A Family for Christmas Read Online Free Page A

believe it for a minute.
    Oblivious to the tension between the grownups, Sammy appeared doubtful of Jack’s answer. “Momma, am I Texan?”
    She ruffled his dark hair. “Sort of honey.”
    “You remember our first trip to the lights?” Jack asked quietly .
    There was nothing about that time she could ever forget. It had been their first Christmas together after that summer. They’d gone to the lights together with Michael and his date, but ditched them as soon as they could. She and Jack had wandered off on to be alone. They’d been so much in love back then. Or so she believed. 
    She looked up in time to catch Jack watching her and realized that everything she’d been remembering about that night was right there in her eyes.
    Rachel fought to keep from being swept away by the tenderness in Jack’s gaze.
    “Honey, you need to take a nap, otherwise you’ll be conked out before you ever even see the lights.”
    He knelt in front of Sammy, memorizing every detail. “Your mother’s right. You need to be bright-eyed for the lights.” Slowly Jack got to his feet and turned to her. “Thank you for letting me meet your son.” Only the briefest of smiles touched his lips. “ Take care of your mother, okay Sammy .”
    Sammy wasn’t nearly as ready to let go of Jack as Rachel was. He reached for his hand, clasping it tightly. “Will I see you again?” At her son’s innocent question, Rachel struggled to find her equilibrium. She knew the answer even before Jack confirmed the truth , his gaze never leaving hers .
    “Oh, yes. I think we’ll be seeing a lot of each other, in fact, I’m willing to bet on it. I should go, before...” He shook his head at a loss for once.
    Jack came back to her, much too close for thoughts of resolve to last. “We’ll talk later.” Jack touched her face, his expression filled with both warmth and warning.
    For the life of her, those words sounded more like a threat than a promise.
     
    Ch apter Two
                 
    Somehow, he managed to close the door. Breathe. Put one foot in front of the other until he reached the SUV .
    A son. Of all the possible scenarios involving his reunion with Rachel, this was the last thing he’d imagined. Was it truly possible that Sammy was his flesh and blood?
    “I need your help , God . I don’t know what to do. My heart would have me go back in there right now and demand answers from her . ” He whispered the prayer into the stillness of the Rover. He didn’t know what to do. The old Jack would have confronted her without second thought for the boy’s feelings. His newfound faith told him to wait until the anger and shock subsided.
    The last thing either of them needed right now was another bitter ending.
    It was almost impossible to put the Rover in drive and leave without knowing the truth. Answers from Rachel would have to wait, but there was one person he could turn to. 
    His fingers shook as he dialed Liz’s cell phone. “I have a son. Why didn’t you tell me I had a son?” It was impossible to conceal his resentment.  
    “You’ve spoke n to Rachel.” Liz’s quiet resignation confirmed the truth.
    “Y es , no…” he shook his head. “ I ran into Rachel at work. I was on my way out of town and . ”
    “Out of town? You’re leaving? Oh, Jack, no. You can’t do that. You can’t give up.” He’d known this would be her answer. Twenty- four hours earlier, he would have argued that point. Now, since meeting Sammy, well, everything had changed. 
    “Jack?” Liz prompted at his unusual silence.
    Jack struggled to push aside the need to demand answers. “I was. Not anymore. Why didn’t you tell me, Liz? You of all people, I thought you were on my side. I had the right to know I had a son.”
    “I am on your side. I’ve always been. And I hate to bring this up now, but we don’t know for certain that Sammy is yours. He might Sam’s--”
    “He looks just like me—“
    “He looks like Sam as well.”