Rescuing Christmas by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Author:Vicki Lewis Thompson [Thompson, Vicki Lewis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Anthologies (Multiple Authors)
ISBN: 9780373837687
Amazon: 0373837682
Goodreads: 13706858
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-10-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

KILLING TIME UNTIL ALEX returned with their carryout supper, Shelby squeezed a squeaky toy shaped like a snowman at the Lab. “Daisy? Come on, girl, you can even destroy the toy. Just come play with me.”

Prince leaped off the bed and snagged Frosty from her hand then raced in crazy circles with the squeaking toy. That crazy energy sure denied the dog’s senior status. Daisy harrumphed, chewing her rawhide bone in the corner. She’d shown more excitement and personality trying to tug Alex around the store. Shelby stroked the black Lab’s sleek coat, hoping Daisy would warm up to her. She just couldn’t figure this pup out, and that worried her. Would another family give up on Daisy, just as the first young couple that had adopted her?

She inched closer to Daisy, continuing to pet her without pushing her to play. And she couldn’t deny that stroking the dog soothed her own nerves, reminding her how much comfort her childhood golden retriever, Aggie, had given her.

Aggie had soaked up a lot of tears in her fur over the years—when Shelby’s mom had left, when she’d broken up with her high school boyfriend, when she’d realized moving into the dorm at college meant saying goodbye to her dog.

Once she’d married Alex, she’d tried to talk her father into letting her take Aggie, but her dad had said it wouldn’t be fair to her younger sister and stepbrother. Her sister would have understood...but Patrick? He was a sweet kid, but change was especially tough for him as a special-needs child. So she’d left her childhood pet with her dad. Aggie had passed away three years ago and Shelby missed her still.

The door to the hotel room opened and Alex backed inside, carrying a sack and sodas from a local Mexican food chain. Her favorite.

Cold air blasted in until he forced the door closed again.

“Thanks for braving the elements.”

“We all gotta eat.” He set the bag and drinks by the television, filling the room with the clean scent of snow and his broad shoulders.

“I’m sure you would prefer home cooking after enduring mess hall food for the past four months.” Guilt gnawed at her harder than Daisy on her chewy.

“Don’t worry about me.” He started pulling wrapped food from the bag.

Could she just shut down those concerns with the signing of the divorce papers? Or would she spend every Christmas wondering if he’d put up a tree or if he’d retreated even further from any kind of traditional celebration? Who would try to make him smile when he came home from work with the weight of the world on his shoulders? And most gut wrenching of all, she would be giving up her rights to hear if anything happened to him in the line of duty...

Maybe if they resolved some things, she’d be able to find closure. “Thank you again for driving with me. Seeing the Richardsons so happy with Trooper today and knowing I played a small part of that is the best Christmas gift I could get.

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