by Mona Ingram
“Come on,” he said, taking her by the hand. “I want you to meet my mother.”
“UNCLE BRENT, YOU MISSED the excitement.” Annie pointed to the dance floor. Chase and Lily were dancing again, oblivious to everyone else in the ballroom.
Her hand crept into his. “It was so romantic. Why are you late?”
“I got a flat tire on the way here. Can you believe it?” He moved to face her and bowed. “May I have the pleasure of this dance?”
She giggled. “Of course, silly.”
Brent forced himself to take small steps as they made their way around the dance floor. “Are you having a good time?” he asked. “Where are the other kids?”
“They’re in the other room. I’ll go back there in a little while. I came in here so I could see all the gowns.” She pulled back and looked up at him. “Uncle Brent?”
“Hmmm?”
“Why aren’t you here with Cynthia?”
The question startled him, and he stopped abruptly. Had it only been this afternoon when he’d met Cynthia in the restaurant?
“I’m not going to be going out with her anymore.” He looked down at her and smiled.
She looked puzzled. “But Uncle Brent, she told us that she was your fiancée.”
The words registered slowly. He stopped completely, and pulled her off the dance floor.
“Us? Who is us?” But he knew the answer.
“Maddie and I.”
He groaned aloud. “But that’s not true. I’ve never been engaged to Cynthia.” A sudden thought hit him. “When was this?”
“I don’t know. Last week? I was showing Maddie my happy picture, and Cynthia came into the building.” Her eyebrows drew together as she recalled the day. “I think Maddie was upset.”
The bottom fell out of his stomach. “Oh my God. She’s really done it this time.”
“You mean you’re truly not engaged?” Maddie’s hopeful smile almost broke his heart.
“No, Sweetie. I’m not engaged.” He squatted down until he was eye to eye with the child. “Annie, this is really important. Does Maddie have a boyfriend? Do you know?”
Her face turned serious again. “She had one in Vancouver, but he hurt her. I saw him today at the rink. She was really mad that he came here and she told him to go away.”
Brent could have kicked himself. He should have stuck around, but the pain of seeing Maddie with someone else had been so sharp....
He stood up and looked out over the dance floor. “Annie,” he said. “I’m sorry we didn’t finish our dance but I have to leave now.”
She smiled up at him. “Are you going to see Maddie?”
“Yes, I am.” He kissed her on the top of her head, and then strode across the dance floor. Lily waved off his apology for interrupting, and gave him the address. He hurriedly entered the address into his cell phone and then sprinted toward the parking garage.
“YOU’RE GOING TO BE a handful, I can see that.” It was hard not to laugh. The puppy was adorable, even if he had shredded the newspaper and then left a little puddle on the floor of her bedroom. “You definitely need more space.”
She walked into the living room, and he followed her, nipping at her jeans. When she’d realized that she’d be following the puppy around all evening, she’d put on her oldest jeans and a sweatshirt with a faded SFU logo.
She loved dogs. When she was younger, they’d had a black cocker spaniel. Her father had named him Sailor for the white patch on his chest. He’d been a devoted family dog until he died at the age of fifteen.
The buzzer sounded. The dog gave a bark and then jumped back; he seemed surprised that the sound had come from him.
“Now who could that be?” she said. “Probably someone forgot their key and wants to be buzzed in.”
He padded along behind her to the hallway and began to lick her bare feet. She picked up the handset to the intercom.
“You stop that,” she said, laughing. “Hello?”
“Maddie?”
“Brent?”
The dog looked up at her, alerted by her tone of voice.
“Do you have company?”
She didn’t process his question at first. She couldn’t believe that he was downstairs.
“Brent? What are you doing here?”
The dog barked.
“Well, if you’d let me come up, I’d explain. Is that a dog I hear?” He sounded relieved.
“Yes, it’s Annie’s puppy.”
“Maddie.”
“Yes?”
“Put your finger on the button, or whatever it is you do, and let me in.”
“Oh.” She pressed the button.
She picked up the puppy and danced him into the living room. “Brent is here,” she crooned into his ear. “Or am I daydreaming?”
The door buzzer sounded.
“Guess not,” she said. She ran and opened the door.
Brent was leaning against the door frame, gasping for air.
“What’s the matter?” She peeked out into the hall. “Isn’t the elevator working?”
“There were some people...” He made a gesture with his hand. “...so I ran up the stairs.”
She stepped back, and he staggered inside. “Don’t be such a baby. We’re only on the fifth floor.”
He stopped and looked at her. “Are we having a fight?”
She still couldn’t quite believe he was here. “I hope not.”
He reached out and scratched behind the dog’s ear. The animal squirmed to be let down and Maddie placed him on the floor.
She crossed her arms in front of her. In this position it would be easier to catch her heart when it flew out of her chest.
“So what’s going on, Brent? Why are you here?” The dog jumped up against her legs, but she ignored it.
“Annie told me what Cynthia said, Maddie. She is not my fiancée. We are not engaged. Never have been.”
“But...” Joy surged up inside. “So you’re not...” It was too good to be true.
“And I’m sorry I didn’t stick around today. When I saw you with that guy, I figured it was too late.” He unwrapped her arms and held her by the hands. “I drove away.”
“You saw me with Allan?” She tried to remember what had happened. “Oh. He put his arms around me, didn’t he?”
“Yes, and I couldn’t stand watching, so I took off.”
Her voice softened. “Why, Brent? Why did you take off?”
“Like I said, I...oh come here, woman.” He pulled her closer. “I’m the one who should be holding you, Maddie.” He pulled back and looked into her eyes. “Is that okay with you?”
“Very okay.” She raised her lips for a kiss. His mouth claimed hers in a fierce, possessive kiss that left her breathless...and wanting more.
“We have a lot of time to make up for,” she murmured, pulling him closer for another kiss. “I think it’s going to be a long night.”
The dog barked once, then settled down to wait, his head resting on his paws.
Epilogue
CHRISTMAS EVE – DRUMMOND Ranch
“Maddie! Lily!” Annie greeted them at the door. The puppy stood at her side, wagging his tail. “I got a dog!” She hugged Maddie and whispered ‘thank you’ in her ear. “And I got a sewing machine!” She took Lily’s hand and pulled her away to inspect it.
Chase and Brent stood in the hallway, and Maddie was struck by their similarities. They may not look alike, but both were honourable men who loved their family. It didn’t get much better than that. Her gaze connected with Brent’s.
“Come inside,” he said, relieving her of her coat. “I’d like you to meet my mother and father.”
Maddie had been nervous about meeting Brent’s parents, but their welcome was warm and gracious. They were soon regaling her with stories of Brent as a youngster, much to his dismay. By the time Lily came back into the room with Annie, Maddie knew she’d found her new family. Chase merely stood by, a contented smile on his face as he observed Lily wi
th his niece.
The dog was relegated to his basket in the mudroom while they ate dinner. Annie objected to being separated from her new friend, but Brent was firm. “We have to train him now, or you won’t be able to manage him later.”
“I think I’ll call him Snowball.” She looked to Maddie, then Lily for approval.
“Sounds good to me.”
“I like it.”
They spoke at the same time.
The child’s happy gaze took in everyone at the table. “Look, everyone. We’re a family for Christmas.”
The End
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About the Author:
Mona Ingram is the author of more than four dozen romances. Many of her stories take place in British Columbia, where she has lived since the age of twelve. In recent years, she has lived in the Okanagan Valley and on Vancouver Island. In addition to reading and writing, traveling and bird watching are among Mona's favorite pastimes.
If you enjoyed A Family for Christmas, you might like one of Mona’s most popular books:
Full Circle
Here’s an excerpt:
Prologue
THE PRIVATE JET HAD been descending for several minutes. Bella shuffled the papers she’d been holding and slipped them back into her briefcase. Attempting to study the reports had been a waste of time...a futile attempt to divert her thoughts. She looked across the low table and into the eyes of the man who had been her partner for the past fifteen years. Sometimes it angered her that he could read her so well whereas she rarely knew what he was thinking. Those dark eyes studied her now, and she thought she caught a hint of sadness behind the sweeping black lashes.
The cabin attendant paused beside their seats. “The captain has asked me to inform you that we’ll be landing in ten minutes.”
Bella glanced up at the young woman. “Thank you, Laura. Would you ask the captain if he could circle Willow Bend before we land? I’d like to see it from the air.” The flight would land at a nearby airport, the Willow Bend facility having been closed long since.
“Certainly, Miss Thompson.” The attendant nodded and went forward.
Bella looked out the window. “I’ve never seen Willow Bend from the air,” she murmured. “I wonder if I’ll be able to see any changes since the last time I was here.”
Rafael watched her closely but he remained silent; she hadn’t really expected him to answer.
The aircraft made a slight change of course, then dropped one wing and commenced a slow circle around the town. Sun glinted off the river and an invisible hand tightened around Bella’s heart. There were times when it seemed like yesterday that she’d confronted Jeffrey beside that river. She forced herself to continue looking and spotted the high school with its adjoining football field and bleachers. A few blocks beyond that was the section of town where she’d grown up but she couldn’t spot her parents’ home among the jumble of roofs. On the gentle rise across the river the homes were statelier; here and there swimming pools flashed brilliant blue in the late afternoon sun.
And there it was. The old Lambert textile mill. Silent these past ten years. She didn’t know what she’d expected to feel when she saw it. After all, her father had worked there most of his life and had lost his job along with hundreds of others in the town. She edged forward on her seat to get a closer look. The heavy wire fence that had once encircled the mill was gone. In its place, strategically placed trees and shrubs lifted their leaves to the sunshine. A few cars and several pickup trucks were parked between the bright yellow lines in the newly paved lot. For the first time since leaving California earlier today, Bella experienced a surge of excitement. Excitement mixed with apprehension.
She tore her gaze away and looked at her partner. “You’re sure we’re doing the right thing?” she asked, uncharacteristically nervous. “It’s such a big step, opening a new production facility.”
“Bella.” She loved the way he said her name. “We’ve been over this many times.” His gaze softened for a moment. “What you’re doing is a wonderful thing. You’re giving this town a chance to get back on its feet.” He didn’t need to look down at the mill; he’d been here half a dozen times already. “Besides, it’s too late now.”
Chapter One
Twenty years earlier.
It was overcast the day Bella found out she was pregnant. Madonna was singing Papa Don’t Preach on her bedside radio and she gave a strangled laugh as the words filtered into her consciousness. She held the stick in her hand, backed up unsteadily and sat down on the edge of her bed.
The test confirmed what she already knew. The signs had been there for weeks now, but she’d clung to hope the way a man clings to a life raft in stormy seas. And her life was about to get stormy; she knew that for a fact. With one hand on her stomach, she rocked back and forth, slowly accepting the reality of her situation.
She wondered what Jeffrey was doing right now. They didn’t see each other every day, but today was Friday, and they usually grabbed cold drinks and went to “their place” by the river; a quiet, sheltered spot carpeted with pine needles. They jokingly referred to it as their love nest, but it was in fact a place where they dared to dream of a future together. It wouldn’t be easy; they knew that. Bella’s mother was a skilled dressmaker who worked at home, and her father worked at Lambert Textiles, whereas Jeffrey was the son of Edward and Judith Lambert, owners of Lambert Textiles and Willow Bend’s largest employer.
She and Jeffrey had been together since the spring, when he’d broken up with Angela Sterling. At first she couldn’t believe that Jeffrey was interested in her; she didn’t consider herself beautiful like many of the other girls, or sophisticated, like Angela. She smiled to herself, recalling how she’d been so nervous around him at first. But as the days got warmer and she began to know him better, she relaxed and accepted the fact that he was interested in her...in what she thought and had to say. The sex had been a natural extension of their growing affection for one another. Bella thought of it as “making love” even though Jeffrey had never used the same term. Come to think of it, he’d never called it anything. She glanced at her watch. He’d be getting out of school and wondering where she was. She’d never lied to him before, but she’d made an excuse for missing school this afternoon, saying she had a Doctor’s appointment. He’d forgive her when she told him the news.
Another nervous spasm gripped her stomach; a clear indication that it was time to find him and get it over with. The longer she waited, the harder it would be. She had no idea what she was going to say, or how he would respond. They often finished each other’s sentences, as though they’d been together forever, but today was different. She didn’t have the faintest idea what to expect from him when she made the big announcement.
She shoved all evidence of the pregnancy kit in her bag, checked her appearance in the mirror and crept downstairs. A murmur of voices reached her from the dining room...or it used to be the dining room before her mother converted it to her workshop and consultation room. When Mom had mentioned a bridal fitting this afternoon, Bella had sighed with relief. It was the perfect opportunity to sneak in the back door, go upstairs, and do the test.
The back door closed quietly after her and she went through the gate at the back of the yard and down the lane that ran along the back of the properties. Clouds scudded across the sky and she shivered, even though it was the warmest part of the day. Within minutes she was approaching the river, and her steps quickened.
Jeffrey’s car was parked in the usual spot, partly hidden behind some bushes a quarter of a mile from where they usually met. Her pulse quickened as she pictured him there, sitting on the blanket he always brought, wai
ting for her.
He wasn’t there, and the blanket wasn’t spread out under the pines. She opened her mouth to call, and then spotted a flash of color down by the river. He’d worn her favorite shirt to school this morning; pale blue denim. She took a few more silent steps on the pine needles and paused for a moment to drink in the sight of him. Dark brown hair curled at the back of his neck, and what she could see of his skin was bronzed with an early summer tan.
He bent and picked up a handful of stones, sorted through them and started to skip them on the tranquil waters of the slowly-moving river. Watching him she frowned; his movements were jerky and un-coordinated. Something was bothering him. Maybe his father had been on his case again; asserting himself was a constant battle for Jeffrey. His father expected him to take over the business, but Jeffrey had no interest in the textile mill. He loved animals, and wanted to be a veterinarian. Bella had a feeling his father would win that battle.
She took a few steps closer and he seemed to sense her presence. He turned slowly and she could see at once that he was troubled. Dark smudges of color under his eyes gave him a haunted look and as his gaze met hers the ground shifted beneath her feet. Did he know? Her fingers unconsciously clutched at her bag.
“Jeffrey?” she said tentatively. “Are you okay?”
He looked at her for a long moment, then shook his head. “No,” he replied, his voice little more than a whisper. He closed the gap between them and took her hand. “Come on, let’s go sit on those big rocks,” he said, drawing her along the bank of the river. “We have to talk.”
She followed him, heart pounding in her chest. This wasn’t the way this conversation was supposed to go. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He was definitely stressed. As a matter of fact, he didn’t look anything like the Jeffrey she knew.
