Page 232 of A Merry Mountain Christmas

“I don’t want to take Ben from you,” I say in an even tone. “But as you told me when I was arrested, we all have to pay for our crimes.”

She sinks onto the bench and sets the envelope down next to her. “You’d turn me in? Your own sister?”

“You mean like you turned your back on me? Your own brother?”

She seems oblivious to the tears welling in her eyes as she spits out, “I never took you as the vindictive type, Jace.”

“I guess there’s a whole lot about me you don’t know anymore, but one thing has never changed. I love Ben, and you broke both our hearts when you cut me out of his life. Having a relationship with him was all I ever wanted.”

“So you’ll blackmail me to get it.”

I have to be careful here. Mary warned me not to use certain words. “There is no blackmail. I’m just doing you the courtesy of letting you know what’s coming.”

Tears track down her cheeks. “What if we could work something out?” she pleads, reaching for me.

“What are you talking about?”

“What if I agree to let you see Ben?”

“I already told you, Amanda. This isn’t blackmail.”

“But what if I let you see him anyway?” she says, starting to cry.

“I’m not letting Lester Montague get away with anything else. He’s destroyed enough lives. I’m putting an end to it.” As I pause, debating my next words, my heart begins to soften at her tears, just like it always did when we were kids. Back then, I’d have done anything to stop her crying, even take blame for things I didn’t do so she wouldn’t be punished. This is different. “But I suppose some information that isn’t directly pertinent to Lester’s crimes might be able to be left out of the packet we give the attorney general.”

She gets to her feet and rushes toward me, grabbing my hands. “Thank you, Jace.”

I’m torn between compassion and disgust. Where was her mercy for me? I want to point that out, but this isn’t about our relationship, which is damaged beyond repair. It’s about my relationship with her son.

“I want a schedule,” I say. “Guaranteed times I can see him. I’d also like to bring him to Asheville for a weekend every few months.” I pause, letting her absorb my demands. “It would give you a break, Amanda. Lord knows you must need them.”

Surprise fills her eyes as she drops my hands.

She clearly didn’t expect me to care.

“What?” I ask, my sadness returning. “You’re the one who turned your back on me. Not the other way around. I was always there to help you. Always there to help Ben. But that…” My voice breaks, and I swallow before I say, “But that meant nothing to you after my arrest. You tossed me to the curb like I was garbage.”

“You stole a car, Jace. Lester’s car! You ruined his pride and joy.”

“Exactly,” I say softly. “Lester’scar.”

She folds her hands together in front of her. “I’m sorry.”

Is she? Maybe a little, but mostly because she got caught. She doesn’t care that she broke my heart. And definitely not thatshe broke Dad’s. He might not have been perfect, but he always provided for us and loved us, in his gruff way, even if he never said so.

“Can I see Ben today?” I ask. “I brought him a Christmas present. I realize he might not remember me. It’s been six years.”

She starts to say something—likely no—then thinks better of it. “He remembers you. He still talks about you.”

“He does?”

“Yeah. It was hard on him when you left. I just…” Her voice cracks. “I thought it might be easier for him if you just never came back. But I was wrong.” She grabs the envelope and starts down the stairs. “Come on. I hope you’re ready to spend several hours with him, because I doubt he’ll let you out of his sight for a while.”

Mary’s going to spend the day with Aidan. It’s time for her to tell him the truth about Glenn, or the most palatable version of it, and she knows it’s going to hurt. Although she also wants to tell him that she and I are together, we agreed it would be too much. I don’t want him to worry that I’ll turn my back on him like his father did or for him to resent Mary for “stealing” his friend. We’ll get there, though, and dinner tonight will be the first step. The original plan was to have Christmas Eve dinner with Mary’s sisters, but she thinks it’ll be too much for him on top of everything else. So the three of us will be eating together, not until six, though, and it’s only a two-hour drive. I can spend a few hours here and still make it in time. “I’m good with that.”

Ben’son the sofa watchingA Christmas Storywhen I walk through the front door behind Amanda. My stomach flip-flops atthe sight of him. He’s grown so much, but it’s still unmistakably him. He has the same sweet expression and a mop of blond hair a couple of shades lighter than mine.

The furniture’s the same stuff that Amanda had when I left, and it was at least a decade old back then. There’s an old artificial Christmas tree in the corner with ornaments I recognize from when Amanda and I were kids. A few presents are scattered under it, and a stocking with Ben’s name is taped to the wall next to the tree. The house looks more sad than festive, much like the town. Any help Lester was giving her clearly dried up when the business did.

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