Nessie watched the scenery fly by her window. Making an internal decision, she turned to her best friend.
"Jake?"
He turned and smiled at her before turning back to the road. Her uneasiness faded away and she smiled back.
"Is Santa real?"
His smile dropping, Jake peaked at her from the corner of his eye as he drove. "What are you asking, Ness?"
She shifted in her seat. "Does Santa Claus exist? Like, really exist?"
Jake paused as he thought about her question. Nessie continued to shift in her seat.
As he turned down the drive towards her grandparents' home, he nodded to himself. "Well, if shape shifters and leech-, vampires exist, then surely someone as joyful and…jolly…and positive-feelingly as Santa ought to exist, right?"
Giving him a half smile, Nessie nodded hesitantly. "Yeah."
"But, if you really want to know the answer, you know who to ask."
Nessie nodded more firmly.
"Grandpa."