One Special Christmas & Home for the Holidays Read Online Free Page B

Instead she glanced down at her plate and poked at her scrambled eggs, a thoughtful frown on her face. Eric waited quietly, praying that she’d at least give this a chance. It would be as good for her as it would be for Kate and Sarah.
    When at last she met his gaze, her own was still uncertain. “I don’t know, Eric. It’s a big responsibility. And they’re strangers to me. What if we don’t even like each other?”
    â€œYou’ll like them, Mom. I guarantee it. And they’ll love you. Sarah misses her grandmother, and I can’t think of a better surrogate. You were made for that role.”
    And this was the only chance she would have to play it. The unspoken words hung in the air between them. Eric’s marriage had produced no children, much to his regret. And there wouldn’t be another. He had made his peace with that. Anna never had. She thought he neededa wife, and she occasionally dropped broad hints to that effect when the opportunity presented itself. As she did now.
    â€œI haven’t given up on having a real grandchild, you know,” she said pointedly.
    â€œIt’s time you did.”
    â€œYou’re only thirty-eight, Eric. It’s not too late to have a family.”
    â€œMom.” There was a warning note in his voice, which Anna ignored.
    â€œOf course, you’d need a wife first.”
    â€œI have a wife.”
    â€œYou’ve been divorced for almost five years, Eric.”
    â€œYou know how I feel about that.”
    Anna sighed and glanced at the wedding band on his left hand. “Yes, I guess I do.”
    Eric knew that most people considered divorce a perfectly acceptable solution for a troubled union, that they found his attitude archaic. As did even his mother, who didn’t take divorce lightly. But he believed in the sanctity of marriage; believed that the vows so solemnly taken were for life. He and Cindy might be divorced on paper, but in the eyes of God he believed they were still man and wife. Even Cindy’s remarriage three years before hadn’t convinced him otherwise. He wasn’t going to judge her. He left that to the Lord. But it wasn’t the right thing for him. Besides, his dedication to his career had ruined one marriage. He wasn’t about to inflict that burden on another woman. In the meantime, they’d wandered far from the subject at hand.
    â€œNone of this has any bearing on our discussion, Mom,” he pointed out. “If you’re worried about whether you’ll all get along, then how about this—I’ll call Kate Nolan, and if she’s interested I’ll arrange for her to stopby and visit you. That way, the two of you can size each other up and you can meet Sarah. How does that sound?”
    Anna nodded slowly. “I suppose I could consider it. But I’m not making any promises, Eric.”
    â€œI don’t expect you to.”
    â€œI do feel sorry for her, though. So many burdens on someone so young. How old did you say Sarah was when the accident happened?”
    â€œSix weeks.”
    His mother shook her head. “I can’t even imagine. It’s enough of a challenge for two people to raise a child. But for a single working mother… And then to lose her own mother so recently. She really does sound like she needs help, Eric.”
    â€œShe does. She’s been living under tremendous strain for years. I’d say she’s approaching the danger level on the stress scale.”
    â€œWell, I suppose I could meet her, at least. Maybe help her out until she finds someone to take over permanently.”
    Eric felt the tension in his shoulders ease. “I know she’d appreciate it, Mom.”
    â€œThis is all contingent on whether we get along, though,” his mother cautioned.
    â€œYou’ll get along fine.”
    â€œHow can you be so sure?”
    â€œBecause I know you.”
    â€œBut you don’t know Kate Nolan.