LITMIR.BIZ

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all the way.

      Three hours later, with two dogs that smelled like dessert, a fifteen-foot blue spruce strapped to the top of the Hummer, and six hundred dollars’ worth of decorations, Max drove his new vehicle up the winding road heading for home.

      Home. How strange it sounded to refer to his log cabin as home. He’d been living there for two years and never once thought of the place as anything other than a place to sleep, eat, shower, and drink. Funny, he hadn’t even thought of taking a drink since Grace landed on his doorstep.

      “That’s a good thing, right, guys?” Max asked the two dogs.

      “Woof, woof.”

      Max let the dogs out and unloaded the Hummer. Once inside, he put the stand together, wrestled with the tree until he got it in the stand, then filled the stand with water and the package of stuff they’d given him to help the tree stay fresh longer. Both dogs barked at the front door.

      “I’m having so much fun I forgot all about you guys.” Max stood aside as the two leapt through the door. Both cocked their heads to the side when they saw the giant tree in the center of the den. To prove they were still in control, both Huskies trotted over to the tree, where they lifted their hind legs and proceeded to piss all over it.

      Max stared at the pair, shocked by their actions, then he started to laugh. He laughed so hard his sides hurt, and his eyes filled with tears.

      “I take it you guys don’t like the tree. Too bad ’cause it’s staying. If you want to pee on it, be my guest, but you’d better not mess with the decorations. Or else.”

      “Woof! Woof!”

      Max strung the multicolored lights on the tree, then one by one he carefully placed the ornaments on the branches. Ice-D and Cliff were mesmerized when he turned all the room lights off and plugged in the tree lights. The giant log cabin instantly became a home. To honor the woman who’d been his wife, he’d bought a silver star and placed it on the front of the tree where he could see it. To honor the woman who’d given him his life back, he carefully placed a crystal snow angel next to the star.

      Max stepped back to admire his handiwork. He gave a long whistle as he stared at his tree. This was a time for new beginnings, a time to start fresh. Kayla would want this for him, but more important, now he wanted it for himself.

      It was about time he gave old Bryce a run for his money.

      Chapter 11

      Christmas Eve, 2008

      Ten Minutes before Midnight

      Grace had just turned off her bedroom light when she heard the doorbell ring. She dressed quickly in jeans and a T-shirt before quietly making her way downstairs. Thankful she had purchased two turkeys and a ham at the butcher shop that afternoon, she wondered how many more would join her for Christmas dinner.

      Grace carefully punched in the numbers on the alarm panel before peering through a small hole at the top of the door. When she didn’t see anyone, she opened her front door to see who was out there. Sometimes the women were afraid when they arrived. Grace understood this as she stepped out onto the porch in the frigid night air.

      “Hello,” she called. “It’s okay. There’s nothing to be afraid of.” She waited a minute or so to see if anyone materialized from either side of the long porch that wrapped around the perimeter of the old house.

      Wrapping her arms around her for warmth, she waited another minute before calling out again. “Is anyone there?” She didn’t like this. Something wasn’t right. Grace was about to step inside and call her contact at the police station when she heard someone call her name.

      “Who’s there?”

      A large figure stepped out from behind the shadows of tall pine trees grouped in a corner on the side of the house. Fearing this was an angry husband or boyfriend Grace stood next to the front door with her completely charged cell phone in her hand. “I’m going to count to three. If you don’t show yourself, I’m calling the police. One. Two—”

      “It’s me. Please don’t call the police.”

      Grace wasn’t sure what was worse; being surprised by an angry man looking to beat his wife or an idiot who didn’t have any social graces.

      “Max Jorgenson, what are you doing here? Furthermore, how on earth did you find me?” Grace’s hands shook, and her heart beat so fast she feared it would wear out before she had a chance to calm herself.

      He stepped away from the shadows. The light coming from inside the house outlined his large frame. “Can I come inside? It’s cold out here, plus I’m lost.”

      Grace smiled, glad for the darkness. “I suppose I owe you this. Tell me you’re not running from some crazed girlfriend before I let you inside,” Grace joked.

      He stepped onto the porch, then followed her to the kitchen.

      Grace turned the kitchen lights on, pointed to a chair. “Sit.”

      Max obeyed.

      “I’m going to make a pot of tea. I hope by the time it’s ready you have a good explanation for coming all the way out here just to scare me half to death.” Grace was as good as her word. She filled two mugs with tap water, nuked them for three minutes, dunked a tea bag in each one, grabbed sugar and cream from the fridge.

      “Okay, tell me why you’re here.” She glanced at the clock on the microwave. “Do you realize it’s officially Christmas? I can’t wait to see…never mind. Just tell me why you’re here. And it better be good.”

      Max smiled at her—a smile that actually reached his eyes. “This is probably the most outrageous thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

      “It’s not, trust me. I’ve seen your Alpine, downhill skiing.”

      Max grinned. “Pretty wild, huh?”

      “Bryce appreciates it much more than I do.”

      Max clammed up. “Maybe coming here was a mistake. This…Bryce, I know it’s none of my business, and you can tell me that, but before you do, there’s something I need to say. Then if you still want me to leave, I will. No questions asked.”

      “That’s fair enough. Say what you came to say.” Grace took a deep breath trying to calm the erratic beating of her heart.

      “Two years ago my wife was killed in the line of duty. She was a police officer, and she truly loved her work. She and her partner were called to the scene of a domestic dispute. The man had just beaten his wife and two-year-old daughter. When Kayla and her partner arrived at the house, the guy threatened to kill the child if they didn’t back off. Kayla’s partner Paul radioed in asking for a hostage negotiator. Knowing it would take time before they could get to the scene, Kayla spoke with the man, asking him to let the child go. She offered to exchange herself for the child. Apparently the deranged guy liked the idea of holding a female cop hostage. But when Kayla approached him, he must’ve changed his mind, something happened to scare him, I don’t know, and her partner didn’t either. Whatever the reason, he changed his mind. He shot Kayla twice in the chest, then put the gun in his mouth and shot himself. But at least the wife and child were safe. Paramedics got Kayla to the hospital, they even sent a patrol car to bring me to the hospital. By the time I got there, it was too late. She died, and when she died, everything in me died, too. I stopped eating, stopped socializing, I stopped everything. Then I started to drink. It never got out of hand, but it could have.” Max watched her to see her reaction.

      “I remember now when that was on the news. I am so sorry, Max. I don’t know what to say, or what it has to do with me.”

      “You’ll think I’m crazy when I tell you.”

      Grace laughed. “No more so than I do right now. Go on.” She was used to listening to people. It’s what she did.

      “When you and the girls showed up on my doorstep the other night,

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