Merry Christmas Romance by Helen Scott Taylor

Author:Helen Scott Taylor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: short story, england, clean romance, holiday romance, sweet romance, christmas romance, novellas, military hero, army doctor
Publisher: Helen Scott Taylor

Chapter Eight

Rachel woke to the patter of small feet and childish laughter outside her bedroom door. She smiled as she yawned and stretched. It sounded as though Toby and Ella had found each other already.

Eager to start Christmas Day, she jumped out of bed, pulled on her dressing gown, and pushed her feet in her slippers. In the hall, Ella and Toby sat on the carpet outside Ian's bedroom door, playing.

"Lulu can be Jimbo's girlfriend," Toby said seriously. "They have to hold hands." He stood his teddy beside Ella's doll and pressed their hands together.

Love and tenderness swelled inside Rachel. The children were so sweet together. No one would guess they had both lived through difficult experiences recently and only just met.

"Hello, you two. Merry Christmas." Rachel stooped to kiss Toby's head and put an arm around each child's shoulders. Toby kissed her back and Ella curled shyly against her side.

Ian's bedroom door stood wide but he was still asleep, despite the excited chatter of the children. Rachel smiled down at Ella. "I think we'd better leave Daddy to sleep in, don't you?" He must have been exhausted after his long drive.

Rachel rose and moved to close the door. As she did, she noticed the photo on his bedside table. A wonderful idea came to her.

She tiptoed into the room, casting a longing glance at Ian, so gorgeous with his dark hair all ruffled. She kissed him lightly on the neck without disturbing him, grabbed the photo frame off his nightstand, and slipped out of the room, pulling the door shut behind her.

Rachel found dressing gowns and slippers for both children, then led them downstairs. Max rose from his basket, tail wagging furiously as the children charged into the kitchen. "Max, Max," they both shouted, hugging and patting him. The dog looked very pleased with himself as Rachel opened the back door and let him out.

Max loped through a foot of snow covering the yard, barking at a rabbit that had ventured too close to the house.

"Toby, Ella, look at the snow." The children rushed to gaze out of the door, the Christmas excitement bubbling over as they jumped up and down.

"Can we build a snowman, Mummy?"

"As soon as we've finished breakfast. You need something warm in those tummies before you go outside." Rachel tickled them both so they dashed away giggling, then called Max inside.

As soon as the children had plates of scrambled eggs on toast, she made herself a slice of toast and sat down, her sketch pad open on the table, the photo from Ian's nightstand in front of her. She'd specialized in horses, but she'd also been good at drawing people. With luck, that skill hadn't deserted her.

Finishing her toast, she brushed the crumbs from her hands and carefully scrutinized the photo, mentally sketching the image of Ian holding Ella before she put pen to paper. When she was sure she knew what to do, she started.

She shielded her drawing from the children with a breakfast cereal box.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.