Page 21 of Kissed by Her Ex

“No,” she said.

“I almost forgot. Sid Renner was your no-show.”

“I haven’t had a chance to track him down and find out what his excuse was,” Charity said.

They stopped in front of the pizzeria and looked both ways. There were no cars, no people in sight. In fact, only a couple of vehicles remained parked on this street, and they were in front of the pizzeria.

“Good evening!” Santa called out as they crossed.

Charity couldn’t take her eyes off him as they came to a stop on the sidewalk in front of him. The guy was a very convincing Santa. He would have been perfect for the parade. Where was he earlier that afternoon?

“You two sure are out late on a school night—or a work night, as the case may be.”

Out late. She smiled. Only in Misty Mountain would someone thinkthiswas late.

“I don’t recognize you,” Charity said. “Are you from around here?”

At that, he laughed. It was an authentic Santa sort of laugh. This guy was good.

“Just hanging out,” Santa said. “I got a cabin up in the mountains. I thought I’d spend my Christmas season in this beautiful town.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be at the North Pole?” Nic asked.

Charity glanced over and saw the teasing look on his face. Should she go along with this or try to figure out who this particular Santa was?

“Too cold.” Santa shook his head. “It’s the mountains for me.”

“I do a lot of volunteer work for the mayor,” Charity told the guy. “We have a lot of Christmas stuff coming up. We don’t have a huge budget for our Christmas events, but we could pay something if you would be open to doing a little work while you’re in town.”

“I assume you’d want me to wear this costume,” the guy said.

He was wearing it now. On a Sunday night in an empty area of town.

“Do you dress like this all the time?” Nic asked.

“Only when kids are around,” Santa said. “I wouldn’t just hang out around the house like this.” He shifted his gaze to Charity then. “But yes, I’d be happy to help out with anything you need. I won’t take any money, though. I love seeing the way kids’ eyes light up. In fact, I’ll probably be here every night, just hanging out and talking to the fine people of this town.”

Charity had the guy’s number. He was retired, likely without a wife at home. Otherwise, his wife would be with him right now. Being out around people, dressed as Santa, brought him joy. She couldn’t think of very many better ways to spend retirement.

“Do you have a business card?” Nic asked.

Charity opened her mouth to point out that “Santa” wasn’t a business, but then closed it again. She couldn’t speak for the guy. Maybe he did have a business card. Maybe he wasn’t retired. Maybe he was a professional happiness bringer.

“I don’t, son.” Santa pulled a cell phone out of his coat pocket and looked at Charity. “What’s your number? I’ll call you, and then you’ll have mine.”

Nic looked over at Charity. She saw him out of the corner of her eye and guessed it was a protective move. He was wondering if she felt safe with this stranger having her number. But he was Santa—well, dressed like him, anyway. Besides, her phone number was listed on the internet for anyone who knew her business’s name to find.

She recited her number to him and noticed he had a red cell phone case. Bright, solid red. He tapped on the screen with his thick forefinger, then smiled, the beard moving with his mouth. It sure looked like a real beard. The Santa hat wasn’t like the cheap ones that came with costumes, either. It was red with fur lining at the forehead, and the Santa suit was more like a big red coat over a pair of red, fitted trousers. If they weren’t red, they’d look like any other dress pants. On his feet were black tennis shoes—not boots. Was it a costume or normal clothing?

“Got it,” Charity said as her phone lit up with a call. But her jaw dropped as she stared at her phone screen.

“Well, better be going.” Santa slid his phone into his pocket and looked around. “It’s a little past my bedtime. You two kids be good.”

Once he’d stepped away, Nic turned to face Charity. “What’s wrong?”

She turned her screen for him to look at, realizing too late it had probably gone dark. She turned it around, unlocked the screen, and pulled up the call in her history to show him.

“Look where his phone is registered,” she said.