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Rissa grinned when her phone beeped with a notification, a few minutes earlier than expected. “I think he misses us, too, Frizzle. Are you ready to get dressed?”

Frizzle bounced on the bed, and when Rissa placed her on the floor, she raced to where her elf coat and booties waited.

“It’ll still be a few minutes, but let me clean up here, and we’ll get you dressed. It’s cold outside today.”

Rissa put her gifts and the countertop away, then closed up the Murphy bed. It wouldn’t be getting any action today, not until they stopped whoever had left the exploding box.

As she dressed Frizzle, Rissa thought through the puzzle again. Who would Curt Anderson hire to harass and potentially harm Burke? Would he be satisfied with the aftermath of the IED, or was he plotting his next strike? Being in prison meant his interactions were few. She didn’t know much about prison, but she assumed guards would monitor his mail and email. She wasn’t sure about in-person visits or phone calls.

Marcus and the FBI were checking into that angle. She hoped they figured it out soon. Rissa thought it might be a connection Curt made through gambling. Another gambler, not one of the Clancy family. Someone who would profit from the task. Curt would have promised to pay him. She doubted anyone would do it without payment. Had Marcus checked Curt’s bank accounts? Probably, but she’d mention it to the police chief just in case.

Frizzle nosed at the door, ready to go out. “Hang on, my friend. We promised to wait for Burke.”

With a smile, she realized she’d be content to wait forever, but she hoped he’d hurry.

Burke sent his final Merry Christmas email to his clients and closed the program on his laptop. He’d told them he was taking the week off, but would respond to any emergencies and questions. He doubted there would be any issues, but he didn’t want his clients to feel as if they were on their own.

The last time he’d enjoyed a Christmas without working had been before his parents had died in that car accident. Before he’d succumbed to pressures and let his contact with Rissa fade away.

Looking back, he realized that many of the pressures he’d faced had been of his own creation. Fox had assured him repeatedly that the finances were under control. Mato and Halona had left everything to the kids, under Fox’s control until they turned of age.

But Burke hadn’t believed in money he couldn’t see. He’d known that Fox was giving up his own life by taking in five kids. His grandfather had told him countless times that he considered the five of them a privilege, not a burden.

Nothing had convinced Burke to relax over the money or the responsibility. He’d worked as many jobs as he could, studied late into the nights, and tried to help the others through the grief. While he was proud of his efforts, now he could see that he hadn’t dealt with his own grief, just shoved it deep and ignored it.

This had left him unable to respond to Rissa properly. If he’d unloaded some of his grief like he’d encouraged the others to do, he might have done a better job with his best friend.

Thankfully, he now had a chance to make up for it all.

Despite a rotten father and money issues, Rissa had turned her dreams into a successful reality. She was doing a job she loved, and she’d created a warm home for herself and Frizzle.

A home where she was now preparing Christmas presents.

He grinned at the thought. She’d nearly bounced when she said she wanted to work in the Q Lab for a bit. He’d been leery about leaving her alone, but she’d insisted.

Burke had walked her there and checked out the interior to ensure no one had hidden there or vandalized it. The farm’s security system had shown no intrusions, but he’d made sure, anyway. It wasn’t as if there were many places to hide in the RV.

Now, he pulled out the presents he’d bought for Rissa and Frizzle, along with the wrapping paper he’d borrowed from Amber. Recycled paper that was recyclable, although she said most of them reused the paper they’d used last year.

He loved everyone’s environmentally friendly attitude. “You’d approve, Fox. Not only of how we’re helping your brother’s land, but of the adults we’ve become, our partners, and our friends.”

He didn’t feel weird whispering the words. Anyone who overheard him would understand. It made the connection to his grandfather and great-uncle even more real. The men wouldn’t be forgotten. While they hadn’t healed their rift in their lifetimes, Burke had no doubts that they’d healed it in their hearts.

Being here on Jay’s property felt right, and he could imagine the two old men sitting in the library grousing about how some authors took liberties with the past when they were supposed to be writing nonfiction. They’d have had more than a few disagreements about the books they’d both owned.

Burke had returned the books to the shelves. All of his siblings came in at different times to flip through the books or read a section. Wanting them to have access, he only closed the library door when he was in meetings.

Or now, when he was wrapping presents. The group had agreed to no presents except for significant others or for the kids. He was having fun with that exception. And if his gift to Charlie required that he buy matching gifts for everyone else, that was his prerogative as the oldest brother. He’d been saving for disasters all his life. It was time to use some of that money to spread a little joy as well.

When they’d rented their yearly Christmas trees, he’d quietly asked their neighbor if he could store his gifts at her lot until Christmas morning. Sylvia had been thrilled to be a part of the surprise.

He would let Rissa in on the secret early on Christmas morning, and they could bring the gifts over like elves. She hadn’t had much holiday joy in her life, and he knew she’d love being in on the fun.

He finished and checked the time. Rissa had promised to text him if anything weird happened or if she felt creeped out being alone. He hadn’t heard a word from her, but he worried anyway.

He texted her as he moved to the farmhouse kitchen. Almost done? Lunch will be in half an hour.

He grinned when he saw the dots typing immediately. He hadn’t liked leaving her alone even for an hour.