Page 17 of All I Want For Christmas Is You

“It’s too much. Her best friend, her boyfriend, and her mom? How’s she going to recover?” Jessa turned to her dad. “How could Mom do that to her own daughter?”

And here’s where it always gets tricky. He couldn’t badmouth his ex, but he also wouldn’t make light of what she’d done. “I don’t think she had bad intentions. I think she was inexperienced and got in over her head. She was trying to manage Lori’s career and signing the only contracts she could get at the time.” But as it grew, the opportunities got better, and his ex wound up breaking the early contracts they no longer needed.

“I just wish I knew how she was doing. When I text her, she says she’s fine or whatever, but I want to know the truth.” Jessa turned her gaze out the window. Snowflakes drifted down from the sky, jerking with the gusts of wind. “Do you think she’s writing new material? I mean, what’s she doing all alone in that cabin?”

“She says she’s blocked, so I think she’s just figuring things out.” Which made him think about Margot, how she’d hidden from the world for months, struggled with a whole range of emotions, only to emerge strong and healed.

Lorelei would come out of her cave empowered, too. She’d find a new direction, he was sure of it.

But he understood Jessa’s concerns. Since retreating, his oldest had given him similar responses to his text messages: I’m okay. I’m actually enjoying the time off.

Was she though? He didn’t know. “I’d do anything to help her, but she doesn’t want it.”

“But that’s the thing.” Jessa’s tone turned anxious. “She doesn’t need our help. She needs our love. She needs us to make her grilled cheese sandwiches and share a blanket with her on movie night and…and…play family games until she’s laughing so hard her stomach hurts.”

She was right about that. But what could he do? His girl was hurting, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.

When they reached the university, he drove under the ivy-covered arch that read Whitney University, established 1842. He braked in front of her graduate housing dorm. “Here you go.” He leaned over to give her a hug. “I love you, Jessie-girl.”

“I love you, too, Dad.” She reached for the door. “I like that woman in the lodge. Margot.”

Her name rocketed through him.

What the hell was that?

His reactions to her made no sense. “She’s nice, but don’t go getting any ideas.” Jessa would love to see him remarried. Or at least dating. “I’m leaving in the morning.”

“I know, but it’s too bad, right? The sparks were flyin’, that’s all I’m saying.”

“Is it all you’re saying, though?” He grinned at her.

“No, but I get it. Nothing can happen. It’s just…she spends all her time at the lodge. Where’s her family? I wonder who she’s going to spend Christmas with. Do you think we should invite her to dinner with us?”

“If that’s what you want, I can ask.” He’d like more time with her, no doubt about that. While he’d told her his story, he hadn’t gotten a chance to hear hers. And he wanted to. In fact, he was greedy for more, and he couldn’t figure out why. But she only worked in the lobby for a few hours in the morning. By the time he got back to the lodge, she’d be gone. He might never find out more about her.

“I have to go, but ask her, okay?” Jessa got out of the car. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Bye, doll.”

After she closed the door, he watched her walk away. Of all his kids, she was the one who’d wanted to spend time with him. On the weekends, she’d crawl into his bed and snuggle with him. They baked cookies and muffins together. She’d sit on the sink while he shaved and talk about a movie she saw, a book she’d read, or something that had happened at school.

Lord, he loved that girl.

Before she reached her dorm, she turned back, motioning for him to lower the passenger-side window. She gave him a mischievous grin. “Don’t forget to bring my present.”

“Oh, you already got that. I sang karaoke with you, remember?”

“Yeah, but did you? Or did Margot? Hm, looks like your lady friend gave me something, but you…? Not so much. Good thing you’ve got one more shot to give it to me.”

“The lodge has a gift shop. I’m sure I can find you something. Did you see those moose snow globes?”

“No way. Are you serious? That’s what I got you.” She laughed. “I know you, Dad. Whatever you got me, it’s fabulous.”

“Great. Now, the pressure’s on.” He pulled his phone out of the cup holder.

“What’re you doing?”

“Seeing if I can buy you that pony you wanted when you were ten.”

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