The Christmas Children Read Online Free

roll,” Paul said, yawning and lounging wearily in one of the chairs at the table. “I haven’t been to bed for about thirty hours. I may have to take a cold shower, too.”
    â€œIt’s cold enough outside to wake you up. Maybe you can take a run around the house.”
    â€œNot unless I have to,” Paul said, shivering slightly. “It’ll take a while for me to get used to Adirondack weather again.”
    Carissa heated water for coffee before she sat beside him. She said, “You already know my name, but I’ll fill in some more facts. My home is in Tampa, where I’ve run a fashion design business for several years. I’ve never met your sister, but Townsend Textile Mill has manufactured many of my designs. Naomi and I have been in touch by phone and e-mail since she took over running the mill.”
    â€œThat was when her husband died.”
    Carissa nodded. “I sold my business last month, and, being at loose ends, I decided I wanted to spend Christmas in the north. I was born in Minnesota, and I kept remembering the Christmases we had when I was a kid. By coincidence, Naomi’s doctor suggested that she needed a vacation. He thought relaxation fora while in a warmer climate would ease the pain of her arthritis. A mutual friend arranged for us to exchange houses.”
    â€œI’m happy that Naomi’s taking some time off,” Paul said. “The pain has gotten steadily worse, and the stress of taking over management of the textile mill seemed to aggravate it.”
    â€œThat’s what she said. We decided on short notice to make this exchange, and she probably didn’t have time to let you know.”
    â€œWe don’t stay in contact very well. Right now, my company’s working on a project in an isolated part of Eastern Europe, and I call her when I get to a city. My cell phone doesn’t work at our present location.”
    Paul’s eyes were glazed from lack of sleep, and when his head drooped, Carissa knew she had to keep him talking. “What kind of work do you do?”
    â€œI’ve been with the same construction company for eighteen years. I worked for them part-time in the States while I finished college, but since then I’ve been working overseas. Right now, we’re building an electric power plant in the Czech Republic.”
    â€œHow often do you come home?”
    â€œThis is the fourth or fifth time I’ve been home since I left Yuletide about twenty years ago. I had an unpleasant experience here, and coming home reminds me of it, so I don’t visit very often.”
    He stifled a yawn. Carissa stirred a heaping tablespoon of coffee crystals into a mug of boiled waterand handed it to him. He took several sips of the coffee before he continued.
    â€œLast week, we had some equipment failure that will take a month to fix, so the boss told most of us to take a vacation. I usually spend my free time sightseeing in Europe and western Asia, but since it was Christmas, I had a hankering to be with family. Naomi is the only family I have. I’ll have to go to Florida to see her, I reckon—I’ll be returning to Europe sometime between Christmas and the new year.”
    â€œI have a two-bedroom condo, so there’s plenty of room for you. I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you.”
    â€œAnd I want to see her,” Paul agreed. “I had looked forward to spending my vacation in snow country, but I’ve never been to Florida, so this sounds like a great opportunity.”
    â€œThere’s a good view of Tampa Bay from my balcony, and the beach isn’t far away.”
    â€œYou’ve convinced me,” he said, laughing. “But I’ll rest up a few days before I make any plans.”
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    It was daylight by the time they finished eating, and Carissa exclaimed in delight as she viewed the frozen lake from the kitchen window.
    â€œI was disappointed last night when