“Thank you.”
“Come now, my boy, everyone is desperately awaiting breakfast and you know how your father likes to kick this morning off with a speech that goes until the new year.” A snort escapes me as she pats me on the back. His speeches do usually drag on for an unreasonable amount of time.
As we make our way out, I pray he is already near the end of his speech, although the thought of standing up to address everyone has my stomach churning and my palms sweating.
“Ah, there he is, the man of the hour.” My father’s voice booms across the square.
My father has always made the residents of the village feel like an extended part of our family. Everyone is welcome at our table and this morning feels more like a big family reunion than a work breakfast.
For everyone here today, their work is done. After months of planning, prepping, and executing, the workers have completed their work by making the presents, carefully wrapping them, and storing them in the sleigh ready for delivery.
With meticulous planning, the team has ensured that no child is missing from their carefully designed routes, and the reindeer have been diligently honing their skills during training sessions.
Kris and Arthur have spent months crafting the upgrades needed to ensure my trip goes smoothly.
From here on out, it’s up to me.
The crowd bursts into a symphony of cheers, with hands stretching out towards me, shaking my hand and giving me encouraging pats on the back as I move towards the front.
Their enthusiasm fills me, and I straighten, a smile spreading across my face as I greet them back.
When I reach the front, Kris stands waiting alongside the stage, his jade eyes filled with something I only hope is real, making my stomach flutter with much more than nerves. He gives me a quick wink and nods towards the stage, urging me to go on.
Carol joins him, and he wraps his arm around her shoulder as she leans into him. My father meets me at the top of the stairs, shaking my hand, giving me a warm hug and I take a second to revel in this moment, soaking it in.
Festive ornaments beautifully decorate the stage, and at its center stands a single microphone adorned with a mistletoe garland, patiently waiting for me.
“Friends, family. Welcome. I know my father has probably already thanked you for your hard work this year, but I wanted to thank you all as well.” Eager eyes look back up at me, families grouped together, hugging and holding each other.
“Although children around the world will go to sleep tonight, eagerly awaiting my arrival. I want to acknowledge that there is no me without all of you. Although I may be the representative of our work, it is the tireless efforts of each and every one of you that give Christmas its true meaning.”
Claps ring out across the crowd. With a slight nod of his head, my father encourages me to go on.
“From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. This year has been a year of change for us and though the path ahead may not always be easy, it will be one we can all travel …” My eyes drift to the side of the stage, where Kris waits, his intense gaze locked on me, “together.”
He gives me a barely perceptible nod, which gives me the strength to turn back to the waiting crowd. “Now I won’t keep you from Mabel’s breakfast feast. Goodness knows you have earned it. Please, celebrate with me and my family and then join us for takeoff.” I motion towards my family as my father and Carol make their way towards the crowd. Kris choosing to linger behind, waiting for me.
As the crowd disperses, moving towards the endless trays of every breakfast item one could think of. I stuff a hand into the pocket of my suit as I move towards him, pulled by an invisible thread, linking us together.
“Impressive speech, Santa.” His finger subtly trails along mine as we walk side by side towards the tables.
We take our time as everyone around us fills their plates with bacon, eggs and pancakes. They pass around mugs of what I assume is spiked hot cocoa, and I politely decline when one is handed out for me.
“Impressive?”
“Well, not as impressive as your ass in that suit, but I think you made an impact.” He shrugs, giving me a sly grin as his fingers move to interlace with mine but he withdraws his hand, stepping ever so slightly away, when a worker and their family stop me. I frown at the loss of contact but slip back into a tight smile as they thank me for my effort this year and wish me a safe trip with a tight handshake.
When the family wanders back into the throng of people, Kris steps closer and his warmth solidifies my resolve. I don’t want to hide us. This will be difficult for some to understand, but I hope, with time, it is something people can grow to accept.
Or they won’t. I don’t know what I would do in that case, but my heart thumps to a beat that doesn’t match anyone but Kris.
I have a feeling that most people in the village would warmly embrace and accept Kris and me.
When it comes to sharing the news, there is only one person who I worry about the most.
My father.
The runway lights are lit with red and green as my father moves the sleigh into position. The excited crowd eagerly gathers along the pathway to bid me farewell.
From the sidelines, this moment has always felt like putting the star on top of the tree, stepping back to enjoy the beauty, reveling in a sense of accomplishment after all of the hard work as we waited for my father to wish us a Merry Christmas from the skies.
Now I stood on the other side, a different level of hard work in my future. My father lingers next to the cockpit, his hand on the shell of the sleigh, lost in his own memories.
“I know I haven’t always been there for you. This role is incredibly demanding, as I’m sure you will learn. Though I couldn’t be prouder of the man you have become.” Tears well in his eyes as he strokes the sleigh, a vulnerable smile tipping up his lips as he glances down the runway at the row of reindeer, weighting for my go.
“Losing your mother was one of the hardest moments in my life and I know for many years I threw myself into this cockpit, hoping one day that I could find some magical spark for us. Something to bring us back together.”
He stops glancing over to Kris and Carol huddled next to each other; I smile as Kris tries to wrap Carol in his jacket and the two playfully bicker with matching smiles.
Though I still worry I am not good enough for this role. Carol’s words ring in my mind as Kris looks up and smiles wide straight at me.
Here I will always be just Nick, and I am loved.
“They are two very special people.” His words pull me back and I nod.
“They are.”
