Chapter One

Molly

This was going to be the best Christmas ever.

Molly grinned as she pulled out her master key for the shop, slid it into the lock, and opened the door. The scents of pine and cinnamon filled her nose as the Christmas spirit washed over her. It was time to open up the shop for the day. Every day since Thanksgiving seemed to get better when she was in the store.

Christmas Wishes was the best Christmas store in town and possibly in the entire United States. Molly would even guess it ranked in the top five best Christmas stores in the world. The only one that could possibly beat them might be a Christmas store in Alaska that was actually near the North Pole.

As she closed the door behind her, she spotted Mrs. Kerstman, the store owner, up on a tall ladder. She was putting the finishing touches on a display Christmas tree. Mrs. Kerstman was a thin woman with auburn hair, her warm nature matching the reddish warmth in her curls. She played Mrs. Claus every year for the children in the town and Molly couldn't imagine anyone better suited to it. Mrs. Kerstman took a moment to wave down at Molly before going back to adjusting the ornaments on the tree.

“Mrs. Kerstman? Why are you still here? Shouldn’t you be getting on an airplane?” Molly’s tone was accusatory yet good-natured as she stared up at Mrs. Claus. “I thought you, Santa, and my parents were all flying south for the winter. I was supposed to open the shop today. That's why you planned for the trip this week. I'm on break from teaching, so I can be here full time while you frolic in the sun.”

“We're leaving! I promise!” Mr. Kerstman replied, appearing from the back of the shop with an overstuffed suitcase. “We were supposed to leave with your parents earlier, but Mrs. Claus insisted on finishing up decorations around the store.”

Mr. Kerstman was tall and broad, and Molly suspected that he’d been an athlete in his youth. He loved playing Santa for all the local kids. He had a fluffy white beard that made him perfect for the part. Today, with his Hawaiian shirt and sunglasses, he looked like Santa about to go on vacation.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Molly!” Ms. Kerstman called down from the store’s ladder. “It’s just that I always have so much trouble with these tree displays. I just wanted to save you some time.”

“I fear that Mrs. Claus has forgotten how to take a vacation,” Mr. Kerstman whispered loudly to Molly. “Hopefully she remembers how much she used to love the beach. I think twelve Christmases back to back has turned her into a snow person.”

“Hey! I'm a snow person. There’s nothing wrong with being a snow person. Snow people rock,” Molly said with a laugh. “So, are you two going to go over the list of rules and a few emergency numbers to call again?”

The Kertmans ran the store while Molly taught second grade during the weeks after Thanksgiving, but come winter break, Molly worked full time at the store. However, this was the first time the Kerstmans had left their store during the holiday period. Despite the fact that Molly had worked at the store for years, they'd been nervous to go out of town. This store was their pride and joy, so Molly didn't take it too personally that they were a little anxious about leaving it.

“No rules. No numbers. You're are Head Elf. You know this store just as well as we do. Heck, maybe even a little bit more,” Mr. Kerstman said with a fatherly smile. “We trust you, 100%. Well, I trust you 100%. Mrs. Claus may be hovering around 76%.”

“No, I trust Molly 100%, too!” Ms. Kerstman replied, making her way down the ladder. “But I certainly do not trust these difficult trees.”

“Thank you for believing in me. I’m not going to let you down,” Molly said. She loved that instead of being “store manager” she was called “Head Elf.” It just sounded so much better to her ears. “I promise. This is going to be the best Christmas ever.”

Molly was excited to have the store to herself for a week. She had some ideas for decorating that Mrs. Kerstman would love when she got back. Those difficult trees had a future in Molly's mind.

“And maybe with your parents out of your hair for a week, you could go on a date. I heard that Mr. Williams nephew is coming to town. Maybe you two could go see that new superhero movie?” Mrs. Kerstman asked in an innocent voice. She stepped off the ladder and put her hand on Molly's shoulder. “It just doesn’t make any sense for you to be a single woman, dear. Look at you.”

Molly took a moment to look down at her rather comical outfit, noting the shiny black shoes, the bright green stockings, the red and green skirt and its matching top. She wore a very shiny red and green Elf hat, none of which screamed “date me” to sane men.

“No, I’m not talking about your outfit. You know what I mean,” Mrs. Kerstman said, rolling her eyes and then wrapping an arm behind her husband’s back. “You’re a beautiful young woman, Molly, inside and out. Men should be throwing engagement rings at you in the street.”

“That sounds painful,” Molly told her, keeping a straight face. “And trust me, I’ve looked and looked and looked. I've tried. You do not want to open any dating apps in this town. It's downright scary.”

“But Mr. William's nephew? I hear he's single,” Mrs. Kerstman pressed.

“I also hear he's gay,” Mr. Kerstman replied. He moved the suitcases a little bit closer to the door, in an attempt to slowly keep his wife heading toward their flight.

Mrs. Kerstman gave him a dirty look.

“Have you tried wishing for a good man?” Mrs. Kerstman asked, nodding towards Mr. Kerstman, but not moving toward the door like he wanted her to. “This Santa has a pretty good record for wishes coming true, but only if—”

“Only if I believe. I know, I know.” Molly shrugged. She didn't have anything to lose, so she stepped closer to Mr. Kerstman. “Hey, Santa, got enough time for an elf to make a wish?”

Mr. Kerstman nudged the suitcases just a little bit closer to the door before he grinning at Molly. “Anything for my favorite elf on the planet. Tell Santa what you most desire for Christmas. Give me your Christmas wish.”

“I want... a boyfriend?” Molly looked over at Mrs. Kerstman, who shook her head no. “Okay. Um... I want a good man?”

“She wants a sweet, loving man with good, upstanding morals who’s undoubtedly single and has a reasonable job and who wants to have lots of babies so we can have lots of little elves to help us around the shop,” Mrs. Kerstman said, finishing Molly’s wish for her. She patted her husband on the shoulder. “You got all that Santa? Are we good for this year?”

“All that depends on Molly and how much she believes in me this Christmas season,” Mr. Kerstman replied. He grabbed his suitcase as he gave Molly a wink. “Although, Christmas wishes are a very powerful thing. You should always be careful about what you wish for. You just might get it.”

 “Yeah? Bring it on, Santa Claus,” Molly replied, adjusting her green and red checkered elf hat. “What could be so bad about finally finding the right guy?”