Ella's POV

Lucy and I were sitting in our room reading another Christmas story after spending a girl's day out together for her birthday week. It was quite a day. Mom dropped us off at the mall after breakfast so the two of us had lunch, finished last minute Christmas shopping and watched The Wild Thornberrys Movie in the movie theater next door. Lucy was quite amazed with Eliza's ability to talk to animals and a few times throughout the movie, I would tell Lucy about what I already know about the Thornberry family since I used to watch the TV show with Charlie when I was 7. When Mom picked us up after the movie was over, Lucy told her everything from the story to the characters to her favorite parts.

Dad was on his date with Carol and Charlie was over at Danielle's house studying by the time we got home for dinner. After dinner, we watched Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus is Comin' to Town before bed. Tonight, I picked The Polar Express. I read up to when the Boy Hero meets Santa Claus when Lucy fell asleep. I placed the bookmark in and tucked her in. I was about to go to my bed when I heard Lucy say, "Ellie?"

"Hey, I thought you were sleepin'," I said as I sat back down on her bed.

"I was, but Ellie, can I ask you something?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"Do you think Uncle Scott is Santa Claus?"

I knew that she was going to ask me that. I was almost her age when I knew Dad was Santa.

"Why do you think that, Luce?" I asked.

"Well, I think so because he has a reindeer, he drinks hot cocoa or milk every night before bed, and plus when he thinks no one's looking, I caught him sneaking a plate of the chocolate chip peanut butter cookies you made the other night."

"Hmmm..." I say to my sister, chuckling. "I was wondering where my cookies went. Well, I guess we'll have to make more tomorrow."

Lucy tilted her head as she looked at me. "Do you think Uncle Scott is Santa Claus?"

Do I? I thought to myself. I can't tell her the truth yet. I'll have to talk to Dad about that. I know that he said when the time comes we'll tell her.

"Well, Luce," I said, trying to figure out how to start. "Christmas is always my dad's favorite time of the year and…." I try to remember what Dad said when he went to Lakeside Elementary for Career Day years ago. "In a way, he is like Santa because he loves giving. Do you understand what I mean?"

Lucy nodded, showing that she understood. I smiled. I tuck her back in and she fell asleep. I went back to my bed and continued reading Miracle on 34th Street. I was reading the part where Mr. Kringle was babysitting Susan when I started dozing off. It had only been 10 minutes when I woke up hearing the front door slam and then Charlie yelling at Dad. Without waking Lucy, I tiptoed out our door and listened from the top of the stairs.

"How could you pick her?" Charlie complained. I sighed, knowing that he was talking about Carol.

"I didn't pick her," Dad denied.

"You don't care anymore!"

"Charlie, I care more about you and your sister than anybody else," Dad said as he got up from the couch. "But it's a two-way street. What am I supposed to do if you two won't confide in me?"

"You want it?" Charlie snarled. "Alright, here it is." I've never seen Charlie so angry at Dad before.

Dad shushed him and led him back to the living room. "Alright. Talk to me."

"I don't live a normal life," Charlie began.

"You live a great life here!" Dad counters.

"No, no, just listen to me!" Charlie interrupted. "My friends get to go around saying, "My dad's a plumber", "My dad's a pilot", "My dad's a dentist." You know what? My dad is the best thing of all and I can't tell anyone about it."

Charlie's voice starts to crack as he continues talking to Dad. "You have no idea how hard it is, walking around with that secret. And now, on top of everything, you're going out with Principal Newman! And you don't even tell me about it. My whole life has become about secrets, and I hate it!"

"I'm sorry," Dad apologized. "Forget about Principal Newman, all right? Forget about Santa. I'm done. My time's up."

"Who cares anymore?" Charlie sniffled.

Forget about Santa? Done? I thought to myself. "I care!" I shouted without thinking, then covered my mouth just as Charlie and Dad quickly turned their heads and saw me at the stairs. I quickly run back to my room and close the door. I jump into bed and pull the covers over my head just as I started crying. I heard a quiet knock at the door, then it opened. I felt someone sitting on my bed and lifted the covers off of my head.

"It's okay, Ella. It's only me." It was Dad. I sat up and threw my arms over his neck. Dad hugged back. I cried into his chest for a very long time.

"I heard it all, Daddy," I sobbed. "Why would Charlie not accept Carol as your Mrs. Claus? What happened between you and her? I thought she would be the one for you!"

"Shh, shh, shh," Dad shushed as he held me, then reached over to my dresser for a tissue. "I'll explain everything, sweetheart."

As I dried my eyes, Dad poured out the whole story on how his date with Carol went and when he told her he was Santa and how upset she was and thought he was making fun of her. I shook my head. This does bring back when Mom and Neil thought Dad was crazy that he is Santa Claus. Then, when he got towards the fight he had with Charlie, that was when he said he can't return to the Pole since he lost Carol and his magic.

"But, Dad, Christmas is only a few days away," I tell him. "Isn't there some way you can..."

Dad shook his head. "I'm sorry, Ella Bella. There's nothing else I can do. My time is up."

He then kissed me good night and left my room. Breakfast was really quiet the next morning. Mom and Neil noticed that Charlie and Dad are not speaking to each other. Neil took me aside and I told him what had happened last night. After doing so, I went back upstairs to get dressed and meet up with Sarah to exchange our Christmas presents and tell her what's going on with Dad. I had just gotten my coat and boots on when I heard Lucy say, "Charlie, is Uncle Scott Santa Claus?"

"No," Charlie answered. "Why would you think that?"

"I don't know. How come Uncle Scott was sad this morning?" Lucy asked once more.

"What makes you think that he was sad?"

"I asked him to stick a straw in his nose and blow bubbles in his milk and he said no."

"Whatever." My brother huffed.

"Can you talk to him?" Lucy asked.

Charlie shook his head. "I don't think so, Lucy."

"Did you have a fight?" Lucy asked again.

"Sort of."

"Are you gonna make up?"

"I don't know!" Charlie said with anger in his voice.

"Are you gonna be mad forever?"

Charlie had enough and snapped, "Lucy! These are hard questions."

"No, they're not," my sister said. "They're easy and you can't be mad at him forever, Charlie. He's your daddy and you love him."

I heard Lucy sniffle as she walked over to see Comet. She hates it when people yell or fight. I sighed as Charlie looked at me. I shook my head with anger in my eyes. I walked up and I punched him on the arm.

"Ow! Hey!" Charlie cried. "What was that for?"

"What was that for?" I repeated. "What was that for?!" I was getting really angry at my brother now. "What is up with you, Charlie?! You know, ever since you have gotten yourself in trouble and Dad came home, you have been very distant towards us and Dad was supposed to be getting married by now! You hardly have been helping Dad look for his Mrs. Claus. Who's been doing that? I have and so have Mom and Neil! In fact, I was the one who encouraged Dad to go out with your principal. I thought she would be the one for Dad because I knew that in her heart, she truly believes in Christmas."

Charlie was surprised. He wanted to say something, but I interrupted him saying, "Don't say anything! I know what you're going to say, "You knew all along and you never told me?!" You know what? I am sorry I never told you because all I have been doing was trying to help Dad in keeping his job as Santa. I just wished you would've been more helpful with that. Don't you even care anymore about Dad?!" With that, I stomped away, leaving Charlie alone.