A Cozy Country Christmas Anthology Read Online Free Page A

of the situation caused her lips to twitch. “Charlie,
you've come up with a doozy this time.”
    With a charming tilt of her head, she smiled
ruefully at Tim. “How do you feel about going to a family party
with a pair of lunatics?”
    Half an hour later, Tim found himself sharing
a seat on a bus. In that span of time, he'd learned that the
woman's name was Ellen, her husband had been a policeman, and
Christmas Eve was not the ideal time to find a place where
handcuffs can be removed.
    “My husband was killed by a kid high on
crack.” Ellen leaned over to breathe the words into Tim's ear, so
that Charlie, crowded on her other side, couldn't overhear. “'I
kept his badge and handcuffs as a remembrance for Charlie when he's
older.”
    “Losing his father must have been rough on
your son,” Tim offered gruffly.
    “Charlie misses David.” Ellen looked down at
her lap. “Holidays are difficult.”
    In her wistful tone, Tim heard the echo of
endless, lonely nights spent in a home where joy and happiness had
once dwelt. On impulse, he said, “This season has been difficult
for me, too. My ex-wife recently moved to Georgia with our
daughter.”
    Ellen squeezed his hand in sympathy. “You
must miss her dreadfully.”
    Tim nodded. If he could
speak without bursting into tears, he'd confess that he'd give
anything to undo what he'd done.
    What had his single-minded
climb up the career ladder gotten him? An expensive, soulless
condominium, a corner office—and handcuffed to a stranger on
Christmas Eve. In pursuing success, he'd ignored the principles for
maintaining a healthy marriage, and now he was reaping the unhappy
harvest.
    “Thanks for understanding.” Ellen shifted and
the handcuffs chinked musically. “Grandma Maria would be devastated
if I missed the family party. After I put in an appearance, we'll
go to my place and dig out the key.”
    Surprised exclamations greeted their arrival
at the apartment which was their destination.
    An elderly woman bustled up and threw her
arms around Ellen. “Merry Christmas! Who is this nice person?” Her
gaze devoured Tim. “Finally took an old lady's advice, eh?'”
    “'Yes, Grandma. But good men are difficult to
find, so when I finally met another great guy, I made sure he
couldn't get away.” Ellen held up her hand, her sleeve falling away
to reveal that the two of them were joined together.
    The sight was greeted with stunned silence,
broken by gusts of laughter, after Ellen explained their
predicament. Realizing that his companion was dearly loved by those
present, Tim sensed a general disappointment that he hadn't chosen
to accompany her of his own volition.
    The situation was totally crazy, but Ellen's
extended family took both it and Tim in stride. Dinner was served
buffet style in a kitchen crowded with people, casseroles, and an
enormous punch bowl. Grandma led them all in prayer before
presiding over the chaos, a smile wreathing a face as wrinkled as
the raisins spotting the rice pudding.
    With a plate of food balanced awkwardly on
his knee, Tim laughed over the retelling of family holiday stories.
He enjoyed watching the play of expression on Ellen's vivid
face.
    Tim had grown up an only child. If his mother
were here, she'd be appalled by the shabby furnishings and
disgusted by the loud voices and hearty laughter. She would have
fainted if a child scuffed his shoes on the carpet, much less
spilled punch as a brown-eyed tot did here tonight. But in this
household, family reigned supreme, each person an integral part of
a loving, complete picture of togetherness.
    Eating a piece of pecan pie, Tim savored the
warmth of Ellen's leg against his as they crowded together on the
sofa. Looking up, he caught sight of Charlie, who was gazing at his
mother with a sorrowful expression that tugged at Tim's heart.
    Grandma Maria opened her presents, insisting
as each package was placed in her lap that the giver “shouldn't
have bothered.” Tim applauded with the others when