Disenchanted Christmas by Sandra Sookoo

Author:Sandra Sookoo [Sookoo, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Published: 2011-12-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Bethany yawned. She drew her needle through the fabric, frowning when a knot snagged the thread. Early yet on this Monday morning, and behind in her needlework, she'd risen before the children were awake, hoping the quiet would encourage her fingers to fly.

She hadn't counted on the tiredness that settled into her bones like lead. Constant worry about their situation plagued her and stole her sleep. Recently, John had developed restless dreams in which he'd cry out and wake, shivering and talking of incoherent things. In most, he would babble about an elf. Not knowing what tormented him or why he'd developed the obsession with a mythical being, she did her best to soothe the boy, but remained on alert for the rest of the night.

Now, she suffered from the sacrifice. "Oh, drat." Snipping the thread with a tiny pair of scissors, she rooted in her basket for a matching skein of the thread. "Hell’s bells," she muttered upon not finding any of the same.

"Such unladylike language."

Bethany sighed as she lifted her head and spied Blake lurking in the doorway. "Good morning. I hope I did not wake you." Frustrated, she tossed the handkerchief and the tools into the basket and slammed the lid shut.

"You did not. In fact, I waited until I heard you rise before I began dressing." He advanced into the room to settle himself on the hearth near her rocking chair. "I promised the children yesterday we would gather pine boughs. With all the commotion, it did not happen and I would like to rectify that this morning."

"You are in luck. The term has ended at Sarah's school and she is on holiday for a few weeks. It is six days to Christmas. Most likely the children will be very excited and very naughty." She met his gaze. "Quite frankly, I could use time to myself in order to complete a few presents."

Blake's grin nearly knocked her from her seat. "Fear not, my lady. I have also decided to spend a few days at home for the holidays. The bank will not suffer from my absence and I will return next Monday, especially should you decide this arrangement no longer works for you."

"Yes, well, we will talk of that when the times comes." She battled a severe case of anxiety at the thought of her future. It was nothing to the flutters in her stomach when she looked into his eyes. "You do not need to stay home for us."

"Oh, I am very selfish in this endeavor." He laid a possessive hand on her knee. Warmth shot up her leg to settle between her thighs. "I wish to spend time with the children. They are only young once, you see, and I have been deprived of enjoying the season for too many years."

Not trusting the twinkle in his dark gaze, she protested. "They are a handful at present. John especially. I cannot allow it." Panic welled in her throat. She couldn't give the kids into his care without accompanying them.

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