Unexpected Family by Jill Kemerer

Author:Jill Kemerer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-09-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Fat snowflakes drifted outside the window. Stephanie sipped her tea and ignored the form on the computer screen. So many hoops to jump through to apply to these graduate programs. Time-consuming hoops. And she didn’t have time to waste. Not with final papers due for two of her classes and the holidays almost here.

Speaking of the most wonderful, stressful time of the year... Christmas music blared from the television, and Macy bounced on the couch with her doll on her lap and her backpack by her side.

“When’s Daddy going to be here?” she asked for the fifteenth time.

Stephanie craned her neck to see the oven clock. “Ten minutes.”

“How long is that?”

“Long enough. If you’re bored, you can come color next to me.”

Macy sighed, sliding off the couch in a puddle of listlessness. “Don’t wanna color.”

“I know, I know.” Stephanie smiled. “What do you two have planned today, anyhow?”

“I don’t know, but I hope we play horsey. I’m the princess and I get to ride on Daddy’s back to save the bunny.”

Stephanie bit back a laugh. Interesting game. No doubt who came up with that one. “Oh, yeah?”

“Uh-huh.”

“What happens when you save the bunny?”

“Daddy throws the mean dragon out the window, and we cel’brate with a tea party. Uncle Bryan is the dragon. He roars real good.”

Tom’s reserved brother, Bryan? A dragon? Wonders never ceased. She tried to picture him playing and found it wasn’t hard at all. “Sounds like a lot of fun.”

“It is. Uncle Bryan promised he’ll still come over and be the dragon when Daddy gets his new house.” Macy lay on her back, kicking her legs against the couch. “Where is Daddy? Shouldn’t he be here by now?”

“He’s getting a new house?” Stephanie tilted her head, studying Macy. She must have gotten make-believe mixed up with reality.

“With a big yard and a swing set and a room just for me.” She jabbed her thumb into her chest. “I’m a big girl now. I can have a sleepover soon. But Daddy has to get the house first. There’s no place for me to sleep ’cept the stinky couch.”

Stephanie spun back to face the laptop screen, her mind reeling. Tom was buying a house? Had he assumed she was dropping her plans for graduate school and Florida? Why else move out of the bungalow he shared with Bryan?

A house. Macy wasn’t ready for sleepovers, no matter how enthusiastic she sounded. Stephanie’s pulse beat faster.

It’s not fair. All the things I want to give my daughter, he can give her. Without a thought. I would love to have a house, but it will be years before I can even think of buying one.

The intercom buzzed and Macy raced to it. “He’s here!”

Stephanie didn’t turn or rise when he came inside with his usual exuberant greeting for Macy, who hung back. “You’re late, Daddy. Don’t ever do that again.”

Frowning, he pushed his sleeve up to check his watch. “Three minutes?”

Macy stomped off to her room.

He shrugged. “Hi, Steph. What’s up with her?”

“She’s been ready for an hour.

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