West Coast Winter

I Believe In Santa

"Henry asked me if he could go with Nina and her mom to a Christmas Lights attraction tonight. Do you know anything about that?", Nicole asks me with a tilt of her head as she busies herself with the props table for the play. The kids in the play are chatting and playing about the cafeteria doubling as an auditorium.

"Uh...yeah", I answer her while reading over the adapted script for the kids. I elaborate for her benefit. "We were invited, but I have to work for a bit after this. I told Henry to ask you if you would take him and I would meet up with everyone later."

"So you were gonna make me the bad guy. Why didn't you just say no? Charlie? Charlie!", Nicole exclaims in a hushed tone as she reaches across the cafeteria table and slaps me on my arm. Admittedly, I was busy staring at an angel.

"What?", I asked half listening to Nicole and not wanting to tear my gaze from Jaclyn painting the set. I didn't know she would be here and I'm so happy to see her. We see each other in some capacity almost every day, but when its unexpected, its somehow even better.

"Are you dating her? Are you dating Nina's mom? Jaclyn, I mean", Nicole corrects her self.

"No. She turned me down. For now. Not that it's any of your business whom I date" I say looking away from Jaclyn and back to the script. Then, I remember Nicole's earlier statement and turn on the cafeteria bench to face her before asking, " And... why would you be the bad guy? Do you and Carter have plans tonight?"

"Well, no. We don't have any plans, Charlie, but that is beside the point. What if we did? I would have to be the one to let him down", Nicole says looking thoroughly annoyed with me. Haven't seen that look in a while.

"I told him to ask you. I never said it was guaranteed. You don't have plans, so it doesn't matter, so you can take our son on a stroll through Christmas lights. It should be fun. Jaclyn likes you well enough. Seems like you two get along, so what's the problem?"

I turn back to look at Jaclyn again. She sees me and waves while smiling brightly. She's holding a small paint can in her hand as she was painting the stars on the window backdrop. She begins to make silly faces at me, causing me to laugh. I pull a laugh now, cry later face and make her laugh in turn. I pucker my lips gently at her and a small pointed smile creeps onto my lips. Jaclyn blushes with a beaming smile and returns to her work.

"Oh, God. She totally likes you", Nicole says disgustedly.

"Really? You think so?", I say absently as I continue to review the script.

"Yeah and if I didn't feel sorry for the woman before, I certainly do now", Nicole remarks in an attempted dig at me.

I slowly turn my head to look at Nicole, narrow my eyes at her and just say, "Wow. That was cold, even for you. Brrr." I pretend to shiver.

"Look, Charlie. I'm just saying I don't think it's a good idea for you to get involved with someone like her", Nicole shrugs as she organizes the blankets for the scene in the children's bedroom.

"What's that supposed to mean? 'Someone like her.' There's nothing wrong with her", I start to become a little defensive.

"Charlie, she is sick. She's come a long way. Her medications have been helping, but she still has episodes when she begins to speak excitedly or for too long. It has taken an emotional toll on her. She will need a lot from you. I'm afraid you're too self absorbed for a sweet woman like her. Be careful, for her sake", Nicole warns.

"For your information, I happen to know all about her illness. Despite what she is going through, she is one of the strongest women I've ever met and an amazing mother to her daughter", I retort.