A Family for Christmas by Mary Eason Read Free Book Online Page A

tree and decorate her house for her. We can surprise her when she returns on Friday?”
    “Yeah!” Sammy jumped up and down with happiness. It was hard to get him to finish his breakfast.
    “Okay, but if you want to go see Jason later, you have to finish breakfast.”
    She made sure Sammy was eating before she went to the living room to call Amanda.
    “Rachel, I was just thinking about you. How are you?”
    “Good, fine in fact. I was wondering what you and Jason are doing later. Sammy has talked of nothing else but seeing Jason again.”
    “Jason’s the same way. Why don’t you guys come over later?”
    “That’d be great. Sammy will be thrilled.”
    Amanda didn’t respond for a moment. “Rachel, are you sure you’re all right? You sound a little funny.”
    “I’m okay...”
    “Is it Jack?” When Rachel couldn’t speak, Amanda added, “I have to confess, seeing you two together was kind of weird. I never thought I’d see that again. Does this mean—”
    “No. Oh, no, Amanda. That’s never going to happen. One mistake in a lifetime is plenty, trust me.”
    “Uh huh. Did you forget who you’re talking to? We may not be as close as we were in the past, but I still remember how crazy you were for Jack. You don’t get over that kind of love, Rachel. I don’t care how far you move or who you marry. You and Jack were a couple for a long time, and you were in love with him even longer. I’d say you still are, if the way you looked at him yesterday is any indication.”
    “Amanda, I don’t…I can’t talk about this right now.”
    “Well, maybe you’d better. From the way he was looking at Sammy, I’d say he knows the truth.”
    It took so long for Rachel to try to answer that Amanda guessed the reason.
    “He does, doesn’t he? Did he confront you with it?”
    “Oh yes, last night after Sammy went to bed.”
    “After Sammy went to bed? How did he—”
    “We spent the evening together. Jack insisted on taking us to dinner and then to the Trail of Lights display. For a little while, I thought...Amanda, I’m such an idiot. I should have known he didn’t really want to spend time with me. It was all about Sammy. He wanted to be sure.”
    “ W hat happened?”
    “Mostly we argued.”
    “So what are you going to do?”
    “I don’t know. I just can’t bear the thought of losing Sammy, but you know how much money and power the Bryant’s have always had. If it comes to it, I don’t stand a chance.”
    Amanda seemed to choose her words carefully. “I can’t see Jack being vindictive, but maybe it’s time to try and salvage what is left of your friendship with Jack and sit down and just explain things to him.”
    “I can’t. I can’t even think about him and not feel so much resentment for how he treated me in the past.”
    After a moment of silence, Amanda added, “I hate to be the voice of reason, but I don’t think you have a choice anymore, do you? Jack’s entitled to be a part of his son’s life. You have to let him in. I know it will be hard but you don’t have a choice. And Sammy needs him in his life.”
    “And what if he wants to take Sammy away? I don’t think I could bear to lose my son.” Rachel couldn’t keep the fear from showing in her voice.
    “Rachel, Jack’s not a monster. I’m sure you two can work something out. Give him time. He’s still in shock right now. I’m sure the last thing he was expecting to find was that he has been a father all these years. It has to be a shock.”
    “I hope you’re right. Amanda, thank you.”
    “For what?”
    “For listening. For not judging me.”
    “You’re my friend and I care about you. Try not to worry. These things always have a way of working out. We’ll talk more later, okay?”
    Rachel hung up, feeling slightly better than she had a few hours earlier. At least she had someone else on her side.
    No matter how much her mother and Michael cared about her and understood her pain, Rachel knew they both believed,