Five and Dime Christmas by Susanne Dietze

Author:Susanne Dietze [Dietze, Susanne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781636093666
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2022-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Essie stood by the full-length window, watching the landscape turn a snowy white, and smiled to herself. The boys would be ecstatic about a Christmas snow, especially Tommy. That boy had been practicing for just this moment since before she’d met him.

A sharp pang lodged deep in her chest, and not for the first time today, tears clogged her throat. She missed her boys. Missed their silliness and how Billy had cuddled up in her lap and fell asleep when he was sick. She missed the grousing and the way Tommy would slip his hand in hers. But most of all, she missed loving them.

She missed Max too, more than she’d ever thought possible. Everywhere she went, something would remind her of something he’d said or done, and then the tears would start again. She hadn’t been back to work since the morning Father had found her at Max’s. The last two days had been spent in bed, nursing a slight fever. But the truth was, she was a coward. What she had to say to Max was between them, not for some public display.

The door opened, and her father strolled inside, looking hale and hardy and quite pleased with himself, though for what reason she didn’t know. “How was your day, Papa?”

“Good, though I’m hoping this evening will be even better.”

What a strange thing to say. But then her father had always loved Christmas. As much as she’d looked forward to sharing it with Max and the boys, she didn’t care if she stayed in bed all day tomorrow. “I’m glad we’re not entertaining any guests tonight. I don’t think I’m up for it.”

“Oh, Essie.” Papa came to her and pulled her into his arms. “Is it as bad as all that?”

“I miss him, Papa, more and more each day,” she croaked against his chest. “I miss the boys and the life I was building for myself. I even miss Mr. Sum’s crazy early morning sales. What am I going to do?”

Before Papa could answer, their butler, Matthew, came to the door. “A Pastor Max Warner to see you, sir.”

Max? Why was he here? And why did he want to see Papa? Essie glanced up at her father, who handed her his handkerchief. “Dry your eyes now. You don’t want your young man to know you’ve been crying.”

“Why is he here?” She wiped her nose, then handed the square back to her father, who stuffed it in his pocket.

“Let’s just say he’s the man I thought he was.” Papa turned and walked over to the door just as Max entered the room. “Pastor Warner, so good to see you. Merry Christmas.”

But Papa could have been talking to the wall for all that Max noticed. Because he was too busy watching her, drinking her in as if he’d been without for an eternity. She looked her fill too. Did he look pale, or was she just imagining things? He was so handsome, even more so now that she knew the compassionate and caring man he was.

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