CHRISTMAS JOY: A Sweet Christmas Volume 4 by SAMANTHA JACOBEY

Author:SAMANTHA JACOBEY [JACOBEY, SAMANTHA]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lavish Publishing, LLC

Eight

Family Matters

“I’ll get it,” Candy called to the rest of the house. She had been standing over the basinet in the living room and watching Joylana sleep when the chimes sounded.

Reaching the front door, she peeked through the eye-hole to see a few of Gary’s family members waiting on the other side. What the heck? she grunted to herself in surprise as she swung the portal wide. “Annette. Bella. What a pleasant surprise!” she lied. “Quick, come in, and let’s shut out the cold.”

Entering quickly as instructed, the cousins tumbled inside, presenting a small gift bag each. “Eveline says your adoption has arrived sooner than expected,” Annette explained as soon as the door was closed behind her.

“Yes, we’ve only had her a couple of days,” Candice agreed with a faint grin, feeling a little guilty that it had been left to her mother-in-law to spread their happy news.

Dropping her bag on the table, Bella stepped over to the baby’s bed and glared at the small, sleeping form. “Why’s she so dark?”

“Bella, don’t be rude,” her mother rebuked. Also staring at Joy’s face and hands, she waited for the explanation, almost certain they had not been given a white child. Such an occurrence had not even crossed her mind when she heard that Gary and Candy intended to adopt. Swallowing, she soothed, “Babies come in all kinds, Bell. I’m sure your cousin will be loved despite the tint of her skin.”

“Tint,” Candice scoffed under her breath, the word grating on her nerves. She had heard enough hurtful remarks in a single day to last her a lifetime, and their journey had only just begun.

Catching the hiss of her words, Annette held up her hands. “Sorry, no offense. I’m just not sure what to say! I’m surprised. That’s all. Eve didn’t warn us, you see.” Looking thoughtful, her lips pursed into a perfect “O” before she added cautiously, “I wonder if she is even aware.”

Her eyes narrowing, Candy could hear Gary coming down the stairs. Her mind leaping to their outing that morning and their public reception, she sighed. “Yes, I suppose everyone will be caught off guard. I didn’t speak to her, so I have no idea if she knows or not or simply chose not to say. But surely Gary mentioned it.” A frown dented her forehead as she considered whether the color of Joy’s flesh would matter to the rest of the Fords. Strangers were one thing, but family… Family mattered. It would break her heart if she weren’t accepted by her new kin.

“Can I hold her?” Bella asked, drawing the conversation away from the edge of argument.

“I don’t see why not,” Gary agreed eagerly as he arrived next to his wife, only catching the tail end of their conversation. “Can you lift her, or do you want to sit, and I’ll place her in your arms like we do for Daks?”

“I’m not a child,” Bella growled, reaching to remove the blankets and scooping up the doll-like form.

“Watch her

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