Luke removed his headphones. “Are you coming to Grandma’s house?”

Damon looked into his son’s hopeful eyes. “If your mama lets me.”

Luke turned to Cassandra. “Can the shiny man come?”

Cassandra looked trapped between anger, terror, and something softer she didn’t want Damon to see. Finally she whispered, “For dinner.”

Damon’s phone connected as the wheels struck the runway. Three messages appeared at once, all from Nora. Where are you? The Merritt family is on the way.

Damon, we cannot lose this deal because you are emotional on Christmas Eve.