A Snowed-in Christmas
Copyright© 2025 by DB86
Chapter 5
“The wig’s making my head sweat. Santa’s costume is even worse,” Bert complained, scratching under his beard. “Besides all the extra warmth from the stuffing, the beard and mustache are hot and itchy.”
“You think you have problems? I look ridiculous in this elf costume,” Nick grumbled. “My butt is freezing, and these tights leave nothing to the imagination.”
“I think you both look adorable,” Lizzie said, kissing her husband. Then, lowering her voice, she added, “I want you in tights when we get home tonight.”
Nick winked at his wife. “You got it.”
“Stop it, you two, before I have you arrested,” Bert said with a chuckle, adjusting his fake belly.
Lizzie giggled.
The choir started singing “O Christmas Tree,” and Bert sighed.
“What’s wrong, Bert?” Lizzie asked.
“‘O Christmas Tree’ was kind of our Christmas song,” he explained. “I wish we’d never found that old photo.”
“You’re talking about Karen,” Lizzie said softly.
Bert gave a short nod. “Yeah, it brought back a lot of memories.”
Lizzie listened intently and encouraged him to continue.
“Karen and I had only been on a couple of dates—we hadn’t even kissed yet. Anyway, we went to this local ice rink, and I spent the whole time waiting for the right moment. But the longer the night went on, the more nervous I got. It never felt like the right time. Before I knew it, the date was over, and I was driving her home. We pulled up in front of her house, and I just sat there, not knowing what to do. Then, ‘O Christmas Tree’ came on the radio. It was the moment I’d been waiting for.”
“So, you kissed her?” Lizzie asked, completely absorbed in the story.
Bert shook his head. “Never got the chance.”
“What?” Nick and Lizzie exclaimed in unison.
Bert gave them a mischievous smile. “Just as the song was ending, Karen leaned in and gave me the most spectacular kiss right on the lips.”
“She kissed you? Wow,” Nick said, impressed.
“Yep, she was fearless. When she wanted something, nothing got in her way.”
“She sounds like an amazing woman,” Lizzie said.
“She was. Stubborn as a mule, too. Every time I hear that song, it feels like I’m still sitting in that car. Like she’s still right next to me. I can still feel her lips on mine.”
Bert let out a long sigh.
“Anyway, let’s get this over with. I want to go home and enjoy my solitude.”
“Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas! Aren’t you a lovely girl? Ho, ho, ho!”
Bert had really embraced the role of Santa, thoroughly enjoying himself as he entertained the kids—and some adults, too. Georgina Eastland, the gym teacher, had plopped down on the sheriff’s lap and wiggled her butt with a mischievous grin. Bert had handed her a piece of coal, making everyone laugh even harder.
“You’ve been a naughty girl, Georgina,” Bert teased.
She raised her eyebrows, lowered her voice, and purred, “You have no idea, Santa. But only with my husband.”
With a sway, she returned to her husband, who was filming the entire scene, red-faced but smiling broadly.
Two women approached next. The younger one said, “Merry Christmas, Santa! I’m Bethany, and this is my mom, Karen. We’d like to take a photo with you.”
Bert’s eyes widened when he realized the woman standing in front of him was his old girlfriend. It felt as if the magic of Christmas had granted him an unspoken wish—though his notoriously bad luck had chosen to deliver his former girlfriend as a holiday surprise.
He adjusted his glasses and took a closer look at her. She looked older and a little faded, but still beautiful.
“Aren’t you a little big for Santa’s lap?” Bert asked, trying to keep Karen from sitting on him.
“You’re never too big or too old for Santa!” Bethany insisted with a smile. “My mom’s a bit shy, but if you let her sit on your lap, she’ll do it, Santa.” Bethany gave her mother a playful shove, pushing her onto Bert.
Karen tumbled onto Bert’s lap, and he instinctively grabbed her waist. She wiggled as she tried to balance on his knee, and Bert, fighting off an inconvenient erection, tried to push his crotch back.
Nick and Lizzie burst out laughing at Bert’s discomfort.
“Take the darn picture already!” Bert growled.
“Careful, Santa,” Nick teased. “There are kids around—Santa doesn’t swear.”
Karen didn’t recognize Bert at first, but when she heard his voice and looked into his eyes, a flash of familiarity hit her. She had never forgotten those eyes. They still sparkled with the same warmth after all these years.
“Bert?” she gasped, blinking in surprise.
It was all she could manage as she gazed into the eyes she had once known and loved. A sharp tingle of nervousness crawled up her fingertips.
Bert shivered at the sound of his name, so familiar yet from another lifetime.
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.