Two

Harlow

Even though I'm not working directly with the kids, I'm still trying not to let my irritation show on my face. I don't want to be the one who makes them think Santa's behind-the-scenes helpers are secretly the Grinch.

But I hate working under Jackie. When we were kids, we got along so well, we were pretty inseparable. It never bothered me that Mom and Dad obviously cared more for Jackie than me because she didn't let it affect our relationship. She was just my big sister. She was always there for me. Looked out for me when no one else did.

Then high school happened.

We were in the same grade because she had wanted to wait to start kindergarten until I could be there with her. I always liked that we were in a lot of the same classes.

Until she stole a paper I had written and passed it off as her own. Since I'd turned mine in too without realizing she'd copied it, we both got sent to the principal's office. While we waited outside on that hard plastic bench I'd only been on before for fighting, she told me the truth. She had forgotten about the paper and hadn't wanted to disappoint Mom and Dad by not turning in anything.

I still remember burying the sting of betrayal to tell her it was okay. It sucked, but I also knew about the pressure Mom and Dad put on her—pressure they never put on me. Mom had four miscarriages before having Jackie. She was the first one of Mom's children to live; of course they were more invested in her than me.

I told her I would take the blame. I could tell our English teacher didn't believe us because for all of Jackie's perfect grades, she struggled with creative writing.

It was my first suspension. My parents reacted pretty much how I thought they would. I was on house arrest and grounded for over a month. But after it was over, I thought that was the end of it.

Until Jackie wanted me to write her next paper. And I realized she hadn't stolen my first paper impulsively. She'd known I'd lie for her. When she would stop asking me to write it for her, I finally told on her.

After a lot of talk about how much potential she had and how much I…didn't, our parents decided it was best if I just wrote the papers for her so she had the time for the extracurriculars that would help her get into an Ivy League school.

Maybe I'm still mad at her about it, but the big issue is I don't know how to trust her again. And what's worse is, I don't think she even cares.

"Hey," Archie snaps, jerking me back to the present. "Jackie wants that garland moved from the back fence to the side fence. Some kid hauled the one on the side off and stomped on it."

"Yeah, I warned her that would happen." I've helped out here every year since I graduated high school. It was one of the only places Jackie never volunteered at, and I liked being somewhere that didn't have people who knew her.

I was hoping not to have to see her again before I left town in January to move to California, but she showed up here a week ago. I wasn't going to stop volunteering here just because she decided to this year.

I still don't know how she wiggled her way into a position of power first thing, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. She's always been good at stuff like that.

Still, I grit my teeth and do what she wants. I'm not going to back out when I've worked with these kids for four years just because Jackie's in charge now.

There are new faces every year, but there's a core group that's been coming around since I first started. Just toddlers at the time. They started second grade this year.

I'm halfway through wrapping the new garland around the fence when I hear someone squeal my name.

I turn in time to catch the ball of pink launching at me.

"Maddie!" The little girl's mom is hurrying to catch up with her but slows her pace when she realizes it's me. "Oh, Harlow, I'm sorry. You know how she gets."

I laugh as I hug Maddie before setting her back on her sparkly pink boots. "Are you kidding me? It'd break my heart if Maddie didn't come say hi to me when she's here."

Maddie gives me a shy smile before sticking her hand deep in the pocket of her coat and pulling out a handmade bracelet. It's red and green striped. "I made these for all my best friends for Christmas. I wanted you to have one."

I gasp. "I'm one of your best friends?"

"Of course you are, silly." She hands me the bracelet, and I tie it around my wrist.

"I love it," I say. "Thank you so much."

Sharon smiles at me and smooths her daughter's hair. "Go get in line for Santa. I'll be right there."

Maddie gives me another bright smile and skips off to the long line of children and agitated looking parents.

Sharon takes a step closer to me and lowers her voice. "Thank you for…well, you brighten her day so much."

"I feel the same." I glance Maddie's way to make sure she's not paying us attention then turn back to Sharon. "How're things?"

She gives me a tired, sad smile. "Roger moved his stuff out last week. I asked him to stay at least through Christmas, but…Jennifer convinced him not to."

I swallow back the first words that try to fly out of my mouth. Sharon doesn't need to hear me rant about her useless husband. Even if he is a pathetic cliché who fucked his secretary and dumped his wife on her birthday. I couldn't imagine having a family like Sharon and Maddie and leaving them.

I reach out and touch her elbow. "I'm sorry to hear that. You and Maddie deserve better."

"Thank you." She takes a breath and squares her shoulders. "Hopefully she doesn't ask for that new dollhouse at the mall because I have a feeling Roger won't be getting her anything, and I haven't even started shopping yet."

"Well, if you need any help, just let me know. I'll do whatever I can."

She gives me another smile and pats my cheek. "Thanks. I'll see you around."

I watch her head over to Maddie, who smiles brightly and launches into some dialogue I'm too far away to hear. They aren't the only ones from the core group I've known for four years having a rough time this Christmas. Frankie's dad was diagnosed with cancer at the start of school. Taylor's mom lost her job just a couple weeks ago. And George always has a tough time as a foster kid. One year he didn't even show up here until late because his new foster family wasn't interested in spending time with him. They just wanted the checks for having him live with them.

The last time I saw him, he was about to be put with a new family, but that was back in the summer. I hope it was with a good one. He deserves to be with people who care about him.

I go back to fixing the garland, listening to the squeals of delight from kids and the stern voices of parents trying to keep up with them. It's definitely different from how I grew up. We celebrated Christmas, but we never went to things like this. It was treated as just another day. Maybe it's why I like working here so much. But I bet it's not why Jackie chose to be here.

Automatically, I look around for her, but my gaze lands on Calvin instead. He's up on the big, red chair at the head of the line, leaning close while the little girl on his lap whispers something into his ear.

When he pulls back, he gives her a smile and a mini candy cane before she hops down to her waiting parents. Just like back in high school, my heartbeat quickens when I see Calvin. And just like back in high school, I push the feeling away immediately. Calvin was always headed toward something bigger. Something…more.

I would've only gotten in his way.