Page 72 of The Forever Christmas Tree

When she returned, Geek and K-4 were preparing to go for a breakfast meeting with Gabe Conti. They were taking Harry Carder with them, for his financial expertise.

“So, you’re really considering the treasure-hunting company? And bringing it here?” she said to Geek.

What few single women there were in Bell Cove would love having him around. With light brown hair, a young, unlined face, and a lean but very fit body, despite his being well into his thirties, he was a good-looking man. Not to mention being super intelligent and wealthy, to boot.

I wonder why I was never attracted to him. Probably because SEALs and WEALS feel more like brothers and sisters.

Geek nodded. “More than considering. I love your hometown. The remoteness and isolation appeal to me. It seems so far removed from . . . the rest of the world.”

Wendy knew what he meant. Terrorism. In special forces, they encountered so many bad things . . . genuinely evil people bent on mayhem and murder. It was hard to believe that such malevolence could exist here. Maybe it was a false reality. The tangos could be anywhere, of course, but for now, at least, it seemed that they hadn’t discovered the Outer Banks.

“Could you give up the SEALs?” she asked Geek.

“Maybe. I’ve been in the teams for a long time.”

She turned to K-4. “And you?”

Kevin would be a great addition to the single-bachelor pool of Bell Cove, too. Almost the opposite of Geek in appearance, he had black hair, an olive complexion, and a more bulked-up body. Plus, he appealed to women who liked to think they could heal a sad-eyed widower.

“Still thinking about it,” K-4 answered. “Unlike Geek, I’m not sure I’d like being this cut off. But the treasure hunting could be fun.”

The military would not be happy to lose any of them, but especially not a bunch at one time, and not just because of their skills. It cost anywhere from $350,000 to $500,000 to train any one of them. But, once they’d fulfilled their commitments, it was an individual’s choice.

Anyhow, JAM had already indicated that he wasn’t ready to leave the teams.

“And Gabe . . . is he interested in joining your venture?” she asked Geek.

“Maybe. An in-kind investor, as in his property, or part of it.”

She shook her head in wonder. “He seems like such a conservative guy.”

“Hey, there’s a gambler in all of us if you dig deep enough,” Geek contended.

Am I a gambler? Do I take risks? Hmmm. An interesting question.

“I’m even thinking about investing,” Harry said, rolling up to them in his wheelchair. “My son would shit a brick if he thought I was gambling away his inheritance. The best reason of all to do it.”

They laughed then, all of them aware of the selfish son who went skiing with his family instead of having his father with them for the holidays.

Geek named several other people that might be willing to join the project. He said he was going to be careful about who he invited, though. Maybe he would just throw another invention out on the Internet and take sole ownership. Nothing was final yet.

What about me? Would I like to be a treasure hunter? Could I excel in those skills, like I have in WEALS? More important, could I move back to Bell Cove, knowing such a decision would have implications for me and Ethan?

No, no, no! I gave up my dreams for Ethan once before. Do I want to give up my life . . . a life I love, work I’m darn good at . . . for him, again?

No, I decided long ago, that path is closed to me. The best lovemaking in the world isn’t going to change that.

Then why don’t I avoid Ethan like a bad rash? Why am I going to the dance with him tonight?

A last hurrah? Or would that be a “Hoo-yah!” in SEAL lingo?

Hah!

After the three men left, Wendy went to early Sunday mass with JAM, Aunt Mildred, and Raul. The church was beautiful in all its Christmas garb, even more so than when she and JAM had stopped in a few days ago. The scent of evergreens filled the air, and the bright red of the dozens of poinsettias against the white marble of the altar was a spectacular sight. All was in preparation for tomorrow night’s bell choir concert and then Midnight Mass.

She couldn’t help but say a prayer about her current issues. Please, God, help me decide what is the right thing to do. For me. Aunt Mildred. Ethan. And Cassie.

After a quick lunch back at the house, they all prepared to walk downtown to watch the grinch parade and to do a little last-minute shopping. Gaily-wrapped presents already abounded under the Christmas tree. She and her four friends had agreed not to exchange gifts, but she knew that they bought a little something for each of the six seniors, in thanks for the hospitality. The seniors bought presents for one another. Then Wendy and her aunt always bought something special for each other, even when they had to be mailed. Which meant, exponentially, the number of gifts would be huge. Well over fifty, for sure. They’d be unwrapping presents all day on Christmas, but, no, they couldn’t do that because of the open house. Oh, boy! Maybe they should postpone some of the gift exchanges for the day after Christmas.