Chapter 3 - an unexpected explanation

»This is so amazing!« Lily looked down at several huge printing machines through a glass front from the office tract of the site.
»Most people though work in logistics, marketing and sales. And of course our graphic designers, writers and editors and the language department.«
The facility was modern and spacious. A lovely place to work and so far, Lily hadn’t seen anyone who didn’t look perfectly happy with their role in the process. Brandon had brought her here to show her the family business close up. Now, he pulled her further to the other side of the office tract that was divided into spacious open office rooms and cosy smaller closed offices.
They arrived at a flight with three slightly bigger office rooms. One of them was occupied and Lily recognized Annabelle. Somehow, she felt close to Brandon’s mother from the first second, therefore, she beamed at the older woman, who returned her smile genuinely.
»Lily! How nice to see you.«
»We don’t want to distract you.«
Annabelle already rose from her desk. »No. I am so happy you are finally here. It was horrible to see Brandon sitting across of me like a huge depressed cloud.«
Brandon protested. »Mother. I worked fine.«
»You did. But not with your heart.« Annabelle shrugged. »However, did you tell her yet?«
Brandon shook his head. »Am I allowed to then?«
Annabelle came closer and took her hands. »Of course. Lily is family already. You might want to do that in your office.« The phone started to ring. »Sorry. I take it this should be Japan. I have to take this.«
With that, she went back do her desk. Lilly waved at her and followed Brandon in the office after the next one. It looked kind of empty, as if it had been occupied only since a short time. The only personal item Lily could see was a framed picture. It was of her and Brandon. A selfie they had made on their evening at the pier. A tear ran down her cheek. »You left me back, but you still wanted a memory of the two of us?«
»I told you. I love you. But this ... you will think I am a lunatic.«
She threw her arms around him and this time, Brandon let her. She felt his heavier body against hers. »Try me.«
He sighed. Then, he went to his desk and reached for a small story book. Lily flipped through the pages in surprise. »I think I had a similar one, when I was little.«
The memory gave her joy. Every Christmas season, her mother would bring it down from the attic together with the Christmas decoration and they would read in it together. »Only when my mother read this to me and my brother, it was truly Christmas.« She realized, that she was smiling broadly.
Brandon gave her an affectionate look. Somehow, Lily was sure, his slimmer self would have kissed her. It hurt a little to see how he beat himself up about what happened to him. »A lot of families have done so. We change the layout a little every year. You know, to incorporate topics like diversity and stronger roles for females, but in the end it’s the story of Santa.«
»You produce these?« The illustrations were beautiful. She tried to read a few of the familiar words of the well-known story only to find out, that she had a Swedish edition at hand. »Wow. You really do export all over the world. But why did you work for so long in New York when you could thrive here?«
Brandon looked at me coyly. »I wanted to go back about a half year ago to join the family business. Before that, I wanted to make experiences somewhere else, but that time was done and I really wanted to come back to my family.«
»But why didn’t you?« She waved her hand comprising the site, the warmth of the people and Pinetree.
»I met you.«
Finally, Brandon bent down and kissed her despite his imminent double chin even letting her grab for the love handles swelling over his clearly outgrown suit pants.
»Tell me everything.«
He sighed, but then he nodded. »The story has been written by my great-great-a few more greats-grandfather. He had a charity for poor children, provided them with a home and small gifts around Christmas. He would dress in a red suit and drive with a slide pulled by horses. The reindeers came later. He was kind of the model for this story that has later joined legend with Santa. Our family prints variations of this story every year and sends them out to almost every country and they bring the feeling of Christmas to the people.
Somehow, the leading Bell-male is more or less in the role of this Santa. This comes with changes. The affection and love of our readers cause the Bell-men to adapt to their imagination of Santa. We tried it with smaller, slimmer representations, but in the end the way people imagine Santa is very traditional. Over the months leading up to Christmas, I am going to transform into this picture.«
Lily realized that her mouth stood open. »Oh my ...«
Brandon looked at her beaten. »Do you believe me?«
She hurried to nod. »And after Christmas?«
»Daniel has given in to it. He is healthy the way he is. We are all sturdy taking the exercise of long walks. It would be unhealthier to lose all the weight in the first half of the year only to regain it from September onwards. I however, had hoped to do this just this one year and then try to shed the additional pounds as fast as possible after Christmas. To return to you.«
She leaned in to him, again feeling for his belt that cut into the flab at his back. Somehow, she had found a special liking for this very spot.
»I am here now. I love you, Brandon. Nothing has changed.« Lily pinched him a little, causing Brandon to catch his breath. »Well, almost nothing.«