Embattled Christmas Read Free Page A

office chair. There was an embezzlement case that needed puzzled out.

Chapter Three
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    L ora peered through the blinds, watching for Chad’s bright red truck. He was running a few minutes late from picking Mercy up at school and though she knew in her mind that nothing was wrong, it was hard to tell her heart that. Years of watching out for her daughter and being her only provider had taught her to be on alert. It was a hard habit to break, even though Chad was doing a good job of teaching her. She just had to learn to rely on him.
    God. Chad. Just the thought of his irreverent grin and warm arms made her tummy flutter. She looked down at the ring on her hand, still in disbelief months later. It was beautiful, inlaid diamonds glinting. After Derek she’d never thought she would be open to another relationship with a man, but Chad had truly worked his way into her heart.
    It was the candy. He’d melted her defenses with those darn starlight mints.
    The truck appeared down the street and she held her breath as she watched him park, then step down to the concrete to circle the hood. He wore jeans, cowboy boots and a fleece lined jean-jacket against the cold, but he still made her heart flutter with awareness. After Derek Lora never thought she’d get her sexuality back, but Chad had done that for her and so much more.
    Pulling the edges of the sweater tighter around her, she unlocked and opened the front door. Chad released the belts on Mercy’s child-seat and lifted her to the ground. Her precocious child stomped her way to the door, face set in a mutinous expression. She softened enough to give Lora a hug when she entered the house and tolerated having her winter clothes peeled from her body but refused to talk. Lora frowned at her behavior but didn’t say anything.
    “There’s a snack for you on the counter in the kitchen.”
    Mercy disappeared down the hallway.
    Lora looked up at Chad when he walked in the door. “What was that about?” she asked.
    He shook his head and leaned down for a kiss. “I’ll tell you in a bit.”
    Lora squeezed his neck, savoring the feel of him in her arms and the smell of winter on his clothes. “Okay.”
    By the time they had dinner and she’d gotten Mercy ready for bed it had been several hours. They didn’t have a chance to talk about the incident in the truck until Mercy had gone to sleep.
    Chad related the story and Lora didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Poor Mercy was struggling.
    “I can’t believe she said that to her teacher. She never talks like that.”
    Chad grinned up at her as he tugged off his socks and prepared for bed. “Well, I think she was polite—otherwise the teacher would have called us, right?”
    Lora nodded. “Probably.”
    Her heart ached at her daughter’s struggles. Trying to explain that your mother had killed your father was probably not an easy thing to contemplate. And there was no skirting the fact. Mercy had been right there and she’d seen everything. Lora had talked to the school and explained the situation in as much detail as she dared. “I don’t know why she didn’t just tell the woman that he was dead.”
    They’d talked about it in the counseling sessions. Twice a week they had the chance to air anything they were concerned about. Why hadn’t she said something there?
    Chad scraped a hand over his hair, ruffling the waves. “Well, I kind of wonder if she’s waiting for me to be her dad. That was kind of the vibe I got in the truck. Maybe she didn’t want to say that because she’s waiting for me to step up and I’m just taking too long. Is there something going on at the school that requires a dad?”
    Lora stared at him, considering. What he said made sense. It was the kind of reasoning a six-year old would use.
    “Hm. Maybe. I haven’t seen her Santa list yet,” Lora admitted. “And she’s usually very vocal about what’s on it.”
    Chad frowned and she could tell Mercy’s behavior bothered him.
    “If