My dad narrows his eyes, then shrugs. “You floss. I trust a man who flosses.”
“What about the fact that he grew up next door and has always had my back?” I ask, fighting a laugh.
“I suppose that counts for something too,” my dad says. “But you do travel too much, Levi.”
“Mostly because I was scared of Taylor, but I didn’t realize it,” Levi says. “We’ll figure it out.”
My mom gives a happy sigh and presses her hand to her heart.
“Enough of that,” my dad grumbles. “Let’s go watch the twins meet Santa.”
They hurry off, and Levi wraps his hand around mine as we follow more slowly behind. “You okay with me telling them?” he asks.
“Sure. Can you break it to your parents too?”
He glances around. “Soon as I see them. I’m sure they’re with my brother and his kids. But also, there’s no chance your mom isn’t texting my mom on the way to Santa.”
“True,” I say, grinning.
I enjoy the short stroll over, my hand in his, no one paying us an ounce of attention or needing anything from me. We stop near my parents. Sara is standing inside the low candy cane fence in the parent waiting area in front of them, watching Gage. Santa uses his kind and jolly voice to ask what he wants, and Gage’s answer is much quieter. They chat for another minute or two before a helper in a sparkling snowflake costume beckons to Gage with a friendly smile. Santa sets him on his feet and hands him a candy cane.
Gage walks over with the snowflake helper, who says something quiet to Sara, who nods. Gage hugs her, then runs over to my parents. “I told Santa I wanted a Megazoid Battlebot, and he said he’d see if he could put one aside for me,” he tells them.
Sara twists to give us a thumbs up.
“She’s already got that,” I tell Levi. “I’m sure she’s relieved he hasn’t changed his mind.”
She’s already completely focused on Rome, who sits on Santa’s lap with a serious expression on his face. Then he rests his hands on either side of Santa’s beard and gives a light tug. Sara gasps, “Rome,” but Santa only laughs.
“It’s real,” Rome says with a note of wonder.
“Indeed,” Santa says. “Keeps my face nice and toasty in the North Pole. Why don’t you tell me what you’d like for Christmas this year, Rome?”
Rome leans in so he can speak softly to Santa. Santa listens, then nods and shoots Sara a somber look before settling his hand on Rome’s back and speaking to him so gently we can’t hear him. Rome nods, then he nods again, his shoulders droop, and Santa gives him a hug before setting him on the ground.
“You’re a brave lad, Rome,” Santa says. “I’m proud to know you.”
The snowflake walks Rome over to Sara and quietly relays Rome’s Christmas wish. I can practically feel my parents holding their breath, and it makes me realize I am too.
Sara turns toward us, her face distressed, and mouths what I’d worried she was going to say.His dad.
My parents look at each other, their expressions resigned. Apparently, we’d all had a feeling this was what Rome would say. Levi doesn’t look surprised either, but he rubs my back as I watch Sara walk over, Rome holding her hand, his chin set in a firm line.
“What did Santa say?” my dad asks, using his most cheerful voice.
“He said I was a good boy, but he’s not sure he can get me my wish. He said that’s not his kind of magic.” He stops and looks at the ground before he speaks again. “He said if I could think of just about any toy in the world, he could probably get it for me. But if that’s the real Santa, I know he can get me what I want.”
I exchange a worried look with Levi. I’m not sure anyone but the highest-ranked general in the army could deliver Rome’s wish, and my heart breaks for him and every other kid who has to share their parent on Christmas Eve.
Sara scoops him up with some chatter about going to play the ring toss game, and it works, Gage trotting beside them with my parents following behind to help keep him distracted.
“We’ll find a way to make it special,” I tell Levi. “We’ll do something really cool. It won’t be the same as having his dad there, but hopefully we can do something awesome enough to get him through Christmas and hold him over until his dad comes home in March.”
“I’m in,” Levi says. “I’ll do whatever you need.”
“Thank you, wonderboy,” I say, squeezing his hand. “Want to walk the booths with me?”
“I want to do everything with you.”
