Santa Wore Combat Boots Read Free

in and out of her life like her personal guardian angel.
    Nothing had been the same since that helicopter crash. Each year since he’d died in Iraq, Larry had come to her on Christmas Eve. She’d never told anyone for fear they would think she was crazy, but on this one special night she could forget the hurt and the loneliness, and focus on feeling his love once more to the very depths of her soul. She spent 364 days in anticipation of having one night with only his spirit. Besides her children, it was the only thing that gave her purpose.
    “Mommy, I said, can I have more?” Sarah held up her mug, her impatience knocking Emma back to reality.
    “I don’t want you to spoil your dinner. You can have more tomorrow.” Emma took the cup from her daughter. Unfortunately, everything was the same except Larry was dead.
    Inhaling deeply to calm the building emptiness, she pasted a smile she didn’t quite feel onto her face and brushed the back of her hand against Sarah’s still rosy cheeks. “I love you, sweetheart.”
    “Love you, too, Mommy.” Sarah slid from the chair and ventured back to the living room with her brother not far behind. How easy it was to be a child. Their innocence and love made Emma want to cry. But she wouldn’t, not now. She would be strong if only for them.
    Using the remaining hot water from the teakettle, Emma made a cup of tea and stared at her list of things to do. Instead of getting easier, this year seemed harder than ever. She never should have volunteered for the dinner. She needed to stop putting herself in situations like this, situations that reminded her how lonely she was without her husband.
    Once the holidays were over, Emma would talk to Clare at the base and gracefully bow out of any other duties with the bereavement group. Eventually she would stop coming to their monthly meetings, too. They were such a strong support system, but at times Emma wondered if they were all just a crutch for each other.
    Talking about death and loneliness for hours didn’t make her feel better, or change anything. It was like reliving Larry’s death over and over each month. All of the tears drained her energy so that it took about four days to recover from their group sessions. To think she’d been doing this for three years. It was time to stop. Emma refused to go to a private therapist, she couldn’t afford one anyway. She didn’t want to talk about Larry’s death anymore. She wanted to bask in his spirit, and be with him whenever she could.
    Which was why she’d been visiting every psychic medium within eighty miles of Martin’s Landing, New York, in hopes that someone could be that contact for her. There had to be a way to put her in touch with Larry more than once a year. She didn’t want to be without him anymore.
    Walking to the counter, she pressed the flashing button on the answering machine.
    “Emma? This is Madame Zelda confirming our appointment tomorrow. I look forward to providing the peace you need.”
    And that was it. Tomorrow after her shift at the department store, relief could very well be in the hands of Madame Zelda. Emma stared at the phone, filled with a new hope and energy. Everything was going to work out. She would get through the holidays and be able to stay in touch with Larry for the rest of her life.
    Maybe there was some truth to miracles after all?

 
     
    CHAPTER TWO
     
    “Are you going to make it until quitting time?” Emma asked her friend Traci as they straightened racks at Macy’s department store.
    “Just counting the hours.” The pencil-thin redhead checked her watch, then looked around the store. “How can you be so calm? Today is the big day.”
    “I know. I’m trying not to think about it much.”
    “Why? This is what you’ve been waiting for isn’t it? You could finally find someone to help you, Emma. I think this is fantastic.”
    “But what if Madame Zelda isn’t who she claims? She could be no different than all the others.