Chapter 21
21
"Sounds like you guys had a good day," Chris commented, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied grin.
Frankie smiled and nodded, her eyes glinting with the warmth of the day's memories. "We did. It was fun."
Abe chimed in with a thoughtful nod, "It’s been a long time since Joe rode the sled run. You bring something out in him. It’s a gift."
Frankie shook her head modestly. "I can’t take credit. He built this incredible place and just forgot to enjoy it along the way."
Chris chuckled, his voice softening. "I think we all have. I’ve worked harder since being home than I have in a long time, only..."
"Only it doesn’t feel like work?" Devyn finished for him, her tone playful yet understanding.
Chris turned to Devyn, his gaze lingering for a moment, fondness evident in his eyes. "Exactly. I suppose it doesn't feel like work when you do something you love with people you care about."
Stirring a pot at the stove, Sam couldn’t resist teasing Chris. "I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that, boss."
Chris smirked, shooting a look her way. "You’re the exception. I enjoy working with you, Sam. It’s just... different here."
Sam’s smile softened as she exchanged a glance with Nick, who was busy plating dishes but couldn’t hide the affection in his eyes. "It most definitely is," she agreed.
Joe strolled into the kitchen, a casual air about him as he paused by the table. His eyes flicked to his watch, then darted toward Nick and Sam, who were engrossed in the final dinner preparations.
Nick, catching the movement, spoke up. "We got a later start tonight. Dinner will be ready soon, brother. Take a seat."
Joe grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl, his expression neutral as he tossed it in his hand. "Wish I could. I’ve got reports to review. I’ll grab something later," he said, taking a bite of the fruit.
Nick, undeterred, tried again. "I’d rethink that. This dish is going to blow your socks off."
Joe glanced briefly at Frankie, their eyes meeting for a split second. Frankie raised her brow, silently encouraging him. But Joe’s weak smile betrayed his hesitation.
"Maybe next time," he said, tossing the apple in the air again and taking another bite as he exited the kitchen.
Nick let out a sigh, shaking his head as he turned back to the stove. "I was hoping tonight would be the night Joe stuck around. I made one of his favorites."
Chris’s expression grew somber. "I hate that we keep disappointing him."
"It isn’t you," Frankie interjected, her tone firmer now. "Joe is disappointing Joe."
A spark lit in Frankie’s eyes as an idea began to take shape. The room stilled, everyone, sensing the shift in her demeanor as she paused just long enough to stir their curiosity.
Finally, she spoke up, her eyes glinting with resolve. "Tonight, that changes. I have an idea."
The room buzzed with anticipation as all eyes locked on Frankie. A mischievous grin spread across her face, hinting that whatever she had up her sleeve was going to shake things up in a way only Frankie Malone could.
"Why does this make me nervous?" Joe leaned against the doorframe, eyeing the boxes and totes surrounding Frankie on his porch. Her golf cart sat in the background, piled high with even more.
Frankie flashed a bright smile, barely containing her excitement. "I promise this will be painless."
"That brings very little comfort," Joe muttered, his eyes narrowing as she handed him a tote.
Frankie chuckled, brushing past him and into the cabin. "Here you go. Help me bring these in."
Joe froze in the doorway, eyes widening as Frankie marched past him, completely undeterred. She barely glanced at him, already stacking boxes as if she owned the place. This was going to be one of those nights, and Joe could feel it in his bones.
"Come in?" he mumbled to the empty doorway.
"Already did. Come on, we need to get set up." Frankie had already dropped her tote in the living room and was back for another.
Joe followed her inside, dragging the heavy tote with him. "For what?"
"It’s a surprise," she said with a mischievous grin.
"Oh good," Joe muttered sarcastically. "That’s a relief. I’ve officially graduated from nervous and gone straight to concerned."
Frankie barely looked at him as she passed by again, grabbing another box. "What are you standing there for?"
Joe set the tote down, shaking his head. "Just wondering if it’s too late to run."
Frankie paused, giving him a playful look. "Try, and I’ll find you. I know all your favorite hiding spots on this property."
She slapped a Santa hat on Joe's head, and he groaned. "This just keeps getting better."
Joe's cabin looked like a holiday explosion had overtaken it. The bare Christmas tree stood in the center, surrounded by boxes overflowing with garlands, twinkling lights, and enough decorations to transform the whole cabin into a festive wonderland. Ornaments spilled out, glistening as they caught the firelight, promising a transformation that had been a long time coming.
"You’ve got to be kidding me. Decorate the whole thing?" Joe asked, already feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff.
"No, only the top half. The rest would be a waste," Frankie teased with a straight face.
Joe gave her a deadpan look. "Seriously?"
"No!" Frankie laughed. "We are decorating this thing top to bottom."
"I guess it could be worse," Joe sighed.
"Oh, don’t worry. When we’re done with the tree, we’re decorating the rest of the place," Frankie added cheerfully.
Joe's face fell. "Just got worse."
Frankie nudged him. "Oh, come on. When did you become such a humbug?"
"About the time you walked in with all this stuff," Joe shot back, eyeing the mountain of decorations.
Frankie softened, her playful tone fading. "Come on, you used to love Christmas."
Joe hesitated. "I did. I do. I don’t know. I guess when everyone stopped coming home, it lost its spark for me."
Frankie crossed her arms, staring at him thoughtfully. "That changes tonight. When’s the last time you had a tree?"
Joe rubbed the back of his neck. "Last time the boys were home."
Frankie’s eyes widened. "Joe. That was years ago."
"Yeah, it was just me, Granddad, and Abe. We’d celebrate together up at the lodge. Gloria would join us for dinner."
"She did?" Frankie asked, surprised.
"The years you weren’t here, anyway," Joe said, his voice quiet.
Frankie’s gaze softened. "I had no idea."
Joe shrugged, his eyes distant. "When you all left, everything changed here. It wasn’t the same."
"I’m starting to see that," Frankie whispered.
Before Joe could respond, there was a knock at the door. Frankie’s face lit up, and she dashed to answer it.
"Now what?" Joe asked, a sense of dread building.
"The rest of the surprise," Frankie said with a grin as she swung open the door.
Nick burst in first, balancing a tower of food boxes, followed by Chris, Gloria, Abe, Sam, and Devyn — all arms full of decorations, more food, and extra Santa hats. Joe stood wide-eyed in the doorway as the group flooded his cabin, filling it with the kind of easy laughter and chatter that had been missing for far too long. Supplies were dropped, hats were passed around, and suddenly, it was like a cheerful holiday brigade had overtaken his cabin.
He closed the door quietly but didn’t move, his eyes sweeping over the scene in front of him. The tree, the boxes, the people he cared about filling his cabin… all of it.
“Oh boy,” Joe murmured under his breath, feeling a mix of emotions he hadn’t expected.