“I guess Sunny doesn’t love me enough to do that for our family.”
“No!” Liv exclaimed, horror crossing her face.
Callie patted her arm. “Liv, it’s okay. We can make the holidays special for the baby. Hey, the REM Pod is going off, let’s concentrate on what we’re doing.”
Callie went away and walked past me.
I reached out and attempted to grab her, but my hand moved through her. That was disconcerting.
“Scrooge!” Tommy hissed.
I blinked as bright lights hit my eyes, disorienting me. I was in a hospital ward, and a sick child lay on the bed. Standing outside were a man and a woman talking to a doctor. Janie nodded for me to listen in.
“…I’m sorry. Jasper isn’t strong enough to make Christmas. We had hoped this treatment might work, but…” The doctor broke off.
The woman, Jasper’s mom, sobbed in her husband’s arms.
“Jasper wants just one more Christmas,” his dad said, sounding broken.
“I know of a place. It’s in Wyoming, in the Beartooth Mountains. All year round, it’s a Christmas Village, including Santa’s Village. It’s due to open next month. I can make a few calls and see if they can take Jasper,” the doctor said.
“Will he be well enough to travel?” the mom asked.
“Jasper is weakening fast. He has around four months left, Susan. Hopefully, the resort has space,” the doctor said.
“Please ask them, tell them we’ll pay whatever it takes. Jasper’s final dream is to have one last Christmas. Having it here, in this place, isn’t the same,” Susan begged.”
I walked away and headed back into the boys’ room. He looked about seven. No child should struggle like he was. I rubbed my face and thanked God for my blessings.
“This makes you sad,” Janie said.
“Of course. No child should suffer like that.”
“Um, you do care then?” Tommy asked.
“I’m not heartless, Tommy!” I exclaimed.
“Just mean and miserable,” Janie retorted, and I opened my mouth and snapped it shut again. I couldn’t argue. They spoke the truth.
I was transported to the Village again. I could see the lights and recognised the hotel's decor.
Simon spoke, and I turned and saw him as he walked across the floor to where Fiona sat curled up on a window seat.
“What’s up, love?” Simon asked as he sat and tucked Fiona in against him.
“Simon, I’m worried.”
“What about?”
“We started this place with goodintentions. To make people’s dreams come true, to ensure dying children get one last Christmas. Have we made a mistake? I look at Sunny and Callie, and this is tearing them apart,” Fiona said sadly.
“What is happening between them is none of our concern,” Simon replied.
“Callie is looking so sad, and Sunny is so angry, grumpy, and miserable. Connor assures me Sunny is not like that. If the magic we created here can’t touch Sunny, how can it affect others?”
“Oh, love, Sunny’s an asshole. Plain and simple. It seems Callie is learning that Sunny isn’t who she thought he was.That’s a shame, but nothing to do with us. We’re not to blame, babe.”
“I feel it’s my fault,” she replied.
