Chapter 19 - The Approach of Winter Again
The months rolled forward with the quiet inevitability of changing seasons. Spring melted into the bright, humid warmth of a Chicago summer, which eventually gave way to the crisp, golden brilliance of autumn. The leaves along Lake Michigan turned deep shades of amber and crimson, and the first sharp chill of November began to hint at the return of winter.
With the changing season came the inevitable recurrence of holiday planning. One afternoon in late November, while reviewing a quarterly compliance audit in my office, Elena placed a fresh calendar on my desk with a raised eyebrow.
"Holiday schedule, Arthur," she said, leaning against the doorframe. "Board meetings wrap up on December twentieth. The executive retreat in Aspen is scheduled for the first week of January. What are your plans for Christmas this year?"
I looked up from my monitor, spinning my pen between my fingers. Last Christmas was a catastrophe that had nearly destroyed what little was left of my family fabric. This Christmas was shaping up to be entirely different.
"I'm staying right here in Chicago," I said simply. "Just me and Sophie."
Elena smiled faintly. "No family gatherings at the lake house?"
"No," I replied, a slight smirk touching my lips. "The lake house is sold, remember? The new owners are currently turning it into a year-round bed-and-breakfast."
"Right. My apologies," she said, chuckling softly. "Well, if you change your mind and decide you want to escape to a luxury chalet in the Swiss Alps, the corporate jet is at your disposal."
"I appreciate it, Elena, but luxury chalets are overrated," I said, looking out the window at the gray expanse of Lake Michigan. "Real peace doesn't require a five-star resort."
Later that evening, as I drove back to the penthouse through the evening rush hour, my phone rang via the car’s Bluetooth system. The caller ID displayed my father’s number from San Antonio.
I tapped the steering wheel control to answer. "Hey, Dad. Everything okay?"
"Everything is great, Arthur," his voice came through the speakers, warm and steady. "I'm actually calling to ask you a question—and before you say no, hear me out."
May you like
"Shoot."
"Your mother and I were wondering... since Marcus and Chloe are spending the holidays with Chloe’s family in Dallas this year, and we’ve been working hard on getting our lives back in order... would it be all right if we came up to Chicago for a few days around Christmas? Not to stay in the penthouse—we've booked a nice little hotel three blocks away. Just... to spend a day with you and Sophie. If you're comfortable with it, of course."
