A Christmas to Cherish (A Festive Christmas #4)

Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

H enry leaned back in his swivel chair and ran a hand through his thinning hair. “It’s worth how much again?”

He cradled the phone between his neck and shoulders and glanced over at Emma, who was organizing his bookshelves and humming to herself. She held a few hardbacks in her hand, pristine and embossed on the back, and twisted to face him. The smile fell from her face as she rushed over and took the phone out of his hand. After hanging up, she helped her dad sit up straighter and reached for the bottle of water on his desk.

Emma made him take a few sips of water before letting him speak. “I’m fine. It’s just a lot more money than I was expecting.”

Emma knelt in front of him and frowned. “Maybe that’s a little too much excitement for you.”

“They’re saying they want to pay to have the artifact on display at the Boston Research Institute. Can you imagine that?”

Emma yanked on the nearest drawer and pulled out the case labeled with the days of the week. “I thought we agreed you were going to take it easy while you recover. You need to be taking your meds more regularly.”

Henry waved her comment away. “I was going to take them later.”

At noon on the dot, the door to the study flew open, and Marie came in with a tray of fruit cake and hot chocolate. She made Henry eat a few bites in spite of his protests, and then, he washed his medicine down with the hot chocolate. After he was done, Marie wrapped her arms around him for a hug, and he patted her behind.

Laughing, she swatted his hand away and ambled off, pausing in the doorway to give them both a bright smile. “I’ve got to go to a meeting at the hospital. Will you two be all right?”

Emma rose to her feet and smiled. “Don’t worry, Mom. We’ll be just fine.”

Marie pulled the door shut behind her, plunging them into silence. Emma turned to her father and raised an eyebrow. “We’re not done talking about your health.”

Henry had crumbs on his sweater and the front of his jeans. “I’m fine, sweetheart. There’s nothing to worry about. You being here has already made me better.”

Emma sighed. “While I’d love to take credit for that, you and I both know it has nothing to do with me. I’m not that good.”

Henry stopped eating and looked at her. “You’re right. You’re better than whatever the doctors prescribed.”

Emma stepped out from behind the desk and sat down on one of the leather armchairs. “We agreed that while we work on the research, you’re still going to take care of yourself.”

Henry blew out a breath and leaned back in his chair. “You’re right. I’m just so excited. I can fund an astronomy scholarship, just like Dad always wanted.”

Emma smiled. “You might want to pay off the bank first, you know, because of the foreclosure.”

Henry made a face as he waved her comment away. “I’ll get around to that.”

“You’ll do that first,” Emma argued, narrowing her eyes at him. “You’re not going to be of any use to them if you don’t have a home.”

“They’re already interested in the research we’re working on, said your grandfather’s notes are revolutionary. I think a few of them even recognized his name.”

Emma linked her fingers together and sat back. “Good. I had no idea Grandpa was so famous.”

Or that his name was revered in certain circles.

Since starting their joint project two days ago, it had been a whirlwind of phone calls and hours spent scouring the internet for information. Late into the night, the two of them sat up, laughing, talking, and dreaming until Marie came in to drag them both back upstairs. In bed, Emma would lay awake and imagine all of the good they were going to do—how they were going to change the face of the scientific community.

It wasn’t what she’d come to Rockport in search of.

Not even close.

But something about it felt right.

For the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel like a guest in the Sullivan house.

Instead, it felt like her eyes were finally opening to the possibilities and all of the ways she could fit in and be helpful, starting with her dad’s research. When her mind wasn’t racing and spinning, Emma carved out time to work on her final case, much to the dismay of her bosses at the firm. While they hadn’t seemed surprised by the news, she’d heard the hint of contempt and judgment in their tone.

Rockport was a step back career-wise, and no amount of dressing it up would change that.

But Emma wasn’t thinking of her career or the optics or the next best move.

She wasn’t trying to stay several steps ahead of the game.

With a smile, Emma drew her father to his feet and hugged him. He was reluctant at first, then patted her back, and the smile was evident in his voice. “What’s all this for?”

“Let’s go ice-skating like we used to do when I was little. Remember how you used to tell me it would get those creative juices flowing?”

Henry laughed and pulled back. “What happened to taking it easy?”

Emma looped her arm through his and pulled him toward the door. “I’ll keep an eye on you. Come on, it’s not cold today. It’s a shame to waste this weather sitting inside.”

Henry smiled as he bundled up in his puffer jacket and boots.

She helped him wrap the scarf around his neck and handed him his gloves. In the car, the two of them sang along to Christmas songs with the windows rolled down. At the park on High Street, Emma pulled up into an empty spot and ran around to help her father out. After securing a pair of skates for each of them, Emma led her dad to the nearest bench.

He was huffing and grunting at the laces when she saw Jack and Derek near the railings, deep in the throes of a conversation. Henry put his legs down and followed her gaze. “So, I take it we’ll be seeing a lot more of Jack, huh?”

Emma rolled her eyes and stood to hold out her hand. “I think you already know the answer to that.”

Henry chuckled and draped an arm around her shoulders. “I’ve still got to ask. Just because you’re not my little girl anymore doesn’t mean I can’t still care.”

Emma pushed the gate open and paused to help Henry step onto the ice.

After almost falling a few times, they managed to find the right balance and began to move with Emma’s arm around his waist, his arm draped over her shoulders. A cold breeze whipped through her hair, making her eyes water. She smiled and used her free hand to pat her head and adjust the hat. Then, she leaned into her father, the warm smell of sandalwood washing over her.

It felt like she was a little girl again.

She half-expected her father to hoist her over his shoulders and point out the differently shaped clouds above them.

When she turned to her father, he was looking at his feet, a furrow between his brows. His movements were slower and much more strained, but he was just as determined and enthusiastic as ever.

Emma was suddenly overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude for the second chance they were getting, for the chance to reconnect with her parents, and for the opportunity to find her way back to the person she wanted to be. While she knew it would be a while before the Boston chapter of her life was completely over, it was a relief to know which path lay ahead of her.

Her hometown was brimming with possibilities and magic, just like it always was.

As if it had been waiting for her to come back and reclaim it all those years.

Henry began to sweat as they moved in slow circles, many of the other skaters darting past them. “Maybe I should just sit down. You can have fun without me.”

“Dad, don’t be ridiculous. I’m not doing this without you. I’m here so we can have fun together.” Emma tightened the grip around his waist and helped him straighten his back. “Now, come on. What happened to the Sullivan fighting spirit?”

“What Sullivan fighting spirit?”

“Remember what you used to tell me when I was little when you brought me out here?”

Henry scrunched up his nose and scratched his chin. “I said a lot of things when you were little.”

Emma laughed and patted his back. “I don’t remember the exact words, but it was something about how we Sullivans always find a way to make things work. No matter how long it takes.”

Henry shivered when another cold gust blew past. “That sounds very wise. What else did I say?”

“Are you fishing for compliments?”

“If I said I was, would that change anything?”

Emma steered them toward the railing and paused to help him secure his footing. “Not really. I loved going on adventures with you and listening to your stories.”

Henry twisted to face her, and his easy smile vanished. “I’m sorry you felt like you had to keep Jules away.”

Emma linked her fingers together and cleared her throat. “It wasn’t that I wanted to keep her away.”

She’d just told herself it was for the best.

She’d been afraid that they’d only ever look at her and see Andrew.

Given how dismissive they’d been of him, she hadn’t wanted the same fate for her daughter, not after watching Andrew struggle and chase after their approval for years.

“I know that we’re to blame for that,” Henry said in a low voice. “If we hadn’t been so hard on Andrew… I know we weren’t fair to him. We should’ve given him a proper chance, especially after that disastrous last visit. We said some things we shouldn’t have said. I know your mom already talked to you about this, but I wanted a chance to apologize too.”

“I know you were just trying to look out for me, Dad. The truth is that even though I didn’t have the most normal childhood, I know you did your best to make it stable. The rest was out of your hands.”

Henry squeezed her hands. “It was out of your mom’s hands too. She did her best to shield you from the spotlight, but I think she was a little distracted by all of the attention and fame. I hate that it took her stepping away to finally get it, but at least she did.”

Emma leaned into his side and placed her head in the crook of his neck. “You did a great thing, Dad. I don’t know if anyone’s told you.”

Henry shrugged and stroked her hair. “I did what any husband would’ve done.”

Emma shook her head and glanced up at him. “No, you did what a good husband would’ve done, but not many men would’ve stepped up like that. Especially with how strained things were between the two of you. I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

She had missed out on so much, too much, but she was never making that mistake again.

Henry dropped a kiss on top of her head and exhaled. “The important thing is that we’re back together. It doesn’t matter how long it took us to get here or what we had to go through. As long as we have each other.”

Emma felt a swell of emotion rise within her—love, gratitude, wonder, and hope, underneath it all, always pulsing beneath the surface.

Hope for the future laid out before them, the kind she’d dared to only dream about.

Before she reached out to take it, she knew she had one more thing to do.

Her happiness meant nothing if she couldn’t help Jules overcome what obstacles lay in her path, and she was determined to make sure all of the Sullivans got their happy endings.

No matter how long it took.