On my way to Lee’s house, I stop by Henry’s house to give him instructions for the next week. There’s no way I can convince Lee to stay today. First, I have to figure out what happened on Saturday. Then, I have to convince her to stay with me. Third, I need to do all this away from our family.

When I arrive home, Bishop and Lee are in the living room.

“Sorry for arriving so late,” I apologize shedding off my coat.

It’s cold outside. The national weather service reported a freeze warning. Sometimes they are wrong, but if the humidity lingering in the cold air is any indication, we’re going to have a bigger storm than they’re predicting.

That translates into revenue for everyone in town. The reservations at the ski resort are going to triple by Wednesday. The same will happen with the Bed & Breakfast. My biggest worry is Lee who wants to drive to Manhattan tomorrow morning.

“It took you a long time.” Bishop gives me a disapproving look. “Were you two fooling around with the guests?”

I sigh, seriously does he have to bring that up in front of his sister?

“Of course not, I was caught up in a meeting.”

Lee frowns and stares at me for a long time. It’s on the tip of her tongue to ask what kind of meeting, but she just says, “It’s okay, Cassie’s already in bed.”

“Thank you, what was going on with her earlier today?”

Lee shrugs.

She doesn’t respond and turns her attention to Bishop. “Are you ready to go?”

Hops nods, glaring at me.

What the fuck did I do to him?

“At what time are you planning on leaving tomorrow, Lee?” I ask as she puts on her snow boots.

“Around five in the morning,” she answers looking around for her hat. “If Cassie needs anything call Dad or my brothers.”

I nod and go to my room for the hat she forgot last week.

“Here.” I put it on her and caress her delicate cheek with the back of my hand. “I’m sure the other hat one will turn up later this week.”

“Cassie might not have school tomorrow,” Lee continues, stepping away from me. “Check with Dad or Hops if you need help.”

“Please, don’t worry about it. I have it covered. Thank you for today.”

“Any time.”

“Drive her carefully, Bishop,” I request as they climb in his truck.

I go to Cassie’s room to check on her. She’s not in bed, but inside her tent with a book and her flashlight.

“Shouldn’t you be in bed, young lady?” I try to feign anger, but I love when she hides in her secret place to read.

“Why is Lee leaving town?” She glares at me.

“Where did you hear that?” I sigh.

I’m not ready for this conversation.

“Grampa Harry and Uncle Hops were talking about it,” she explains. “I don’t want her to go.”

“It’s just an interview,” I say, trying to keep things real but not giving her any hopes, yet.

“I know, with the baby hospital,” she says in a grown-up tone.

I blink twice and stare at Cassie. “What do you mean?”

“Uncle Hops said that she was going to buy guy’s junk and have a baby in New York,” she explains and lifts her hands while shrugging. “What’s guy’s junk?”

Fucking Bishop, how many times do we need to tell him to be careful of what he says around Cassie?

“I’m sure he didn’t mean that,” I mutter, astonished by the news.

My mind works hard trying to catch up with everything that’s been happening this weekend. And suddenly, it freezes, and I just can’t think anymore. Lee mentioned a family. A guy, kids, and a home.

Why would she just plan on getting pregnant?

“Then what did they mean?” Cassie stares at me with a challenging look.

Her hearing is perfect as well as her comprehension. She listens to every conversation and learns too fast. I don’t want her to learn yet what’s “guy’s junk.” Certainly, when she learns, I want her to know the right words. Not Bishop’s version.

“Why don’t we ask Lee the next time you see her,” I offer.

“That won’t be until next Saturday. She’s going to be leaving for a week.” Her lower lip quivers when she says, “Dad, can we convince her to stay?”

“I can try.” I play it down. “You have to go to bed.”

“Grandpa Harry said that there’s not going to be any school tomorrow,” she protests. “He knows a lot about the weather.”

Steve shouldn’t have mentioned the weather to Cassie. He’ll have to deal with the sleepy, grumpy kid tomorrow.

“We’re not sure, sweetie, you have to go to bed.” I don’t budge.

She rolls her eyes and finally walks out of the tent and climbs onto her bed.

“Maybe we can buy a big house,” she suggests. “Lee can live with us.”

Just great, she’s already planning our future. I can’t even think how I’m going to convince Lee to let me take her on a date.

Cassie presses her lips together and moves her mouth from one side to the other. “Byron can sleep with me every night.”

There’s that little bonus to her plan, she’s getting a pet too.

“I heard Uncle Hops say that she wants a home and a family,” she continues.

At least now I understand why Cassie has been upset all day. She overheard that Knightly might leave Kentbury and wants me to fix it.

“Lee is our family, isn’t she, Dad?” she asks with hopeful eyes. “You always say that. We can all live together.” Then, she gives me a mischievous smile. “You two can have a baby. Remember what you told me?”

I hold my breath because I just can’t with this kid and her ideas.

“When a mom and a dad love each other, they make babies. You love Lee, don’t you? She’s our Lee,” she continues.

This kid is on a roll.

“And if she’s a mom,” she pauses looking at me seriously. “Well, she can be my mom too.”

She gives me a sharp nod and smiles widely. It’s like she solved the crisis. She stopped the end of the world.

“That’s what I’m going to ask Santa for. To keep Lee with us and make her my mom.”

I grab one of the frames that she has on her nightstand. It’s a picture of Lee holding Cassie when she was only a month old. She stands right next to the Christmas tree, at her father’s house. The day my daughter came into our lives, Lee didn’t just welcome her, she loved her from the first moment she held her.

“Let me worry about that, okay?” I kiss her forehead. “Your job this week is to be on your best behavior. Promise?”

She pushes herself up and jumps into my arms, hugging my neck. “I promise, but please, don’t let her go. Santa doesn’t always bring me what I want, I trust you more.”