Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

M egan hustled through the Santa’s Village gates, coffee in one hand and her elf hat dangling from her other. The warm December sun didn’t help her mood. It made her costume feel stifling before the day had even begun. Ruby had woken up cranky, clinging to her legs as if sensing Megan’s rush to get out the door. It had taken longer than usual to settle her with Gertrude, and Megan had barely managed to escape without tears—Ruby’s or her own.

Now she was running late, flustered, and acutely aware of how ridiculous she must look. A mother juggling coffee and work was nothing new, but doing it in striped tights and jingling bells added an extra layer of absurdity. She shoved her hat onto her head as she approached the crafts station, where a group of kids was already swarming, their laughter and shouts merging into a cacophony.

The holiday atmosphere at Santa’s Village felt more chaotic than usual. A school group had descended on the Village for a special field trip, and the sheer number of excited children seemed to multiply the usual noise and activity. Megan took a deep breath, plastering on her best elf smile as she stepped into the fray.

“All right, who’s ready to make some Christmas ornaments?” she called out, grabbing a bin of supplies. A few cheers erupted, but most of the kids were already diving into glitter, glue, and popsicle sticks without waiting for instructions. Megan quickly got to work, moving between tables, encouraging creativity while dodging glue-covered hands and the occasional spill.

By mid-afternoon, she was exhausted. Her hat sat crooked on her head, and glitter seemed permanently embedded in her costume. She glanced toward the snack table, contemplating a much-needed water break, when a sudden movement near Cupid’s pen caught her eye.

The reindeer stood proudly outside the open pen, his ears flicking as if he were relishing his newfound freedom.

“Oh no,” Megan muttered, setting down a stack of craft supplies.

Cupid trotted toward the main pathway, his antlers brushing against a string of lights overhead. The kids nearby shrieked with delight, pointing and laughing as the reindeer meandered past them. Megan felt her heart rate spike. The last thing Santa’s Village needed was a rogue reindeer creating chaos.

Grabbing a nearby rope, she hurried toward Cupid, her bells jingling with every step. She approached cautiously, holding out her hands as if to reassure him.

“Hey, buddy,” she said softly, her voice wobbling with a mix of nerves and determination. “Let’s get you back where you belong, okay? Nice and easy.”

Cupid paused, turning his head to look at her. For a moment, Megan thought she had him. Then, with a sudden hop, he darted forward, his hooves knocking over a carefully stacked display of gift boxes. Tinsel and ribbons flew everywhere, drawing more laughter and cheers from the children.

“Oh, come on,” Megan groaned, adjusting her grip on the rope as she tried to edge closer. Her elf hat slid further askew, and she batted at a strand of tinsel that clung stubbornly to her sleeve.

“Need a hand, Elf Megan?”

She spun around to see Scott striding toward her in full Santa attire, his red suit immaculate despite the heat. His eyes twinkled with amusement, and the corners of his mouth quirked into a knowing smile.

“Yes, actually,” Megan said, exasperation clear in her tone. “Cupid’s gone rogue.”

Scott chuckled, grabbing a handful of hay from a nearby bale. “He’s just looking for some excitement. Watch and learn.”

He approached Cupid slowly, his steps deliberate as he held out the hay. “Easy there, Cupid,” Scott said, his voice low and calm. “You’re a star attraction, but let’s not upstage everyone else, okay?”

To Megan’s astonishment, Cupid stopped trotting and turned his attention to Scott, sniffing the hay curiously.

“Seriously?” she muttered under her breath, though relief washed over her.

As Cupid nibbled at the hay, Scott reached out and gently stroked his neck. “Now’s your chance,” he said, glancing back at Megan.

She stepped forward quickly, looping the rope around Cupid’s neck and securing it with a firm knot. “Gotcha,” she whispered triumphantly.

Together, they guided Cupid back to his pen, maneuvering carefully to avoid startling him again. Once inside, Megan latched the gate securely, giving it an extra tug for good measure.

“That should hold him,” Scott said, dusting his hands off as they stepped back.

“Let’s hope you’re right. I don’t think I’m up for a rematch.”

Scott’s warm chuckle broke through her exasperation as they finished securing the pen. “You’re pretty good at this, Elf Megan,” he said, his tone teasing but kind.

She let out a breathless laugh, brushing glitter off her skirt. “Pretty sure reindeer wrangling wasn’t in the job description.”

“It’s in the fine print,” he replied with a grin, dusting hay off his gloves. “Right under ‘glitter emergencies.’”

Megan rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “Thanks for the help. I was two seconds away from bribing him with candy canes.”

“That probably would’ve worked,” Scott said, his grin softening. “But you handled it well. You’re great with the kids too. They trust you.”

The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard. “They just like glitter and chaos,” she muttered, adjusting her hat.

“No, I mean it,” Scott said, his gaze steady. “You’ve got a way of making them feel seen.”

Megan blinked, fiddling with the hem of her sleeve. “Thanks,” she murmured, her voice quieter now.

Scott leaned against the fence, his arms crossed as he studied her. “Starting fresh isn’t easy. I’ve been there.”

She tilted her head, surprised by his admission. “You? What did you need a fresh start from?”

He chuckled softly, but his expression grew thoughtful. “The Santa gig is just part of the story. I left behind a lot of long hours and endless deadlines. Moving here gave me space to breathe again.”

Megan glanced away, her fingers brushing the fence. “I don’t know if I’ll ever feel like I belong here.”

“You will,” Scott said without hesitation. “It takes time, but you’re already building something good. For you and Ruby.”

His words settled over her like a warm blanket. For the first time, Megan felt a glimmer of hope—not just in her ability to keep moving forward, but in the possibility that maybe, just maybe, she could build something meaningful here.

“Thanks, Scott,” she said, a small smile tugging at her lips.

“Anytime,” he replied, tipping his Santa hat with a playful flourish. “And if Cupid tries another escape, you know who to call.”

Megan laughed as he headed back toward his chair, the sound surprising even her. For the first time since she’d arrived on Palmar Island, she felt a little lighter.

There was something about Scott—his warmth, his sincerity—that made her feel a little less alone in all of this. While she wasn’t ready to let her walls down completely, she couldn’t deny the way he made her laugh, or how his words had eased the weight she carried, if only for a moment.