Chapter Text
Lakeside, Illinois
Christmas Eve,1994
Forty-one-year-old Scott Calvin tightly gripped his car’s steering wheel as he backed out of his parking spot at B&R Toys. He and his marketing partner, Susan, had to show up to the company Christmas party because they were being honored for their successful advertising campaign of B&R’s most profitable toy; the Do It All For You Dollie. Scott was not the type of person to shy away from recognition or praise, but the party had caused him to run late for his Christmas Eve plans.
The Calvin clan seemed to be scattered all over the place these days. Scott and his ex-wife Laura had two kids together. Jessica was the oldest at sixteen. Jessie got along with her father the best and always seemed to understand what he was thinking better than anyone else in the family. Charlie, the youngest, was only eight years old, but he had already grown past the stage in his life where his dad was his only hero. While Jess stayed living in the only house she’d ever called home, Charlie lived with his mother and her husband Neil.
Neil was a psychiatrist and he was always psychoanalyzing Scott and his kids. For whatever reason Charlie idolized Neil. It killed Scott that his son liked that creep better. Though he knew he only had himself to blame. After all, Scott had agreed to the current custody arrangement and he’d had plenty of opportunities to change his mind before the situation was finalized. As part of the arrangement the kids spent alternating holidays with their parents and this year it was Scott’s turn to have both kids at his house for Christmas. Steering his car with the dexterity of an Indy 500 racer, Scott pulled out his cellphone and called his ex-wife.
“Laura?” He questioned the answering machine that he’d known would pick up. “I was hoping to catch you before you’d left your house. I ran real late today. You wouldn’t believe the traffic out here!” As that moment some lady swerved in front of him from out of nowhere. She passed Scott, but not before holding up her middle finger at him.
“Yeah, same to you! And that’s not very ladylike!” He shouted, still on the phone with Laura’s answering machine. “Anyway, I’ll try to get to my house as soon as I can…Oh there’s the problem right there! Three car pile-up! I’m really going to be late.”
With a proper excuse on left Laura’s answering machine, Scott hung up. It didn’t matter if she believed him or not. That wasn’t the point of the lie. She was going to be angry with him whether he was late or if she found something else to gripe about. The message was just insurance, so that she couldn’t say he didn’t tell her. Scott was about to pocket his phone and when it began to ring. The caller I.D. displayed his daughter’s name.
“Hey Princess! I know I’m running a little late,” He began to apologize. “but is there any way you could stall your mom and Neil for me? I wasn’t able to slip out of the party as early as I thought.”
“I wish I could, Dad. You know how much I love making Neil uncomfortable.” Jess was mentally preparing her own apology. “But I’m not home yet either. Mom’s gonna be twice as pissed.”
“Hey, don’t swear! You’re a young lady!” Her father scolded her. “Now what do you mean you’re not home? You were supposed to be back hours ago!”
“I know, but the snow is piled up pretty high here.” She told him “Brian doesn’t think we could make it home safely. We might not even be back for Christmas Day.” Brian was Jess’ boyfriend. Together the two of them had gone up to Maine with the rest of his family to celebrate an early Christmas.
“What?” Scott questioned the phone in disgust. “No! That wasn’t part of the deal! I only agreed to let you go with Brian because you promised me that you’d be home in time to spend Christmas Eve with me and Charlie!”
“I’m sorry, Dad.” Jess apologized. “but the roads are too icy tonight. Brian’s mom said they might be travelable tomorrow.”
“Well, do you need me to come get you?” Scott suggested.
“Dad please!” Jess laughed. “I don’t think your car could make it all the way! No, I’ll be fine up here for another night or two. Please enjoy your time with Charlie. You hardly see him anymore.”
“Well…if you’re sure…” Scott sighed. “We’re going to miss you, Princess.”
“I know, Dad. Merry Christmas.”
“Yeah, Merry Christmas.” Scott grumbled before hanging up the phone.
Charlie Calvin was sitting in the back of his stepfather’s car with his head resting on his hands. His young eyes carefully watched each and every vehicle that passed by on the road. It felt like they’d been waiting forever for his dad to get home. In reality they had been waiting about forty minutes before Scott’s car pulled up next to Neil’s in the driveway.
“Alright, let’s go.” Laura Miller instructed her son with an exasperated sigh. She’d grown used to being disappointed by Scott a long time ago.
“Bye Charlie!” Neil called as his stepson climbed out of the car.
“Bye Neil.” Charlie replied politely before following his mother up the walkway.
“Oh, sorry I’m late!” Scott huffed as he scrambled to the front door.
“Where’s Jess?” Laura asked, noticing the lights were all off inside the house.
“Apparently she’s still in Maine with Brian and his family.” He explained.
“Oh, sorry to hear that.” Laura was genuinely sorry to hear that her daughter wouldn’t be home from Christmas Eve. She knew how much Scott liked to have his whole family together.
“Do you want to come in for a minute?” He offered to her.
“Neil’s waiting in the car.” Laura gestured to her husband’s vehicle. “So…”
“Well, why doesn’t he come in too?” Scott invited.
“Cause, Dad.” Charlie butted in. “He says you’ll just end up saying something snotty.”
“Not necessarily.” Scott looked away from Laura and Charlie to wave at Neil. “Could be rude or sarcastic. Whatever it takes!”
“See.” Laura sighed as Scott proved her husband’s point. “I gotta go, here.” She handed Charlie’s overnight bag to Scott and tried to walk back towards the car.
“It’s Christmas Eve.” Scott begged. “Just for a minute?” Laura sent an apologetic look to Neil before reluctantly following Scott and her son into the house. Charlie immediately ran into the living room, leaving his parents alone in the entryway.
“So, are you going to your mother’s for Christmas?” Scott wanted to know.
“We’re going to visit Neil’s family actually.” She told him. “I’m really sorry that Jess is not going to be here.” Laura apologized again.
“It’s alright, Charlie and I are going to have a great Christmas Eve, right Sport?” He asked his son, who’d just joined his parents in the hall.
“There aren’t that many presents over there.” Charlie complained about the pile of presents under the living room tree.
“Well, that’s because Santa isn’t here yet.” His father said before turning back to Laura.
“Neil doesn’t believe in Santa.” Charlie said.
“Neil’s head also comes to a point.” Scott smiled at his own senseless jab.
“He’s smart!” Charlie argued. “He’s a doctor!”
“He’s not a doctor!” Scott disagreed. “He’s a psychiatrist. Look, who don’t you take your coat off? You’re sticking around aren’t ya?” Charlie went back into the living room and shrugged off his coat. Scott turned his attention back to Laura. “did that jerk tell Charlie there was no Santa Claus?”
"What?" Laura said. "No, oh, Charlie came home from school the other day in tears because some big kid told him there was no such thing as Santa. And, you know Neil...Well he sat Charlie down and..."
"He told him that there was a Santa Claus?" Scott said hopefully.
"Well...all he said was that Santa was more like a feeling. You know, more like a state of mind than a person."
"Kind of like Neil!" The ex-husband snarled. "And who gave you permission to tell our son there's no Santa Claus? I think if we're gonna destroy our kid's illusions, I should be a part of it!"
"It's not my fault you never broached the subject with Jessica!" Laura hissed. "Besides, you're never around for Charlie, Scott!"
"Oh, please!" Scott rolled his eyes.
"Listen," His ex-wife sighed, "all we are trying to do is give Charlie a firm grasp on reality."
"That's a good idea!" Scott said sarcastically. "You don't want kids running around using their imaginations!"
"Oh, yeah." Laura nodded. "This from the guy responsible for the Do-It-All-For-You-Dolly! Don't burp me...don't you change me..." She mocked the toy.
"Why do you always have to fight?" Charlie demanded, looking up at his parents sadly.
"I, uh, swear we're not fighting!" Scott insisted. "It's your mom's singing."
"It sounds a lot like fighting." Charlie continued to frown.
"The trouble is, Neil and your mom, they don't believe in Santa because they were real naughty." His father explained. "Which is why they'll probably get lumps of coal in their stockings."
"I don't know." Charlie disagreed. "It seems kind of babyish to believe in that kind of stuff..."
"What are you talking about?" Scott laughed. "I believe in Santa Claus! I'm not a baby!"
"Well..." Laura countered.
"Maybe it's time you left?" He suggested. "We don't want to keep Dr. Pinhead waiting." Scott stepped into the other room to give Laura and Charlie some space while they said goodbye.
"Do I gotta stay?" Charlie questioned his mother helplessly.
"Listen, you and your daddy are gonna have a great Christmas, okay?"
"Will you pick me up tomorrow?" Charlie begged.
"Of course." Laura promised.
"We're talking sunup, you're here?"
"You'll be fine." Laura wrapped her arms around Charlie. "Merry Christmas Charlie." Laura kissed her son on the forehead. "I love you."
"Love you too, mom." Charlie said sadly. Laura gave a fleeting glance to her son before joining Neil in the car.