He glanced toward the window.
"Had some trouble with the parking arrangements."
Lily giggled.
Jim leaned closer.
"So I borrowed a motorcycle."
Her eyes widened.
"Santa rides a motorcycle?"
"Only when the reindeer insist on taking a break."
Lily laughed again.
The sound was weak.
But genuine.
Jim looked toward the gift.
"I heard you like horses."
Her expression changed.
"How did you know?"
He smiled.
"Santa does his homework."
She watched as he opened the gift bag.
Inside was a soft stuffed horse with a chestnut mane.
A beautiful picture book about riding.
A small set of horse figurines.
And a folded card decorated with tiny horseshoes.
Lily stared.
Her lips trembled.
Jim suddenly looked worried.
"Did I get something wrong?"
She shook her head.
Tears began running down her cheeks.
Her mother moved closer.
"Lily, sweetheart?"
The little girl reached toward the stuffed horse.
She held it against her chest.
Then looked at Jim.
"You remembered."
The enormous biker froze.
For a moment, his expression changed in a way Rachel did not understand.
He swallowed.
"Yes, ma'am."
Lily's voice trembled.
"You remembered I like horses."
Jim nodded.
"Of course."
Then the little girl opened her arms.
Jim glanced toward Rachel, silently asking whether a hug was appropriate.
Rachel checked Lily's mother's expression and the child's condition, then nodded.
Jim leaned forward carefully.
Lily wrapped her arms around his enormous neck.
He held her gently.
As though she were made of something precious.
Her mother began crying.
Rachel looked away for a moment because tears had suddenly filled her own eyes.
Then Lily whispered into Jim's beard.
"Thank you for remembering me."
Jim closed his eyes.
His hand rested gently against her back.
"You're welcome, sweetheart."
For one brief instant, nineteen years seemed to disappear.
He remembered another small child reaching toward him.
Another Christmas.
Another hospital bed.
His throat tightened.
But he did not move away.
He stayed until Lily released him.
And when he left the room, he paused in the hallway.
One of the riders approached.
"You okay, Jim?"
The enormous biker nodded.
Then wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.
"Yeah."
He looked toward Lily's room.
"Just got something in my eye."
The rider glanced at him.
Then smiled gently.
"Sure, brother."
Marcus received his superhero gifts shortly afterward.
The rider assigned to him was nervous.
He had faced dangerous roads, broken engines, and more than one angry customer without difficulty.
But standing outside a nine-year-old boy's hospital room made his hands sweat.
He knocked softly.
Marcus looked up from his bed.
The rider stepped inside holding a small bag.
"Evening, superhero."
Marcus frowned.
"Who are you?"
The man looked embarrassed.