A Mommy for Christmas by Cathy Gillen Thacker

Author:Cathy Gillen Thacker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2009-08-14T22:00:00+00:00

The interest faded as quickly as it appeared.

“No,” Sophie said, stubborn as ever. “I want my own mommy.”

“Me, too,” Mia agreed.

“And we want our own daddy,” Tristan said.

And that, it seemed, was that.

“WE TRIED TO EXPLAIN,” Travis said wearily, thirty minutes later. He had sent the children out to the backyard for fifteen minutes of playtime before dinner, so they could have a chance to figure out what they were going to do next.

Holly helped herself to one of the gingerbread men the kids had decorated with Mrs. Ruley. “And did not succeed.”

Travis munched on a cookie, too. “Once they see their real gift from us—the playhouse and the spaceship—they’ll forget all about this mommy and daddy business. And I meant what I said in there.” He inclined his head in the direction of the living room. “I am available to your boys whenever they need an on-premises daddy.”

“And I am, of course, available to your girls,” Holly said.

“See?” Travis polished off the last of the cookie. He reached into the fridge and brought out a bag of premade salad mix and a jar of applesauce. “Problem already solved.”

Holly’s maternal intuition told her it was not going to be that simple. She took the opposite tack, in an effort to be prepared for any eventuality. “And if it’s not?” She reached for the bottle of olive oil and vinegar on the counter, added salt and pepper to the group. “If despite all the ways and times we’ve tried to reason with them, and they’re still expecting to have a complete family on Christmas Day? What then?” Do we just let them be terribly disappointed?

Travis handed her a mixing bowl and whisk. “Then we move on to plan B.”

Trying not to think about the way he looked at her—as if she were suddenly the most fascinating woman on the planet—Holly began putting together a simple dressing for the salad. “And what might that be?” she bantered back.

Pleasure teased the corners of his lips. “We make arrangements to give them what they want most—at least for Christmas morning.”

She really shouldn’t be enjoying these interactions with him quite so much. Never mind anticipating more! She watched as he poured salad mix into a wooden bowl. “And how do we do that?” she asked, forcing herself to sound casual.

He set the bowl down next to where she was working and leveled a glance her way. “By joining forces and spending Christmas together.”

The image of all of them gathered around the Christmas tree was unbearably exciting. Especially since, prior to this, they’d spent the holidays separately. Holly whisked in the seasoning, then poured dressing over the salad. She slanted him a sideways glance. “So we’d be one big happy family?” Just like the kids wanted…and her, too, if she was honest.

Travis shrugged and folded his arms in front of his chest. “I can’t think of a better way to make the children’s wishes come true, at least for the holiday. Can you?”

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