'Tis the Season: A Collection of Mimi's Christmas Books (56 page)

Belle hustled Yaya onto the city bus travelling downtown and pushed all memories of Jesse’s downcast expression from her mind. Today, her health had improved so much that she had energy to spare. Which she’d need, ushering a three-year-old dynamo around the busy stores during her favorite time of the year.

Everywhere she looked, houses were decorated with fancy icicle lights and blow-up Santa’s and even illuminating reindeer that when dark, would glow against the night sky.

Belle pointed to a particularly older home and said. “Yaya, look at all the green ivy travelling along the red brick on the wall just there. The old house is beautiful decorated with such vivid colors, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Mama. I like it.”

“Look here, see the blow-up Santa on the lawn? He looks perfect with the bit of snow the kids have packed around him.”

“I’m going to see the
real
Santa today, aren’t I?”

Belle grinned. “Not the real Santa, Yaya. Remember mommy explained how the real Santa has helpers?”

“Uh huh. But I’m going to see a real helper, right?”

“Right! Hey little girl, did you see the pink and purple flowers still growing in that yard? Even surrounded with the snow, they’ve pushed themselves through to get to the sun.”

“They’re vewy pretty.”

A few more houses passed by until Yaya turned to her, her face lit with interest. “Look at those flowers, Mama. How come they’re so yellow?” Yaya pointed to an arrangement of fake fall flowers one intrepid gardener had arranged in a huge pot by to sit at their front gate.

Belle hugged the child on her lap and answered with a chuckle warming her voice. “They’re yellow because they’re sunflowers.”

“I like them.”

Belle nodded and cuddled to get Yaya’s attention. “Baby, the world is so beautiful. If you look close, you’ll see it everywhere. There’s bad, but the good is so much bigger and better.”

Soon, Belle set Yaya on the floor and led her to the exit of the bus, noticing the warm smiles from many of the other passengers. It surprised her at how good their approval made her feel.

Fighting their way to the platform where Santa sat, surrounded by excited and in some cases weepy children, Belle wondered if this had been such a good idea.

The jolly fat man dressed in red with a beard that looked to be natural rested on a throne full of red velvet, wrapped gifts and Christmas all around.

Belle followed the rules of etiquette and ushered her big-eyed baby into line. “We have to wait for a little while, honey. The other children were here before us. It shouldn’t take too long.”

A frazzled mother with two rough-looking pre-school boys swivelled to speak. “We’ve been here for almost an hour already. This Santa is a slow one.”

Belle nodded and carried on a conversation with her new friend about Christmas, children and shopping while the two small males took it upon themselves to entertain Yaya. The time passed pleasantly enough until they were next.

Santa lifted the anxious Yaya into his arms and the angelic cherub put her arms around his neck and squeezed. “I’m sowwy I couldn’t come to say hello sooner, Santa, but my mommy was sick.”

The older man whose eyes twinkled and whose face did resemble most of the cartoon pictures she’d ever seen of jolly St. Nick, grinned, commiserating with Belle and answered. “Sweetheart, I’m just glad you could make it today. Now, have you been a good girl this year for your mommy?”

Yaya looked at Belle questioningly and seemed relieved when she nodded.

“Yes, Santa”

“Since you’ve been a good girl, you deserve something special. So what can Santa bring you for Christmas?”

“Santa, my mama wants a new husband. She misses my daddy and… and she’s lonely. I heard her telling Auntie Kim. So, that’s what I weally want.”

The golden-haired child nodded with conviction at the fat man in red, her face wreathed in dimples and her eyes trusting.

If the floor could have opened up and swallowed Belle, she would have blessed the escape. As it was, she had to suffer the pitying glances from everyone in the lineup who had heard the little girl’s plea.

“Well now,” Santa harrumphed, hiding his astonishment. “We’ll see what we can do for your mom, but no promises. It’ll depend on how good a girl
she’s
been this year.”

Wide-eyed and serious, Layla answered. “She’s aw-ways a good girl. She’s my
Mom
.”

“You have a point there, sweetie. You truly do.” He sent a wink in Belle’s direction, which clearly meant.
Lady it’s up to you!
“Now what does
this
little girl want under the tree Christmas morning?” He poked a gloved finger into Layla’s chubby belly and visibly melted under her giggles.

“Could I have a new baby doll? One with a pink dwess, please.”

“A pink dress. Got it!”

With a last hug, Layla let Santa lift her off his knee and took three steps forward. Then she turned as if she knew he watched her and blew him a kiss, her newest trick. Not surprising, she received kisses in return from not only Santa but the helper by his side handing out candy canes, Mrs. Santa.

As Yaya ran toward her, Belle could have sworn she heard his HoHoHo sound a lot huskier than earlier.

While Yaya had been visiting with her favorite character, Belle had spotted the exact doll she’d described to Santa. Not only did the baby doll have a pretty pink dress, it had a cradle, a sweater set and tiny slippers to match.

Instantly, Belle realized it would be the perfect gift for her baby. She sidled closer, pointing out various stuffed animals to keep Yaya happy, while she paid specific attention to one particular fact, the price. Once she decided it would fit her budget, Belle sneakily assessed the quality. Since they hadn’t spent any of their precious cash on a lot of food for the last while, she still had the budgeted money stashed away. It would be close to the price listed for the doll.

Heart accelerating, thinking of Yaya’s happy face Christmas morning, she looked around to see where her little girl had wandered.

Chapter Seventeen

“She’s missing?!” Jesse forced the words out in as normal a voice as he could manage. “Calm down, Belle.
Easy to say, not so easy to do!
His heart sped up to where it made swallowing damn near impossible. Muscle spasms racked his stomach and he had to force composure into his voice. “She’s there somewhere, probably just wandered off to check something that caught her attention. You’ve got a photo of her in your phone. Show it to the employees. Maybe they’ll remember seeing her. Meanwhile, I’m on my way and I’ll be with you in a few minutes.”

Driving like a fiend, Jesse broke every speed limit and even ran a few red lights. He couldn’t help it. Just the thought that Layla might have been taken by some wacko pedophile ripped his insides to shreds.

Burning low and deadly, anger created fear that formed horrific images and ended in avowals. He’d kill anyone who hurt that beautiful angel. And no one would blame him

Stop it! Get it together before you see Belle. You won’t be any good to her if you’re a mess.

By the time he ran toward his hysterical roommate, he knew Layla hadn’t been found. Belle threw herself into his arms, her face twisted in misery. Tear tracks and pain changing her green eyes to grey pools of sorrow.

The manager, who’d been notified by the clerks dealing with Belle’s mounting hysteria, continued placating her by saying this happened quite often and they always found the young culprits.

Turning to Jesse, he added, “Kids move faster than greased lightning when it comes to this store, Sir. I’m guessin’ they can’t help themselves. It’s all those toys to excite them, especially during this season. They forget about mommy when they get into wandering and looking. Next thing they know, they’re lost.”

Jesse patted Belle’s back while keeping her tucked inside his arms and said. “Has
anyone
seen her?”

Clearing his throat, the heavy-set man admitted, “not yet. I’ve sent the photo to some of the department heads to keep a look out. In the meantime we’re announcing her name over of the loudspeakers every few minutes, telling her to go to any salesperson and tell them who she is.”

“Do you have video surveillance throughout the store?”

“Well sure, but it won’t come to that. It’s only been a short time. She’ll show up.” The man took a call on his cellphone, giving Jesse time to speak with Belle.

He eased her from his arms and wiped her cheeks with his bare hands. “You looked around on this floor, no doubt?”

“Yes. It was the first thing I did. I called so loud, they came to shush me. That’s when I called you. Then the manager appeared. Do you think he’s right, Jesse? Could she have just wandered off and is lost now?”

“Why? What are you saying?”

“She’s never wandered off on her own before. Never! In fact, she has a thing about me being out of her sight. I guess that’s why I let go of her hand. I’ve always been able to trust her.” By the end of the speech, tears overflowed again and Belle had lost the ability to speak.

Jesse reached for the tissues that the salesgirl nearby passed over and used them to wipe Belle’s face. “Where exactly were you when she went missing?”

Belle moved to the left and pointed to the display where she’d looked earlier just before Layla had disappeared. “I came here to check these out for her as a Christmas present.” Belle picked one of the pretty toys up. “Yaya loves baby dolls. She asked Santa for one with a pink… a pink dwess.”

At this point, Belle’s voice broke. Trembling visibly, she rocked the doll back and forth, like one would with an infant. Emotions rigidly held in check wreaked havoc with her expressions. With her chin quivering and her voice barely understandable, she continued. “See this one has the pink dress. Oh
God
, Jesse. I only turned away from her for a few seconds.”

The manger approached, his demeanour not very promising. “I’ve called the police, folks. It’s policy, so don’t go getting too frantic. They’ll put out an Amber Alert throughout the city just in case she’s left the store.”

Questions and more questions had Belle close to a nervous breakdown. The police had interrogated the salesclerks, who didn’t remember seeing Belle or Layla. Thankfully, Santa and his helper remembered her very well.

“That little girl made a real impression, officer. She was sweetness wrapped up in a fuzzy purple hoodie with a white pompom on the top. She bounced with energy and had the cutest smile matching the prettiest green eyes I’ve ever seen.”

Thinking she had no more tears left, Belle broke down again from the portly man’s description. She noticed that even Jesse’s chin wobbled slightly before the muscles in his cheeks signalled he’d clenched his jaw.

The police precinct, not a place anyone wanted to spend a lot of time, bustled with everyday commonplace drug addicts, assault victims, hookers and criminals, all with a multitude of stories.

Waiting to be called for her statement, Belle watched the down-and-out folks from around the city living what to them would be a commonplace experience and what to her was a nightmare.

One man dressed in camouflage, probably ex-military, became particularly belligerent. It took two cops to subdue him and Belle felt her heart go out to the loser, one who’d likely served his country.

“Mrs. Foster? Belinda Foster?”

“Yes!” Belle turned to the policewoman standing nearby.

“Can you come with me please? Officer Todd from Missing Persons would like to ask you some questions.”

Belle, who’d clutched Jesse’s hand from the minute they’d arrived at the station, went to draw him with her.

“You go and tell them everything, sweetheart. I have a few calls to make. If I’m not around when you’re finished, wait for me here.”

Belle nodded. Fear coated every emotion so that thinking became an effort. Moving became a struggle. And breathing became work, hard work.

Leaving Jesse behind took courage, but she had no choice. His smile encouraged her to follow the other woman and the kiss he’d left on her knuckles was now embraced by her other hand.

Chapter Eighteen