Page 71 of The Snuggle is Real
“I know. I’m sorry. I justhatebeing in here.”
“It’s hard, but you can do it.”
“Yeah.” She sniffed. “Well, like I said, it’s not even certain I’ll make it out for Christmas yet. Nothing is decided.”
“All right. Keep me updated. But Lu, please…”
“What?” she asked, tone guarded.
“I’ve taken care of Charlie, and I’ve been happy to do it. This time with her is really special to me. Whenever you do get out, please—” My voice failed me for a moment. “Please don’t scoop her up and disappear on me. I want to be in her life more.”
“Yeah, okay, but if you think I’m moving back to that corny town, you’re out of your mind.”
I snorted. “Yeah, I wouldn’t expect that. Just…stay within reach, okay? Stay in touch. And please, if you get out for Christmas, just join us here. You don’t have to go out in town. Just hang at the house, watch Charlie open gifts. Let Charlie enjoy the day.”
There was a long, drawn-out pause.
“I’ll think about it.”
It wasn’t the answer I most wanted, but it was better than a refusal. Maybe LuAnne wouldn’t even get out in time. If she did, Charlie would probably still choose her mom over staying here.
But it would be one depressing Christmas for me.
All that worry. All that help from Mason so I could give Charlie a great Christmas. And she might not even be here for it.
I hung up and dropped onto the edge of the bed with a sad sigh. Charlie appeared in the doorway.
“Ford?”
I attempted a smile. “Hey, Charlie girl.”
She crawled into my lap. “Mama told you I might leave before Christmas, huh?”
I wrapped an arm around her, holding her close. “She did, but she doesn’t know what will happen for sure, Charlie.”
She snuggled in against my chest. “I know. I liked it here. I was kind of excited to see what Santa brought. But if I leave again, he probably won’t be able to find me.”
I kissed the top of her head. “I’ll make sure he knows where to find you, Charlie. If you’re not here for Christmas, I guarantee, Christmas will go with you.”
She tipped her face up. “But will you?”
My heart twisted. “I wish I could.”
“Me too.”
I squeezed her, my throat tightening. “But you know, if we’re not sure you’re going to be here for Christmas, we’ll just have to make the time we have left extra great.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really. Let’s get dressed and go into town. There’s got to be some sort of trouble we can make.”
She giggled. “We can’t be naughty! Santa won’t like it.”
“We’ll just have to make sure Santa doesn’t find out,” I said with a wink.
Charlie hopped down, smile gleaming. “Can we go get shakes at The Snowflake Shack?”
“Shakes?” I gasped. “You do know it’s old outside, right?”
