Falling For Santa Bonus
This is a bonus Epilogue for readers of Falling For Santa. It is best read after you’ve finished the entire novel.
Palmar Island, Six Years Later…
Ruby sprinkled another handful of flour onto the counter, grinning as her little brother Ben tried to catch the falling powder in his tiny hands. At five, he was full of endless curiosity and questions, especially about Christmas. It reminded her of herself at that age, though Mom always said Ben was more mischievous.
“Can I have more chocolate chips?” Ben asked, his blue eyes—so much like Dad’s—wide with hope.
“Just one more,” Ruby said, passing him a chip. “We need the rest for the cookies, or Santa won’t get any.”
Ben popped the chocolate chip in his mouth, considering this as he chewed from his spot on the kitchen chair. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, making the chair wobble slightly. “But why does Santa need cookies? Doesn’t Mrs. Claus make him cookies at the North Pole?”
“Well,” Ruby said, carefully cutting out another snowflake shape, “Santa travels all night long on Christmas Eve. He needs energy for his journey. That’s why every family leaves him cookies.”
“Dad eats cookies all night long too,” Ben observed, reaching for the cookie cutter, nearly losing his balance as he leaned forward. Ruby steadied the chair with one hand. “When he delivers presents in his truck-sleigh.”
Ruby smiled at her brother’s logic. “That’s true. Maybe that’s why Dad understands Santa so well.”
Ben was quiet for a moment, his small face scrunched in concentration as he pressed the cookie cutter into the dough. Then he looked down at Ruby from his perch, his blue eyes serious. “Is Dad really Santa?”
Ruby stepped closer to the chair, resting her hands on the back to make sure Ben was steady. “No, silly. He’s not the real Santa. He’s one of Santa’s helpers—and that’s even better.”
“Better than Santa?” Ben’s nose scrunched in confusion as he twisted around to face her, sending a cloud of flour into the air.
Ruby nodded, reaching for another ball of cookie dough. “See, Dad helps Santa make Christmas special for kids who need it most. Remember last year, when we helped deliver all those presents?”
“With the pretty lights in the truck!” Ben bounced on his toes, sending a cloud of flour into the air.
“Exactly.” Ruby showed him how to press the cookie cutter into the dough, her hands steady over his smaller ones. “Dad says Christmas magic isn’t just about getting presents. It’s about giving joy to people who need it.”
She remembered her first Christmas on Palmar Island, when everything had felt uncertain and a little scary. Dad—though he hadn’t been Dad then—had made it magical anyway. Not just with presents and Santa visits, but with kindness and love that seemed to wrap around her and Mom like a warm blanket.
“Can I help give joy too?” Ben asked, carefully placing a star-shaped cookie on the baking sheet.
“That’s why we’re making these cookies,” Ruby explained. “Some are for Santa, but most are for the Christmas Eve deliveries. And guess what?” She leaned in close, lowering her voice. “Dad said I could help him organize all the presents this year. I’m old enough now.”
Ben’s eyes widened. “Can I come too?”
“Of course! You’re my cookie-baking assistant, aren’t you?” Ruby ruffled his dark curls, so different from her own lighter ones. “But first, we need to finish these. And maybe not eat all the chocolate chips?”
Ben giggled, shoving another chip into his mouth. “I only ate three! Or maybe five.”
“Or maybe ten?” Ruby teased, tickling his sides until he squealed.
“What’s all this commotion about?”
Ruby looked up to see Mom in the doorway, wiping her hands on a dish towel. Her eyes were warm with amusement as she surveyed the flour-covered scene.
“We’re making magic, Mom,” Ruby explained, straightening proudly. “Dad’s kind of an expert, so we have to practice.”
Mom laughed, the sound as familiar and comforting as the smell of Christmas cookies. “I can see that. And how’s the magic coming along?”
“Ben only ate half the chocolate chips this time,” Ruby reported solemnly. “That’s progress.”
“Did not!” Ben protested, but his chocolate-smudged grin gave him away.
Mom crossed the kitchen, dropping a kiss on Ruby’s head before scooping Ben up, flour and all. “Well, I’d say that’s definitely magical. Your dad will be home soon. Should we surprise him with fresh cookies?”
Ruby nodded eagerly. She loved the way Dad’s eyes lit up whenever she baked, how he always said her cookies were even better than Miss Doris’s. But mostly, she loved how proud he looked when she helped with his Christmas traditions, like she was part of something bigger and more special than herself.
“Mom?” Ruby asked, sliding another tray of cookies into the oven. “Do you think I’ll be as good at Christmas magic as Dad someday?”
Mom’s expression softened in that special way it did whenever they talked about Dad. “Sweetheart, I think you already are. You’ve got his heart and that’s where the real magic comes from.”
Ruby smiled, turning back to her cookies as warmth spread through her chest. Outside, the wind was howling and the sun was melting into the horizon, its golden light catching the sea spray and turning it to glitter. Soon, Dad would come home and help her load the truck with presents. They’d drive through town together, spreading joy like starlight, making Christmas magical for everyone they could reach.
But for now, she had cookies to bake and a little brother to teach. After all, Christmas magic was a family tradition.
***
Ruby’s heart raced with anticipation as she watched Dad string fairy lights along the bed of his truck. The late afternoon sky had turned a deep winter blue, and her breath formed little clouds in the cold air. This was her favorite part of Christmas. It was even better than opening presents or baking cookies.
“Ready for the blankets?” she asked, hugging the thick quilts Miss Doris had sent over specially for tonight.
Dad grinned down at her from the truck. “Almost. Want to test the lights first? Make sure we’ve got the magic right?”
Ruby nodded eagerly. This was a new responsibility—being old enough to help with the real preparation instead of just watching. She carefully made her way to the cab, where she knew the switch would be. Just like Dad had shown her earlier, she flipped it on.
The truck bed came alive with golden light, twinkling like captured stars. Dad had woven the strands through the rails and across the top of the cargo cover he’d built years ago, creating a cozy cave of light that reminded Ruby of the first time she’d seen Santa’s Village.
“Perfect,” Dad said, jumping down from the truck. He crossed to her side, resting a hand on her shoulder. “What do you think? Will it pass inspection from your brother?”
“Ben’s going to love it,” Ruby said confidently. “He keeps asking if we’re really helping Santa.”
Dad’s eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. “And what did you tell him?”
“That we’re Santa’s helpers, and that’s even better than being Santa.” She looked up at him. “That’s what you always told me, remember?”
“I remember.” Dad’s voice went soft the way it did sometimes when they talked about those early days. “You were so excited about Cupid.”
Ruby laughed. “I still am. But now I get to help other kids feel that way too.”
Together, they spread the quilts in the truck bed, creating a nest of warmth. Ruby arranged the pillows just so, making sure there was a special spot for Ben to sit where he could see everything. She remembered her own first delivery ride, how magical it had felt to be part of something so special.
“Is that the hot chocolate?” she asked as Mom appeared in the garage doorway, carrying a large thermos.
“Can’t deliver Christmas magic without it,” Mom said, passing it to Dad with a soft smile. Ben peeked out from behind her legs, his eyes wide as he took in the transformed truck.
“It’s a real sleigh!” he whispered, stepping forward.
Ruby jumped down from the truck. “Want to see inside? I made you a special spot.”
Ben nodded eagerly, and Ruby helped him climb up, showing him how the lights made patterns on the ceiling of the cargo cover. His face glowed with wonder, and Ruby felt a surge of pride. She was helping create the magic now, just like Dad had done for her.
“Time to load up,” Dad announced, opening the garage door to reveal stacks of carefully wrapped presents. “Ruby, ready to be my chief organization expert?”
Ruby beamed. This was her job now—sorting the presents so they could find each one easily, making sure every stop went smoothly. She took it very seriously, directing Dad where to place each gift while Ben “helped” by announcing the colors of the wrapping paper.
“The blue ones go there,” she instructed, pointing to a specific corner. “And the ones with silver bows need to be on top because they’re for our first stop.”
“You’ve got quite the system,” Mom observed, wrapping a scarf around Ben’s neck.
“She gets that from you,” Dad said, winking at Mom. “All that lawyer organization rubbing off.”
Ruby smiled to herself as she continued arranging presents. She loved that Mom had found a way to be a lawyer right here on Palmar Island, just like she loved that Dad still played Santa while running his workshop. Everything had worked out exactly right.
When the truck was loaded, Ruby stepped back to survey their work. The presents were neatly arranged, the blankets were cozy, and the lights cast a magical glow over everything. Perfect.
“All aboard?” Dad called, helping Mom into the passenger seat while Ruby climbed into the truck bed with Ben.
“Wait!” Ben suddenly exclaimed. “We forgot cookies for Dad-Santa!”
Ruby laughed, reaching into her coat pocket. “No we didn’t. I packed some for the journey.” She pulled out a small tin of the cookies they’d baked earlier.
Ben’s face lit up. “You think of everything,” he said with pure admiration.
As Dad started the truck, Ruby settled back against the pillows with Ben beside her. Through the rear window, she could see Mom and Dad holding hands in the front seat, just like they always did. The familiar sight made her heart feel full.
They drove through town slowly, the truck’s lights reflecting off windows and street signs. Ruby pointed out Christmas decorations to Ben, telling him stories about each family they’d visit. She knew them all now—had helped Dad organize these deliveries for months.
“Ruby?” Ben whispered as they turned onto the road leading to the community center.
“Yeah?”
“This is the best Christmas magic ever.”
Ruby hugged him close, breathing in the scent of cookies and Christmas trees and winter air. “It sure is, buddy. And you know what the best part is?”
“What?”
“We get to keep sharing it, year after year.” She looked up at the star-filled sky, thinking of all the Christmases past and all the ones yet to come. “That’s what makes it real magic.”
Ben nodded solemnly, snuggling closer as they drove on through the night, spreading joy with each stop, just like they would for many Christmases to come.
*** The End ***
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading Falling For Santa and this little bonus epilogue. Ready for more? If you’re looking for another Christmas on Palmar Island romance, you’re in luck. There’s an entire series of them waiting for you.
And when you’re done with those, I recommend you check out the Winter Brothers of Palmar Island.
The Winter Brothers of Palmar Island
Happy Reading!