Beach Blanket Santa (Holiday Brides Series) by Ginny Baird Read Free Book Online

her training wheels.
    “Don’t you think Robert and Margaret will miss you?”
    “With that new little bundle to keep them busy?” he said
with a smile. “Not a chance.”
    Lightning crackled, and Sarah stared out the rain-streaked
window. “So, what do we do?”
    Matt carted his backpack toward his bedroom with a wink.
“Make the best of it.”

 
    After a soup and sandwich lunch, Sarah found herself chatting
easily with Matt before a roaring fire. She’d made them coffee while he’d
gotten the fire started, and now they sat discussing their afternoon plans. They’d
already had a great time sorting through the house’s stash of holiday movies
and board games, so they had a sense of what type of entertainment was in store.
Being stuck here with Matt wasn’t going to prove uncomfortable at all. In fact,
Sarah decided it could be a whole lot of fun. Just as long as she could keep
her heart in check, she thought with a sigh.
    “So, what’s on the agenda?”
    “Well, I don’t think we’ll be swimming today,” he said with
a teasing smile.
    “No. You’re probably right about that. I think it’s cold
enough to snow out there.”
    “Now that would be something, wouldn’t it?”
    “Snow at the beach? It happens.”
    “Yeah, it happens. But around here, it’s rare.”
    She smiled above the rim of her cup, enjoying their light
banter. They’d both phoned their families to explain neither would be coming
home, and incredibly, everyone seemed happy with the situation. As long as they
were safe and had enough provisions to weather the storm, everybody understood.
In fact, they were glad that Matt and Sarah had serendipitously wound up there
together. How much nicer for the two of them that each wouldn’t have to spend
Christmas alone. “So maybe we’ll have a white Christmas?”
    “Ha! You’ll have to ask Santa for that.” He mischievously
cocked one eyebrow and studied her. “Don’t tell me you’re too old to believe in
Santa?”
    Sarah thumbed her chest. “Me? No. It’s just that I’ve never
had the pleasure.”
    “Of what?”
    “Meeting Santa. Knowing him, whatever.”
    He stared at her aghast. “Are you telling me, not even as a
kid?”
    Sarah shook her head. “Cheryl doesn’t believe in such.”
    “Cheryl?”
    “My mom. She wanted me to start calling her Cheryl when I
was, oh…about eleven.”
    “Really? Why?”
    “Once I hit puberty…” She felt her face flush. “Well, I
guess the thought of having a daughter my age made her feel old.”
    “Ouch.”
    “It’s okay. I got over it.”
    “Not having a mom?”
    “Oh, I had a mom. She was just…different. You know?”
    He nodded like he was trying to understand, but Sarah didn’t
see how he could completely. Not coming from the background he did, which was
so diametrically different. “So, what about Christmas, then? If there was no
Santa, how did you celebrate?”
    “Generally with moo shu pork and gas logs.”
    “Were you happy that way?”
    “It was the only way I knew. I mean, sure. I heard the other
kids in school bragging about what they got for Christmas and stuff, but after
a while I learned not to worry about it. My mom always got me what I needed and
didn’t want to fill my head with bubble-headed fantasies anyway.”
    “Like the notion of Santa Claus and make-believe and
dreaming impossible dreams?”
    “Yes.”
    Matt’s gaze was lined with compassion. He was trying to read
her, and Sarah felt as open as a book. “I see.”
    “It wasn’t so bad, really,” she said, trying to lighten the
moment.
    Matt smiled at her, his face brightening. “No, I’m sure it
wasn’t. Who’s to say which way is better? One person’s childhood or another? I
had a big brother to beat up on me.”
    “Robert?”
    “Yeah, but he did so in a loving way.” He shot her a wry
smile. “And I still have the scars to prove it.”
    “Oh!” Sarah replied, not knowing whether he was kidding.
    “So, come on,” he said. “Let’s