A Family for Christmas (Contemporary Romance Novella) by Helen Scott Taylor Read Free Book Online Page A

Undys."
    "Great!" Eve smiled, but it was an effort. Instead of the relief she should feel, her insides had clenched up tight with disappointment.
    "Night," she said over her shoulder, and ran up the stairs before she said something she'd regret, like how much she'd miss him and Polly. She dashed into her bedroom, and leaned back against the closed door, her heart racing and tears pricking her eyes. Stupid, stupid. Just because she was starting to have feelings for Tom, didn't mean he felt the same way. He obviously didn't!
    The sooner she got back to civilization and away from Tom and Polly, the better.
    ***
    Eve was up early on Sunday morning and relieved to find the sky clear and the wind light. The temperature was low, but no fresh snow had fallen overnight. She packed once again and, wearing her now rather grubby sweatpants and top, she headed downstairs. The kitchen smelled of toast but no one was around.
    She checked outside to find Tom shoveling away snow from in front of the double doors to the barn. He dragged the doors open and drove out a huge black pickup. "Grab some breakfast," he shouted when he noticed her at the door. "I need to put on the snow chains and take Polly next door to the Undys' cottage. Then we can get away."
    As Eve was making a cup of tea and toasting some crusty bread under the grill, Polly wandered down, dressed in a pink fleece onesy patterned with fairies. "Hello," the little girl said and wrapped her arms around Eve's waist.
    "Good morning, sweetie. You look snug."
    "Daddy said I have to wear warm stuff 'cause Mrs. Undy's place is cold."
    Eve attempted to check her toast but Polly wouldn't release her. Eve stroked the child's ruffled hair, sensing she was working up to something.
    "I don't want you to go." Polly pressed her cheek against Eve's middle and clung as if she could hold her there forever. "I want you to be my mummy."
    "Oh, Polly." Eve loosened the child's grip, quickly pulled out her blackened toast from the grill before it caught fire, then sat down and positioned Polly between her legs so they were face to face. "I'm going to let you in on a secret. I can't think of a little girl who I'd rather have as a daughter. You're smart and funny and very pretty. Your daddy is the luckiest daddy in the world to have you, but I can't be your mummy because I'm not married to your daddy."
    Polly blinked her blue eyes fringed with blonde lashes. Little creases appeared on her forehead. "Marry Daddy then."
    There was a noise outside. Eve's heart nearly jumped into her throat. It would be mortifying if Tom overheard this conversation. She stared towards the mudroom, but he didn't appear, thank heavens.
    "I wish it were that simple, sweetie. But your Daddy doesn't love me. We've only just met."
    "But I love you, and I've only just met you."
    Eve pulled Polly close and pressed her cheek against the child's hair, pleasure and sorrow mingling inside her. When she could speak again, she drew back. "That's a lovely thing to say. I love you too, poppet. I promise I'll come and see you when I'm down this way again."
    Eve pulled a business card out of her purse and wrote her private e-mail address on the back. "You'll have to ask your daddy, but if he agrees, you can e-mail me here, and I'll write back. Or you can call me on my mobile phone. The number's on here." She handed the card over. "Make sure you put it somewhere safe."
    Polly stared at the e-mail address, then pushed the card in the pocket of her onesy.
    The back door opened and Tom crashed around in the mudroom for a while before appearing in the doorway with a bottle of Pickle's milk in his hand. "Here you go, pumpkin. Feed that hungry lamb of yours quickly, then I'll walk you across to the Undys'."
    "I want Eve to feed Pickle."
    "You do?" Tom gazed from Eve to his daughter and back, surprise on his face. "You're honored, Eve," he said as Polly scampered across the kitchen to retrieve the bottle and proudly handed it over to her.
    Eve sat in