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He winked at her as he passed When he reached the stage, he slid the big sack off his shoulder, placed both hands on his stomach and issued a hearty “Ho! Ho! Ho!”, then attempted to discreetly pull strands of fake beard out of his lanced to see where Jake was

Thewith fierce intensity at Santa Claus, she knew the jig was up “Oh-oh,” sheher way to Jake’s side

She arrived just as he thrust out an accusing finger “Hey, how come—”

She cla hand over his roup of children Only when she judged they were a safe distance away did Sloan remove her hand from his mouth and kneel down in front of him

“That was Dad How co Santa’s clothes?” Jake demanded

“Santa had to be soht, and because he kne disappointed all the children would be, he asked your dad to pretend to be hiht,” Sloan explained “And Santa asked him to keep it a secret So don’t you tell the other kids Okay?”

“If it’s a secret, how come you know?”

For a split second she wasn’t sure how to answer that “Mothers always know everything”

He sighed a big sigh “Like where my sandals were”

“Exactly” She aled hiet it But remember—not a word to the others Promise?”

“I pro that he knew so his friends didn’t

Releasing hie area, all slance with her

“He re

cognized Trey, didn’t he?” she guessed

“You saw that, too,” Sloan realized