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“So ...” Natalie said, her red lipstick dotted with white sprinkles. Otis tugged on her arm, clearly not wanting to indulge in girl talk when there were cookies to eat. Natalie ignored his whining and handed him a piece of cookie from her plate. The toddler took it, shoved it in his mouth, and fell back onto the floor, content with his sugar fix. “Why did I just see you run after everyone’s favorite chef?”
Ginny stiffened, not wanting to draw any more attention than they already had. She hadn’t thought twice before running after him and was caught off guard by Max’s coldness. His words cut deep, but they’d hit their mark. A small part of Ginny was almost proud of Max. He called her out, and she knew she deserved it. What she also knew was her time with Max was likely over—for good this time. The notion sent a chill through her core.
“I had to check on a few things—no big deal.” Not wanting to meet Natalie’s assessing gaze, Ginny traced a line of dried frosting across the tabletop.
Natalie leaned forward, her elbows landing on the foot of a gingerbread man. “What’s going on? And don’t bother saying nothing, because you’re a terrible liar.” Ginny saw Madeline approach and thought she was safe from this line of questioning, but no such luck. Natalie never broke eye contact, reaching into her tote and retrieving a board game. She handed it to her daughter and instructed, “Find five children to play with. If you win, I’ll get McDonald’s for dinner.” The girl yelped, snagged the game, and ran off in search of competitors.
“Does that always work?” Ginny asked, still hoping to avoid the third degree.
Natalie drained the last of her champagne and scoffed. “Like a charm. Now, stop trying to change the subject. My sub-par parenting isn’t worth dissecting when I’m this sober. Your love life, on the other hand, is worth dissection. Spill it.”
Glancing around to make sure no one was listening, Ginny sighed. “We had a fight.”
Natalie motioned for Ginny to continue. “I figured that much. You look like someone just told you there isn’t a S-A-N-T-A.”
Against her will, Ginny laughed. “You know I can spell, right?”
Natalie looked undeterred. “Duh, but my toddler can’t. Frankly, I don’t want to have that conversation for at least another decade. Now, what did you fight about? You looked lovey-dovey at the hospital.”
“A little too lovey-dovey,” Ginny ground out. “If I tell you something, you promise to keep it between us?”
At her question, Natalie crossed her heart with a lacquered nail. “Much like Mrs. Miller’s shortbread recipe, I’ll take your secret to the grave,” she promised. Against her better judgment, Ginny believed her. After all, Mrs. Miller’s cookie recipe hadn’t been figured out yet.
“Max and I kissed yesterday. It was a horrible mistake, which I told my father, and Max overheard. Now he’s not talking to me, and I feel worse than I did when I left. On top of all that, my boss keeps calling and asking for help on projects I know she can do. Then I get mad at myself for not doing my job because I love what I do. But then I think of everything I’m missing here when I’m back in New York, and that has me feeling a little topsy-turvy. Especially since being with Max has brought up a lot of old feelings, and some of them are good, some of them are great in fact. Ugh, I don’t know.” Ginny let out a long breath and looked back to her friend. “There, that’s everything.”
Natalie didn’t respond but blinked slowly and shook her head. The jingle bells on her headband chimed with the movement. “Yeah, you’ve literally made me speechless. There’s a lot to unpack there.”
Ginny reached out for the champagne bottle, grimacing when she found it empty. “Yeah, and now you know why I look like someone canceled Christmas. Because they kind of did.”
Natalie shook her head. “We can fix this; I know we can. You just need a grand gesture to win Max back.”
“Win him back? What is the point of that? I head back to New York after Dad’s recovered.”
Natalie shrugged and picked up the newly amputated gingerbread man. She bit off his head in one swift motion and washed it down with Otis’s milk. “Do you have to?” Ginny opened her mouth to respond, but Natalie kept going. “You’ve looked really happy since you’ve been back. Max hasn’t been this happy in years, and it’s clear Harold and Mona love having you here. And if you’ll allow me to be selfish, it’s nice to have a friend here who isn’t linked by our crazy children. Why can’t you stay?”
Finally, Ginny cut in, “And what would I do for work? Wait tables? I have a career, Natalie.”
“What happens if there are other opportunities in Buckeye Falls, beyond slinging cheesy bites at citizens?” Sensing a challenge, Natalie leaned into her argument. “Hear me out, Ginny. This place has changed over the last few years.”
Ginny was dubious at best. The notion she could work—in her field no less—in Buckeye Falls was laughable. “And where would these opportunities be?”
Natalie leaned forward and lowered her voice. “With me.”
Ginny shook her head. “I love your kiddos, but I’m not nanny material.”
With a snort, Natalie waved off her suggestion. “Pfft, please. I have two sets of grandparents who cover that, thank you. What I’m talking about is for grown-ups. I’m starting an event planning business, and I’ll need someone on staff who knows marketing and project management. I know I can’t guarantee you the same salary, but that’s the beauty of being here. The cost of living is in my favor.” The expression on Natalie’s face was nothing short of smug.
Now Ginny knew she was dreaming. First a fight with Max and now her friend offering her a job. It was all too surreal, and she couldn’t fathom having a fulfilling job here. “But what kind of job is it? How do you know I’d be a good fit?”
Finishing off her cookie, Natalie stared at her friend. “Because you are one of the best in New York. Harold and Max brag about you all the time, so I did my homework. You’ve brought in major clients and are known for doing a lot with shoestring budgets. I know what I am offering will seem like small potatoes, but you’d oversee all marketing and deadlines. You’d be your own boss, and eventually I’d love to expand to a secondary location.”
“But, Natalie, have you done your market research? Does Buckeye Falls need an event planning business?”
Natalie didn’t appear concerned by Ginny’s questions. “Yes, I’ve been working on this for a while. Believe it or not, I got a business degree before motherhood. The time has come to finally use it. Let me send you my specs, okay?”
It all sounded fantastical to Ginny. Being her own boss had long been a dream, and not just now as she struggled with Lana long distance. But would staying in Buckeye Falls be the right call? Even though she’d felt at home and relaxed since her return, there were reasons she’d left in the first place.
With the benefit of hindsight, those reasons seemed almost laughable. Ginny took pride from a job well done, and she knew the location of her work wouldn’t alter her mindset. And What about the desire to live somewhere different, that need to spread her wings? Would she be happy here again? Was there a place for her?
Sitting in this cozy booth surrounded by friends and the holidays, it was easy for Ginny to picture herself back in Buckeye Falls. The question now was, what would Max think of her staying? Would her father even need her? Most importantly, what did she really want?
“Can I think about it?” she asked, hedging her bets.
Natalie beamed. “Are you kidding? I insist. Take the holiday, see how Harold is doing, and let me know. I’m not posting the job until I hear from you.”
Just then, Ginny’s phone chimed with an incoming text. home and hihglly medicatedd, her father’s message read. She laughed at the typos and tucked her phone back into her pocket.
“That’s Dad—he’s home, and I want to check on him.” Ginny stood and collected her coat and bag. Natalie slid out and handed her a platter of cookies.
“I saved these from my heathen children. Please give these to Harold and Mona.” Ginny reached for the plate, but Natalie held firm. “And think about what I said, okay? That job is yours if you want it.”
Ginny only nodded and left the diner. Her stomach was full of cookies, her heart was in pieces, and her brain was full of unanswered questions.
For the first time in nearly a decade, Ginny felt the holiday spirit. It was in the cookies she decorated, in the silly hat she wore to make her friend laugh, and in the way she stopped to smell the piney branches of the tree by her father’s house. Christmas felt like a happy holiday again, and she knew Buckeye Falls was to blame.
Ginny smiled to herself as she got into her rental car. When she turned on the radio, a Christmas carol piped through the speakers. For three blocks, Ginny sang along with the familiar tune until she reached a stop light. Then her phone rang again. Assuming it was her father, she answered through Bluetooth with a smile on her face. “I’ll be there in five minutes,” she said.
“Thank God.” Lana’s voice boomed through the speakers. “That should be about as long as it takes me to strangle Morty.”
The rental car lurched forward as Ginny’s foot slipped off the brake. “Lana? I wasn’t expecting you. I thought you were my dad.” Ginny looked behind her and saw no one was waiting. She made a U-turn and parked in an empty parking lot, knowing she wouldn’t be able to focus on driving with Lana barking in her ear.
A long sigh came through the speakers, and Ginny closed her eyes and braced for impact. If Lana was collecting her thoughts, it was never a good thing. “So you’re not five minutes away from the office?”
Ginny went with the truth, no sugarcoating. “No, I’m still in Buckeye Falls. Dad got out of the hospital today.” Realizing the music was still pumping, Ginny stabbed at the volume controls, silencing Bing Crosby.
“Sounds like you’re having a festive time in old Iowa,” Lana scoffed. Ginny opened her mouth to correct her on the state but thought better of it. “I thought I made it clear you were needed at the office, Ginny. There is too much on the line right now for you to be on vacation.”
Finally, Ginny couldn’t hold her tongue a moment longer. “This isn’t a vacation, Lana. My father was in the hospital. I’m here to take care of him. I’ve mentioned this at least a dozen times.” Very rarely was Ginny this insubordinate, but frankly she didn’t care.
“You have a job to do. If he’s at home, then you can come back to the office. Bring him with you if you’d like. Your place isn’t far from here.” In the background, Ginny heard rustling papers and mumbled profanity as Lana talked to her long-suffering assistant.
Ginny sat back in the driver’s seat and gaped out the windshield. Lana wanted her to move her father, who just had hip surgery, to the city to sit alone while she worked a twelve-hour day. She pictured their home and what she was about to return to. Mona was cooking dinner, her father sharing colorful commentary of a basketball game on TV, the feeling of utter contentment that awaited her. Ginny could practically feel the warmth of the fire now.
“Are you even listening to me?” Lana snapped. “I have two client meetings booked for the next hour. You are needed here, now. Get your laptop and at least join the meeting remotely. I need to see your plans for the Haines account, and ...” Ginny stopped listening after that.
For another five minutes, Lana droned on while Ginny thought about her life choices. When she left Buckeye Falls, she felt like she was breathing freely for the first time in years. She was making her way in the world, building a career she could be proud of. Now the thought of going back to her cramped apartment in New York, where not even a houseplant waited for her, seemed hollow, lonely.
Calls from Lana used to bring about a sense of urgency, a call to action to use her skills to craft brilliant marketing schemes. Ginny would get lost in the work, reveling in the feeling of creating something that people would see and rely on. But in that moment, sitting in an empty parking lot in Buckeye Falls, Ginny wanted anything but that. Maybe it was Natalie’s offer growing roots in her muddled brain. Or perhaps it was the fact that Max and she had unfinished business. No matter the reason, Ginny knew things needed to change.
Finally, Lana realized she was having a one-way conversation. “Did you hear what I said? Morty is trying to send you the files, but he said you’re not logged into the database.”
Ginny put the car back in drive and took a cleansing breath. Her steady hands gripped the steering wheel as she eased onto the road. “I’m on leave, Lana. I’m not due back to work until late January.”
Lana laughed, a humorless sound that raised the hairs on Ginny’s neck. “No, your leave has been canceled. You’re going to log into this meeting right now.”
Before she could think better of her words, Ginny said, “No. I’m not. If you can’t respect my need to be home with family, then I don’t think I need to be working for you.” The other line was silent for a long moment, and Ginny feared they’d been disconnected. She didn’t think she had the guts to say that again.
“If you’re not on this call in five minutes, you don’t have a job,” Lana said, her tone harsh.
“Then consider this my resignation,” Ginny said, disconnecting the call and turning the Christmas carols back on. As she sped back to the house, Ginny sang the chorus to Rudolph as loud as she could.
*
“You’re not seriously going to stay here all night, are you?” CeCe asked from the doorway, her coat slung over her arm. Her hair was pulled back in a ball cap, her eyes dark and tired. When the cookie party ended, the cooking for the Jubilee began. CeCe grated over ten pounds of cheese for her famous cheesy bites, while Max spent his night mixing the ingredients for the punch and packaging dozens of appetizers in paper boxes.
Rubbing the small of his back, Max stretched and groaned with his achy joints. “I’ll head out in a minute.” He yawned.
CeCe let the door close and stepped back into the kitchen. She surveyed the now-clean space, including all the boxes ready for Evan to pick up the next morning. She furrowed her brow and stared Max down.
“Why do I feel a lecture coming on?” he asked.
CeCe snorted. “Probably because you’re about to get one.” Max started to interrupt, but CeCe reached out and flicked his arm with her coat sleeve. “Now shut up and let me rant, then I’ll leave you alone.” Max made a show of rolling his eyes and leaned back on the counter. CeCe crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Something clearly happened today, and I don’t want to hear about it. All I’m asking is that you don’t spend another two years mending your heart. If you’re truly done with her, then move on. If you’re not, then make a move. Those are the options.”
Max shook his head, as if the words didn’t make sense. “And who died and made you the expert on love?”
“No one, but I pay attention. Since she’s been back in town, you’ve been happier.” Pausing, CeCe motioned toward his office. “The obvious exception being earlier today and last night. What I’m saying is, you have the power here, Max. You can decide what would make you happy and go for it.”
“You make it sound so simple, but it’s beyond complicated.” How could Max possibly summarize their marriage and divorce to CeCe?
“Then un-complicate it. You two have a history, and judging from the looks you were swapping earlier, there’s some chemistry as well.”
Max scoffed. “And?”
“And? It’s late, and I’m exhausted from grating a million pounds of cheddar. My point is, sleep on it and see how you feel in the morning. You might surprise yourself with your decision.” CeCe pulled on her coat and headed toward the exit. She hesitated, picking up a reindeer tote bag from the floor. “Whose bag is this?”
Max slapped his forehead. “Natalie’s. She told me to hold it while she loaded up the kids, but I got distracted. I can bring it to her place tomorrow.”
CeCe nodded, satisfied that the solution was not hers. “Think about what I said,” she offered as she closed the door behind her.
Max took a moment to wipe down the counters and lock up the safe. He was heading to the alarm panel when he heard a knock on the back door. Glancing at the time, it was far too late to be a customer. Evan and CeCe would use their keys.
For a moment, Max’s heart soared when he pictured Ginny outside. Her cheeks would be pink from the cold, and her nose would be brighter than Rudolph’s. Max smiled at the thought as he pulled open the door. The smile melted faster than a snowman in April when he saw who was knocking.
“Anthony?”
Mayor Snyder stepped past Max into the kitchen, shaking some snow from his mussed hair. “Max,” he grunted his name in greeting. “Nat left a bag here or something.”
Max was relieved this was a mere errand for his wife and not a time to dig up old issues. The very last thing Max needed tonight was a trip down Memory Lane with his least favorite neighbor. “Perfect timing,” he said as he handed the bag to Anthony.
Anthony faltered when he realized how heavy the bag was. “What’s in here, rocks?” He sighed, peering inside and finding an array of games and toys. “That’s Nat for you, bringing the entire game cabinet on the road.” Anthony took a step back but didn’t walk toward the exit. He studied Max for a moment, his gaze steady.
“Something else I can help you with?” Max asked, privately celebrating his cold tone and crisp words. “Maybe you need something else dry-cleaned?” Max raised an eyebrow in challenge. While his exterior was still, he knew his heart was pounding. Confrontation was never his thing.
At first, Anthony shook his head and turned. But when his hand hit the doorknob, he stopped, mumbling something under his breath. He turned and looked at Max and shrugged. “Do you really think I’m that much of a jerk?” he asked, almost looking wounded.
Max scoffed. “You literally hate my guts, made a scene in my business, and tried to move the highway that would have killed my livelihood. Yeah, Anthony. Sometimes I do think you’re a jerk.” Max wished CeCe was still here, because no one in Buckeye Falls would believe he was standing up to Anthony. Damn, this felt good.
To his credit, Anthony didn’t argue. Lowering the tote to the floor, he shoved his hands in his pockets and stepped closer to Max. “I shouldn’t have overreacted with the spilled tea thing,” he offered. For a moment, Max didn’t think the other man would continue the apology. His expression was so sour, it looked like he’d eaten an entire bag of lemon drops. “I’m sorry, truly.”
“Understatement of the year, but I accept your apology. You can share it with Evan tomorrow at the Jubilee.” Max stood a little straighter as Anthony paled. “I think he really deserves your apology.”
“Fair enough,” Anthony agreed. “I know it’s not an excuse, but since getting elected, it’s been rough.”
Max did not expect that level of candor from Anthony. During all their issues with the highway proposal, he hadn’t paid attention to the mayor or his appearance. Standing so close now, it was impossible to miss the dark smudges under his eyes or the frown lines etched on his cheeks. “I’m sorry, man. I didn’t think of it that way.”
Anthony lifted a shoulder and sighed. “Following in my father’s footsteps isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, but I’ll figure it out.” He took a moment, looking around at the kitchen. Max was grateful he’d taken the time to clean up, so it looked its best. “Nat said you hosted a great party. The kids loved it too.”
Max preened at the compliment. “Thank you. That means a lot coming from you. And I mean Anthony, not just the mayor.”
“You do good work, Max. There’s a reason this place is a local institution.”
There was a history between the pair, and Max wagered neither one truly remembered why they had a falling out. One day they were on the football team, and the next Max was the target of everyone’s ridicule. Back then he was an easy mark, a late bloomer with a stutter. While not excusing their behavior, he could see the appeal of hassling the newest kid in town.
Perhaps it was the holiday spirit, but Max hoped this was a turning point. He adored Natalie and the kids, so it only made sense that he and Anthony mended their broken fences. Now that he understood the stress the mayor was under, Max could approach their interactions with a little more tact. He tried to take the high road, and this relationship was a good place as any to practice what he preached.
Anthony leaned down to pick up the tote again, clearly done with discussing their emotions. “If I can change the subject,” he said, wilting under the weight of the bag. “Do you think Ginny will take Natalie up on her job offer?”
Max flinched like he’d been sucker punched. “Job offer?” Suddenly he felt lost, like he was joining the conversation halfway through. “What are you talking about?”
Anthony frowned, clearly surprised that Max wasn’t already in the know. “Nat offered Ginny a job at her new events business. We bought that old storefront downtown near the library. She asked Ginny if she’d be interested in staying here and helping. Sorry, man, I thought you knew.” He held up his hands in front of him, now easing back toward the door, as if Max would pounce. “She asked her today, at the cookie party.” He was backpedaling, and Max appreciated the effort.
Of course Max didn’t know. Just like before, he and Ginny were not communicating. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling beads of sweat forming as his pulse kicked up. Why couldn’t she have told him? Why did he hear about this from the last person he expected?
“Thanks for telling me.”
Anthony hoisted the bag over his shoulder, clearly ready to go. “I’m sure if she accepts, Natalie will tell the whole town. She’ll probably make me put it in the town’s newsletter.” Both men smiled at the mention of Natalie’s tenacity. “I hope for both our sakes, Ginny takes the job. Something tells me it would be just as nice for you.”
Max was taken aback by Anthony’s sincerity. “I figured you didn’t care what happened to me or my ex-wife.”
“Wow, man, you really do think I’m an asshole.” Anthony chuckled. “We might not see eye to eye most of the time, but I know that you are good for this town. Frankly, it sounds like you’ve been a lot more fun to be around since Ginny came back. Maybe it’ll all work out.”
Max barked out a laugh. “Have you already gotten into the eggnog? We haven’t opened up like this since the football retreat sophomore year.”
Anthony’s honey eyes brightened at the mention of high school. Despite making good in Buckeye Falls, he clearly missed his glory days more than he’d admit, especially to Max. “Maybe it’s the holiday spirit? Or maybe I am a selfish jerk who wants your ex to move back to make my wife happy. Happy wife, happy life.”
Not quite ready to agree, Max walked with Anthony to the door. “I’ll walk you out,” he said, punching in the alarm code and locking the door. He stood and watched Anthony pull out into the chilly December night, the taillights of his expensive SUV fading as he crested the hill to Main Street.
Max couldn’t process what Anthony had said. Ginny got a job offer to stay in Buckeye Falls. What did she think? Was she even entertaining the idea? Knowing Ginny, probably not. She was so dead set against this town, Max would not be surprised if she’d already shot down Natalie.
But then a brand-new thought came to Max. What if she did take it? Would she want to be with him if they were both in town? Max’s scrambled thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a car pulling into the diner’s parking lot. He zipped his coat up to his neck and walked toward it, waiting for Mona to step out.
She wore a bright green hat in the shape of a Christmas tree, complete with twinkling lights. Max gestured to the hat as he joined her. “You should save all that sparkle for tomorrow. It’ll be perfect for the Jubilee.”
Mona reached up to touch the hat. “Oh dear, I thought I turned it off.” She pulled it from her head, shook her hair back into place, and tucked the hat under her arm. “I came to see you. I’m glad I caught you.”
Max hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “I just locked up. Did you need any of the food tonight?”
Mona shook her head and sighed. “It’s Ginny ... I wanted to talk to you.”
Max didn’t know if his heart could stand the roller coaster ride that was the topic of his ex-wife. “Did something happen? Is she okay?”
Mona shrugged. “Yes, as far as I can tell. She seemed a little off when she got back to Harold’s place. Of course, she was happy to see him. But ...” Mona twirled her hand in the air, searching for the words. “But she said she wasn’t planning to go to the Jubilee Ball. That seemed odd, especially since Harold told me she has a dress and everything. Did something happen? You didn’t come by tonight—what’s wrong?”
Ah, the dress. The dress he bought for Ginny when they weren’t making time for each other. She’d seen it on a walk down Main Street, oohing and awing over the cut and the color of the beading. Max knew she’d look like a walking Christmas present in it. Once she’d left for work the next day, he’d driven to the shop and bought it for her. He’d planned to take her to the Jubilee, planned to start making more time for them. Foolishly, Max had thought a few yards of sequins and silk could save his marriage.
Bless Mona and her optimism. Max knew Harold was a lucky man to have someone so caring in his life. “I got busy here, helping CeCe for tomorrow. I’ll swing by Harold’s this weekend.” It was a lame lie, and Max could tell Mona wasn’t buying it.
“Did you two have a disagreement?”
Max chose vague honesty in his reply. “She’s my ex-wife, it only makes sense we’d have a few disagreements.” For starters, they disagreed that the divorce and their kiss were mistakes. Max would gladly give up his entire knife collection for just one more minute with Ginny. Reaching up, he scratched his beard and wondered when he’d stop feeling the ghost of her lips on his. Probably not for the rest of his life, he lamented.
Mona splayed a hand across her chest and sighed. “If anyone understands disagreements with exes, it’s me. Which is why I know you two aren’t finished.”
“It’s not that easy, Mona,” Max said, hating the defeated tone in his voice.
“Matters of the heart never are. It’s Christmas, Max. Don’t you think you two are due a miracle?”
Max wanted more than anything to agree with her. But this was life, not a Hallmark movie. He and Ginny would not magically come together in a whirlwind of tinsel and mistletoe. There was history they needed to traverse. Plus, they needed to communicate. While he wanted Mona to be right, Max knew it was hopeless.
Either reading his mind or sensing the moment, Mona stepped close and pulled Max in for a hug. He savored the moment, especially since it had been over a year since he’d hugged his own mother. Mona and Harold had become his surrogate parents. Most men in their thirties would laugh at Max for feeling the need for more family, but to Max, the people in his life were precious.
“I really appreciate you coming out here, but the damage is done. We both said some hurtful things to each other and—” Max’s words were cut off by Mona’s sweet laughter.
“Oh, Max, you really are a sweetheart. What do you think apologies and grand gestures are for? Tomorrow is the Jubilee, anything can happen. You get the food to the Jubilee, and I’ll take care of getting our girl to the ball. How does that sound?”
Max soaked up Mona’s optimism like a sponge. “How do you know she’ll even listen to you?”
Mona waved his words away. “Are you kidding? I’m bringing my secret weapon.”
“Do I even want to know?” Max laughed.
“It’s Natalie. Need I say more?”
Max barked out another laugh, knowing that if anyone would get Ginny to the ball, it would be Natalie. “This might sound crazy, but I think you’re onto something.”
They walked to Mona’s car, and Max opened the door for her. She slid in and tossed her hat on the passenger’s seat. “Remember, text Harold in the morning. We’ll take care of the details.”
Max looked at Mona’s hopeful expression. “I hope you’re right about all this.” He sighed.
“Max, dear, how quickly you forget. It’s Christmas, the season for miracles.” Mona turned on her car and headed back into town. Just like he did with Anthony, Max stood in the winter air and waited for her car to disappear from view.
The thought of seeing Ginny tomorrow at the ball warmed him from the inside. He was feeling more hopeful than he had in days, hopeful that he and Ginny could finally communicate, finally reconcile. Anthony’s mention of the job only fueled that fire of hope.
Keeping his thoughts and feelings inside didn’t help anyone, least of all Max. Perhaps tonight, his three visitors were his ghosts of Christmas, showing him the way forward. Max exhaled into the night and got into his car. He wanted to get home and rest because he had a big day ahead of him. Tomorrow is the day he would get his wife back.