Ethan's Christmas Wishes

"A daddy to take care of me and Mommy."

Kate felt the heat rising from her neck to the roots of her hair. She resisted the urge to rub her burning cheeks.

Ginger, Kate's friend, giggled and was immediately joined by more giggles, and whispered words.

"Ethan!" Kate's harsh words froze in her throat when the big, serious hazel eyes of the small five year old shifted to lock on his mother's face.

Kate forced a smile and quietly said, "Ethan, Sweetie, Santa means what do you want for Christmas? You know...toys and stuff."

Ethan nodded and turned back to solemnly stare up at the spectacled, bearded Santa Claus.

He whispered, "I'm supposed to ask for a toy truck or a ball or something like that, but my mom really needs a car."

Ethan's face brightened. He spoke a little louder. "Santa could bring me a BIG car that I could ride in to go to Kindergarten."

Kate's quiet groan went unnoticed by everyone except Santa.

"What color of car would you like, Ethan?" Santa inquired.

"Any color as long as it starts and goes," Ethan replied somberly.

Kate ignored Ginger's big grin. Ginger was here because Kate's ancient car wouldn't start this morning and she needed milk. She had called Ginger to ask for a ride. At the store, Ethan had seen Santa and had begged to talk to him.

"Ethan, it's time to go. There are other kids here that want to talk to Santa."

On the way home, Ethan slept soundly in the back seat of Ginger's car.

Ginger asked, "Did you notice that Santa was Matt Bremmer?"

A quiet, anguished, "No," was all Kate could manage. Matt was the single parent of one of the girls in Ethan's kindergarten class. Matt had always been friendly around Kate, but she considered him out of reach. And today's events had increased the distance between them.

"Who's that?" Ginger's question jolted Kate.

"I don't know, but that's my car connected to that wrecker!"

"Miss Jackson?"

When Kate nodded, the wrecker driver handed Kate a set of car keys as he pointed at a car parked at the curb and said, "Mr. Bremmer had me deliver that Chevy and pick up your car. We'll call you when your car is in top shape and you can pick it up."

It took a while for Kate's tears to stop.