His Holiday Family Read Free Page B

so glad you’re here.” Relief flooded her features. “If you need me, I’ll be—”
    â€œMom, I’ll take care of this. Don’t worry.” Her mom never did well when someone was hurt or even sick. She usually fell apart. She certainly hadn’t gotten her desire to be a nurse from her mother.
    Jared sat cross-legged on the tile floor, cradling his left arm to his chest, tears streaking down his face. His look whisked away any anger she had at him attempting something dangerous.
    Kathleen stooped down, putting her hand on his shoulder. “Honey, where does it hurt?”
    He sniffled. “Here.” He lifted his arm and pointed at his wrist. “Nana thinks I broke it.”
    When Kathleen gently probed his injury, Jared yelped and tried to pull away.
    â€œLet’s take you to the doctor. You’ll need an X-ray.”
    â€œAm I gonna get a shot?” Jared’s brown eyes grew round and large.
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œI am! I don’t want to go.” Jared scooted back from her. “I can tough it out.”
    â€œIf it’s broken, it needs to be fixed. It’ll hurt a lot more than a shot if you don’t get it taken care of.”
    â€œDon’t be a baby,” Kip said behind Kathleen.
    She threw a warning look over her shoulder. “I’m sure you have homework. Go do it. Have Nana help you if you need it.”
    Jared stopped moving away from her. He peered down at his wrist, sniffed and then locked gazes with her. “I’m not a baby.” He pushed to his feet, tears swimming in his eyes. Blinking, he ran his right hand across his face, scrubbing away the evidence of his crying. “I’m ready,” he announced as if he were being led away to some horrible fate.
    While Jared trudged toward the front door, Kathleen spied Kip sitting on the stairs. Before her older son could open his mouth, she followed Jared into the foyer. Jared went outside on the porch, sticking his tongue out at his brother as he left.
    Kathleen swept around, her hand resting on her waist. “Don’t forget you and I need to have a talk. This fighting between you two has got to stop.”
    â€œWe don’t fight.”
    She arched her eyebrow. “Oh, since when?”
    â€œWe’re playing.”
    Gesturing toward the den, she said, “Homework. I want to see it finished by the time I get back to Nana’s to pick you up.”
    Kip leaped to his feet and stomped toward the den,making enough racket to wake up anyone who was within a several house radius.
    As Kathleen covered the distance to the den to tell her mother what she was going to do, her mom said, “Glory be. This is great news.”
    Kathleen stepped through the entrance into the room. “What is?” she asked, swinging her attention to The Weather Channel on TV. She could certainly use some good news.
    Her mom muted the announcer. “Hurricane Naomi has changed course. I think we’re going to miss most of it. Maybe get a touch of the western tip, but not like they had predicted.”
    â€œWe don’t have to board up our house now?” Kip sat down at the gaming table with his book bag.
    â€œIt’s not looking like we do.” Her mom peered at her. “I know it’s not good news for someone else, but maybe it will peter out before it reaches Florida.”
    Kathleen doubted it from the information she had heard. “Mom, I’m taking Jared to the minor emergency clinic. I don’t know when I’ll be back to pick up Kip.”
    â€œFine. Kip and I will put away all the supplies I bought for the hurricane, especially all those boxes of tape I got for the windows, which I really don’t need. Don’t know why I bought them.”
    â€œI’ll take a box, Nana,” Kip announced while digging into his bag for his homework.
    â€œSure. Just don’t tape up Jared with it.” Her mother rose and