Page 32 of The Christmas Mistake

Nicholas blinks twice. “A skateboard. His brother was going to teach him how to skate but now his brother is an angel. That’s the words he used.”

He really seems distant. It’s like he’s in shock.

“Are you ready for the next family?” I ask him.

Nicholas looks up at me. “Can we break for lunch now?”

“Sure, we can.”

“Can we? I need some time.”

“Yep, no problem. Give me a moment to let the people lining up know and then I’ll join you.”

I head back to the line and inform everyone that we’ll be breaking for half an hour. There are a few grumbles, but I don’t care. Nicholas clearly needs a minute to get over that sad story. Maybe I can talk to him during the break, find out truly what James told him. Maybe I can help calm him down.

I turn back to him in his chair, but he’s gone.

13

CHASTITY

I decide to follow Nicholas.

I know it’s wrong, but I must find out why he disappeared in such a hurry. Where did he go to? I want to talk to him. He’s clearly disturbed by his conversation with James, and maybe he needs a friendly face to chat to.

Once I’m changed out of that skinny little elf costume, I head off in the direction directly behind the grotto. I reckon he must’ve gone that way.

It isn’t hard to find him. The man is still in his giant Santa outfit, and that means he hasn’t got very far and also that he sticks out like a sore thumb.

“What is he doing?” I mutter to myself when I spot him lumbering about in all his red, white, and black like a baby horse trying to learn to walk. Everyone in the place is staring at him as he passes by. I guess they haven’t seen Santa awkwardly stomp around a shopping mall before.

Where the hell is he going? He looks like he’s after something specific.

It soon becomes pretty obvious where his target is.

The toy store.

That’s where Nicholas heads. He’s clearly on a mission. I decide to wait outside the store for him.

He reemerges not long after carrying a long wrapped-up box under his arm. Something he’s bought.

It’s a present, but for who?

The comically-large Santa continues to wander around the mall. I stay a careful few yards behind him. The place is getting real busy, so I know he won’t notice me if I stay blended in with the crowd.

He’s looking for something.

Or someone.

Pretty soon, he spots what he’s searching for.

It’s the family from earlier. James and his parents.

They’re walking around the mall as well. Shopping. The moment Nicholas spots them, he goes bounding over to the family in his sagging Santa outfit. So, that’s what he’s been doing. He’s been looking for James.

I get as close to the action as I can. The family is so overwhelmed seeing Santa appear in front of them and Nicholas is so focused on James that none of them recognize me. I’m close enough to overhear snippets of the conversation going on between Santa and the little boy.

“I’ve got a present for you,” Nicholas says, bending down to James’ level.