Also, I wish for a puppy that doesn't make me sneeze.
The innocence of the wish hit him like a hard punch to the gut. He read the next snowflake.
I wish my mom didn’t have to worry about her job. I wish that she could be happy again.
Also, I wish for a unicorn.
That one was marked with Molly’s name.
I wish for world peace. I wish there were no more bad guys.
Also, I wish for a brother.
Nathan was starting to see the pattern. Three wishes.
I wish my sister didn’t bite so much. I wish I had a dog.
Also, I wish for a new sled.
I wish my parents didn’t fight about moving. I don’t want a new house.
Also, I don’t want socks this year.
The more snowflakes he read, the more he saw the wishes echo one another. The kids didn’t want to move. They liked their town. They liked their homes.
He couldn’t blame them. He liked it here too.
I wish that Dad’s company hadn’t been bought. I wish I could buy it so we could stay here.
Also, I wish for more Legos.
The thought from earlier popped into his head. What if he stopped the move? What if he kept ECT here?
Would it really be that expensive? How much would he really lose?
And, the question that shocked him the most, did he even care that it would cost him money?
Nathan stared at the snowflakes. He read and reread the messy handwriting. He knew what each child he’d met today wanted for Christmas or whatever holiday they celebrated at home.
For the first time, the consequences of moving the company had faces. He wasn’t just making money. He was changing these kids’ lives. And for what?
Money.
Because money was what mattered.
Nathan could hear his father voice repeat the mantra in his head. Money is what matters. Money is what matters.
He wasn't sure that it was the only thing that mattered, though.
He needed more information. He called Lucy.
“What’s up boss-man?” the familiar voice asked after the first ring. “You ready to come home yet?”
“No, actually. I want you to send me the financials on ECT.”
“Which ones?” Lucy asked. He could hear her typing in the background.
“All of them. I want to see if it really is the best option to move this company to California. They have a lot of things going for them here that we can’t replicate,” Nathan explained.