A Family This Christmas by Sue MacKay Read Free Book Online Page A

regarded her as if he didn’t know her at all. Maybe he hadn’t known who she’d become. Face it, she struggled to recognise herself sometimes. The one definite to come from losing Alison was that she wanted children. But first she had to find a man with the same beliefs and objectives. An image of a firm butt in fitting trousers flicked into her mind.
    There hadn’t been a man, any man, since Colby. Hadn’t been the need. During her grand tour of places she and Alison had been it had left little energy or inclination for sex and romance. Anyway, sex with strangers so wasn’t her thing, and she hadn’t stopped anywhere long enough to get to know anyone. Until now. Again an image of Cam floated across her mind, this time a smiling, helpful Cam.
    She jerked upright in the chair. Something cold and wet trickled over her stomach. The glass in her hand was empty. ‘Did I nod off?’
    ‘You did.’ A large hand removed the glass. ‘Want a replacement?’ Cam asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
    Who could blame him? The guy already had two kids to mind, he didn’t need a delinquent adult as well. ‘No, thanks.’
    ‘Dad, we’re hungry.’
    ‘Now, there’s surprise. Go and wash your hands, then set the table on the deck.’
    ‘Is Jenny coming outside with us?’
    Cam raised one eyebrow. ‘I can bring your dinner in here if you like.’
    ‘I don’t think so.’ She made to push up from the armchair and there was a steadying hand on her elbow. ‘I’ll join you out there.’
    ‘Easy.’ Cam handed her the blasted crutches.
    ‘I could’ve hopped,’ she growled, as she tucked the poles under her armpits and tried to balance without tipping over into a heap.
    ‘You could have, and it would’ve hurt.’ That was such a doctor tone.
    She tried glaring at him. ‘You have all the answers, don’t you?’ Then a smile broke over her mouth. It was impossible to be mad at him when he was being so kind and downright appealing.
    ‘You’d better believe it.’ Finally, those lips lifted into a return smile.
    This time, thankfully, those hormones stayed in their cave. But warmth trickled through her. When Cam smiled it was like a light in a blackout. Even though he didn’t do full-blown, face-crinkling smiles, what he did give was rare and special, making her feel special. Which, of course, she wasn’t. Not to Cam anyway.
    She headed for the deck, carefully manoeuvring around furniture. No way was she tipping onto her face and giving him more to deal with.
    * * *
    ‘Goodnight, you two. No talking once the light’s out.’ As if they’d take the slightest bit of notice. Cam tried to pull on a serious face but how could he when Marcus and Andrew looked so darned cute—make that cool—lying in their beds pretending to be ready for sleep. He knew the moment he closed the bedroom door they’d roll over to face each other and yack their heads off for as long as he pretended not to know.
    ‘Goodnight, Dad.’ They both giggled.
    How could Margaret have left them? He still couldn’t get his head around that. Leave him? Yes, fine, if that was what she wanted. That particular pain had finally begun ebbing away. Shame the distrust couldn’t do the same. But these guys deserved so much better from their mother. Bile rose in his throat.
    It had been as if the bond that mothers presumably had from the moment they knew they were carrying a child had been missing in Margaret. Sure, the pregnancy had been unplanned. He should’ve seen the warning signs then. While he’d been ecstatic, she’d been upset. Unfortunately his belief that she’d get past that and fall in love with her babies when she held them for the first time hadn’t eventuated. Instead, she’d focused more and more on her career until finally that had attracted her more than her children or her husband.
    ‘Goodnight, Dad,’ Marcus repeated. ‘We want to go to sleep,’ the little imp added, with eyes wide and the sheet already half off his skinny