One Sweet Christmas (novella) by Darlene Fredette

Chapter One
    ‘Santa’s not coming this year?’
    A high-pitched voice reverberated against Candi’s eardrums. She glanced down at the little girl gripping her pant leg, tears streaming down the child’s rosy pink cheeks.
    Mindy Hooper’s cry caught the attention of the other children in Cane’s Chocolate Shop. They all stared up at Candi, eyes flooding and bottom lips trembling. The exception was Ralphie, sucking loudly on a chocolate Santa lollipop.
    Candi knelt on one knee, at eye level with Mindy. She wiped the tears from the little girl’s cheeks and tucked a blonde ringlet behind her ear. ‘Of course, Santa is coming.’
    ‘But Virginia said Santa’s sick and couldn’t come. I heard her.’
    Candi glared at Virginia, reprimanding her assistant with a scowl.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ Virginia mouthed.
    Candi glanced past the fudge stand. Mindy’s mother was at the front of the shop, eyeing the chocolate sampler tray. Mrs Hooper popped a caramel bomb in her mouth and turned to the group of children huddled near the counter with Candi and Virginia.
    Candi held up a hand and then pointed at the children, hoping to convey she had the situation well under control. Candi smiled at Mindy. ‘It’s true, honey. Santa isn’t feeling well today, but he’ll be here tomorrow.’
    Mindy squinted. ‘Santa’s not coming today?’
    ‘I’m afraid not.’
    ‘But why?’ the little girl whined.
    ‘He’s a bit under the weather. Santa’s going to get lots of rest and he promised to be here tomorrow.’
    The sobs and whimpers ceased. Candi gathered the children and ushered them to the back corner for story time.
    Steve leaned against the red velour chair, a tray of juice packs balanced in one hand, a storybook in the other. ‘Who wants to hear about two mice who braved a snowstorm to be home in time for Christmas?’
    The children cheered and settled on the mats by the oversized chair, lifting their expectant faces.
    Candi showed Steve a ‘thumbs up’ before returning to the front counter. ‘Damn, that was close,’ she whispered to Virginia, and smiled at the moms seated at the across the room.
    Every story time was the same. Each day the mothers would show up at eleven with their children, relax with a cup of complimentary coffee, and enjoy the snacks on the treat tray. Candi wasn’t sure if the mothers came more for their kid’s enjoyment or their own. For a whole hour they could share quilting tips or trade the town’s latest gossip.
    ‘I’m so sorry,’ Virginia said. ‘I had no idea Mindy was standing behind us.’
    ‘We got lucky this time. Let’s be more careful in the future.’ Candi checked the register for the morning sales receipts.
    ‘Um…you told them Santa would be here tomorrow.’
    ‘I did, didn’t I?’ Candi grimaced.
    Andrew Haley, Candi’s friend-slash-boyfriend, had played Santa the past four years, filling the role after Candi’s father retired. But Andrew had phoned earlier, whispering his apologies. A bad case of laryngitis would hinder his role for possibly the next few days.
    ‘So what should we do? Who else can we get?’ Virginia drummed her nails on the counter.
    ‘I don’t know.’ Candi shook her head. The staff at Andrew’s diner always covered for him whenever he stepped out for a few hours to play Santa. ‘I can’t ask anyone else in town to commit to every afternoon for the entire week. They have their own businesses to run.’
    ‘What about Steve? He’d love to play Santa.’
    ‘The children would recognize him straight away.’ A lock of chocolate brown hair slipped from Candi’s ponytail and she tucked the wayward coil behind her ear. ‘This town has seen far too many hardships. I will not let the children lose Santa, too.’ She walked past Virginia toward the baking room, and then paused, looking over her shoulder at her friend. ‘Santa will be here tomorrow,’ she whispered. ‘Even if I have to wear that damn suit myself.’
    Candi closed the door