Page 33 of The Naughty List Agreement

“I love this idea. Good work, Nicky,” his dad said.

“Me too. I can see why you’ve been so busy,” Wendy added.

At least the folks were on his side now. His dad had lectured Nick repeatedly on how the entire world would suffer if he didn’t fulfill his commitment to being Santa Claus. The season would continue, of course. Lights would still go up, gifts would still be exchanged, but the glow beneath it all would fade incrementally, year after year, until Christmas felt more like obligation than miracle.

“Thanks. Cora made some suggestions.”

“That’s right, I did. We can’t take an old-fashioned toy to market. I mean, people love nostalgia but they crave newness. Nicky”—she winked at him—“took my suggestions and made them into a toy even I couldn’t have imagined. Tomorrow morning, when I’m on The Today Show talking about this season’s must-have toy, the public’s going to go wild for it.”

“Why is it a must-have?” Nick’s dad asked her.

Cora tipped her head to the side, her brow furrowed as if she wasn’t sure where to start her explanation. Nick grabbed a cookie as he leaned against the counter next to his mom. This was going to be good. His dad and Cora were opposites when it came to their world views.

“I guess it all boils down to the fact that everyone wants to be a part of something bigger than themselves. When you have the same toy as your classmates, it creates a bond between you.”

“Ah, yes. Community. Community is what you’re talking about. A toy can build community. That’s what we’ve been doing at Bari Toys for generations.”

“Community… I guess so,” Cora said, taking a delicate sip of her coffee. “But there’s also the quiet knowing that you’re part of something without having to be a joiner. I’m not sure I’m explaining it the right way, but when there’s an item you can purchase, you have control over becoming part of something.”

Control meant a great deal to Cora, Nick realized. Even their kiss the night before had been on her terms.

“Why is control so important?” Nick asked her.

“Let’s face it, there’s very little that we actually can dictate in our lives, especially as children. But I can save up and buy the WonderHaus, and then I’m part of something bigger than myself that I did on my own.”

“Interesting,” his dad said.

The doorbell rang and his dad went to answer it, but Nick never took his eyes off Cora. She made a beeline for him, grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the butler’s pantry that led to the dining room.

“I’m saying all the wrong things to your parents. I don’t want to talk so much but I’m nervous and I can’t stop.”

He didn’t want her to stop. He enjoyed that about her. “You’re just being you. Nothing wrong with that. My dad loves a debate. He’ll keep asking you questions until he’s figured you out from the ground up.”

“Yikes.”

“It can be a nightmare,” Nick admitted. It was hard to ever express a thought in this family without having to weigh and measure it first. But he admitted it had made it much easier for him to take on the mantle of Santa. In this job, you had to see beyond the superficial, to understand the deeper motivations behind the actions of the children who were on his lists. And the adults, too, he thought.

He’d been looking for a quick solution to the Cora problem, but the truth was there was no speedy way to move her back to the Nice List. She’d done what she had to in order to survive. She’d learned to cope. He couldn’t judge her for that. But it didn’t stop him wanting to show her the wonder of the world around her.

“What if you could create a community without buying or selling anything?” he asked her.

She snorted. “Not happening. The world is built on capitalism. Your old-fashioned values are showing.”

“Your cynicism is showing.”

“Your naivety is.”

“I bet I can change your mind before the end of next week.”

“What are you wagering?”

“What do you want?”

“To finish what you started last night.”

CHAPTER 9

What was she thinking?