Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

S cott tugged on his coat and wrapped his scarf snugly around his neck as the three of them stepped out into the crisp Christmas Eve night. The air was chilly but not biting, the kind of cold that encouraged bundling up without driving people indoors. Above them, the stars twinkled in a clear, ink-black sky.

Ruby gasped as she caught sight of Scott’s truck, festively adorned with strings of lights running along its edges and a bright red wreath affixed to the grille. “Mommy! It’s a real Santa sleigh!”

Megan laughed softly, adjusting Ruby’s scarf. “I think Santa’s been busy with his decorating,” she said, glancing at Scott.

Scott grinned, opening the back door for Ruby. “You caught me. Thought I’d make the sleigh look official this year.”

Ruby climbed eagerly into the back seat, her giggles filling the air as she pointed out every tiny detail. “Lights! And a wreath! Mr. Bear loves it!” She hugged her ever-present companion tightly.

Scott turned to Megan, holding out his hand to help her into the passenger seat. “You ready for this?”

Megan smiled, her cheeks flushed from the cold. “I think we are.”

Scott closed her door gently before circling back to the driver’s side and sliding in. The truck hummed to life, its lights casting a soft, cheerful glow on the quiet street as they pulled away.

As they drove through the island, Ruby’s enthusiasm was infectious. She leaned forward in her seat, pressing her small hands against the window as they passed homes lit up with twinkling decorations.

“Look at that one!” she exclaimed, pointing to a house with an inflatable snowman in the front yard. “And that one! It has candy canes!”

Scott chuckled, glancing at Megan. “I think she’s got a better eye for Christmas lights than I do.”

“She gets it from her dad,” Megan said softly, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “Danny used to love driving around to see the lights. It was our Christmas Eve tradition.”

Scott nodded, his tone gentle. “Sounds like a good one to keep going.”

They pulled up to the first stop, a small house with a simple string of white lights outlining the roof. Scott parked and reached into the back of the truck for a neatly wrapped gift. “Okay, Ruby,” he said, turning to her. “You ready to help Santa deliver some Christmas magic?”

Ruby’s eyes widened, her excitement bubbling over. “Yes!”

Scott handed her a small gift bag, its handles just the right size for her little hands. “Take this to the door, ring the bell, and say, ‘Merry Christmas.’ Think you can handle that?”

Ruby nodded solemnly, her expression determined. “I can do it!”

Megan unbuckled Ruby and helped her down from the truck, following close behind as her daughter marched up the porch steps. The doorbell rang, and moments later, the door opened to reveal a mother and her two young children.

“Merry Christmas!” Ruby declared, holding the bag out with both hands.

The family’s faces lit up, and the mother crouched to Ruby’s level. “Well, thank you, sweetie! Did Santa send you to help?”

Ruby nodded, her smile wide. “Yes, I’m his helper!”

Megan’s heart swelled as she watched the interaction, her chest tightening with pride. When Ruby returned to the truck, Scott gave her a high five.

“You’re a natural,” he said warmly.

Ruby giggled, climbing back into her seat. “Can we do another one?”

Scott winked. “We’ve got a few more stops, don’t worry.”

The night unfolded in a series of small, magical moments. At each house, Ruby delivered a gift, her confidence growing with every stop. Megan watched from the truck, her heart filling as she saw her daughter’s joy.

Scott kept the atmosphere light, sharing bits and pieces about the families they were visiting. “This next one,” he said as they drove to the final house, “is for a grandmother raising her two grandkids. She’s been through a lot this year, but she’s one of the strongest people I know.”

Megan nodded, her gaze softening. “It’s incredible what you’re doing, Scott. These families... this night means so much to them.”

Scott glanced at her briefly, his eyes warm. “It means a lot to me too,” he said. “It’s my favorite part of Christmas.”

The last delivery complete, they headed toward the beach road, the soft hum of the truck blending with Ruby’s sleepy chatter in the back seat. The moon hung low in the sky, its light casting a silvery glow over the water.

Scott slowed the truck as they neared a stretch of shoreline where the waves lapped gently against the sand. “Look over there,” he said, nodding toward the water.

Ruby pressed her face against the window, her small gasp filling the cab. “Dolphins!”

Megan followed Ruby’s gaze, her breath catching as she spotted the sleek forms of dolphins playing near the shore. Their movements were graceful and mesmerizing, their fins slicing through the water like ripples of silver.

“They come close to shore on nights like this,” Scott said, his voice low. “Almost feels like they know it’s Christmas.”

Ruby clapped her hands, her eyes wide with wonder. “They’re so pretty!”

Megan turned to Scott, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you. For all of this.”

He glanced at her, his expression soft. “You don’t have to thank me, Megan. I’m just glad you’re here.”

For a moment, the world seemed to quiet around them, the only sounds the gentle lapping of waves and Ruby’s hushed awe.

Megan’s heart felt full as she looked at Scott, the man who had shown her and Ruby a kind of kindness she hadn’t expected but so desperately needed.

Back at Scott’s bungalow, the warmth of the indoors wrapped around them like a comforting hug. Strings of soft white lights adorned the windows, casting a cozy glow over the modest living room. Ruby let out a small yawn, clutching her Cupid ornament tightly as she wandered toward the couch.

“Here you go, little one,” Scott said gently, pulling a blanket from the armchair and draping it over Ruby. She snuggled in without protest, her eyelids already drooping.

Megan smiled, sitting on the edge of the couch to tuck the blanket around Ruby. “I think someone’s had quite the adventure tonight.”

“She did great,” Scott said, his voice soft. “She’s a natural at spreading Christmas magic.”

Megan looked up at him, her expression warm. “Thank you, Scott. For tonight. For everything.”

He shrugged, though a faint blush crept into his cheeks. “It’s my favorite tradition. I’m glad you and Ruby could be part of it.”

Straightening, Scott moved toward the kitchen. “How about some hot cocoa? Seems like the perfect way to end the night.”

“That sounds great,” Megan said, her tone lighter now, though her gaze lingered on Ruby for a moment before she leaned back into the couch.

Scott busied himself at the stove, the soft clink of mugs and the hiss of steam filling the quiet space. He carried two mugs over a few minutes later, handing one to Megan and taking a seat across from her.

The steam curled between them, carrying the sweet scent of cocoa and melted marshmallows. For a moment, they sipped in comfortable silence, the glow of the lights and the sound of Ruby’s even breathing creating a tranquil backdrop.

Scott set his mug down, the sound barely audible over the quiet hum of the room. He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly working up the courage to say something.

“Megan,” he began, his voice slightly hesitant.

She looked up, her expression curious.

“I have one more gift,” he said, reaching under the side table where a small, carefully wrapped package was tucked. “For you.”

Megan’s brow furrowed as she took the package from his outstretched hands. “Scott, you’ve already done so much tonight. You didn’t have to?—”

“I wanted to,” he interrupted gently, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Her fingers worked at the paper slowly, almost reverently, as if prolonging the moment. When the wrapping fell away, she gasped softly.

It was a photo album, its cover crafted from rich wood with an engraved design of stars and reindeer, the edges polished to a smooth shine.

“Scott,” she murmured, running her fingers over the intricate design. “This is beautiful.”

“Open it,” he said, his voice quieter now.

Scott watched as Megan flipped open the photo album, her fingers grazing the engraved cover. Her breath hitched slightly as she took in the first page. He saw her eyes widen at the vibrant images—children laughing on Santa’s lap, families posed against the twinkling backdrop of the Village, and Cupid nuzzling curious little hands.

He waited silently as she turned the pages, the flicker of emotions crossing her face pulling at his heart. When she reached the photos toward the end, she paused. Scott held his breath, watching her expression change as she recognized the images.

There was Ruby at Cupid’s pen, her laughter frozen in time as her curls bounced wildly in the shot. The next photo showed Megan crouched by the crafts table, helping a child glue decorations onto an ornament, her smile as warm as the light spilling over her. And then the final image. It was of the three of them together—Scott in his Santa suit, Megan in her elf costume, and Ruby perched between them, her grin radiant and full of unrestrained joy.

Megan’s throat moved as she swallowed, her eyes glistening. She lifted her gaze to his, and Scott felt his chest tighten at the depth of emotion there.

“Scott...” Her voice was barely a whisper, trembling with unspoken gratitude. “I don’t even know what to say.”

He leaned forward, his voice low but steady. “You’ve brought so much light to this season, Megan. For Ruby, for me, for so many others. I wanted you to see the difference you’ve made.”

A tear slipped down her cheek, glimmering in the soft light of the room. She brushed it away quickly, her lips curving into a shaky smile. “This means more than you know,” she murmured. “Thank you.”

Scott hesitated, his words coming slowly, deliberately. “You’ve made a difference in my life too, Megan. More than I can put into words.”

Her lips parted, and her breathing quickened just slightly. Scott couldn’t look away, the air between them heavy with something unspoken but undeniable. Her eyes flicked to his, soft and searching, and he knew.

He leaned in cautiously, every movement deliberate, giving her the space to pull away if she needed to. She didn’t. Instead, she stayed perfectly still, her breath mingling with his, carrying the faint scent of cocoa and something uniquely hers.

When their lips met, it was tentative, a gentle connection that sent warmth coursing through him. Her lips were soft, and the faintest taste of cocoa lingered there, blending with the sweetness of the moment. The warmth of her skin against his, the faint brush of her breath, grounded him in a way he hadn’t felt in years.

The quiet crackle of the fireplace seemed to fade as the world narrowed to just this—just her. He felt her lean into him slightly, the subtle shift sending a surge of emotion through him.

When they finally broke apart, her eyes fluttered open, shimmering with unshed tears, her cheeks flushed. Scott couldn’t help but smile, the warmth of the moment settling deep into his chest.

“Scott,” she said, her voice trembling softly. “Thank you—for tonight, for everything.”

His smile deepened, his voice low but steady. “You deserve it, Megan. You both do.”

She stood carefully, glancing toward Ruby, who was still curled on the couch, her Cupid ornament clutched tightly in her small hands. Megan crouched beside her, shaking her shoulder gently. “Ruby, sweetheart, it’s time to go home.”

Ruby stirred, murmuring something incoherent as she sat up, her eyes heavy with sleep. Scott moved instinctively, lifting her in his arms. She rested her head against his shoulder without protest, her tiny hands still clutching the ornament.

He carried her to the car, her warmth a comforting weight against him. Megan followed, gathering their things and watching as Scott carefully buckled Ruby into her seat.

“Thank you again,” she said softly, her voice carrying a quiet sincerity that lingered in the air.

“Anytime,” Scott replied, his gaze steady and warm. “Merry Christmas, Megan.”

“Merry Christmas, Scott,” she said, a faint but genuine smile on her lips.

He stood there for a moment, watching as her car disappeared down the street, the glow of her taillights fading into the night.

As he walked back into the house, inspiration struck. He headed straight to his workshop eager to get to work.