“Dang, he won that bet.” She squeezed her horse. “We’ll get him next time.”
And there would be a next time, she knew, because she was a skier again, a thought that covered her in a wave of euphoria.
At the sight of her parents, huddled together on the UTV, more bliss washed over her—tinged with a bittersweet hope that somehow her family could be whole again.
Mom popped up at the sight of her, arms out, calling her name.
Her father jumped out and ran to her, somehow hugging her and the horse.
“Are they okay?” she asked. “Benny? Red? Are they?—”
“They’re fine. At the lodge, warm and safe. In a little trouble, but they’re fine.” He squeezed her and kissed her on the top of the head, his body vibrating as much as hers. “So proud of you, honey.”
She smiled and leaned back, blinking back tears. “You were with me on every turn, Dad.”
“But you didn’t need me.” He kissed her head again. “I love you, Nic.”
“Love you, too,” she murmured.
Mom joined them and the family hug, all of them wrapped together, the Kessler trio.
For the first time in years, Nicole felt whole. Not fractured, not afraid.
And though she didn’t know how long it could last, right now it was enough. Enough to feel like this was the best moment of her life.
Christmas Eve at Snowberry Lodge always had a hum to it, like the mountain itself was singing carols low and steady. Tonight, that hum filled Red’s bones while he sat at the head of the long kitchen table, watching his clan finish off the last bites of MJ’s prime rib and mashed potatoes.
Benny still wore his crooked tie from the school Christmas chorus event they’d all gone to earlier. Yes, it was just to watch him stand in the back row and move his mouth with all of them knowing full well their little “tech mogul” wasn’t singing a thing.
But Red didn’t care. He couldn’t love that kid more, even if he faked singing carols at school.
He sure was singing now. Chirping about a puppy, about how his idea saved the day, and—of course—how the video he’d just uploaded already had three thousand likes.
He passed around his mother’s phone, who had reluctantly let him use it. She’d promised to get another phone for Red, but he was perfectly happy without that stinking thing weighing down his pocket.
“You gotta look, Grandpa!” Benny exclaimed after Nicole watched and gave her approval, then handed the phone to Red.
He squinted at the screen. Oh, there he was sitting in the sleigh this afternoon, beard frosted with snow. At his ten-year-old director’s insistence, Red dropped the grumpy act—as much as possible—to deliver a heartfelt message about love, peace, and the birth of baby Jesus.
“How do you like that?” he said. “I didn’t have to beg anyone to come and visit.”
“Because we’re booked,” Cindy said with a smile.
“You saved December, Benny,” MJ said, reaching to smooth his hair. “We were scraping the bottom, and now look at us. Every room and cabin reserved through New Year’s.”
Gracie, arms folded, still shook her head and tsked at him, though there was no heat in it anymore. “Ten years old and running social media campaigns behind your mother’s back? What am I facing when you’re sixteen?”
“Oh, he’ll be the CEO of a company by then,” Jack joked.
Benny tried to look contrite but couldn’t stop grinning. “Worked, didn’t it?”
“Yes,” Gracie admitted with a sigh, then whispered, “but next time, youand Grandpashould ask first.”
Red snorted. “Won’t be a next time. I’m retiring from that job.”
All the faces around the table turned to him with a chorus of, “What?” and “You can’t quit!” and “You’re Grumpy Santa forever!”
He waved it all off, knowing deep in his heart…they would win.
