A Christmas Wish Read Online Free Page B

move it to dessert time. We used to have such large dinners, so many people were with us during a time when there was so much to be thankful for.” My mother lost her train of thought and I sensed she was remembering Philip, which always left her flustered. She managed to recover by saying, “Rebecca always had so much to be thankful for, didn’t you, dear?”
    â€œI’ll be short and sweet tonight,” Rebecca offered.
    â€œI’m always thankful for dessert,” Janey said.
    â€œGood,” my mother said, “Jane got us off to a marvelous start. Anyone else?”
    As we went around the table, I kept a careful eye on Janey, wondering if she had said all she wished to. After my father got his turn, stating how glad he was that his fortunes had prevailed this year, my mother went, saying how thrilled she was with her new house. Rebecca and Rex were thankful for finding each other, the Hendersons each following through with their own shallow thanks. Then all eyes turned to me.
    â€œI’m thankful for the power of the wind, which blows through our lives and changes its direction, grateful that it dropped me in Linden Corners and at the base of the windmill. I’m thankful for the time I shared with Annie Sullivan, and mostly I’m thankful for her beautiful daughter, Janey, who, even when the sun doesn’t come up, brings rays of light to my life.”
    â€œThat was very nice, Brian, very, uh . . . heartfelt and poetic,” my mother stated. “Now, who wants pie? I’ve got apple, cherry, even a peach pie—at Brian’s request . . . oh yes, Jane, what is it?”
    Janey interrupted my mother by raising her hand. “Don’t I get a turn, you know, to say what I’m thankful for?”
    â€œYou did, dear, you were thankful for dessert. So, peach pie? I heard it’s your favorite.”
    â€œMom, let her speak.”
    The room again quieted down as Janey found all eyes cast upon her. Her eyes flashed at me, uncertainty written in those irises. I gave her my hand in support, which she gratefully accepted. I squeezed once in another gesture of love. “I shouldn’t really have any reason to be thankful, not this year. Awful things happened, terrible things that took from me the person I most loved, the only person I thought I could depend on. But maybe that was selfish thinking, because I know now that I’m really lucky, because I’ve got Brian, and even if he’s not my real father, well, he’s someone very special. He’s my best friend, and I’m thankful that I get to share his . . .” She paused, looking at me, watching tears fall from my eyes as she smiled and said, “I’m just thankful I get to share his traditions and his family.”
    As we all settled in for pie and coffee, an enlivened, truly thankful gathering of people began anew. Because in that moment, a brand-new tradition began, a kinder, warmer Duncan Thanksgiving was born. The child among us had taught us a lesson we’d not soon forget.

C HAPTER 3
    Janey was long asleep when eleven o’clock rolled around, exhausted from the emotion of the holiday, and stuffed, too, from a second helping of peach pie. I, too, was ready to turn in, since she and I planned to leave first thing in the morning. Good rest for a long drive. Though my place of employ in Linden Corners, George’s Tavern, had been closed for the holiday, the weekend was understandably our busy time and I needed to be there for my customers. Yet there remained one more act of the performance that was the Duncans’ celebration, and I found my parents asking me into the living room.
    â€œCan’t this wait?” I asked.
    â€œWe wanted to talk with you—a serious conversation, dear,” my mother said, exchanging nervous glances with my father. “Please, have a seat.”
    I had been headed up the stairs already, but the look on their faces had me