Page 36 of Sleigh My Heart

“Mickey, I can hear those gears turning in your head. Out with it.”

Mickey? He hadn’t called her that since… She took in so much air she could feel her tactical vest tightening. Just lay it out there. “The van driver said she was pushed.”

His brows scrunched, confusion clear on his face.

“Her back bumper had fresh breakage. The vehicle that hit her had left the scene. I didn’t see it.”

His gaze locked on the sign over her shoulder. Finally, he asked, “Did she get a description?”

“A truck. She thinks.”

His eyes locked on hers, waiting.

“A white truck, or…”

“A white van?”

“Could be. The driver who pulled up after didn’t see the vehicle. And the woman driving the minivan had been dealing with kids who thought their mommy just killed Santa.” Shit. She shouldn’t have said that. “Sorry.”

He nodded. “Was it an accident?”

That’s the same question she had. “I don’t know. The hit-and-run driver might not have realized your father was hit. Or, they could have a record and freaked that they would be in deep.”

“Or they could have intended to hit Dad, but the car was in the way, so they used the next best thing.”

“Everyone loves your father. Who would want to hurt him?” She knew the answer before the last words left her mouth.

“The same people who want the mall festival to fail. Sure, we can get another guy to play Santa, but my dad is Santa.” He mumbled a curse. “You know what I mean.”

She did. Russ was Santa in spirit. He made the mall festival what it is. “There is no proof that it was anything but an accident.”

He glared at her. “Bullshit. You don’t believe it was an accident any more than you believe Dad is the real Santa.”

True, but she needed to be objective. “What I believe is it’s another angle I need to investigate.”

“We.” Nick didn’t say any more. Just flipped his hand over and locked hers in it.

Minutes passed as they sat like that. Quietly, waiting for news. Praying it was good.

Finally, a woman in scrubs came through the double doors. “Mr. Jolley.”

“Yes.” Nick stood, pulling Michelle up with him. They stood arm-to-arm, fingers locked, waiting for the news.

“Your father is doing well. Dr. Groves was able to stop the bleeding. They will finish up and set the break in his left humerus bone. Then you will be able to see him.”

“Thank you.”

She disappeared through the double doors.

Nick’s phone beeped. He glanced at the screen. “Fuck.”

“What?”

“Ava. She gets out of school in twenty minutes.” He ran a hand through his hair.

“Do you want me to wait here while you go get her?”

“No. I don’t want her to have to sit at the hospital… Not after her mother.”