November 1st
"Noah, you need to write your letter to Santa. I need to mail it in the morning after I drop you off at school." Olivia called from the dining room as she sat out a few pages of paper, a pen, and colored pencils.
"Coming," Noah yelled as he ran from his room into the dining room.
"Do you know what you are asking for this year?" Olivia asked as she put a pepperoni pizza in the oven for supper.
"Sort of. Mom, you can't look. It's between me and Santa." Noah said as he wrote on his paper.
"I promise honey. When you are done, put your letter into the envelope and seal it. Then I will address the envelope and you can pick out the stamp you like. I got some Christmas stamps yesterday." Olivia said as brought two glasses of root beer to the table.
"Do you want anything for Christmas?" Noah asked as he quickly drank his glass of milk so he could have some root beer.
"I already have what I always wanted. I'm your mom." Olivia said as she brushed her left hand through his hair.
"Mom." Noah laughed and rolled his eyes.
"Ok, hmm. Please ask Santa if he could bring me something from the heart. Santa always knows the gift we need each year. Sometimes it is something fun or silly. Sometimes it is something more meaningful that we don't even know we need until we receive it. Santa reminds us to never lose hope no matter how old we are. Pizza time!" Olivia jumped up from the dining room chair as the oven timer went off.
Elliot arrived at the Ritz diner a few minutes early. He was meeting Don Cragen for lunch. Since Elliot had been back in New York they met weekly at the diner. He valued having his guidance and friendship. Losing his dad at an early age he looked to Don as a father figure and role model. Don was also always quick to put him in his place if he needed it.
"Can I please have a window seat towards the back? One more person will be joining me." Elliot said to the waitress at the front counter.
"Yes, follow me." The waitress led Elliot back to a table near the back.
"Hey." Don Cragen waved while walking into the diner just as Elliot sat down. "Trying to show me up and for once being the early one." Don teased as he sat down.
"I know I'm always running late. But my resolution for next year is to be five minutes early." Elliot laughed.
"Can we get a wager on that? I will give you a month." Don laughed.
"Hey. At most I've been five minutes late and I always call or text." Elliot said as he looked at the menu.
"You are always so gullible." Don laughed and took a drink of his water.
"Good one. So what are you ordering?" Elliot asked as the waitress came to the table.
"I would like a Philly cheesesteak and a coffee shake. Your turn." Don said as he handed the waitress his menu.
"A Wisconsin burger with a chocolate shake. Thank you." Elliot smiled at the waitress as he handed her his menu.
"Please put both orders on my bill. Thank you." Don said to the waitress who left to place the order.
"Thanks, Don. Next week is my treat. So how has your week been?" Elliot asked as he put his phone on silent. When he was with family Elliot always gave them his undivided attention. One exception was an emergency at work he was on call for. The loss of Kathy reinforced his family and friends would be his top priority.
"It's been good. I spent the weekend at my sister's cabin up north. It was nice catching up with her and my nieces. I will go back for Thanksgiving. Just starting to think about Christmas presents. Any idea what you and the kids would like for Christmas?" Don asked as he looked out the window to see a lady dressed as an angel walking by.
"I would like you to have Christmas dinner at my apartment with us. That's enough of a gift for us." Elliot said as the waitress came with their food and shakes.
"Thank you," Don said as the waitress handed him his plate of food and shake.
"What do you want for Christmas Don?" Elliot asked as he took a bite of his burger.
"Two things. One something you can buy in a store. The second one I'm not sure I should say. It's personal. But it would mean everything to me if it would happen." Don sighed as he looked at Elliot.
"I will always do anything for you. All you have to do is ask. You are." Elliot paused as tears came to his eyes. "You are family. The only grandfather my kids have ever known. I love you like a father. Dammit, I wasn't expecting to be so emotional today."
"I love you as a son as well. I love this new emotional Elliot. It's good to tell people what they mean to you." Don said as he looked at Elliot.
"What can I buy in the store?" Elliot asked as he drank his chocolate shake.
"I would like one of those stream things. I want to get Netflix." Don said as he dipped a french fry in ketchup.
"Stream things?" Elliot laughed. "There are a few different ones you can get. There is Roku, Amazon fire stick, or Apple. Any preference?"
" I prefer anything but Apple. They are too pricey. I don't want you spending alot of money." Don said even though he knew Elliot would get the best product regardless of price.
"I use Roku and love it. But I will look into all the options." Elliot got out his cellphone adding a note on Don's Christmas present so he wouldn't forget. "Now tell me about the second present," Elliot said curiously.
"I'm not sure I should say anything," Don said quietly.
"It means something to you if you mentioned it. What is it?" Elliot asked again.
"It's about Noah," Don said as he grabbed an envelope out of his coat pocket.
"Is he hurt? What happened?" Elliot's voice raised louder than he thought. Customers around them turned to look. He suddenly fell into a panic thinking something happened to Olivia's son.
"Noah is fine. But I want you to do something for me this Christmas. Promise me before I tell you." Don said nervously.
"Anything. I promise. I'm just relieved Noah is ok." Elliot sighed a deep breath of relief.
"Every year Noah writes Santa his Christmas wish list. Liv sends me the card. Then I get the presents and deliver them on Christmas Eve. This year you need to do it. Remember you promised." Don slid the envelope across the table.
"What is in the envelope?" Elliot asked cautiously as he picked it up and held it in his right hand.
"You need to read Noah's letter. I think you are the only one who can do this." Don said as he took a bite of his Philly cheesesteak.
Elliot opened the envelope and pulled out the letter. He was very quiet as he read the letter. After reading the letter he put it back on the table. He closed his eyes as he was thinking. "Don, I'm not sure."
"You need to try. I don't want you to look back and regret this chance. I can help you come up with a plan." Don said as he gave Elliot a reassuring look.
"Ok, I'm not sure what will happen. This will be a Christmas to remember." Elliot laughed nervously. He was both a bit excited and nervous about fulfilling Noah's Christmas list.