A Merry Little Christmas Read Free

entirely different than it does now. When the stores didn’t start decorating the day after Halloween, when everything was holy and magical at the same time and it was really a season of miracles. And back when we still believed in Santa Claus. Of course I remember. No, it’s not quite that way anymore. But it still feels nice; you’ve got to admit that, cousin. Being at home with your family, with all the babies and the excitement, doesn’t that makes up for some of it?”
    Angelique took her time about answering, rubbing her cheek against her niece’s soft, curly hair before speaking. “I don’t know, Paris. I don’t exactly know when the feeling got away from me, but I just feel kinda numb. I don’t feel happy, I don’t feel sad, I’m just here, going through the motions,” she said softly. “I’m glad to be home and see the family, especially all the kids. I had a lot of fun buying Christmas gifts for them and going to church, but it’s just not the same. I just feel empty, Paris, and I don’t know why.”
    Now it was Paris’s turn to pause before answering. She had a very good idea of why Angelique was feeling so strange and an equally good idea of what would cure her of her holiday malaise, but now was not the time to bring it up.
    Angelique roused Paris from her thoughts. “Can you take the baby for a second so I can get up? She needs to be put down for a real nap and I need to go play with the other kids.  I really miss them when I’m away,” she admitted.
    Forgetting her decision to keep her mouth shut, Paris rose from her chair and took the sleeping child from Angelique, who stood up and held her arms out for the baby. Looking at the charming picture they made, Paris said softly, “You’re gonna be a great mommy one day, Angel.”
    Angelique’s response was instant and emphatic. “No, I won’t, because I’m never having children. Never! The day I have a baby is the day I start believing in Santa Claus again!” Anyone else would have been startled at the passion in Angelique’s voice, but Paris was more than used to her mercurial cousin. She nodded absently as she followed the young woman and the sleeping baby out of the sunroom. If Paris was reading the signs correctly, there were a great many surprises coming for Angelique in the next few months. Maybe not a baby, but a lot of new things were definitely on the way. There had already been so many changes in her life, she seemed like a different person, something only those very close to her recognized. And since Paris was as close as a sister, she could read the signs better than anyone. Yes, my dear cousin, next Christmas is going to be very, very different for you. You ’l l believe in a lot more than Santa Claus, I guarantee it.
    ***
    Angelique wasn’t the only person suffering from holiday angst. Back in Detroit, Adonis Cochran was sitting in the breakfast room of his brother Andrew’s house, looking glum. He’d been moody and withdrawn for most of the holiday, something most unlike him. He was usually even-tempered and extremely pleasant, with a disposition that matched his good looks. All the Cochran men were handsome, well over six feet tall with caramel skin, black wavy hair and beautiful dark eyes with long lashes and thick eyebrows. And even with this bounty of male beauty, Adonis Bennett Cochran was considered to be the best looking of the sons. The sculptured quality of his features lent him an air of distinction that was often embarrassing to him, especially since he was stuck with the name “Adonis.” He despised die name and answered only to Donnie.
    Andrew’s wife, Rene e, was in the adjoining kitchen cooking dinner, and took pity on Donnie. She appeared in the doorway of the breakfast room with a look of concern on her face.
    “Donnie, honey, I just hate seeing you like this. Isn’t there anything I can do to cheer you up?” she asked.
    He grimaced, but had the grace to look ashamed of himself. He shook his head