“And it’s not too cold,” Cara agrees. “It’s just perfect.”

“Keep an eye on the sky,” I warn everyone. “Wait. I’m gonna download that Santa tracker app on my phone.”

I pull my phone from my pocket to download the app and see that I’ve missed a text.

“Shit,” I whisper.

“What’s wrong?” Zack asks.

I look up into his brown gaze and then shake my head and look over at my brother, who is also watching me. “Did you check your phone?”

He pulls his phone out of his pocket, frowning down at it. He swears under his breath, kisses a troubled Lo on the cheek, then stands and pulls me into a hug.

“It’s okay, princess.”

“I don’t ever want to hear from her, Ty. She knows that.”

He drags his hand up and down my back soothingly, murmuring in my ear. “Just delete it and go about your holiday.”

“What is going on?” Zack demands.

“It’s my mom,” I reply softly and glance over at Cara. “She texted.”

“What did she say?” Cara asks quietly.

“Just merry Christmas,” I mumble. And that she’s sure to remind us that she’s spending it without my dad because we killed him. “I don’t like hearing from her.”

“It’s okay,” Seth speaks up and surprises me by rubbing my shoulder. “I don’t like hearing from my mom either.”

We all still and watch Seth carefully.

“When did you last hear from her?” I ask calmly.

“Today.”

“What the—” Zack begins, but I hold my hand up to stop him.

“Did she call you?”

“Yeah, she called my cell phone.” He nibbles his s’more as though it’s no big deal at all. “She said merry Christmas.”

“I wonder how she got your number.”

“Jill should have been a lawyer,” Ty mutters to Lo.

“She said the school gave it to her.” Seth shrugs and then frowns.

“Did she say anything else?” I ask. Zack has begun pacing behind us in the trampled snow. Jeff and Josh both look like they’re ready to punch someone out and Nancy is wringing her hands in agitation.

Seth nods uncertainly and glances over at me. “But I’m not supposed to say.”

“It’s okay.” I rub his back and shake my head at Zack when he opens his mouth. “You know you can tell us anything, Seth.”

“She said she might make a trip up here from Vegas soon to see me.”

“Oh.” I raise my eyebrows as though I’m surprised. “She’s living in Vegas, huh?”

“I guess.” He scowls. “I told her not to come here.”

I nod thoughtfully. “That was probably a good idea. Will you do me a favor?”

“Sure.”

“If she calls again, please tell your dad right away, okay? She’s not supposed to be calling you.”

“Oh.” He looks back at Zack and frowns. “I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t know.”

“It’s not your fault, buddy.” Zack ruffles his hair and smiles reassuringly. “Just let me know next time, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Stick a marshmallow on my stick, will ya?” Lo asks Seth with a grin.

Everyone exchanges looks, and I know there will be a discussion about Kensie after Seth goes to bed. If that woman so much as steps foot on this property, I’ll beat the crap out of her myself.

“I wish we could have piped Christmas music out here,” Nancy murmurs softly as she snuggles into her husband’s side.

“Here!” I wake my phone up and pull up Pandora, set it to a classic Christmas music station, and turn the volume up before setting it in the cup holder of my camping chair. “There you go, Mama King.”

“Thank you, sweet girl.” Nancy sighs happily as “O Holy Night” plays sweetly around us. Zack pulls me in for a snuggle, tucking me against his chest. Lo and Ty have their heads together, whispering intimately, while Josh and Cara lean against each other, watching the fire.

Thor is lying in a sugar coma on a blanket in the snow and Seth is leaning against him, looking at his phone.

“Are you texting someone?” Zack asks him.

“No, I’m reading,” he replies.

I smile to myself and wink at Nancy, who catches my eye.

“I don’t see Santa yet.” I lean back to look up at the sky that has magically cleared, putting on a grand display of stars.

“I think he hits us up last, on his way back up to the North Pole,” Jeff replies with a smile.

“That makes sense.” I nod. “Seth, you still have to put the angel on the tree.”

“I won’t forget,” he answers absentmindedly.

“I think we’re going to head up to bed,” Ty announces and pulls Lo to her feet.

“Sorry guys,” she says with a yawn. “I’ve just been extra sleepy lately.”

“Working long hours?” I ask with a frown, worried about my friend.

“Yeah.” She smiles softly and glances up at Ty, and I have a feeling that work’s not the reason she’s tired at all.

“Us too,” Josh announces as he and Cara climb out of their chairs and gather their garbage to carry in with them.

“Come on, Seth, let’s go put that angel on the tree.” Nancy and Jeff stand and motion for a sleepy Seth and Thor to join them.