I was right. I find him out back in his shed. A hammer hitting wood is the only sound coming from the shed as I pull open the door. Robert’s head turns just as he brings the hammer down on the wood again, barely missing his fingers.
“What are you doing here, Lance?” He looks back down at whatever he’s doing, giving me none of his attention.
“We need to talk,” I say as I lean up against the wall. “You know I never meant for this to happen, Robert. I didn’t mean to fall in love with your daughter, but it just happened.” That gets his attention. He sets the hammer down on his workbench and turns, grabbing his beer and taking a swig.
“I’m not mad, Lance,” he sighs, closing his eyes. “I’m definitely not happy you and my daughter are—” He shakes his head, as if he can’t stomach finishing his sentence.
“The look on her face when I made her fall broke me. I was so consumed by rage, I hurt my own daughter.” He looks up at me, and a torrent of emotion crosses his face before he clears his throat. “I-I saw the fear in your eyes. I saw the love. The same love I look at Reba with was in your eyes as you looked at my little girl.”
I’m not sure what to say as he twirls the beer bottle in his hand, not meeting my eyes again. “I’m sorry I hit you. I didn’t handle that appropriately, not like I should’ve.”
“I would’ve done the same thing if I were in your position, Robert. No one is mad at you. Kallie, maybe a little for messin’ up this beautiful face of mine, but nothing some time won’t fix.” We both bark out a laugh.
“Now, I have an idea, and I need your help.” I came up with the idea to decorate my cabin and surprise Kallie. Knowing the piece of shit ex-boyfriend of hers didn’t let her celebrate any holidays gave me the idea of trying to make up for missed years. I want to give her something magical, something to replace the bad memories with good ones.
Robert looks at me, curiosity lingering in his eyes. “What is it?”
I go over my plan and we leave the shed for Shirley’s country store—the only place open on Christmas. The old store has just about everything you could need. When I pull open the door to the store, a little bell goes off, and Shirley, an older blonde lady, comes out from the back with a smile.
“Hey there, gentlemen. What brings you in on Christmas?”
“Hello, Shirley. Our friend here,” Robert looks from Shirley to me, “has finally got himself a girlfriend, and he wants to decorate his house for Christmas. Do you have anything left?” Shirley’s eyes grow wide, but she quickly masks her shock with another giant smile.
“Have you met this girlfriend of his? What’s she like?” she asks, and my lips tremble as I try my best to hide a smile.
He’s visibly uncomfortable as he swallows. “Yeah, she’s my daughter.”
Shirley’s eyes widen in shock, and how I don’t burst out in laughter is beyond me. She looks between the both of us before deciding it’s probably best to just drop the subject.
“I don’t have too much, but I do have a tree and some ornaments, maybe some garland,” she says, walking toward the back of the store and motioning for us to follow.
Standing in the corner is one last tree; it’s nothing crazy, but it's perfect. A few minutes later, Robert is carrying the tree outside to strap it down to the truck.
“Here, I found this in the back and figured your girl would get a kick out of it. You know, to match the one Robert got for you.”Shirley hands me a box with a coffee mug inside, and I can’t hold in the laughter.
Printed across the side isMountain women do it better. When the laughter finally dies down, I wipe the tears from my eyes. “Damn, Shirley. She’s going to love this.” I pay her for the items, wish her a Merry Christmas, and head back outside, ready to be with my girl again.
“She’s going to love it,” Robert says, stopping next to me and crossing his arms as we admire our work.
The tree stands proudly in the corner of the cabin living room, garland hanging over the mantle. I got a candle that smells like pine trees to help with the Christmas vibe—as if my house isn’t surrounded by pine trees, but whatever.
We string up lights over the tree and around the living room to make the place glow, and I can’t wait to see the look on her face when she walks in.
“One last thing.” I grab the perfectly wrapped box with a red bow, placing it under the tree. “Alright, let’s go see our girls.”
I wiggle my eyebrows, and he chuckles before gripping my shoulder. “You hurt my daughter, and I won’t hesitate to castrate you.”
“You don’t have to worry about me hurting her. I can promise you that.”
Chapter Eighteen
Kallie
A Christmas movie playson the TV as I wait for Lance to get back. He has been gone for almost two hours now, and Mom has already started on another Hallmark movie.
Moments later, the front door of the cabin opens as my dad and Lance pull off their jackets and make their way into the living room.
“Dad,” I breathe, the word catching in my throat.
