Silver Bells by Fern Michaels Mary Burton & Judy Duarte

Author:Fern Michaels, Mary Burton & Judy Duarte [Fern Michaels, Mary Burton & Duarte, Judy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781420103632
Amazon: 1420103636
Publisher: Zebra
Published: 2013-11-05T00:00:00+00:00

“Dad, I feel kinda like a creep for leaving you here alone at Christmas.” David Ayden smiled at his oldest son, Zane. The boy had his mother’s eyes. Caleb was behind him, kneeling and zipping up a ski bag.

They were at the train station standing on the platform. The boys were taking the train to a ski resort in the West Virginia mountains. He was going to miss them like hell but knew they needed to get away and have a good time. And his in-laws had been lobbying for months for this trip. “I want you two to go and have a good time. Your grandparents can’t wait to have you.”

Caleb rose. “Why don’t you ditch work and come?”

“It’s my turn to work the holiday. I’ve had the last couple of Christmases off.” The department had given him the time after his wife’s death. He and Julie had been married for sixteen years. She’d died of cancer. “But my number has come up. And your grandparents are so excited about the ski trip and I want you to have a good time.” He could make it through a few days alone.

“Hey, why don’t you call Nicole,” Caleb asked. “I bet she doesn’t have plans.”

Zane glared at his brother. “They broke up, doofus.”

A subtle tension settled in Ayden’s lower back. “We were never together. We were just friends.”

Zane stared at his father an extra beat. The kid had spotted the attraction his father had had for Nicole. Wisely Zane now decided not to share his thoughts.

The train engine released a whoosh of steam.

Ayden was grateful for the distraction. “You boys better get on the train. I don’t want you missing it.”

“So are you working the whole time?” Zane asked.

“Most of it. I’ve got the Kier party on Christmas afternoon.”

“Ah, man,” Caleb said. “We’re gonna miss that. I love that party.”

“I’ll eat your share of pasta,” Ayden joked. He refused to let his boys see that he was going to miss them. He hugged Zane close and then Caleb. “Don’t eat too much crap in the dining car. Your grandmother is going to feed you lunch.”

Zane grimaced at his brother. “Tell that to the human garbage can.”

Caleb shot his brother a murderous glare. “Who’s got the mega bag of M&M’s in his backpack?”

They would go round and round like this for hours if Ayden let it continue. Just put them on the train. That’s what Julie would have said. Let the kids eat some junk. It’s Christmas. “Go.”

The boys hugged their dad one more time and then climbed the three steps to the train. Ayden waited on the cold platform until he saw the two settled into their seats. The boys waved, trying to shoo him away, but he remained until the train engine roared to life and the cars started down the tracks. When the caboose finally faded from sight, he turned and headed to his car.

He crossed the parking lot and slid behind the wheel of his Crown Vic. He started the engine and waited until the heater had defrosted the already chilled windshield.

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