Texas Christmas Tycoon by Katherine Garbera

Author:Katherine Garbera
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
ISBN: 9781951786021
Publisher: The Tule Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2019-10-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Braden pushed back from the breakfast counter and turned away from her. Why in hell had he told her that story? Why go that deep? Except he’d never shared that with anyone else. It was something that he’d just tucked away and added to the big pile of hate he had for his father and Christmas.

In his mind, he could see his mother sitting in her bed. He’d rushed home every day from the bus stop at the end of the ranch road and run to her room to show her whatever Christmas craft they’d made that day. He’d put them all over her bedroom. Rose would usually be sitting with her in bed.

He’d read to his mother and sister, checking out a new Christmas book every day. Then when he’d heard that singing brought more Christmas spirit, he’d made a mixed tape using an old tape recorder he’d found in the barn.

He’d been determined to make Christmas so joyful that his mom would get better. But his father had hated every second of it. He would have torn down the pictures Braden had drawn for her, but his mom wouldn’t let him.

The letter to Santa and the theft of the money from his wallet had pushed his father over the edge. And it had broken something in Braden that he’d never been able to heal.

Lea’s backyard was dark and he couldn’t really see much out the windows, but he stood there as if something fascinating was going on out there. He needed a minute to get rid of the anger that always came when he thought of his father.

He heard her moving behind him. He wondered if he should just leave. This was a perfect example of how he sucked at relationships. Who told someone a story like that? It wasn’t—

She put her arms around him from behind and hugged him. Her head rested between his shoulder blades and she just held him tightly to her. The hug resonated deep inside him—that wounded angry boy he’d been would have loved this. And Braden had to admit that the man he was liked it too. He put his hands over hers where they were joined in the middle of his chest.

“So yeah, I don’t share that story. Ever. You’re the first person I’ve ever told,” he said.

She came around his side, keeping one arm around his waist. He put his arm on her shoulder and as their eyes met, he felt like that small boy again, so scared and unsure. All the layers he’d built up over the years to protect himself were torn away when their eyes met.

“Your dad was an ass. I’m sorry he said that to you,” she said. “And I’m sorry your mom died.”

“Thank you,” he said. It was a long time ago, but there were days like today when his grief was still fresh. “Losing Rose has brought a lot of that shit back to the surface. I try to act like I don’t give any Fs about my dad, but I do.

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.