A Wish for Christmas

A Wish for Christmas Read Free Page A

Book: A Wish for Christmas Read Free
Author: Thomas Kinkade
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Jessica convened in the kitchen, cleaning up and putting food away while Dan and Luke carried in all the plates and glassware. Sam took the children outside so they could burn off some energy before the last lap at their grandmother’s table. Emily could see them through the kitchen window, playing in the backyard with a Frisbee. Jane raced between her older cousins, unable to catch them and, occasionally, flopping on the ground like a rag doll, though she was always laughing.
    “Those tights will go straight into the trash tonight,” Emily said, turning away from the window. “But they really needed a little fresh air.”
    “They deserve a break from the grown-ups,” Sara agreed.
    The children had all been surprisingly well behaved during dinner—no chairs or water glasses overturned, no fights or whining.
    “Sara, I hope your grandmother didn’t make you feel pressured about Christmas,” Jessica said as she stacked dishes in the dishwasher. “Of course we’d love to have you back, but whatever you decide is fine.”
    “Thanks, Aunt Jess. We’ll figure it out . . . but I am concerned about something,” Sara confessed. “It’s Lillian. What’s going to happen to her once Luke and I leave? I don’t think she can live here on her own anymore, not without help. She acts very independent, but I’m not sure you both realize how much we do for her, how much she relies on us . . .”
    Emily touched her arm. “We know, dear. We know how much you’ve been doing. It’s been terrific of you to stay here and help her, Sara, honestly. I also know she’s been trying to make you feel guilty about leaving, and that’s not right.”
    “I know . . . but I just hate leaving everyone in the lurch. I mean, what’s going to happen to her now? What’s going to happen to this house?”
    Emily and Jessica glanced at each other. “Don’t worry. We’ll take care of her,” Emily promised. “We’ve always known that these questions would have to be faced, sooner or later.”
    “At least Mother is relatively healthy, and it’s not an emergency,” Jessica said.
    “Well, not yet,” Emily replied. “We’ll have to figure it out quickly, though. You never know with someone her age. The situation can change overnight.”
    “Yes, it might,” Sara agreed, sounding worried.
    “We’ll be looking in on her every day,” Jessica reminded her. “Until we find a better solution.”
    Emily spooned leftover stuffing into a plastic container. “It would be nice if she would let us hire someone, just to keep her company. But you know how she is about strangers in the house.”
    Sara gave a helpless little shrug. “Maybe once we leave, she’ll feel lonely and give in.”
    “Yes, maybe.” Emily put an arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “Sara, please don’t worry. We’ll sort it out. Your grandmother knows you love her and she loves you, no matter how she’s acting right now. Once your byline shows up in the Globe , she’ll be the first one bragging about you all over town.”
    “That’s probably true,” Sara said. “Remember when I first started working at the Messenger ? Grandma and I weren’t even close then, and she saved all my articles and put them in a scrapbook.”
    “Mother has always valued achievement,” Jessica said. “I’m sure she’s already proud of your new job.”
    “Though she’d rather die than admit it,” Emily added. “She never has been easy—about anything.”
    “Can I be of help?” Ezra poked his head through the half-opened door. “A man can operate a sponge or even a hand mixer, you know. It’s been scientifically proven.”
    Emily smiled at him. “Ezra, we’d be delighted to have you prove that theory. So far, I’ve never witnessed the phenomenon.”
    “Neither have I. Though Sam can make hot wings and pizza,” Jessica added.
    “Step aside. I’ll show you how it’s done.” Ezra slipped off his jacket and hung it neatly on the back of a chair. “You realize

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