4. Delphine

4

delphine

I’m fastening the last button on Dante’s onesie when Dominic runs up in tears.

“What is it, Dom? What’s wrong?” I ask, hoisting Dante into my arms. In a few minutes we’re about to head out as a family to the Galleria, where we’ll be taking the kids for photos with Santa.

“Mommy…” the six-year-old pokes out his bottom lip, pausing to put his words together. “Bryce says Santa isn’t real.”

“Oh,” I say, surprised. I reach for Dominic’s curly head with my free hand, stroking him in comfort. “Well, why do you think he said that?”

“He told me ’cuz nobody comes down the chimney. And nobody eats the cookies and milk. And the presents under the tree are moms and dads putting them there.”

“What do you think? Do you believe he is real?”

“He is… isn’t he, Mommy?” Dominic blinks up at me, his eyes shining with tears.

“I think nothing can ever take away how special Christmas and Santa Claus are,” I answer. “Do you remember when we talked about the meaning of Christmas?”

Dominic sniffles as he walks by my side. I’ve swung Dante’s diaper bag over my shoulder and started for the door of his nursery. We make it into the hall by the time Dominic’s decided on an answer.

“It’s about giving,” he murmurs. “And family and being together.”

“That’s right. That will never change, Dom. So long as those are the meanings, then we all have a little Santa Claus inside us.”

The explanation seems to do its job. Dominic gives a satisfied nod and then races ahead of me, presumably to head downstairs and tell Bryce what he’s learned.

“No running down the stairs!” I call from behind him.

The door to Serena’s room opens and out walks Salvatore holding Serena’s hand. “The princess is all ready,” he announces. “She dressed herself.”

“I did!” Serena says proudly, bouncing on the spot. “Mommy, even the buttons!”

Salvatore and I share a smile and then a kiss. He takes the diaper bag off my shoulder as we reach the end of the hall and descend as a family, catching up to Dominic at the bottom of the stairs.

“Are you sure you’re fine coming with us?” I ask.

“Phi, I’m looking forward to seeing the kids meet Santa Claus… and ask him for fifty different toys,” he says. “That alone will make it worth the drive.”

I can still sense his hesitancy, though the kids would never notice. He puts up a determined and positive front for them. Serena tugs excitedly on his hand while Dominic starts walking backward all so he can tell his father about how he’s going to ask Santa for a new bike.

It means so much that Salvatore always does what he needs to for us. Even as he may struggle himself.

But as we load the kids into the car we’ll be taking, I’m still reminded how I should be trying to make the season special for him somehow.

I’ve spent time thinking about how and have come up with an idea. The first step is getting Salvatore to agree…

The Galleria is full of families from Northam and other surrounding cities, bringing their little ones for an opportunity to sit on Santa Claus’s knee. Salvatore insisted on our security being tight today, like he usually does when we’re around crowds.

Since Black Friday, the upscale mall has only added to their festive holiday decorations. An entire winter wonderland has been set up where Santa’s throne has been placed, with realistic mounds of snow and glittering trees. A Santa’s workshop has been erected, with actors addressed as elves, serving as the infamous Santa’s Little Helpers.

The children jump up and down every minute we’re standing in line. Dominic, Serena, and Bryce talk among themselves about what they’re going to say to Santa and ask him for. Dante’s asleep in his stroller.

“I was thinking about the next week,” I say as we wait. “What do you think about getting out of Westoria for the holidays? The kids have never been on a trip this time of year and it could be something different for us.”

Salvatore casts me a sidelong look, his expression difficult to read. “Where did you have in mind?”

“Mount Halsey. We could book a cabin. Invite a couple others, like my father and maybe Stitches and Sasha. Marcel’s returned from overseas and has insisted on spending Christmas with us. It could be the start of a tradition. A great way for us to change our environment and enjoy the winter season at the same time.”

“The kids would enjoy the mountains and snow.”

“And so would we,” I add, smirking at him. “We could spend plenty of alone time together too. My dad loves watching the kids. With Marcel, Stitches, Sasha, and Bryce, it would be a full house. I was looking at some of the cabin rentals online. We could get one of the larger ones. It houses up to twelve people. More than enough room… and space for privacy.”

“You know the way I think. Why am I not surprised?” He reaches to wrap an arm around my hip, giving me an affectionate squeeze.

It’s our turn for Santa. The elves greet us as we step forward with our gaggle of kids. Dominic goes first, Salvatore plucking him up and placing him on the knee of the kind-eyed bearded man playing Santa Claus.

“Ho, ho, ho, and what’s your name, little one?” asks Santa.

“Dominic! But everybody calls me Dom. Are you really Santa?”

The elves, Salvatore, and I burst into laughter. Santa does too, chuckling and giving Dominic a pat on the back.

“The one and only,” he answers. “Now, tell me, Dom, what would you like for Christmas?”

“A new bike!”

“Well that sounds like a great idea,” Santa says in his gruff voice. “I’m sure we can make that happen.”

“And some more Cosmic Man action figures! And some Legos! Oh, and a rocket ship! Bryce is going to ask for one, but I’m asking first!”

Our laughter continues as Dominic lists off the things he wants. It ranges from reasonable wants like the Legos and action figures to more absurd requests like the rocket ship and a pet dragon. Santa plays each request off, chuckling along.

Once Dominic takes his picture with the man in his fur-trimmed red wool suit, Serena is next. Her requests are about as outlandish and funny as her older brothers, except she adds on a puppy, a pony and some Barbies.

Dominic was correct when he said that Bryce would ask for a rocket ship. The seven-year-old prefaces his asks by telling Saint Nick he’s not even sure if he’s really real.

“But just in case,” he says, “I really, really want a rocket ship!”

The final one to go is Dante, who barely recognizes what’s going on as he sits perched on Santa’s lap. He simply smiles up at him and asks for cookies.

“My favorite request yet!” Santa answers with a jolly laugh. “I love a child who likes cookies as much as I do.”

The photos come out wonderfully, perfect for hanging up around the house. Once we’re done with the Santa Claus meet-and-greet experience and leaving the winter wonderland display behind, Salvatore picks up the conversation we were having while in line.

“A cabin on Mount Halsey could be good,” he admits, winking at me. “You might be right. A change of scenery for the holidays might be what works for us. Let’s book it.”