Christmas Babies by Ellen James

Author:Ellen James
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Superromance Classic
Published: 2013-08-25T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

ONCE AGAIN, Danni had received a phone call from Bryan’s mother. And, once again, Danni hadn’t been able to say no. Elizabeth McKay insisted there was something she had to do—and Danni was the one to help her do it.

It seemed no one could turn Elizabeth down. She’d also enlisted the cooperation of the nurse on duty in her apartment. Together the nurse and Danni managed to transport Elizabeth to Bryan’s house. It had taken quite some doing, getting a very weak Elizabeth into Danni’s car, while somehow squeezing a wheelchair into the trunk. And then, once they’d arrived at the house, getting Elizabeth into the wheelchair and pushing her up the path to the front door. Even with the nurse’s help, it took considerable effort.

Elizabeth, despite her illness, treated the whole thing as a grand adventure. She even seemed to gain a bit of strength as they entered the house.

“Now, Danni, stop telling me how mad Bryan is going to be when he finds out. And stop saying you’ll take the responsibility. The whole thing was my idea, as you very well know, and I am perfectly capable of handling my own son. Besides, as soon as he told me he’d bought this place, I knew I had to see it. Oh, how it’s changed. When I worked here, it was charming. The kind of home I longed to have for Bryan and myself. Now it just seems neglected.” Elizabeth stopped, struggling for breath.

“Are you all right?” Danni asked anxiously.

“Stop fussing, my dear. I want to see everything.”

With the help of the nurse, Danni took Elizabeth through the place. She tried to explain her remodeling plans as succinctly as possible: the ceramic tiles instead of worn linoleum, the plaster work that would replace ugly dark paneling, the new cabinets Danni would handcraft herself, the wainscoting that would be stripped and repainted. She had to restrain herself from sharing all the details tumbling about in her mind. This house inspired her. It awoke all her imagination, all her dreams of what a home really could be.

At last the tour was complete, and Danni brought Elizabeth to the living room. She positioned the wheelchair next to the mantel. It was pleasingly rustic, ochre-red brick presiding over a plum-shaped hearth. This was one thing about the house she would not change at all. The fire-place would be the centerpiece of the home.

“We’ll get you back as quickly as possible,” Danni said, but Elizabeth gave an impatient wave.

“Danni, I told you to stop fussing. I feel like I’ve been sprung from jail, and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it. Sit here next to me, and tell me all about yourself and my son.”

There was only a fold-out aluminum chair in a corner. Danni brought it over next to Elizabeth and sat down. The nurse disappeared diplomatically down the hall toward the kitchen, announcing that she was in search of sustenance. This left Danni and Elizabeth to themselves.

“Now, Danni. Have you and Bryan resolved your differences?”

Unaccountably, tears sprang to Danni’s eyes.

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