Upon a Midnight Clear (Legend, Colorado 2)

"I see," he said quietly. He shook his head. "I thought… after last night… I…" He paused searching for the right words as his eyes locked with hers. "I thought I had found the person I wanted to share my life with. Was I wrong?"

Kim glanced away.

"Kim, don't do this just because you're frightened. We can slow things down… take time to get to know each other," he said quietly, putting his hand on top of hers.

"Last night was a mistake," she said. "We're opposites, Tony. We had a good time, but it's not going to go any further than that."

Tony slowly withdrew his hand. "I know that you're going through a tough time right now…" he began.

"I'm sorry," she said definitively. "My mind is made up."

Tony looked into her eyes. It was obvious that there was no reasoning with her. At least not tonight.

He stood up. "All right, Kim. I… well…" He shrugged. "You know where to reach me if you change your mind," he said, still shell-shocked by the sudden turn of events.

She glanced away, not bothering to answer.

Her father opened his bloodshot eyes. "Kim?" he murmured.

"Hi, Dad," Kim said, smiling.

"I'm sorry… so sorry…"

She squeezed his hand. "I am, too. It was silly."

"I thought… I thought you were going to go back to Florida." His voice was thick and slow, but Kim could still detect the fear in his words.

"No, Dad. No. I was just angry. I'm sorry. I'm going to stay here and help you. We're going to spend Christmas together. Just you and me."

"Tony…" he began weakly.

She raised her hand as if to brush away his comment "It's over. It was never any big deal, anyway. My focus is getting you well enough to come home for Christmas."

Her father closed his eyes as a mixture of sadness and guilt washed over him. His daughter had been kind enough to rush to his side when he needed her, and he had repaid that kindness by criticizing her choice in men as though she were a mere child. When he awakened after his surgery and saw her by his side, he had promised himself that he would try to make up for years of bad parenting. He would attempt to be the father he knew she always wished she had. Instead he had disappointed her—once again. "I'm sorry for what I said about Tony. I wasn't being fair," he mumbled weakly.

"Dad," she said patiently. "It's over. Tony wasn't right for me. It didn't have anything to do with you."

He looked at her, not believing her words.

"Really," she said, although she wasn't convinced herself. "I need someone who's more settled. More… well, someone who doesn't work as much. Anyway," she said, smiling at him. "I don't want to discuss it anymore. I just want you to get better, so that we can go home. In time for Christmas."

"I want you to be happy, Kim," her father said.

She smiled. "I know you do, Dad."

He nodded, watching her.

"By the way," she said. "I was thinking about taking the pool cover off, turning it into an ice rink."

Her father nodded. "Does this mean that you're thinking about staying?"

"Yes. For a while. Maybe even… well, permanently. I mean, you're going to need some help, and I want to spend some time with you."

His eyes welled with tears. "So what do you want for Christmas this year, Kim?"

"I'd like to have my father home."

A voice from behind her said, "I think we can arrange that."