“That the reason she’s gone into Christmas overdrive?” Clint asked, looking over at his younger brother.
Kent took a pull of his beer then nodded. “Yeah. That, and she feels guilty about being so happy. Because she’s alive and happy and her brother is dead.”
Clint whistled.
“Not like Max wasn’t a shit at Christmas. The few times Abby tried putting up a tree and buying gifts he’d usually turn up and steal the gifts, hock them off.”
“Asshole,” Jed muttered.
That seemed to be the extent he had to offer, but Bear figured that word said it all.
“Whatcha going to do?” Clint asked.
“Give her a Christmas to remember. And then do the same next year and the one after that. Try to help her understand that even though Max was a shithead, we don’t have to forget him. I’m getting her to write something about him every day in her notebook. Probably should do that about her nana too. Then we can read through it on Christmas night. Try to remember those who have passed. Asshole or not.”
“Good plan,” Bear said.
Kent leaned forward. “Had another idea, wish I’d thought of it earlier ‘cause I would have had something made up. Starting the day after tomorrow, every day until Christmas Eve, I’m going to write her out a little task or leave her a gift each morning. Almost like a big Little girl’s advent calendar to count down to Christmas. Some days the task will be pleasant, others it might be less so.”
Now that sounded interesting.
“Good way of keeping her mind off Max.” Clint grinned. “I like it.”
Bear saw Jed nodding as well. Bear liked the idea even more. With all this wedding stuff going on, not to mention Christmas coming up fast, it felt like some days he barely connected with Ellie.
“Ellie’s parents called her,” he blurted out.
“What?” Clint asked with a scowl. “What the fuck are they thinking?”
Bear shook his head. “I confiscated her phone last night and sent her to bed early so she got a good sleep before tonight. They rang after she’d fallen asleep. I saw who it was and answered it. They’re upset because they weren’t invited to the wedding. They started to get mad, and I told them I’d speak to Ellie and get back to them. And not to call again until we got in contact with them. Wanted to tell them to go fuck themselves. Can’t make that decision for Ellie, though.”
“How did they even find out about the wedding?” Kent asked.
Bear shrugged. “I’m guessing maybe someone in Russell told them. Someone who knew them through Ellie’s aunt.”
“Seriously?” Clint scowled. “They really expected you guys would invite them after the way they treated Ellie? After having nothing to do with her for a year, now they want to be back in her life?”
“You think there’s some reason for it?” Kent asked. “Something they want?”
“Got to be,” Bear stated. “Don’t know what, though.”
Whatever their reason for calling, he doubted it was because they’d seen the error of their ways and decided to reconnect with their daughter.
“You don’t think they’ll turn up to the wedding, do you?” Clint asked.
“Don’t know.” But it was worrying him. And he was trying to keep Ellie from seeing that concern. She had enough going on. “I need to talk to her.”
“Let me check into them first,” Kent said. “I’ll have Corbin run some checks.”
“Appreciate that,” Bear told him.
“Anything, man, you know that.”
Another squeal had the four of them smiling.
“So, doesn’t look like I’m getting much sleep tonight,” Clint grumbled. “And you sad bastards don’t seem in any rush to get home. What do ya say to a game of poker?”
“I’m in,” Kent said.