Miss Kane's Christmas Read Free

that choice to them, but she couldn’t help but think that as the neighbors seemed to favor colored lights, it would be nice if the children chose white icicle ones. Of course they needed some Christmas music. She added candles to the list. She didn’t think it was proper to live in a house without an evergreen, cinnamon, or mint scent.
    Decisions about the tree were a little trickier. Carol tapped the tip of her pen against the table. Tree decorations were so personal, here she was reluctant to overstep.
    “Hello,” a voice called out.
    Carol whirled around in her chair. A sleepy little boy stood in the doorway, holding tight to a raggedy blanket. Carol smiled. “Well, hello. You must be Patrick.”
    The little boy nodded. “Who are you?”
    “My name is Carol,” she told him.
    “What are you doing here?” he asked.
    Carol smiled. In looks and demeanor the child reminded her of his father. In fact, Patrick looked like a miniature Ben Hanson. He had the same light brown hair, the same intense gaze, and an aura of sweet bewilderment that pulled at her heart.
    “I’ve come to help take care of you and your sister. I met your father when I arrived last night but you and Hillary were already asleep.”
    Patrick entered the kitchen and sat at the table across from Carol, all the while keeping a tight grip on his blanket. She was relieved to see he didn’t seem frightened by her presence, merely curious.
    “Shall I help you find some breakfast?” Carol asked. Her actual face to face experience with children was quite limited she realized. Because so much of her family’s life revolved around bringing joy to children at the holiday time she felt like she knew a lot about children. But now, as she sat across from Patrick, she realized she wasn’t quite as prepared for this experience as she’d thought. “Are you hungry?”
    Patrick shook his head. “No.”
    “Do you have school today?” Carol asked.
    Patrick shook his head again. “We’re on break.”
    “Oh, that’s quite nice, isn’t it?” Carol smiled again, wishing that the little boy would do the same. “What sort of fun do you and Hillary have planned for your days off?”
    “We don’t have fun here.”
    Carol tried not to stare. But really, this was the last response she’d expected to hear. “How old are you Patrick?”
    “Six,” he said. “I’m in kindergarten.”
    “Then isn’t having fun technically your job?” Carol asked.
    Patrick was saved from having to answer by the arrival of his sister. Hillary shared her brother’s resemblance to their father. But unlike her brother, who was attired in his pajamas still, Hillary was fully dressed in a red argyle sweater worn with brown corduroy pants. Her outfit was completed by a pink tulle skirt worn over her pants.
    “Good morning, Hillary. I’m Carol.” She smiled, and was relieved when Hillary smiled back. “I’m here to help take care of you.”
    Hillary stuck out her hand and shook Carol’s. “It’s nice to meet you. What is your last name?”
    “Kane,” she supplied. “My full name is Carol Candy Kane but no one calls me that. I think it would sound awfully silly, don’t you?”
    Both children nodded and giggled. Candy Kane had been Santa’s idea of a little joke when she’d been born. But it came in handy now as going by Carol Claus was just a little too obvious.
    “Now, shall we get down to some serious business?” Carol asked.
    Wide eyed, the children nodded.
    “Wonderful. Let’s find a deck of cards.”
    * * *
    “Good morning, Miss Kane.” Ben stopped in the entrance way to the kitchen, caught off guard by his children’s laughter. It wasn’t a sound he often heard, especially in the mornings. He looked from his son to his daughter. “What’s so funny?”
    They smiled at him but it was Carol who spoke next, and it didn’t escape his notice that she neatly sidestepped his question.
    “Good morning, Mr. Hanson. The children and I were just getting