sighed, his gaze flickering down to the amber liquid in his mug. "Not yet. But you know what? The moment I got back to Texas, I realized something." He turned to face her fully, his expression earnest and tender. "The ranch isn't my future, Louisa Hart. You are."

Lulu's heart stuttered in her chest. "Wh-what do you mean?"

"I mean, if the ranch happens, great. But it would be one hell of a hollow victory if you weren't by my side." Ben took her hand, lacing their fingers together. "What do you say, babygirl? Will you come back to Texas with me?"

A thousand thoughts swirled through Lulu's head—her life in Philly, her job, the unknown that stretched out before her. She swallowed hard.

"And . . . if I say no? If I want to go back to Philly?" Her voice wavered slightly. "Is that the end of us?"

Ben's smile was soft and reassuring, his thumb stroking soothing circles over her knuckles. "Luckily, Santa's great at long distances."

A surprised giggle burst from Lulu's lips, the tension draining from her shoulders. They laughed together, foreheads touching, the future suddenly seeming a lot less far away with her Daddy by her side.