Page 108 of Hero for the Holidays

Fia looked at him, her eyes wide, wild.

“Because you’re pretty badass. To be able to figure all those things out. I had it really easy for a long time, but things have been really hard the last couple of years. It makes me feel better. Knowing that I’m related to somebody who knew how to solve her problems. Even as young as you were.”

Fia’s gaze was watery now. “Thank you,” she said.

They reached the top of the mountain, where the trees had started to get substantial enough. They parked the truck and got out. He and Lila explored around the snowy area, looking for trees, while Fia hung back and set up the picnic in the bed of the truck. Though he had a feeling she was working to get her emotions straight. Hell, he was feeling a little wobbly himself. Lila had really seen Fia for what she was. Strong. Determined. Resilient. And that Lila saw those traits as things to emulate made him feel...proud of them both.

“What about this one?” Lila asked, standing in front of a bushy, misshapen beast that looked like the patriarch of the Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

“It’s lopsided,” he said.

“It’s imperfect, and I like it. It’s weird and unique, and I think it will be beautiful.” She leaned forward and gripped his arm, shaking it. “It’s us, Landry.”

She said it silly, but it still touched him. Deep in his soul. “Yes. It is.”

Fia came over just then. “What is it?”

“It’s the Gates-Sullivan-King tree,” said Landry, gesturing to the tree.

“Well, I love it,” said Fia. “Why don’t we eat first.”

They trundled back to the truck and got into the bed, where Fia had set out a blanket, hot chocolate and sandwiches.

They sat there in relative silence, with the cold air pressing in all around them and the snow making a cocoon around them.

The pine trees were capped with white, the mountains down below green.

“‘Have yourself a merry little Christmas,’” Fia started to sing.

He felt the corners of his mouth lift up. “‘Let your heart be light.’”

The three of them started singing together, their voices echoing around them. It was the most simple, glorious song he’d ever heard. The most perfect moment.

Landry had never given much thought to Christmas one way or the other, though Denver made a pretty big deal out of it because he had always tried to make life at King’s Crest better and more normal in the absence of their father. But nothing had ever been like this.

This simple carol, sung with his family.

His family.

After they finished, they got out of the truck and walked back over to the tree. Landry brandished his ax. “Get it, Landry!” Lila shouted.

Landry rolled his eyes, then started to cut down the tree.

“Very lumberjack,” said Fia.

“Stop objectifying me,” he said.

He turned around to look at her, and their eyes clashed. Heat flared between them, and he turned away again. Because this was supposed to be a wholesome family outing. Dammit. They were singing carols.

They got the tree chopped down and loaed into the back of the truck.

And began their journey down the mountain, singing “Jingle Bells,” and he tried to ignore all of the conflicting feelings in his chest. The deep emotion and the intensity, the heat that he felt when Fia looked at him.

They made it down to the house and carried the tree into the house and put it into its stand.

Fia got out all of her ornaments, and they began stringing lights and decorating, with Christmas music playing in the background. The music eventually got changed to Taylor Swift, which he insisted on singing, and loudly, because it horrified Lila.

They finished the tree, and Lila stood back, looking conflicted. “There is something I want to do,” she said.

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