Bet on a Mistletoe Read Free Page B

felt now was only temporary. As he
got under the spray of water his mind began to consider ways he could make
Lorna a permanent in his life.

    “Good afternoon, sweetheart,” her father smiled up
at her as he sat in his lazy-boy in front of the fire completing a crossword
puzzle.
          “Afternoon?” Stepping off the last step, she glanced out the
window and saw the sun high and bright. Most of the snow was gone from the
night before. “Wow, I didn’t realize I was being a slug-a-bed.” Moving to him,
she kissed him on the cheek.
          “You
were probably tired from your trip.” Her father patted her shoulder. “Why don’t
we head in the kitchen and get you something to eat.”
          She
took note of the slowness in which her father rose from his chair. Concern
tightened her forehead. “Dad, you alright?”
          “Never better. You know I always get a little stiff around
the winter. That’s why we go visit your Aunt Gertie for Christmas every year in
Florida. But, since you have other things to take care of, we’re staying here.”
          “Good
thing we did, too, Samson,” her mother’s light voice joined in when they
entered the kitchen. She was sitting at the table with a large puzzle before
her. The shapes were so tiny, Lorna guessed it to be
another two thousand piece puzzle she was putting together.
          Lorna
smiled. Her mother always did have ears all over the house. “Mom, shouldn’t you
have your glasses on?”
          “That’s
right.” Her father added his chorus. “Rebecca Jean never listens to me, Honey
bear. Nope.
          So, you
sit down as I fix your breakfast and give your mother a fit.”
          Laughing
at her mother as she rolled her eyes, then snatched up her glasses from the
other end of the table.
          “There,
Samson, are you happy now?” She topped it off by sticking out her tongue.
          Her
father didn’t see because his back was to them as he pulled pans and
ingredients out of the cabinet.
          “It
wouldn’t take her half as long to finish one as it does.” Her father called out
over sizzling bacon.
          “What’s
the rush? I’ll just start another one. All I got is time on my hands.”
          Her
father grumbled more, but the conversation stopped momentarily. Lorna enjoyed
sitting and listening to her parents hassle each other. She had no doubt of
their love. They were best friends who’d fallen in love and married. As she
took in both of them comfortable in their home, two people who had always
appeared ageless to her, she noticed the reality of how much they had aged
since the last time she was home.
          It was
true they went to Florida, but she always thought it was just for the family
annual get together. Not due to her father’s arthritis. Her mother’s sight was
going. What was next? She was the only child. Her parents were in their late
sixties. Maybe it was time she did think about coming home to visit them more often, if, and when, she ever found another job.
          “So,
sweetheart, how long will you be home? Can I hope until the New Year?” Her
mother grabbed her hand.
          “Rebecca
Jean, her job is very demanding with the Cosco, Stevenson, Lincoln, Clevand,
Bangel and Jones firm she works for in D.C.”
          Giggling,
Lorna corrected her father who frequently messed up the name of the accounting
firm she had worked for over six years. “Bangel, Jones,
Robertson and Cosco.” Then she became a little more serious remembering
her mother’s question. “I’ll definitely be here for Christmas then we’ll play
the rest by ear. You’re not tired of me already, are you?”
          She’d
have to go into town to use the internet at the library and continue her job
searching. She hoped that she’d get a bite before the rest of her things showed
up at the house. With the holiday, the packing and shipping company wouldn’t be
able to get