“Did you criticize her for that, too?” Cole asked sarcastically.
Conrad sighed as he looped the next strand. “I deserve your attitude, but I came here to talk about my daughter.”
“What about her?”
“I’ve made my share of mistakes and I’ll admit I’ve made a doozy with Hannah and can’t seem to get myself out of it,” Conrad admitted while lowering the lights along the limbs.
“Having a conversation with her might help for starters,” Cole snapped.
“If it were only as easy as that,” Conrad said sadly. “I’ve let this go on for too long, and then she went off and got hurt in Afghanistan. I’m afraid I’m at a loss for words with her. We want her to come home so we can care for her. We’ve missed her and nearly lost her to some misguided notion,” he said, shaking his head. “Her mother and I only want what’s best for her.”
“Then why do you insist she return with you when she’s getting the best care possible? I visited her more than you ever did in eighteen months. No wonder she doesn’t want to talk to you,” Cole retorted.
“We have our reasons for not coming. Brenda thinks we ought to tell Hannah, but she’s already suffered enough. I don’t want to see her upset.”
Cole dropped the wires and walked around the Christmas tree. “She needed you and you let her down. I’m not talking about her time here. She mentioned she spent time at other hospitals before you sent her here. Did you drop her off and leave her there, too? What about when she decided on a military career? Did you ever think about why she chose it? Hannah’s brilliant, funny, beautiful and capable. Not many people can come out on the other side as she has. You don’t give her enough credit. You’ve made her believe she’s weak when she’s one of the strongest women I know. Stop questioning her decisions and, for once in your life, act like a father to your daughter.”
Conrad’s eyes filled with tears as he nodded and left through the front door. For a minute, Cole almost felt sorry for the man. Then he recalled the stories Hannah told him when they lay underneath the stars. Conrad Bailey didn’t know what a blessing Hannah truly was. He didn’t deserve her.
He finished the lights and waited for Hannah. His mind recalled the tears in the older man’s eyes, seeing the years of regret and lost time. Christmas seemed like a season of miracles, and he prayed the man would find a way to reach his daughter.
A key shifted in the lock and Hannah walked in. Her eyes lit up when she saw the giant tree. Brody and Brownie barked from their kennels, adding to her happiness. She kissed Cole and hurried to let the animals out for a bathroom break. When she returned, she hugged Cole.
“You gave me a tree with lots of sides,” she teased.
He held out the velvet box tied with a red satin bow. She unwrapped it and her eyes filled with tears at the glass German Shepherd dog holding a pinecone in his mouth.
“It’s beautiful,” she murmured as she gently removed it. “It’s the start of our story.”
“It’s only fair we put it on the tree first,” he told her, setting the box down.
He held the branch as she slipped it over the needles. His arm went around her as they admired it. Hannah rested her head on his shoulder.
Cole imagined them adding the ornament every year at Christmas and telling their children the story of how Brody acted as his wingman. Hannah Bailey pressed all of his buttons in the right way. When he left his childhood home, he never considered landing a job, a loyal team, and good friends. Hannah became the angel on top of his tree, giving him a future he now looked forward to.
CHAPTER 34
Saturday morning,Leo rallied his team together after PT. “Cole, Knight, and Patch take the remaining teen presents over. Kit Kat and my mother-in-law wrapped them last night. Kassie and Doc have their hands full this year. Stay over there and help until I arrive. Scarlett, Ragu, and Taco head to the community center to pick up all the frozen meals we’re sending home with the seniors. Whiskey, Shadow, and Bear will make room in the hospital freezer. Hannah, I want you to ride the bus with Larry. You’ve got a knack with the seniors. Michael’s got his hands full with an office full of sick kids and can’t join us until later. Archer will shuttle you over after your showers. We need the extra parking spaces for the townspeople,” Leo laid out the plan. “Hit the showers. Hannah, you and Larry will pick up Santa in town on your way through. Don’t forget him unless you want to explain it to the crying kids.”
“Yes, sir,” she said, giggling with Sparky as they headed downstairs.
“Did you pull it off?” Sparky asked when they hid themselves in Hannah’s office.
“Without a hitch. Taco came in for a second to get something out of his locker. Holy cow, he’s got more skin care than the twoof us combined,” Hannah whispered. “Do you think we’ll get into trouble?”
“Nope. The guys play jokes on one another all the time. Knight, for instance, keeps hiding the meat and Patch gets latrine duty. What will adding a little sparkle to their season hurt?”
“I didn’t know Knight hid it,” Hannah said thoughtfully. “He’s good. Knight sounded sincere about asking about the missing meat.”
“Exactly. Plus, they don’t tell us the inside joke about Saint and his snickerdoodle cookie obsession,” Scarlett grumbled. “Plus, we’re the last two they’ll ever suspect.”
“We can only hope,” Hannah giggled. They ran to their locker room and rushed to get dressed before the guys emerged.
In the men’s locker room, Taco scrubbed his face and reached for his shampoo. He washed his head thoroughly and rinsed. “I love doing this for the community,” he said loud enough for the guys to hear him from their stalls. “This year, I’ll be glad when it’s over. Has anyone else heard about the incoming storm?”
“Last I heard, they said it’ll start around noon,” Saint called, shampooing his hair.
“Maybe the bus should leave earlier,” Taco suggested.
