A Holiday Proposal Read Free Page A

friends ever since. He sympathized with her desire to put nursing ahead of finding a husband and even encouraged her to follow her heart. When she’d told him how her mother kept trying to set her up with her friends’ sons, he suggested she find a way to get her mom to back off, and voilà! Operation Get Mom Off My Back was born. She adjusted her pillow and sank back down onto it. Yes, Todd was a lifesaver.
    She closed her eyes and snuggled deeper under the covers, unwilling to give up even one second of lazing in bed.
    * * *
    Even though she wore a sling to protect her shoulder and had to get dressed one-handed, Matthew’s sister had ushered him out the door in plenty of time for church. She hated being late, but he figured if he made it within five minutes of the service’s starting time he was doing well. Now they were fifteen minutes early. What would he do with himself for that long?
    A woman he didn’t recognize headed straight for them from the other side of the foyer. He held Ava in his arms and looked for a way of escape. “Ah, I’m going to take Ava to her Sunday school class.”
    April snaked her hand through his arm and spoke out of the side of her mouth. “Don’t you dare leave me alone.”
    The woman stood before them wearing a pair of black slacks and a light blue blouse. She looked familiar, but he couldn’t place her.
    “April Cook, look at you. How’d you hurt yourself? You look wonderful. How long has it been?” the woman said.
    “Hi, Mrs. Miller. It’s been a long time. I’m April Black now. I’m surprised you even recognize me. How are you?”
    “Couldn’t be better. Jessica and her husband are coming over for lunch today. You must come, too.”
    “We don’t want to intrude.” Matthew had never met Holly’s mom, but obviously that’s who she was, if she was Jessica’s mother.
    “Nonsense. The more the merrier. You must be April’s husband.”
    April shook her head. “No, Mrs. Miller. This is my brother, Matthew. Ava and I are visiting him for a couple of months while my husband is deployed overseas.”
    “You are such a good young man, taking in your sister and niece.”
    “Thank you.” Matthew tried not to cringe at the gushing and was thankful she didn’t pinch his cheek. There was nothing praiseworthy about what he was doing. He didn’t want to spend the holidays alone and neither did April. Since their parents had escaped the cold for sunny Florida, he and his siblings were on their own for the holidays. He couldn’t very well leave his bakery during the busiest time of the year, and his younger brother was attending college near Seattle. If John didn’t have a skiing trip planned with a group of friends, he would more than likely be coming for Thanksgiving, too, since airfare was too expensive for a poor college student.
    “I’d love to see Jessica and catch up,” April said. “Are you still living in the same house?”
    “We are. Just head over after the service.” Mrs. Miller smiled and flitted away.
    “Why’d you do that?” Matthew groaned. “Are you sure you’re feeling up to it?”
    “Yes. Besides, we have to eat, and I’d like to see Jessica.”
    “Fine. I’ll drop you at their house and pick you up when you’re ready to come home.”
    “No way. We were both invited so we are both going to be there. Besides, I’ll need your help with Ava.”
    Matthew gritted his teeth. There was no use arguing, but hopefully Holly wouldn’t be eating at her parents’ home, also.
    “Please put Ava down so she can walk.” April grasped her daughter’s hand. “She can sit with us during service this week.”
    Matthew didn’t say a word. Instead, he found his usual seat in the back row. A moment later April walked in and passed right by him. He called her name. She turned and raised an eyebrow. He crossed his arms and nodded to the seats next to him. He always sat here, and as much as he loved his family, he wasn’t moving.
    April came back and sat beside