Christmas Candy

10- Letting go

Next to the grocery store doorway, Jasper stood inside, handing out bags of goodies and wishing a Merry Christmas to all the kids leaving the store. He didn't know how, but somehow he missed Harmony walk into the store with her kids, and when he saw her standing in line at the checkout, his heart skipped a beat, and a smile formed on his face.

While Harmony was busy putting food onto the conveyor belt, Amelia walked to the conveyor's end and sat on the bagging area's ledge. When she was looking around and saw Santa handing out gifts, she ran over to him, tugging on the bottom hem of his Santa coat.

"Santa. Santa, Santa!"

Jasper heard Amelia's voice and turned around. He looked down, smiled, and held out a bag for her to take. "Hi, there! How are you today?"

Amelia took the bag from his hand, looked inside, and smiled. She turned around and looked at her mom to make sure she was still where she was, then looked back at him. "I have to hurry before mommy sees I'm gone. But I wanted to ask you a question."

"Ask away," he said, as he handed bags to a couple of kids walking past. "Ho. Ho. Ho. Merry Christmas!"

"How come I never got any presents from you before? My friend told me that only bad kids don't get presents. Have I been bad or something?"

Jasper's heart froze, and he quickly looked at Harmony. This was a question he didn't know how to answer, and he knew he needed to come up with something, and fast. He lowered to her level, cupped the side of her cheek, and looked her in the eye. "No, Hun. You have not been a bad or naughty girl. You've been a very good girl, and I think there may have been a mistake. Did you ever send me a letter?"

She bunched up her nose. "A letter? What kind of letter?"

"A dear Santa letter. Telling me what you wish to get for Christmas."

She shook her head and twisted her lips. "No. I didn't know I was supposed to. Could that be why my sister and me never got any gifts from you?"

"Maybe," he said with sadness in his voice. This whole interaction with Amelia was killing him, and it broke his heart looking into her saddened eyes, thinking he forgot all about her and Zoe and worried they've been naughty not for them not to receive anything.

"Santa?"

"Yes, Amelia?"

Her mouth dropped wide, and her eyes widened. "You know my name?"

He grinned. "Santa knows more than you think."

She curiously looked at him, looked back at her mom, then looked at Jasper, and furrowed her brows. "What's my sister's name, then?"

"Zoe."

"What did I ask you for Christmas? Do you remember?"

"I do remember."

"What did I ask for?"

He looked at Harmony, saw her eyeing him talking to Amelia, and looked back at her. "You asked for a dad."

A smile quickly formed on her innocent face, causing Jasper's heart to melt, until he heard what she had to say next, causing him to freeze again. "Since I've been a good girl, and I've never gotten any gifts from you, will I get what I asked for now?"

He tightly pursed his lips. "I can't promise you everything. But I will try my best to get what you asked for. Now, can I ask a favor of you?"

"Yes."

"Can you write me a letter and give me other ideas of what you would want for Christmas? I would like to have a backup plan, just, in case your wish cannot be gifted."