Page 71 of The Scrooge Effect

“Of course it will! I just have to hook up the reindeer, and then we’ll be off on our way to get your hubby home for Christmas. And on the way, we’ll pass out some presents and make this a Christmas to remember. It’ll be totally awesome!”

I pointed at the sled, still trying to wrap my brain around what he was saying. “You think we’re taking that to Oklahoma?”

He looked at it, then back to me. “What? No good?”

“Fox…” I had nothing to say, so I turned on my heel and stomped out of the room. I couldn’t believe I’d actually thought he was going to help me.

“Is that a no on riding around town?” he called after me. “Harper!”

20

EDU

We were just about to touch down when I realized that I hadn’t contacted Harper yet.

“Shoot! She doesn’t know I’m alive!” I shouted, pulling out my phone.

“Relax. I called her,” Lock said, pulling my seat belt tighter.

“What are you doing?”

“Making sure you’re strapped in.”

“Why?”

“Scottie’s flying. You nearly died. Your wife was freaking out. Do you really need more reasons?”

I didn’t care. I was on top of the world. I had my life back, my kids were normal and happy, and I was no longer falling through doors and landing in alternate universes.

I stared out the window as we approached the landing strip on the far end of the OPS property that had just been added in the last year. It meant that I was that much closer to seeing my wife and kids.

“Man, this is gonna be the best Christmas ever,” I murmured. “Look, it’s starting to snow!”

“You hate snow,” Lock reminded me.

“Not this year. Ooh! I’m gonna need to get a few more decorations for the lawn. And you know, I really don’t have a nice enough tree. Those plastic ones are crap. I should get us a real tree!”

“Okay, you need to slow down a little. Alright? You just got out of the hospital. Maybe take a day to relax and⁠—”

“Relax? I don’t have time to relax! Christmas is two days away, and tomorrow is Christmas Eve. There’s no time to take it easy when there’s still so much to do!”

“Edu,” he said, grabbing my shoulders and turning me to face him. “Listen to me. You need to calm down. I know you’ve found yourself or something, but you can’t do everything in one night, okay? Just go home and see your wife. I’m sure that’s all she wants from you.”

I snorted at the ridiculousness of his suggestion. “Right. As if Christmas doesn’t matter. It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”

“It’s also one day away! Pull yourself together, man!” he said, striking me hard across the face. Sighing, he shook his head. “I’m sorry about that, but you were losing it.”

“I was excited. That’s hardly cause to hit me.”

“Well, maybe not, considering you probably have a concussion, but you’re freaking me out, okay?”

We touched down, and my seatbelt was off two seconds later. I climbed over Lock and ran for the door, lowering the steps as soon as the plane stopped.

“Thanks for the ride, Scottie!” Scottie yelled from the front.

Ignoring him, I ran down the steps and bypassed the waiting cars, wanting to feel the cold air in my lungs. That damn Christmas movie Harper always watched came to mind as I was running across the field to the houses.

“Merry Christmas, you brand new airport!” I waved at the plane, catching a glimpse of Lock staring at me like I was insane.