Silent Night, Star-Lit Night (Second Chance at Star Inn)(24)

“But I should have come back more often.”

“You came now, in time to say good-bye.”

Tears streaked her cheeks, and one single tear snaked a path down Joe’s left cheek. “I’ve made a will, girly.”

“Grandpa, don’t.”

“It’s important.” He paused for a breath that wouldn’t come. His face reflected the internal struggle.

“Grandpa, I’ll read it later. And I’ll do exactly what it says, I promise.”

“Lord-a-mercy, I missed you.”

“I know. Me, too.”

“You promise me, you hear? When the time comes, I’ve made arrangements. I want you and this baby cared for.”

“Shh.” Mia leaned forward and hugged him again, then sat back and took his hand. “I promise. And you need to stop talking and rest, okay? I’ll sit right here and hold your hand.”

“You won’t let go?”

“I will not.”

Her words relaxed him. He sank back against the pillow. His breathing leveled. His eyes closed. And Mia sat by his side, holding his thin-skinned hand in hers. When he fell asleep, she looked up at Jed. “Go see your family. Calm down Uncle Pete. And if your mom baked any Christmas cookies, I’d love to have you stop by with some.”

“Better yet.” He squatted beside her. “When you leave here, come stay at my parents’ house. There’s plenty of room and there’s no reason for you to stay in a hotel, Mia. That would be silly.”

“Jed, I—”

He kissed her lightly. Sweetly. Tenderly. “Please?”

She sighed and smiled, then raised one hand to his face. “That would be really nice.”

He thought so, too. And maybe he thought that if she got a taste of what life was like surrounded by a loving family, she wouldn’t be in a hurry to leave.

He pocketed her keys and strode outside, determined to ignore her father or maybe hit him . . . but he was gone, with nothing but ash-strewn snow marking his presence.

Jed drove home, informed his mother that Mia might be coming to stay, changed, and went straight to the store.

Pete spotted him as he strode through the door. His uncle rolled Jed’s way, disgruntled as always. “You finally decided to come back to work? Is this the way you’re going to run the business when I’m gone? Run it right into the ground, most likely. No one leaves a retail store during Christmas week, and I don’t care what your mother said, she’s not running things around here. I am. And furthermore—”

Pete paused when Jed held up a hand. “Stop.”

“Don’t you tell me—”

“Uncle Pete.” He kept his voice calm, with just enough edge to make his point. “You need to get control of yourself. I’m not your underling, I’m your partner, and in case you’ve forgotten, there’s a lot at stake for us to get along.”

“Are you threatening me, Jed?” Pete didn’t look just angry. He looked downright furious.

Jed squatted low to even the playing field with his wheelchair-bound uncle. “I’m not about to spend any more time being yelled at or ridiculed by anyone. You stepped up when Dad passed away, and it should have been a good thing, but it’s not. You’re stubborn and antagonistic and you’re costing us business. Now either put a happy smile on your face and be nice, or retire. The other option is that Mom and I will sell our thirds of the business and the whole thing will go on the auction block. Starting today there will be no more yelling, cursing, or being downright ornery. And now, if you’ll excuse me.” He stood upright and faced the busy aisles. “I’ve got work to do.”

He didn’t stick around the office area to gauge Pete’s reaction.

He’d spoken his piece and stood his ground and probably should have done it two years before. He went through the remainder of the day helping customers. He filled cars with wreaths, packages, dog gifts. and more Carhartt products and farm-friendly toys than he could count, all the while wondering how Mia was doing.

He didn’t text her. He didn’t feel right intruding on this time with old Joe. And whatever her grandpa had put in his will, Jed hoped Mia stood to gain some leverage after Daniel’s dirty deal.

“Jed, have you seen Uncle Pete?” asked Cara, one of their unappreciated full-time employees. Pete wasn’t Cara’s uncle, but most of the staff referred to him that way.

“His van’s gone. Must have ducked out.”

“Do you think he’ll be back?”

Cara must have overheard their earlier exchange. Jed met her gaze and shrugged. “I’m not sure, but there’s a big difference between being a strong manager and being a jerk. I’m going for a middle ground.”

“Not for nothing, and not to get into the middle of family stuff, but you had two employees ready to turn in their notice on Christmas Eve. This might have tipped the scales your way. Nobody like to be berated.”

“I hope they stay,” he told her, but didn’t ask for details. “Whatever happens, I’d like my experienced staff to be on board, one hundred percent. I’ll text everyone that we’ll do a post-Christmas meeting when we re-open on the twenty-seventh.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

He called their payroll company and asked them to issue a hundred-dollar bonus to all part-time employees and a larger one to the four full-time employees. His father used to do Christmas bonuses. Uncle Pete had stopped that, and so much more.