A Christmas Song by Imari Jade Read Free Book Online

too,” Trent said.
     
    Martin walked over to see. There was a heart carved into the trunk, with the initials T. L. and D. S. inside it. “How old were you guys back then?”
     
    “Eight,” Denise answered. She looked over at Trent and smiled. “He was my knight in shining armor.”
     
    Trent smiled back at her.
     
    “We better go meet the kids,” Denise said.
     
    The tour guide led them to the dorms. Boys were housed on one side of the building and girls on the other. Each dorm room had three sets of bunk beds, which meant six kids to a room. Children under six were housed in another location. Some of the older kids recognized the members of the band. Trent and the others passed out CDs and gave autographs. The media ate it up, shooting videos and showing a warmer side to the heavy metal band. The reporters asked them questions about growing up at Huntington and what was their wish for the orphanage in the future. The band members were perfect spokesmen for the orphanage.
     
    There was a small social in the cafeteria where punch, finger sandwiches, and cake were served. Afterwards they all piled into the van. The driver dropped her and Keisha at the beauty salon and took the guys back to the hotel to hang out at the pool.
     
    “That went fairly well,” Keisha said at the beauty salon. “But whose hand will you be holding tonight?”
     

Chapter Four
     
    Denise walked around poolside dressed in jeans and a T-shirt while the guys swam around in the pool. They tried to encourage her to join them and she fussed at them for thinking she wanted to mess up her hair.
     
    Keisha had a short hairdo now so she didn’t have to wear curlers. She went back to work behind the front desk so she could have the night off. Afterwards she’d drive home to get dressed and then leave for the benefit with Jerome.
     
    The twins, Jose and Juan, found her just as she headed toward the pool area with a tray holding a pitcher of lemonade and sandwiches for them to enjoy. Juan took the tray from her, while Jose sidled up to her and talked to her as they walked.
     
    “How is the benefit coming along?”
     
    “It’s coming along fine. You’ll see for yourself tonight.”
     
    Both Juan and Jose came to them from Huntington’s and she’d invited them because it was the first chance to dress up and socialize.
     
    “Will you dance with me tonight?”
     
    Denise nodded. “If I can get you away from all the ladies standing in line to dance with you and your brother.”
     
    “So I can take that as a yes?”
     
    Denise chuckled at his persistence. “Yes, but nothing too fast. I’m an old woman.”
     
    “You’re just six years older than me and I like older women.” He didn’t see Trent standing behind him until it was too late.
     
    “Older women are so overrated.”
     
    Jose jumped.
     
    “They’re grumpy and they like to have their way.” Trent accepted the glass from Juan. “And besides, this old lady is mine.”
     
    Jose sized Trent up with his eyes. “Miss Denise is never grumpy and she’s not that much older than me.”
     
    Vince and Dante came out of the pool next and joined the conversation.
     
    “I dated an older woman before,” Vince told Jose. “She smelled like Bengay.” He sniffed Denise. “She smells wonderful.”
     
    Denise tried not to smile. “That’s not nice. The poor woman must have had a few stiff joints.”
     
    “Or wanted one,” Juan said.
     
    Jose and the others laughed at his brother’s joke.
     
    Denise shook her head at them. “Put the tray on the table, Juan, and let them serve themselves. You two can go back to work and then go to your rooms to rest for the evening.”
     
    Juan followed her instructions and pulled his lusting brother along with him.
     
    M. J. and Bernard were still in the pool playing. She caught M. J. giving Bernard a huge kiss. Her two friends did look happy, but she wondered what kind of future they could have when M. J. lived in Los