While he used the napkins from the kiosk to sop up the brown liquid, Hailey picked up the cup and tossed it in the garbage.
“It’s all right. We’ll get you another one.” He started to get up, but the three-year-old flung herself at him and just started bawling. Her cheeks were red and shiny with tears, and her sobs ruined him. “What can I do, baby? How can I make it better?”
Paisley patted her sister’s back, and Hailey got in line at the kiosk to buy another one.
Evvie’s tears soaked through his flannel shirt, burning his neck. Her sorrow slashed through him, and he’d never felt so helpless in his life.
People in line noticed what was going on, so the chef handed Hailey a cocoa. She hurried back. “Here you go. Brand-new cocoa just for you.” She smoothed the hair off Evvie’s damp forehead. “Look, it’s even got whipped cream on top.”
Interest piqued, Evvie sat up for just a moment, but her little features screwed up in sorrow, and then she collapsed against him. He held her, gently rubbing circles on her back and sifting fingers through her hair. Soon, she settled down, just watching the world go by. Every few seconds, she’d shudder, but she seemed okay.
Damn, that had been scary. He hadn’t known what to do for her, but somehow, she’d worked through it on her own.
Maybe just being there was enough.
And wasn’t that a revelation?
Hailey stroked the little girl’s hair. “Do you want your cocoa? Or are you ready to go see Santa?”
“See Sanna.”
“You got it.” Holding her in his arms, he stood and tossed their plates in the garbage. “Let’s go.”
Paisley was subdued, so Hailey held her hand. “Do you know what you’re going to ask for?”
The older sister shook her head.
“You don’t know what you want for Christmas?”
She just shrugged, and Cole couldn’t help wondering if the only thing she wanted was for her parents to come back.
That’s exactly what he wanted it.
When they reached the line, he couldn’t kneel because of his knee, but he leaned over. “You want to go first?”
But Evvie twisted in his arms. “I go.” She landed on the red carpet in her bright purple snow boots and jogged right past the other families.
“Wait. Evvie.” He started to go after her, but a dad set a hand on his arm and said, “Let her go. We saw her crying.”
“Thanks, man. Appreciate it.” Still, he didn’t think Evvie would be learning the best lesson if he allowed it. He moved to the head of the line and scooped her up. “Hey, we have to wait our turn.”
Evvie, her features still red, her cheeks still damp from tears, squirmed in his arms. “Sanna.”
“Yep. But there are lots of other kids who want to see him, too.”
A woman tapped his shoulder. “It’s okay. Please. We’ve all been there. Let her go.”
“That’s very nice of you. Thank you.” He set her down, but even before the boy currently sitting on Santa’s lap got up, Evvie raced over.
“Sanna. I gots to talk to you.”
White teeth shone in the mass of white beard and mustache, as the costumed man laughed. “I’m all ears.” He settled her on his knee.
Cole stepped off the platform and joined the other half of his team.
“That was rough,” Hailey said. “Watching her cry like that.”
“Yeah.” Seeing any kid cry was tough, but this one? Evvie had a piece of his heart. “I guess it’s good, though, you know. Anything that triggers a release of those emotions she can’t understand.” He watched Santa laughing at something the little girl said. “This is some serious shit, and I’m not equipped for any of it.”