Page 73 of The Scrooge Effect

“So we’ll get some more! It’s Christmas!”

I picked her up and swung her and James around as the snow fell around us. Laughing, I slipped on some ice and we fell to the snow-covered grass. James laughed hysterically, picking up snow and inspecting it for the first time. Eden and Gracie ran at us, jumping on both of us as they started a snowball fight.

Rolling away from them, I gathered my own snow and started making snowballs to whip at each of them. I couldn’t remember having so much fun with the kids, or even playing in the snow. It was nothing like when I was a kid.

And that was the best part of all.

21

EDU

“Are you sure you want to do this today? It’s Christmas Eve.”

I tucked Harper into my side and grinned at my childhood home. I promised I was going to put the past behind me, and that was precisely what I intended to do before Christmas was actually here.

“I’m positive.”

“So…what are we doing with this?”

“Blowing it up,” I grinned.

“Are you serious? We drove four hours to blow up a house?”

“You say that like it’s not totally worth it.”

“Okay!” IRIS laughed, running over to me. “So, I know we talked about a controlled demolition, but I had this idea⁠—”

“No.”

“But you didn’t hear⁠—”

“No,” I said immediately, knowing whatever he had planned would only end in disaster.

The man’s jaw clenched hard as he stared at me. “You know, I went to a lot of trouble to help you out. I didn’t have to be here today.”

“Oh, please. You heard I was going to blow up a house and you jumped on board before I could even ask.”

“That’s because I know what I’m doing, and I would hate for anything to go wrong on Christmas. You know, you wouldn’t look so hot without eyebrows.”

“Sure, that’s why you came along.”

“I did. And let me tell you something, mister. I gave up a day of baking to be here.”

“Yeah, I’m sure that was a real hardship for you.”

He leaned in, keeping his voice low. “Yeah, but could you pretend for my wife? I made it sound like you really needed me.”

I winked at him as he turned and ran away.

“I am so telling Jane,” Harper laughed.

“Don’t do that. Wait until you need payback. Then let me do it.”

For just a moment, she watched me, and I knew what she was thinking. She was wondering how long this was all going to last. I couldn’t blame her. I’d done nothing but cause her heartache, and it was only natural she’d question the sudden change.

“It’s real, baby.”

“What’s real?”