Page 70 of The Snuggle is Real
“Really.” I held out the phone. “She wants to say hi.”
Charlie grabbed it from me. “Mama?”
Her eyes widened as she listened to LuAnne speak. Then she started hopping in excitement. “It’s been so cool! Just like you said. I talked to Santa—and don’t worry, I told him you’re gonna be on the nice list from now on—and I saw this grinch storytime. Oh, and the PARADE! There are all these lights and hot chocolate and Ford has this really nice friend andhehas a dog, Mama! He’s black and white and…”
She continued chattering at 100 miles per hour.
Two things became clear to me in that moment.
Charliehadneeded to reconnect with her mom again.
And she was having a much better time in Christmas Falls than I’d have ever dreamed. All the worry I’d carried over these first weeks, and to hear Charlie tell it, she was living in a winter wonderland.
“I wish you could be here for Christmas too,” Charlie said, voice turning wistful.
My heart ached for her.
“What, really? You’re getting out before then? I thought…” She trailed off with a frown. “But I like it here. Can’t you just come here?”
“Let me talk to her, Charlie girl.”
Charlie glanced up at me with an unhappy expression. For as excited as she’d been to talk to her mom, the news that LuAnne might be released early wasn’t making her smile.
“Ford wants to talk to you again.” She paused, voice smaller than before. “Yeah, I’m glad. Okay. Bye.”
She handed the phone to me and slumped in her chair in a sulk.
“What’s this about an early release?”
“It’s not definite,” LuAnne said, “but if I play my cards right, I can be out by Christmas.”
I carried the phone with me toward my bedroom, wanting privacy. “Christmas is a lot to take on, Lu. You won’t have a job when you get out. You won’t have any presents for Charlie.”
“She’ll understand.”
I scoffed. “She’s seven years old, Lu. She shouldn’thaveto understand.”
“It’s not perfect, but we’d be together.”
“Then come here like Charlie suggested. I’m all set up for Christmas. She’s been having fun.”
“You know how much I hate that town at Christmas.”
“It’s not about you.”
She huffed. “Well, I needsomemotivation to get through this. I’m not exactly having fun over here. I want to see my daughter?—”
“Lu, be real. You don’t have a job. You’ve probably got an eviction notice waiting for you. I can help you get on your feet. You need to focus on getting your life back together. Let me keep Charlie an extra little while if you don’t want to come here. Let’s make sure she’s going to a stable home.”
“Well, I…I guess I do have a lot to sort out, but I don’t know, Ford. I need Charlie. She’s my anchor.”
That was a lot of responsibility to put on a child. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Charlie should be able to rely on Lu. Should have a grounded parent, not one with her head in the clouds—if only to avoid the reality on the ground.
“You’re stronger than that, Lu. You have to be,” I said. “Charlie needs a mom who puts her needs first. And before you can put anyone first, you have to be in a good place yourself.”
“Are you in a good place, Mr. Perfect?” she asked, voice tart.
“I never said I was perfect…”
