Chapter 6

Chapter Six

S cott adjusted the plush velvet hat on his head and tugged at the white gloves, settling into the oversized Santa chair as the crowd of kids began to gather in front of him. The Christmas market was alive with holiday cheer—twinkling lights overhead, the hum of carols playing softly through the speakers, and the delicious scent of roasted chestnuts wafting from the food stalls.

From his perch, he could see everything. Parents snapping photos, kids clutching their wish lists, and volunteers rushing to keep things running smoothly. But his gaze kept drifting to the crafts station off to the side, where Megan was in the thick of it.

She crouched beside a table of children, holding a glitter shaker in one hand and guiding a young boy through decorating his snowman ornament with the other. Her smile was tired but genuine, and she radiated warmth even as the chaos threatened to spiral out of control.

“Okay, let’s add some sparkle,” Megan said to the boy, shaking just enough glitter to cover the snowman’s hat. The child giggled, grabbing the bottle to pour more—too much more. A cascade of glitter spilled onto the table, the floor, and the lap of the little girl sitting next to him.

“Oh no!” the boy gasped, his face falling.

“No problem!” Megan said quickly, brushing glitter off the girl’s costume and spreading it into a thin, shimmering layer on the table. “Now we’ll all sparkle like Christmas lights!”

The boy’s face brightened, and even the girl, who had started to pout, giggled at Megan’s easy humor. Megan grabbed a small broom from under the table and began sweeping the glitter into a pile. The kids quickly returned to their crafts, unbothered by the mishap.

Scott found himself smiling. He’d seen a lot of people in the elf position over the years, some more enthusiastic than others, but Megan stood out. She wasn’t just doing her job—she was present, engaged, and completely attuned to the kids. Her patience was remarkable, especially given the long hours she’d already put in over the last few weekends.

As he watched her, a flicker of admiration grew into something stronger. It wasn’t just about her knack for working with kids. It was about her resilience—the way she’d stepped into a new town, a new job, and a new life without missing a beat. Scott had seen that kind of strength before, but rarely with such quiet grace.

He thought about what she must be going through. Starting over wasn’t easy, especially with a toddler in tow. Megan made it look manageable, but he knew better. There had to be moments of doubt, of wondering if she’d made the right choice. Still, she handled it all with a kind of determination that tugged at something deep inside him.

“She’s stronger than she gives herself credit for,” Scott muttered to himself, his gaze following her as she stood, brushing glitter off her green elf costume.

The line for Santa moved forward, and Scott shifted his focus back to the kids waiting their turn. He donned his best “Santa” smile and listened as each child listed off their Christmas wishes —dolls, bikes, a puppy. He even threw in a hearty “Ho ho ho!” for good measure, earning wide-eyed grins from his audience. But even as he played his part, a corner of his mind remained fixed on Megan, who was now helping a little girl tie a ribbon onto her ornament.

When the last child in the line had taken their photo and trotted off with a candy cane, Scott stretched his legs and stood, shaking out the stiffness in his shoulders. He was due for a short break, and as if on cue, Megan walked by, holding a dustpan full of glitter and brushing off her costume with her free hand.

“You’re sparkling more than the Christmas lights,” Scott said, his grin widening as she turned to look at him.

She laughed, a sound that seemed to cut through the noise around them. “Comes with the job, I guess.”

“Looks like you’ve been busy,” he said, gesturing to the dustpan.

“You could say that,” Megan replied, glancing down at herself and smirking. “I think I’ll be finding glitter in my hair until Easter.”

Scott chuckled, stepping closer. “The kids love it, though. You’re great with them. They’re lucky to have you.”

Megan’s expression softened, and she shrugged modestly. “Thanks. It’s fun, even when it’s chaos. Keeps me on my toes.”

They stood in companionable silence for a moment, the festive hum of the Village filling the space between them.

“How’s Ruby doing?” Scott asked, breaking the quiet.

Megan’s face lit up, the faintest hint of relief flickering in her eyes. “She’s great. She loves playing with Gertrude’s toys. I think she might have found a new favorite doll over there.”

“That’s good to hear,” Scott said, genuinely pleased. “Gertrude’s got a knack for making kids feel at home. I’m glad Ruby’s settling in.”

Megan nodded, her gaze drifting briefly to the crafts station before returning to him. “It’s a relief, honestly. I was worried about how she’d adjust, but she seems happy here.”

Scott could hear the unspoken emotion in her voice, the weight she carried as a mother trying to do right by her child. It made him want to do something—anything—to make her feel more at ease.

“Well, if there’s anything you need,” Scott said, his tone gentle but sincere, “you know where to find me. Even if it’s just advice on the best places to take Ruby for an afternoon. There’s a park near the north side of the island with a great little play area. Kids love it.”

Megan smiled, a genuine warmth in her expression. “Thanks, Scott. I appreciate that.”

“Anytime,” he said, stepping back as one of the other volunteers called for Megan’s help.

He watched her go, a light dusting of glitter still clinging to her costume as she returned to the crafts station. Something about Megan drew him in—not just her strength but the way she carried it, quietly and without fanfare. Scott found himself wanting to know more about her, to be someone she could count on as she navigated this new chapter of her life.

With a deep breath, he adjusted his hat and gloves, ready to dive back into his role as Santa. But as he returned to his chair, he couldn’t shake the thought that Megan Findley was more than just another volunteer—she was someone worth knowing, someone worth making an effort for.

Scott leaned back in his chair, the quiet hum of his workshop giving him space to think. The day had been full, the usual chaos of Santa’s Village leaving him exhausted yet satisfied. But despite the laughter of the kids and the cheerful bustle of the volunteers, his thoughts kept circling back to Megan.

Her quiet resilience had struck him again today—the way she calmly handled the kids at the crafts table, even when glitter and glue were flying in every direction. He couldn’t stop replaying the moment when she reassured the little boy who spilled the glitter, her tired but genuine smile softening the tension in the air.

Scott stood abruptly, brushing sawdust from his jeans as he paced the small space. The memory of her laugh when he teased her about sparkling like Christmas lights brought a small grin to his face. She didn’t let her guard down often, but when she did, it lit something in him.

He thought back to an earlier conversation at Santa’s Village, when she’d casually mentioned how much she missed reading. It had been a passing comment, almost thrown away in the rush of managing the kids, but it had stayed with him. Megan clearly didn’t have much time for herself, not with raising Ruby on her own and settling into a new town. The least he could do was give her something she might enjoy—a small moment of escape.

Before he could second-guess himself, Scott grabbed his jacket and headed out into the crisp evening air. The streets of Palmar Island were quiet, lit by the soft glow of Christmas lights strung across porches and storefronts. He made his way toward The Book Nook, the little shop nestled between the bakery and the antique store.

The bell over the door jingled as he stepped inside, the warmth and smell of old paper immediately wrapping around him like a blanket. Sophie Johnson looked up from behind the counter, her wavy brown hair falling over one shoulder as she greeted him with a bright smile.

“Well, if it isn’t Santa,” Sophie teased, setting aside the stack of books she’d been organizing. “What brings you in tonight, Scott?”

Scott chuckled, pulling off his gloves. “Not Santa business this time. I’m looking for something special—a book for a friend and something for her little girl.”

Sophie raised an eyebrow, her curiosity evident. “A friend, huh? Tell me more.”

Scott rolled his eyes playfully. “It’s nothing like that. She’s new in town, raising her daughter on her own. I thought a good book might be a nice gesture.”

Sophie leaned on the counter, her grin widening. “Thoughtful and mysterious. I like it. Let’s find something perfect.”

She led him to the children’s section first, crouching down to pull a board book from one of the lower shelves. “This one’s adorable,” Sophie said, handing him a book with bright illustrations of woodland animals. “It’s interactive—lots of flaps to lift and textures to feel. Toddlers love it.”

Scott flipped through the pages, imagining Ruby’s excitement as she explored the book. “This is perfect,” he said, tucking it under his arm.

Sophie moved to another shelf and pulled out a novel with a soft, inviting cover. “For your friend, I’d recommend this one. It’s about fresh starts and finding community—a feel-good story with just enough heart to keep her hooked.”

Scott studied the book, nodding as he read the back cover. “She’ll love it. Thanks, Sophie.”

“Anytime,” Sophie said, ringing up the books with a knowing smile. “And Scott?”

“Yeah?”

“Whoever she is, she’s lucky to have someone thinking of her like this.”

Scott’s cheeks warmed, and he waved off her teasing as he left the shop, the books tucked safely under his arm.

The walk to Megan’s bungalow wasn’t far, and Scott felt a mix of anticipation and nerves as he approached her door. He hesitated for a moment before knocking, the sound echoing in the quiet night.

The door opened a crack, and Megan peeked out, her expression shifting from curiosity to surprise. “Scott?”

Scott offered a small smile, holding up the bookstore bag. “Evening. I, uh, thought you might like these.”

Megan opened the door wider, revealing Ruby perched on her hip, clutching Mr. Bear. “Santa!” Ruby squealed, reaching toward him with a beaming smile.

Scott chuckled, crouching slightly to meet her gaze. “Hi there, Ruby. Have you been good today?”

Ruby nodded enthusiastically. “I read books with Mr. Bear!”

“Good practice,” Scott said with a grin. “Because I brought you something special.”

He pulled out the children’s book, and Ruby’s eyes lit up as she grabbed it with both hands. “Bunnies!” she exclaimed, hugging the book tightly.

Megan laughed softly, shifting Ruby to her other hip. “You’re spoiling her,” she said, though her tone was more amused than admonishing.

“Can’t help it,” Scott replied. “It’s the Santa in me.”

He handed her the second book, watching as her fingers brushed the cover. Megan’s expression softened, her eyes flicking up to meet his. “This is really thoughtful. Thank you.”

Scott shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I figured you might need a little downtime, something just for you.”

Megan smiled faintly, her gaze lingering on the book. “You didn’t have to do this.”

“I wanted to,” Scott said simply.

For a moment, the only sound was Ruby’s delighted narration of her new book, her small voice filling the space behind them.

“Why don’t you come in?” Megan said suddenly, stepping back to let him inside.

Scott hesitated, then followed her into the warm bungalow. Ruby had already settled on the couch, flipping through her book and excitedly pointing out each page to Mr. Bear.

Megan gestured toward the kitchen. “Can I get you something? Coffee? Tea?”

Scott shook his head. “I’m good, thanks.” He leaned against the doorway, taking in the cozy space. “You’ve made this place feel like home.”

Megan glanced around, her lips curving into a small smile. “It’s getting there. Slowly but surely.”

Scott nodded, watching as Ruby giggled at something in her book. “She’s settling in well.”

“She is,” Megan said, her voice softening. “Better than I expected, honestly. She loves the beach, and Gertrude’s been great with her. It’s been a relief.”

Scott met her gaze, his voice gentle. “You’re doing a great job, Megan. You’ve got a good thing going here.”

Megan tilted her head, studying him. “Thanks. That means a lot.”

The quiet stretched between them, warm and unhurried. Scott felt a pull to say more, to share the thoughts that had been circling in his mind all evening.

“I get why you came here,” he said finally. “Palmar Island has a way of growing on you. It’s peaceful. Simple.”

Megan nodded, her expression thoughtful. “It’s different from what I’m used to, but I think it’s what Ruby and I need right now.”

Scott smiled, the sincerity in her voice settling something inside him. “If there’s anything you need—advice, help with anything—don’t hesitate to ask.”

Megan’s guard seemed to lower just a fraction as she offered him a small, grateful smile. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Scott pushed off the doorway, glancing at Ruby, who was now curled up with her book and Mr. Bear. “I should let you get her to bed. Just wanted to drop these off.”

“Scott,” Megan said as he turned toward the door.

He paused, looking back.

“This means a lot,” she said softly, her eyes meeting his. “Thank you.”

Scott tipped his head slightly, a faint smile on his lips. “Anytime.”

As he walked back into the crisp night, the glow of Christmas lights lining the street, Scott felt a quiet sense of purpose. Megan and Ruby were still finding their footing, but he wanted to do whatever he could to help them feel at home.

“She deserves this,” he thought, picturing Ruby’s laughter and the soft gratitude in Megan’s eyes.

With his hands tucked into his jacket pockets, Scott smiled to himself, already thinking of what he might do next.