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“We’ll be right there,” Ethan told him.

Walt left and Sage was certain he was about to make sure the family knew he’d been right all along.

“Guess the secret is out,” Ethan said. “I don’t think Mom or any of my siblings are the least bit surprised.”

Sage smiled as her Apple Watch dinged, indicating she had a text message. When she read the message, her eyes widened with shock and she gasped.

“Sage, what is it?”

Chapter Eighteen

Sage was too excited to hold still. While Santa made his appearance, she paced the foyer, looking out the window every few minutes.

Her crazy, impulsive sister had somehow managed to find a way to spend Christmas Day with her five-year-old son. Sage could only imagine how Saffron had made this happen. In the flurry of text exchanges, Saffron said she’d explain everything later.

When Saffron needed to be, she could be the most persuasive woman on the planet. How she was able to get a flight at the last minute was a Christmas miracle. The flight required two plane changes on two different airlines that would get her to Seattle midday on Christmas. She took it.

Ethan was clued in to the news and awaited a signal from Sage, saving Ricky’s time with Santa until the very end.

As soon as Sage saw a car pull up in front of the house she waved to Ethan/Santa, letting him know Saffron had arrived. To this point, he’d been biding his time, chatting with the children. At her signal, he looked relieved.

“I understand a little boy named Ricky is visiting today,” he said, doing a good job of disguising his voice to a gravely pitch.

Ricky, who sat cross-legged with the other children in front of Santa, leaped to his feet. “I’m Ricky. I have cookies, but I left them at home.”

“Ah, yes,” Santa said, “I heard all about those special cookies.”

Ricky hesitated and narrowed his eyes. “Are you the real Santa?”

“I am indeed,” Ethan insisted.

Suspicious, Ricky cocked his head to one side. “Can you prove it?”

“I can.”

“Do it,” Michael called out from where he sat on the carpet in front of Santa.

“Ricky,” Santa said, growing serious. “If you could have anything in the entire world for Christmas, what would it be?”

Ricky didn’t hesitate. “I want to see my mom, but you can’t make that happen, even if you are the real Santa.”

Santa waved his finger. “What is the most important part of Christmas?” he asked all the children.

“The birth of Jesus,” Lilly called out.

“Absolutely,” Santa agreed. “What does the plaque say that your grandmother has on top of the mantel?”

“Believe,” one of the other children shouted.

“That’s right. Ricky,” Santa said, returning his attention to Ricky. “Do you believe?”

“I…I don’t know.”

“It’s hard,” Santa said, “but you can do it. Give it a try.”

“How do I do it?”

Santa motioned to him. “Bow your head, close your eyes, and think really hard until you can tell me you believe.”