Unforgettable Christmas - Gifts of Love (The Unforgettables Book 3)

by Mimi Barbour

  Smiling, Belle pulled out one and then a few more to tuck away in the bodice of her gown. “Did you find Layla? She needs to put her dress on now.”

  She’s with Jesse. I’ll go and fetch her.” With a pat on Belle’s shoulder, Kim left the room. Marilyn came up behind her until both images were visible in the full-length mirror. They smiled at each other and Belle saw Marilyn’s hand gently pat the tiny bulge in her own stomach.

  “Do you feel a little better now? Did the fresh air help?”

  “Actually, yes. I’m glad Kim insisted we go outside for a few minutes. Sorry to leave you alone at a time like this.” Marilyn smoothed the chiffon and lace front of her coral gown. She and Kim had chosen to wear the same color, only different styles, and they both looked perfect.

  “Not to worry. I had a little cry and feel better for it.”

  Marilyn laughed. “God, Belle. I’d give up this morning sickness any day and gladly drip tears like you. I don’t think you’ve been sick once, have you?”

  “No, but it’s kinda embarrassing for the store clerk when he has to deal with a ditzy customer blubbering cause he said the peaches were on sale.”

  “Maybe you’re right. Truth to tell, I’m so happy to be pregnant that I’ll gladly put up with upchucking every few hours. And Steve is delighted—struts around like he personally invented the sperm cell.”

  Giggles claimed the women until they both ended up grabbing for the box of tissues.

  They turned to the noise at the door. In scampered Layla with Kim right behind. “Can I put my dwess on now, Mama?” Since she’d taken to choosing her own clothes, Belle never knew how she’d look when she came out of her room in the morning. This day, she’d donned her favorite pair of dungarees and teamed them with a bright purple blouse, a size too small. Belle hoped she could find another top in the same color so she could wean the stubborn little miss from wearing this one.

  “Yes, baby. Is Jesse dressed now?”

  “ Nope! We were playing a card game. But he has his clothes all spread on the bed so he said he’ll be weady in two shakes of a dog’s tail.” Giggling uproariously at her favorite person’s witticism, Layla’s expression of adoration let everyone know that her Jesse could do no wrong. “And Gwampa is there now and Uncle Steve. They’re in their suits and look stunned.”

  “You mean stunning.” Belle smiled and wiped the fresh waterworks from her eyes.

  “Okay. Can I put my dwess on now?” Her eyes glowed with the thought of finally being able to don the dress she’d stared at every morning for weeks.

  “Yes, sweetheart. It’s in my closet. I brought it in here so you could be with us to get dressed.”

  Kim quickly went to the open door and lifted the tiny white gown from the hanger. The draping, coral satin belt contrasted beautifully with the white lace in the miniature replica of her mother’s wedding dress.

  With both Marilyn and Kim helping, it only took a few minutes to have the child ready. Her natural curls were brushed and shone from the sun’s shading. “Auntie Mawi, can I have flowers in my haiw like mommy does?”

  The women stopped dead in their tracks. No one had thought she’d make this request. Marilyn piped up and said, “Of course, Yaya. I’ll just take a couple of the flowers from your mom’s bouquet and we’ll pin them on.” Working quickly, Marilyn fashioned a gathering of flowers she extracted from the huge bunch that the florists had delivered. She braided a small amount of Layla’s hair, tucked the colorful blooms in and pinned them securely.” There. You like?”

  “I like.” Layla preened at herself, and then decided they needed to take a selfie with her new/old phone, a gift from an adoring Jesse who’d gotten an upgrade. After taking three shots with varying, silly faces, they could barely speak.

  A loud knock stopped their hilarity. Harry stuck his head in. “Am I interrupting you ladies?” His face, wreathed in smiles, tugged at Belle’s heartstrings. She quickly bit her lip to stop the coming waterfall. This time it worked and she took a deep breath. When a girl’s every dream had come true, from the beautiful new home that Jesse had built for them, to having everyone in her world who she loved together to celebrate her wedding, the music in her heart seemed reasonable.

  Before shepherding the ladies who’d gathered their flowers and formed the proper lineup—Belle on one arm and Layla holding his hand—Harry filled his pockets with tissues. Then he led his entourage to where his soon-to-be son-in-law stood waiting, smiling, his eyes full of tears.

  The End

  Afterword:

  Thank you so much for reading – Unforgettable Christmas.

  I loved writing the story, She’s Not You, Book #1 of the Elvis Series and I hope you enjoyed reading it. If so, I would ask you for a favor. Wherever you purchased this set, please take a few minutes and leave an honest review. Authors enjoy hearing that readers like their stories, and hopefully, others will read your words and choose to buy the book because of your sentiments.

  My website at http://mimibarbour.com now has all my books listed with links to the various publishers to make it easy for you to return to where you bought the book and to find my other work.

  While you’re there, I’d really appreciate it if you would sign up for my newsletter so I can keep in touch.

  http://bit.ly/mimibarbournewsletter

  I normally send out newsletters every few months and you have my word that your address will never be shared.

  Hugs, Mimi

  Please Keep Me

  Holiday Heartwarmers Series

  Book #1

  Mimi Barbour

  NYT & USA Today Best-selling author

  Copyright © 2016 Mimi Barbour

  Prologue

  Dark and frightening, the night sounds of busy birds, buzzing insects and muted traffic from the faraway streets created a surrounding racket that disturbed the terrified puppies. Rustling of the tree branches added to the discord, as did the wind sweeping up dry leaves and forcing them against solid objects where they splattered and crumbled.

  The overwhelming, surrounding scents were tantalizing and yet not familiar and therefore, not comforting. Only the smell from the teats and the warmth of their mother’s body was yearned for and missed.

  Inside the cardboard box, the one female puppy communicated with her two brothers; he’s gone!

  Scampering to the corner of their flimsy prison, she thought back to the fight that had ensued between the man and her mistress before she and her brothers had been thrown here.

  “Amelia, you kept those mutts? Before I left last week, I told you to get rid of them.”

  “But, Doug, they were too little to be weaned from Bella. I was waiting until this weekend to try and sell them.” Her mistress’s lovely voice had sounded placating and miserable all at the same time.

  “Who’s going to buy these three? Their mom is a fat, ugly, overly-friendly lab with no guard skills; don’t know why I let you talk me into keeping her. And that vicious Samoyed brute across the way, who’s no doubt their father, is meaner than the devil who owns him.”

  “Doug, they’re cute pups. I bet I can get a few dollars for them.”

  “Sure, and until then we have to listen to them kai-yiying all the time, clean up their messes and feed them. No more! I want them gone. It’s bad enough we have to trip over that bag of bones without having to deal with her stupid offspring too. Never mind! Since you’re as useless as a garden hose in a forest fire, I’ll take care of this myself.”

  He yanked the three pups out from under the tummy of the keening dam where they’d burrowed in fear. Grabbing a nearby box, he threw them inside. After a short drive in a car, he carried the carton for a few minutes and threw it down.

  “Good riddance!” Those were the last words the puppies heard from him. The fading sounds as the man crunched away were terrifying.

  Whimpering at the memory, after multiple tries, the female puppy bounced until her front paws gained purchase on the box’s edge. Straining her neck,
she peered out.

  The moon, riding high in the starlit sky, provided illumination for the snoopy pup. I think it`s a park, she told the other two, whining, sharing her thoughts.

  Chubs, her roly-poly brother, subsided lazily in his corner, his furry body falling over and staying there. What are we going to do? Little beady black eyes watered as he howled pitifully.

  Stop that caterwauling! It hurts my ears. His brother’s normal cranky manner was evident in his insensitive attitude. We’ll sleep now, and in the morning, Sis can go and find us some help.

  Okay! That’s a good idea, right, Sister? Chubs yawned and curled up next to his brother. Both were asleep in seconds. Only their sister snoozed with one eye open, guarding their new dwelling.

  In the morning, sounds of human voices woke the three. Again, the female bounced in the corner until she had her front paws clinging to the side of the carton. In the distance, she saw a lot of water. There were people running along the edge. To her left, there was a grassy field where humans were playing a game with a big brown ball.

  Cranky wanted to see the world she was describing. When he got close, she used his butt as a ladder and worked her way up and over his head, landing ungraciously in a heap on the grass outside of their container.

  Go, Sis. Find us help! Chubs and Cranky whined together.

  Chapter One

  Reed Carlton couldn’t believe that his three brothers had talked him into a game of touch football, and on Thanksgiving yet. A day he’d normally be working. Or at home recuperating from too many shifts at the hospital where, as the youngest and easiest-going of the staff, he worked as a surgeon.

  Since they’d recently opened the new surgical wing at the local clinic, he’d been playing catch-up with all the cases that had been put on hold for months. It seemed that everyone over the age of fifty and within a hundred mile radius had been waiting for some form of surgery. There were so many hip and knee replacements scheduled, it was a wonder anyone could still move around.

  Carlton Grove, Washington, the small town where he’d grown up had become quite a thriving metropolis in the last decade and their hospital had had no choice but to expand and include facilities that the population demanded.

  “Reed, throw it here.” Gathering his drifting thoughts, he looked over at his youngest brother and grinned. Harley was the most energetic and he normally managed to wear the rest of them out. Reed tossed the ball and watched as Harley, making a wily maneuver, snapped it from the air, dodged the three on the other team and headed for the goalpost. A line drawn in the dirt with a couple of branches planted at either end signified its importance.

  In the next play, Reed received the ball and headed to the same goalpost, hoping to get in the clear so they could score again. This time, Harley, overly enthusiastic, heaved the ball way over Reed’s head in the direction of the lake. Hurrying to retrieve the slippery object, Reed raced over the hill and his heart slammed into his throat at the scene playing out below him.

  A furry white puppy ran to the top of the slope by the edge of the lake and had lost its footing. It slid and then rolled, ass over tea kettle, over the bank and into the water.

  Meanwhile, a small child in jeans and a hoodie raced into the water with no hesitation, obviously intent on saving the puppy. As Reed watched, he could see they were both in trouble. One minute the little one was waist-high and reaching for the dog, and the next, he was in over his head struggling to find footing. And the pup, now in the kid’s clutches, fought to free itself, which only made matters worse.

  Oh-oh! Reed and everyone who had ever swum in that lake were aware that the shore was dangerously uneven. One minute you’d be safe walking on ground in low water, and the next step would take you down. Dead, rotting vegetation on the lake’s bottom made it slimy and greasy in some places, dangerous in the extreme. Unable to balance, and with a wriggling puppy to contend with, the boy went under, taking the dog with him. Reed dropped the ball and ran faster than he ever had before.

  http://www.amazon.com/Please-Keep-Holiday-Heartwarmers-Book-ebook/dp/B017T2AU1U/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1447183442&sr=1-1&keywords=please+keep+me&pebp=1447183444638&perid=1ZS08G9WSF2PN1R8V7QP

  Please Keep Me (Holiday Heartwarmers Book 1) - Kindle edition by Mimi Barbour. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

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  Please Keep Me (Holiday Heartwarmers Book 1) - Kindle edition by Mimi Barbour. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Please Keep Me (Holiday Heartwarmers Book 1).

  Author, Mimi Barbour

  Mimi is an incredibly busy New York Times, USA Today and award-winning, best-selling author who has five series to her credit.

  She lives on the beautiful east coast of Vancouver Island and fills most of her day with writing and promoting her work. The rest of her time is spent in her garden, doing minimal housework and enjoying her husband’s company while he cooks their dinner.

  “The favorite part of my job is meeting the characters from each new book. Creating them the way I want and having them act however I think they should. It’s thrilling. Especially when most of my make-believe folks are interesting, witty and in most cases, people I would love to know.”

  Contact Information

  Write to me, I truly love hearing from my readers!

  My website: http://www.mimibarbour.com/

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  Other Books by Mimi Barbour

  Many of Mimi's books can be found FREE on Kindle Unlimited!!

  ~*~*~*~

  The Vicarage Bench Series

  — Spirit Travel at its Best! —

  She’s Me (Book 1)

  He’s Her (Book 2)

  We’re One (Book 3)

  Vicarage Bench Anthology (Book 4 - Books 1-3)

  Together Again (Book 5)

  Together for Christmas (Book 6)

  Together Always (Book 7)

  ***

  Angels with Attitude Series

  — Angels Playing Cupid! —

  The Angels with Attitudes Anthology (Books 1-3)

  My Cheeky Angel (Book 1)

  His Devious Angel (Book 2)

  Loveable Christmas Angel (Book 3)

  ***

  Elvis Series

  — Make an Elvis Song a Book! —

  She’s Not You (Book 1)

  Love Me Tender (Book 2)

  ***

  Vegas Series

  — Action–Packed Thrillers! —

  Vegas Series – Complete Boxed Set

  Partners (Book 1)

  Roll the Dice (Book 2)

  Vegas Shuffle (Book 3)

  High Stakes Gamble (Book 4)

  Spin the Wheel (Book 5)

  Let it Ride (Book 6)

  ***

  Undercover FBI Series

  — Popular & Compelling! —

  Special Agent Francesca (Book 1)

  Special Agent Finnegan (Book 2)

  Special Agent Maximilian (Book 3)

  Special Agent Kandice (Book 4)

  Special Agent Booker (Book 5)

  Special Agent Charli (Book 6 - to be released Fall 2017)

  ***

  Holiday Heartwarmers Trilogy

  — Truly a Christmas favorite! —

  Holiday Heartwarmers Series

  Please Keep Me (Book 1)

  Snow Pup (Book 2)

  Find Me a Home (Book 3)

  Frosty the Snowman (Book 4)

  Love of my Life (Book 5)

  ***

  Mob Tracker Series

  — She's out to get her brother’s killers! —

  Sweet Retaliation (Book #1)

  Sweet Justice (Book #2)

  Sweet Resolution (Book #3

  Sweet Endings - (Book #4 - to be released November 2017)

  ***

  Other Titles

  I'm N
o Angel

  Hotshot Cowboy

  Big Girls Don't Cry

  Christmas Runaway

  The Surrogate's Secret

  Mimi's Mix (Box Set)

  'Tis the Season (Box Set)

  Hearts, Flowers & Romance (Box Set)

  Red Hot Divas (Box Set)

  A Touch of Passion (Multi-author Box Set)

  Love, Christmas (Multi-author Box Set)

  Unforgettable Romances (Multi-author Box Set)

  Kiss Me, Thrill Me (Multi-author Box Set)

  Mystic Lovers (Multi-author Box Set )

  Wedding Pets & Kisses (Multi-author Box Set)

  Hotshot Heartbreakers (Multi-author Box Set)

  Sweet and Sassy (Multi-author Box Set)

  Mystic Passion (Multi-author Box Set)

  Unforgettable Heroes (Multi-author Box Set)

  Sweet Heat (Multi-author Box Set)

  Hotshot Charmers (Multi-author Box Set - to be released Sept 2017)

  Unforgettable Christmas (Multi-author Box Set – to be released Oct 2017)

  Beneath the Mistletoe (Multi-author Box Set – to be released Oct 2017

  ***

  All Mimi's books can be found on her Amazon Author Page:

  http://bit.ly/MimiBarbourAmazon

  OR

  Website: http://mimibarbour.com

  AN ALMOST PERFECT

  CHRISTMAS

  Donna Fasano

  USA Today Bestselling Author

  Copyright © 2014 by Donna J. Fasano

  Book Description

  When it comes to business, Aaron Chase knows how to succeed. But when his daughter, Izzie, asks him for the perfect family Christmas, the handsome widower feels at a loss about how to make his little girl’s dream come true.

  Pediatric Nurse Christy Cooper has dedicated her life to taking care of children. She agrees to act as Izzie’s stand-in mom for this special holiday and throws herself into making the child’s Christmas wish a reality. Maybe this selfless act will somehow alleviate her secret regrets and failures of the past.