Beach Blanket Santa

anniversary.”
    “Oh, how sweet!” she said, meaning it absolutely. Sarah tried but couldn’t imagine what that would be like. Being a part of such a warm, loving family and having parents who’d stayed together for that many years. She didn’t even remember her father, and her mom refused to say much about him. The men she remembered growing up with were a series of short-term boyfriends for her mom, none of whom ever stuck around. Sarah had liked one of the early ones when she’d been a kid. His name had been Joey, and he’d a few daughters of his own. He was a kind man who’d seemed to take an interest in Sarah from the start. He took her out for ice cream with his own girls and had even taught her how to ride a bike. He’d been a good guy but somehow not good enough for her mom. She’d thrown him over for Fred just about the time Sarah got off her training wheels.
    “Don’t you think Robert and Margaret will miss you?”
    “With that new little bundle to keep them busy?” he said with a smile. “Not a chance.”
    Lightning crackled, and Sarah stared out the rain-streaked window. “So, what do we do?”
    Matt carted his backpack toward his bedroom with a wink. “Make the best of it.”

    After a soup and sandwich lunch, Sarah found herself chatting easily with Matt before a roaring fire. She’d made them coffee while he’d gotten the fire started, and now they sat discussing their afternoon plans. They’d already had a great time sorting through the house’s stash of holiday movies and board games, so they had a sense of what type of entertainment was in store. Being stuck here with Matt wasn’t going to prove uncomfortable at all. In fact, Sarah decided it could be a whole lot of fun. Just as long as she could keep her heart in check, she thought with a sigh.
    “So, what’s on the agenda?”
    “Well, I don’t think we’ll be swimming today,” he said with a teasing smile.
    “No. You’re probably right about that. I think it’s cold enough to snow out there.”
    “Now that would be something, wouldn’t it?”
    “Snow at the beach? It happens.”
    “Yeah, it happens. But around here, it’s rare.”
    She smiled above the rim of her cup, enjoying their light banter. They’d both phoned their families to explain neither would be coming home, and incredibly, everyone seemed happy with the situation. As long as they were safe and had enough provisions to weather the storm, everybody understood. In fact, they were glad that Matt and Sarah had serendipitously wound up there together. How much nicer for the two of them that each wouldn’t have to spend Christmas alone. “So maybe we’ll have a white Christmas?”
    “Ha! You’ll have to ask Santa for that.” He mischievously cocked one eyebrow and studied her. “Don’t tell me you’re too old to believe in Santa?”
    Sarah thumbed her chest. “Me? No. It’s just that I’ve never had the pleasure.”
    “Of what?”
    “Meeting Santa. Knowing him, whatever.”
    He stared at her aghast. “Are you telling me, not even as a kid?”
    Sarah shook her head. “Cheryl doesn’t believe in such.”
    “Cheryl?”
    “My mom. She wanted me to start calling her Cheryl when I was, oh…about eleven.”
    “Really? Why?”
    “Once I hit puberty…” She felt her face flush. “Well, I guess the thought of having a daughter my age made her feel old.”
    “Ouch.”
    “It’s okay. I got over it.”
    “Not having a mom?”
    “Oh, I had a mom. She was just…different. You know?”
    He nodded like he was trying to understand, but Sarah didn’t see how he could completely. Not coming from the background he did, which was so diametrically different. “So, what about Christmas, then? If there was no Santa, how did you celebrate?”
    “Generally with moo shu pork and gas logs.”
    “Were you happy that way?”
    “It was the only way I knew. I mean, sure. I heard the other kids in school bragging about what they got for Christmas and stuff, but after a while I learned not to worry about it. My mom always got me what I needed and didn’t want to fill my head with bubble-headed fantasies anyway.”
    “Like the notion of Santa Claus and make-believe and dreaming impossible dreams?”
    “Yes.”
    Matt’s gaze was lined with compassion. He was trying to read her, and Sarah felt as open as a book. “I see.”
    “It wasn’t so bad, really,” she said, trying to lighten the moment.
    Matt smiled at her, his face brightening. “No,