Page 75 of All I Want for Christmas
At that Max frowned at his father. “You’re lying.”
“I swear to you, it’s the truth. Maren and I had a partnership—both for the music and our family—but she was as free as I was to explore other options, if you know what I mean.”
“You really are something.” Max shook his head. “Why would you make this up now? For what purpose? YouwreckedMom, Dad. You took her career from her, then kept all the spotlight for yourself, then shit on your vows by flaunting all those other women on your tours.I saw you.I heard things.”
“I sure did all of that, Maxy, and I am not proud. But it was nothing she didn’t know about,” Holden replied. “There was no animosity between me and your mother—never was. Like I said, we were best friends. Right up to the end.”
Max stared at his father. A wave of sadness engulfed him, hearing all of this about his mom. He desperately wanted to believe his mother had been happy, doing precisely what she wanted to with her one precious life.
“I told you Miss Sadie reminds me of Maren. But when I see you two together, I also see a lot of me in you, Max.”
“That is not the compliment you think it is, Dad.”
Holden chuckled. “Son, you work so hard to prove to the world you’re nothing like your old man, but you truly aren’t anything like me, outside of how we look. You never were. You’re so much better than I ever was, Maximillian.”
Max’s breath caught as he worked to hold himself together.
“Now, here comes the advice. Take it or leave it, but I’m gonna give it,” Holden said. “You can love someone who isn’t perfect, and be deeply loved despite your own imperfections. You and Sadie may not always go together like peas and carrots, but that doesn’t mean y’all don’t have something worth fighting for.”
Max sighed deeply. “What am I supposed to do? I don’t know how to fix this, Dad. It’s too late.”
“Ah, it’s never too late, Maxy. All you gotta do is write her the best damn love song you can.”
Holden handed Max his notebook and pencil. “I know you need to get back to the studio, but why not sit a spell and write down what you’re feelin’?”
After Holden left, Max set the notebook to the side andpulled out his phone. First, he texted Bobbi, saying he was heading back to the studio shortly, and that she could count on him to see this through. Then he scrolled back through Bobbi’s many texts until he got to the video she had sent a few weeks before while he was at the cabin. Of Sadie and Max performing “All I Want for Christmas.” He pressed play.
26
Sadie
Nashville, Tennessee
December 23
As Sadie got out of the town carStarmakerhad sent, she saw a few of those rare Nashville snowflakes swirl above her head. The Grand Ole Opry was even more lit up than usual, with hundreds of strings of Christmas lights crisscrossing its façade, and a massive Christmas tree out front shining and shimmering with festive baubles on every branch. She felt hopeful for some Christmas magic—but when she saw Amalia and Bobbi standing at the entrance of the building, underneath the thickest cedar garland she had ever seen, Sadie knew from the tense expressions that Max wasn’t there yet. “He’ll be here,” was all Bobbi said before hurrying off.
Sadie’s heart sank all the way down to the toes of the soft suede cowboy boots she was wearing. Still, she reached up to touch the tiny gold shamrock nose stud her gran had given heras a Christmas gift the year before and forced herself to keep on believing a little luck and Christmas magic would come her way.
“Come on,” Amalia said, grabbing Sadie by the hand. “Now, listen to me, this sounds bad but we are going to take care of it.” Sadie’s heart sank even further, down to the Grand Ole Opry basement now, but she took a deep breath and listened to Amalia’s news. “Cruz is saying you came onto him and he turned you down—so you fired him.”
“What?!”
“I know. It’s gross. But Cruz can’t hurt you, okay? Right now, he’s insisting Johnny King is ready to go with what Cruz says is going to bethenext holiday classic—something called ‘Christmas Train’?” Sadie just rolled her eyes. “But I’ve already met with the rest of the producers. We have a contract—and no matter what Cruz says, the network’s top brass know the world wants to see Saxie and decide for themselves if what’s between you is real or not. The ratings are projected to be massive—and it has nothing to do with Johnny King.”
“Yes, but Max isn’t here.”
“He will be.”
“How can you be so sure?”
For a moment, Sadie was sure she saw Amalia’s confident expression falter—but then she patted Sadie on the back. “Don’t be worrying about things you can’t control, Sadie,” was all she said. And Sadie couldn’t help but smile because this was just the kind of advice Gran would have given her right then.
—
When they reached her dressing room, they both stopped short. “Drink that in,” Amalia said. Sadie’s name wason a plaque, surrounded by lights. Her breath caught as she looked up.
“Wow.”
