Be Mine for Christmas Read Online Free

of personnel. Replacing a job like that isn’t easy.”
    “What? You aren’t excited about working for Madsen’s Christmas tree farm?”
    “Truth is, I am. You’ve created a fantastic place here, Reece. I particularly love the almost magical effect it has on the kids.”
    “Thanks. Me, too. That’s why I wanted Brandon to have his Christmas tree.”
    Ellie sighed and wiped a hand over her eyes. “That reminds me. Brandon’s latest is that he wants to ask his daddy to buy the tree.”
    “What’s wrong with that?”
    “There is no daddy. Well, there is, but Leonard Dean doesn’t give two figs about his son or if he ever sees him again. The only time he ever spoke of wanting Brandon was two years ago when he used that tactic to scare me into accepting a divorce settlement so cheesy it evaporated in no time.”
    “He’s not giving you any child support?”
    She shook her head. “It hadn’t been an issue back when I was earning enough to care for all of Brandon’s needs. The love was long gone from the marriage and all I wanted was my freedom and my son. So the letters, gifts and cards Brandon’s dad supposedly sends from Japan are actually sent by me.” Ellie couldn’t believe she’d just told all this private stuff to Reece, but somehow it felt good to share it with him.
    “I’m guessing he’s not really in Japan.”
    “Philly. But it’s my brother in Portland who makes Daddy calls to us a couple times a month. That only works because Brandon hasn’t seen his uncle since he was two years old.”
    Reese whistled. “Not gonna work for long, Ellie. Not once Brandon is old enough to start texting, emailing and making his own phone calls.”
    She hated hearing it, but Reece was only voicing the dread she’d had lurking in her gut for a while. “I know. He’ll never forgive me when he finds out. But he kept asking ‘where’s daddy?’ and I couldn’t bear to hurt him. Especially when he hit kindergarten and came home one day crying because some kid teased him about not having a father.” She bit her lip, shaking her head. “I am such a jerk.”
    “No, Ellie, you were just trying to rescue him. To save his life. Just like you saved mine.”
    “Yours?”
    Reece opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He shut it and looked away. When he turned back to her he said, “The Christmas shop. You saved it.”
    Ellie’s brows knit. She could tell he pulled that one out of thin air. Reece Madsen was definitely odd. She made a note to keep her distance, no matter how tempting she found his amazing his physical attributes.
     
    **
     
    When Brandon heard that Ellie would be working at the Christmas tree farm, he started bouncing up and down on his bed. “That is so cool. Can I go with you, Mom? Can I?”
    Ellie usually scolded him for jumping on the bed, worried that he’d fall, but tonight she found herself giggling. Something she hadn’t done in a long while. “You have to go to school, sweetheart.”
    “Just think, you can play with the trains and see Santa every day.”
    “Santa’s only there on the weekends.” She thought about Reece’s offer to let Brandon hang out at the farm. Hoping it wouldn’t end up in a disaster, she added, “Would you like to spend Saturday at the farm with me?”
    “Yes!” He sprang forward and hugged her in the mini-vice grip she relished. “Does this mean you can get my Christmas tree for free?”
    “No, but it means we can buy one. We’ll pick one out on Saturday.”
    His mouth formed a grim line. “I already picked mine. And somebody could take it by Saturday.”
    She patted his cheek. “But there are plenty of trees.”
    “Not like mine. Tell Mr. Madsen to save it for me. Please. He knows which one it is.”
    Ellie sighed. “Brandon…” With a wave of mother guilt, she reminded herself to go easy on him. He was in one of those obsessive stages where certain things took on more meaning than they should. Moving out of the house he’d come to call home