Bradley ripped away the wrapping like a Roald Dahl character. He tore into the chocolate. Clark couldn’t help but wonder when the child last had a dentist appointment. If they couldn’t buy their own Christmas presents in a Christmas-obsessed town, who’s to say they had enough money for dental work?

“Yes, sir. I will, sir.” Bradley smacked his lips as he chewed, a pet peeve of Clark’s he decided to ignore for the moment. After a contemplative silence, Bradley swallowed and spoke again. “You know…you’re kinda like him.”

“Like who?”

“Scrooge.”

Clark didn’t even have time to absorb the blow of those words. Kate interrupted their chat with Michael and Emily in tow.

“I think we’re all done here.”

Tucking his cane under his chocolate-holding arm, he held up his free hand.

“Gum, please.”

“You think you earned it?” Kate chuckled. The sound was better than music. “He’s not even smiling.”

“C’mon, Mr. Clark. Give her a smile.”

No. A line in the sand needed to be drawn. He’d been…polite to the boy and he was going to be stuck with Kate for the next thirty-six hours or so. None of them were going to walk away from this conversation thinking he could be manipulated. Not by gap-toothed children with chocolate-covered hands or beautiful women with laughter like wind chimes on a sunny beach.

“I’m not a trained animal. I don’t smile on command.”

The little boy dug his heels in to argue, but a call from his father on the porch rescued Clark from any kind of debate.

“Bradley! Come in here and help your sisters set the table.”

The boy groaned. Kate knelt down and handed him the stick of gum. In another scenario, Clark would have protested. He didn’t earn the gum, and what kind of lesson was she teaching him if she gave him things he didn’t earn? Maybe that was the problem with this town. Everyone here was too soft, too afraid of hurting feelings to say no.

“Here’s your gum. Merry Christmas, B.”

But…even he had to admit how sweet Kate looked as she ruffled Bradley’s hair and sent him on his way. As he walked towards his tiny house, he gave one last goodbye.

“God bless us, everyone.”

It didn’t take a master of subtext to read into his declaration. God bless everyone. Even you, Mr. Clark. Once he disappeared behind the faded red door, Kate turned on him.

“You couldn’t have even smiled for him?”