Page 39 of Mountain Champion
“That’s okay,” I breathe. My face is hot. My heart is beating so hard I can hear it. “I’m glad you did.”
Once we’re both seated again, Ronan gazes at me with an intense, almost possessive expression. “I’m glad I did, too.” A corner of his mouth tugs up. “And I can’t wait to do it again.”
CHAPTER 9
RONAN
“I don’treallybelievein Santa anymore.”
Haley says it in a low, conspiratorial voice, so I have to lean down to hear her. “All my friends say he’s not real,” she adds. “But…” Her gaze slides over towards the gazebo in the center of the park, where Santa is holding court. “I think I’d like to say hi to him. Just to be polite.”
There’s a wistful look in Haley’s eyes that tugs at my heart. I remember those days—when deep down, I knew Santa couldn’t be real, but I desperately wanted to believe it.
I was seven when my older brother, Sean, gleefully informed me that Santa was all a myth. When I went to my father to ask if Sean was telling the truth, my father sat me down and asked me very seriously,“What do you think, Rone? Don’t worry about what Sean says. What do you believe in your heart?”
Seven-year-old me wanted to believe in Santa. I wanted to believe in the jingling bells I heard outside each Christmas Eve and the sooty footprints headed away from the fireplace. So I understand just how Haley feels.
“Saying hi to Santa would be polite,” I agree. “I’m sure he’d be happy to see you.”
“Absolutely,” Angel adds. She gives Haley’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “If you want to get in line, you should.”
“Do you think he’d mind if I tell him one thing on my list?” Haley asks. “Not that I think he’d get it for me. Just to… get his opinion.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling.
“That’s a great idea, Hale,” Angel says. Taking a moment to scan the small park at the center of town, worry pulls at her features, but she quickly hides it. “How about if we get in line now, before it gets any longer?”
Haley looks at Angel, aghast. “You want to get inlinewith me?”
Angel flicks a quick, amused glance at me before turning her attention back to Haley. “That’s what we did last year. And it’s pretty busy.”
“But last year I was eight. This year I’m almostten.” Haley gestures at the line stretching away from the gazebo. “Eloise is in line by herself. So is Tomas. And Jillian. Plus—” She makes a dramatic wave at the rest of the park. “There are police around. See? There’s Officer Sage. And Officer Pat. They won’t let anything happen.”
Angel gnaws on her lower lip. I can tell she’s torn. “How about this,” she finally says. “We won’t stay in line with you. We’ll just stand kind of close.”
“How close?” Haley presses.
“Close enough to see you,” Angel replies. Then her voice takes on the stern mom-tone I remember my own mother using. “Or we can stand in linewithyou. It’s your choice.”
“Close enough to see me,” Haley answers quickly. She starts to dart off, but makes a quick about-face and hurries back to us.“What do you want for Christmas?” she asks. “Since I’m going to be talking to Santa, I can tell him.”
“Hmm.” Angel makes a show of thinking. “Iwouldlike a new decoration for the house. Something painted. And green.”
Haley nods solemnly. “Okay. I’ll tell him.” Then she turns to me. “Ronan? What about you?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you.” Haley puts her hand on her hip. “What do you want for Christmas?”
Considering we’ve done gift certificates in my family ever since I was eighteen, it’s not a question I’m prepared for. “A decoration,” I reply, tagging onto Angel’s idea. “For my house. Since I’m still fixing it up.”
Haley gives me and Angel a look that clearly says she thinks our ideas aren’t very good. But she doesn’t comment. Instead, she chirps, “Okay. I’m going to see Santa. After that, can we go to the craft center? They have cookie decorating there.”
“Okay.” Angel gives Haley’s braid a little tug. “Go see Santa. And when you’re done, we’ll be right there.”
As Haley runs off to join the end of the line, Angel and I follow at a more reasonable pace, but making sure Haley’s never out of view. While I watch Haley, I scan the surrounding crowd, searching for any sign of danger.
There aren’t any. Nothing visible, at least. But after decades spent looking for danger everywhere, it’s a habit I can’t break. And definitely not when it involves Haley’s safety.
