Page 6 of All I Want For Christmas Is You

“It’s a wonderland,” his daughter said to him, her voice rich with awe.

“We’ll get back to the music in a moment,” Ms. Gibbins continued. “But I do need to let you know about the travel advisory that just came in. There’s a big storm coming, and it doesn’t look good. With Christmas only two days away, you might want to rethink your travel plans. North Carolina’s not set up for big snowstorms—even this far west in the woods. No worries if you’re staying with us through the holidays. We’ve got you covered. Plenty of food, booze, and music. Now, it’s time to give the band a break and get into…” She opened her arms wide to the audience.

“Sunday Karaoke,” a good number of people shouted.

“That’s right. Okay, I’ll let Felix take over from here.”

While the rest of the band left the stage, the bass player took the mic and looked at the sign-up sheet. “All righty, folks. Let’s see which brave souls are up first. Mark and Stephanie Evans?”

Beau turned to face his daughter and couldn’t miss her mischievous expression. His stomach dropped. “No.”

“No what?”

“You didn’t go to the bathroom, did you? You signed us up. Jessa.” He was an engineer. He was comfortable with data and research. He solved problems all day long.

That’s what I’m good at.

He didn’t perform. And he definitely didn’t sing.

“Thanks for coming out here, Dad. It means a lot.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I’m sorry I can’t stay through Christmas.” His son and grandson were waiting for him at home. The two-year-old’s mother wasn’t in the picture, and he deserved as big of a family as they could give him. Beau would move heaven and earth for that little boy.

“No, I know. I wouldn’t have time to see you anyway.”

“You’ve worked hard for this, Jessie. I’m proud of you.”

She touched the red velvet bow on the wreath. “Are you still going to make me work for someone else before you hire me?”

“Absolutely. You understand things theoretically. Now, you need to get in the field and apply your research. When you’re ready, Gentry Mining Corporation will be waiting for you.”

“I mean, it doesn’t seem fair, does it? Walker’s only twenty-six, and you’re letting him basically run the place.”

“Different situation. He studied mining engineering like I did. Plus, he’s worked there since high school. Your role is different. You’ll help us be cleaner and more efficient.”

“I want to work with you—not join after you retire. Well, if you actually do ever stop working.”

“Hey, now. I’ve already started transitioning to the new development.” His family’s biggest complaint about the mine was its remoteness. With its location on the outskirts of Calamity, they’d felt cut off from the town and their friends, so he’d spent the last decade developing the property. He had a lodge, a place for tourists to pan for gold, and a Wild West gift shop. Most recently, he’d built a shopping mall. After the New Year, he’d start looking for business owners to lease the spaces.

“Dad.” She laughed. “That’s still work. I want you to have more in your life than that.”

“I have my kids.” He was close to the younger two. The oldest—well, she had a massive career, and he hadn’t seen her much over the years. “And my grandson.”

“I know, but we’re all adults now.”

He knew that. Eventually, Walker would get married and move out. Jessa would get a job in another state. And then what would he have? Like she said, work. “Where’s this coming from?”

“I just worry that you’re letting Mom get into your head.”

Funny. I worry the same thing about you. “In what way?”

“She basically tells everyone who’ll listen that you were a terrible husband, a bad father, and that you screwed her out of all the money.”

His wife left because he wouldn’t give up on the mine, wouldn’t move her out of the small cabin, and stubbornly held on to his “worthless” dream. She’d divorced him before he’d discovered gold. “Do you think I was a terrible husband and bad father?”

“No.” Her grin told him she knew she was her daddy’s little girl.

She was born a bold, confident, happy little girl, and he was so damn proud of her. “Then, that’s all that matters to me.”

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