Page 145 of Smoky Mountain Dreams

“Not so fast. I didn’t finish. I was going to say I don’tdeserve it, but I’ll take it all the same.”

“Good.” Christopher smiled, his green eyes glowing softly. “Life’stoo short to waste it arguing about whether or not you’re sorry enough forsomething I damn well know you’re sorry for.” He shrugged. “Let’s talk aboutsomething that’s an actual emergency.”

Jesse raised his eyebrows. “Your family?”

Christopher scoffed. “Very funny. That’s a disaster, not anemergency. I was thinking more along the lines of what I’m going to get you forChristmas. It’s in three days and I’m woefully unprepared. The kids, I’ve gotcovered, but you? I have no idea.”

“Don’t buy me anything. The only thing I need is you.”

“But you got me something.”

Jesse shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

“I know you did.”

“Who cares? Don’t waste your money on buying me things. AllI want is you in my bed on Christmas night and I’ll consider it the best gift I’veever had.”

“Jesse Birch, who knew you were such a sap? Here, want totry my pancakes?”

Jesse waggled his eyebrows. “I sure do.”

They laughed and shared their breakfasts, and Jesse knewthat Christopher’s generosity and forgiveness was his true Christmas present.

The nursing home was not where Jesse had thought they’dbe spending their first Christmas Day together. Christopher placed thepoinsettia on the tray where the nurses could see it from their station, whileBrigid lingered at the door, obviously afraid to come inside.

“You don’t have to do this, B,” Jesse murmured. “We can leave.”

Brigid shook her head firmly, setting her lips in a line. “Iwant it to be here. You promised.”

“And your dad’s not going back on his promise, Brigid,”Christopher said quietly. “He just wants to make sure that you’re really readyfor this. Remember we told you that she doesn’t look like she does in thepictures and videos anymore. It can be hard to see that.”

Brigid shuddered. She looked down at the piece of gold papershe’d brought in from the car. She’d cut wrapping paper into the shape sheneeded and then brought it to Jesse after breakfast, saying, “Daddy, I’m readyto make the last crane.”

As it turned out, it’d been a bit more complicated thanthat. She wanted to make the crane at Marcy’s bedside so that she’d see forherself if her wish came true. Jesse had tried to dissuade her, but Christopherhad reminded him that they’d promised to do it however and wherever she wanted,and it was important that they keep that promise.

They’d discussed whether or not all two thousand cranes hadto be present, and Brigid had decided that the power of the cranes lay in themaking of them, not where each crane was when the wish was made. And so they’dtraveled together, a new family of four, down from Gatlinburg to Sevierville,and walked into the facility together, Jesse gripping his children’s hands. Thestaff had blinked in surprise at Christopher’s presence, but had only wishedthem all a merry Christmas.

Will was frozen in the hall. “I don’t want to see her. I don’twant to see Mommy.”

He hadn’t called her that in a long time. Jesse edged byBrigid in the doorway and knelt by him. “You don’t need to go in, buddy.Christopher can take you to the lounge area. I think there’s a piano there. Hecould sing for the residents. You could dance. It’d be a nice Christmas gift tothem.”

“No.” Brigid reached out and took hold of Christopher’shand. “I want Christopher in there too. I want all of us in there.”

The love for his daughter filled Jesse. “Will doesn’t wantto go in, B. It’s not fair to make him, and we can’t leave him alone.”

Natalie appeared, smiling kindly. “Bringing the children tosee Mrs. Birch?”

“Well, just one of them it seems.” He caught her frowning atChristopher, and he said, “Natalie, this is my boyfriend, Christopher Ryder. Ibelieve you’ve met.”

Natalie’s eyebrows disappeared into her hairline, but sherallied quickly. “Yes, Mr. Ryder, the musician. I see. Hello.”

Jesse made his decision quickly, asking her to take Willinto the lounge. Natalie agreed, and Will seemed incredibly relieved as hehurried away with her.

“Brigid, we can go,” Christopher murmured gently. “You don’thave to do this.”

“No, I can do it,” she insisted. “I want to do it.” She puther chin up, tossed back her dark hair, and stepped boldly into the room.

Jesse had tried to prepare her, he really had, but there wasno way. Brigid’s breath sucked in sharply and she froze, her hands clenchingand crumpling the paper she’d brought so carefully from home.