Chapter 3

Chapter Three

T he bells jingled again as Megan adjusted the hem of her elf costume for what had to be the tenth time. She caught her reflection in the mirror and groaned softly. The bright green dress, striped tights, and pointy felt ears made her look like something straight out of a cartoon. And the jingling—oh, the jingling—seemed determined to announce her every move.

“Just a few weekends,” she muttered, pulling at the waistband of her tights. “I can do this.”

She glanced at her phone on the small table nearby. There was a picture from that morning of Ruby waving cheerfully, her chubby fingers sticky from the toast Miss Doris had made her. Megan had barely been able to pry herself away, but Ruby had been completely unbothered, diving into her crayons the moment Megan left.

The thought brought a faint smile to her lips, but it was quickly replaced by a fresh wave of nerves as she stepped out of the small staff room and into the bustling square.

The transformation was stunning. Twinkling lights zigzagged above, garlands wrapped every lamppost, and the scent of cinnamon mingled with the faint saltiness of the ocean air. Crowds of families swarmed the Village, stopping at booths for cocoa and cookies or wandering through the rows of decorated trees.

Near the center of it all was Scott, perched on his oversized Santa chair. His rich laughter carried across the square as a little girl whispered in his ear, her red pigtails bobbing with excitement.

Megan hesitated for a moment, clutching the clipboard he’d given her the day before. Her job was simple enough. Keep the line for Santa moving, answer any questions, and hand out candy canes. Easy on paper, but the reality was far from it.

“Here goes nothing,” she mumbled, making her way to the growing line of families.

“Do you know if Santa likes cookies or brownies better?”

Megan blinked and turned to see a freckled boy clutching a plastic container filled with baked goods. He looked up at her expectantly, his wide eyes brimming with determination.

“Cookies,” she said after a beat, smiling. “Definitely cookies. But he might make an exception for brownies if they have chocolate chips.”

The boy’s face lit up. “Yes! That’s what we made!”

Before Megan could respond, a young girl tugged on her sleeve. “Excuse me, miss elf,” she said, her voice laced with urgency. “How old is Santa?”

“Uh—” Megan froze, glancing toward the throne where Scott was still deep in conversation with the pigtail girl. “Well, that’s a great question. Let’s just say Santa’s old enough to know all the best Christmas secrets.”

The girl tilted her head, considering this answer carefully, before nodding in satisfaction.

“Nice save,” came Scott’s deep voice from behind her. Megan turned to see him standing there, his eyes twinkling beneath the rim of his red hat.

“Thanks,” she said with a sheepish grin. “I wasn’t sure what the official policy was on Santa’s age.”

Scott chuckled, shifting the bells around his waist. “Rule number one: keep it mysterious. The kids love it.” He nodded toward the line. “How’s it going over here?”

“Chaotic but manageable,” Megan said, gesturing to the growing crowd.

Scott glanced at the families and let out a low whistle. “Looks like we’ve got a busy one today. Let me know if you need reinforcements.”

“I think I’ve got it,” Megan replied, though her smile faltered slightly as a toddler broke away from the line and darted toward the sleigh.

Scott followed her gaze. “Hold that thought.”

He strode toward the runaway, catching the boy just as he climbed onto the sleigh’s edge. “Whoa there, buddy,” Scott said, scooping him up and spinning him around. “Santa’s sleigh is a little slippery. Let’s keep you safe on the ground, huh?”

The boy giggled, his earlier mischief forgotten, and Scott handed him back to his relieved mother. Megan watched the interaction, momentarily struck by the ease with which Scott handled the situation.

When he returned, Scott grinned. “See? Piece of cake.”

“You make it look easy,” Megan said, shaking her head.

He shrugged. “It’s all about the voice. The big guy has to sound confident.”

As the day wore on, Megan grew more comfortable in her role. She handed out candy canes, answered questions about Santa’s favorite reindeer (“Definitely Cupid, but don’t tell the others”), and even joined in a carol when a group of kids started singing “Jingle Bells” near the sleigh.

At one point, a little boy tripped and dropped his candy cane, shattering it on the cobblestones. Megan knelt beside him, her costume jingling obnoxiously.

“Hey, it’s okay,” she said, holding out a fresh one from her basket. “Here you go. It’s even bigger than the last one.”

The boy’s tears stopped almost instantly as he grabbed the candy cane and ran back to his dad. Megan let out a small breath of relief, only to hear Scott’s laugh behind her.

“You’re a natural,” he said, resting his hands on his hips.

“Hardly,” she replied, standing and brushing off her tights. “I’m one spilled cocoa away from a meltdown.”

Scott chuckled. “You’ll survive. And for the record, that was a textbook elf move.”

She kept trucking along and by the end of the day, Megan’s feet were aching, her cheeks hurt from smiling, and her costume felt twice as heavy as it had that morning. But as she stood by the sleigh, watching Scott hoist the last child of the evening onto his lap, she couldn’t help but feel a tiny spark of pride.

She’d made it through.

When Scott finally joined her, his hat slightly askew and his beard in need of adjusting, he clapped her on the back. “Not bad for your first day.”

Megan laughed, shaking her head. “I survived. Barely.”

“Survival’s half the battle,” Scott said, his grin as warm as ever. “See you tomorrow, elf.”

As he walked away, Megan found herself smiling despite her exhaustion. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start. And for the first time in a long time, she felt like maybe—just maybe—she could make this work.

The warm glow of Miss Doris’s beachfront home greeted Megan as she pulled into the driveway, her headlights illuminating the wreath on the front door. She barely had time to step out of the car before Ruby came running down the front steps, arms outstretched and curls bouncing.

“Mama!” Ruby cried, clutching a piece of paper in one hand as she barreled into Megan’s legs.

“Hi, sweetheart.” Megan crouched to gather her daughter into a hug, exhaustion melting away, at least momentarily, in the face of Ruby’s uncontainable joy. “Did you have fun?”

Ruby nodded enthusiastically, holding up the crumpled paper. “Look! I made a picture for Santa!”

Megan took the drawing, smiling at the colorful scribbles that depicted a reindeer pulling a sleigh. “Cupid, right?” she asked, remembering their conversation from earlier in the week.

“Uh-huh! Miss Doris told me about him,” Ruby said, bouncing on her toes.

“She was a delight,” Miss Doris said from the doorway, her voice warm as ever. “We’ve been busy reading books, making cookies and coloring, haven’t we, Ruby?”

Ruby nodded, flashing a cookie crumb-covered grin that made Megan laugh despite the ache in her feet. “Sounds like you’ve been having more fun than me,” Megan teased.

Miss Doris stepped aside and motioned toward the door. “Come on in, both of you. You look like you’ve had quite a day.”

Megan hesitated, glancing back toward the car. “I don’t want to impose, Miss Doris. It’s late, and you’ve already done so much?—”

“Nonsense,” Miss Doris interrupted, waving a hand. “Dinner’s already ready, and you’ve earned a break. Sit down and let me take care of you for a change.”

Before Megan could protest further, Miss Doris ushered them both inside, where the cozy warmth of the place wrapped around her like a comforting blanket.

The aroma of hearty soup filled the kitchen, mingling with the faint scent of cinnamon and sugar from the cookies Ruby had helped bake. The table was already set with mismatched plates, a basket of fresh bread, and steaming bowls of what looked like beef and vegetable soup.

Megan sank into one of the chairs with a grateful sigh, the tension in her shoulders easing as Ruby climbed onto the chair beside her.

“Let me grab you some tea,” Miss Doris said, bustling over to the counter.

“Thank you,” Megan said, her voice softer than she intended.

As Ruby busied herself nibbling on a piece of bread, Megan took her first sip of the soup. The rich flavors were the perfect antidote to the cold wind that had nipped at her during the long day at Santa’s Village.

“This is delicious,” Megan said, tearing a piece of bread to dip into the broth.

“I’m glad you like it,” Miss Doris replied, settling into the chair across from her. “Now, tell me about your day. How was the first shift as Santa’s helper?”

Megan leaned back slightly, her lips twitching into a wry smile. “It’s harder than I thought it’d be,” she admitted, breaking off another piece of bread. “Keeping the kids entertained, answering all their questions, keeping the line moving—it’s a lot.”

Miss Doris chuckled, her eyes twinkling. “It sounds like quite the adventure. How’s Scott holding up?”

Megan paused, thinking back to the way Scott had handled every chaotic moment with ease. “He’s good at it,” she said softly, making sure Ruby wasn’t paying attention to their conversation. “Really good. He makes it look so easy, like he was born to play Santa.”

“That man’s been doing this for years,” Miss Doris said with a knowing smile. “And he’s got a good heart, though he’s too stubborn to admit it most days.”

Megan tilted her head, curiosity sparking. “Stubborn? How so?”

“Oh, you’ll see,” Miss Doris said with a sly grin, her spoon poised mid-air. “Scott’s the type who likes to carry the world on his shoulders. He won’t ask for help unless he’s got no choice, but when he cares, he goes all in. That’s why he’s so good with those kids. They can tell he’s the real deal.”

Megan nodded slowly, her mind flickering back to the way Scott had stepped in earlier that day, handling every challenge with patience and a genuine warmth that was hard to ignore. She hadn’t expected her new boss to be so approachable.

Miss Doris’s tone softened as she leaned back in her chair, studying Megan with a thoughtful expression. “You’ve been through a lot, Megan, but you’re doing great. Don’t doubt yourself.”

Megan looked down at her bowl, her chest tightening. “I’m trying,” she said quietly. “But some days it feels like everything’s a little too much, you know?”

Miss Doris reached across the table, resting a hand over Megan’s. “You’re stronger than you think, dear. You’ve made it this far, and you’re doing it for the right reasons. Just take it one step at a time.”

Megan swallowed hard, nodding as she squeezed Miss Doris’s hand. The older woman’s encouragement felt like a lifeline, steadying her in a way she hadn’t realized she needed.

By the time dinner was over, Megan felt a little more like herself. Ruby had spent most of the meal recounting her adventures with Miss Doris, from baking cookies to playing hide-and-seek in the cozy corners of the cottage.

“I hope she wasn’t too much trouble,” Megan said as she gathered Ruby’s things.

“Not at all,” Miss Doris replied, waving her off. “She was a joy, and she’s welcome here anytime. You both are.”

“Thank you,” Megan said sincerely.

As she strapped Ruby into her car seat, the weight of the day pressed down on her again, but it felt less overwhelming this time. Maybe it was the warmth of Miss Doris’s home, or the way Ruby hummed a Christmas tune as she hugged Mr. Bear tightly to her chest.

Or maybe it was the faint flicker of hope she carried with her, a small but steady reminder that she wasn’t in this alone.

With Ruby falling asleep in the backseat, her curls sticking to her cheeks, Megan drove home in silence, the glow of Christmas lights lining the streets reflecting in the rearview mirror.

“Maybe this will work out after all,” she said to herself, her lips curving into a faint smile as the little bungalow came into view.