Christmas Kisses (Romance on the Ranch Series #5) by Verna Clay Read Free Book Online Page B

her
throat. "I only know his baby was airlifted to a hospital after the
accident."
    The doctor scratched his chin, pursed his lips,
and then seemed to make a decision. "I'll tell you truthful, Cecelia. I
think you're just what the doc ordered for that stubborn man." He smiled
slightly, "Pun intended."
    Cecelia also smiled slightly.
    Dr. Hillsborough continued, "The boy only
received minor injuries. With Rose dead, Mac was left with a baby and no family
to raise him. Mac and his wife both came from the foster care system; both were
orphaned while in high school, which meant adopting them out was not likely.
They met while living in the same foster home. Mac was a year older than Rose
and when he turned eighteen he got a job working in a factory. As soon as Rose
turned eighteen, they married and both worked blue collar jobs. He once
confided that they were very happy having each other and living in their own
place, as tiny as it was. In their early twenties, they had saved enough money
for a vacation on Santorini, an island in the Mediterranean famous for its
beauty and a place that Mac had always wanted to paint. Those paintings launched
his career when they were shown in a Dallas gallery. He became an overnight
success." Dr. Hillsborough glanced at Cecelia's cup. "Would you like
a warm up?"
    "No. I'm good. Thank you."
    "So, after the accident, Mac was left with
a baby he couldn't raise. Having been through the foster care system, he didn't
want that for his child, so he opted to allow his son to be adopted into a
loving family."
    Suddenly, pieces of a puzzle started falling
into place for Cecelia and she gasped, "Loving Arms Adoption Agency was
the facility that handled the adoption!"
    Dr. Hillsborough gave her a surprised look.
"Yes. I guess you've done some investigating."
    Cecelia shrugged. "Yes and no." She
didn't elaborate. "Does Mac have any contact with his son? It's my
understanding that many agencies encourage the birth parent, or parents, to
stay in touch with their child."
    The doctor frowned. "Although Mac receives
yearly updates with pictures from the adoptive family, he only responds with a
cursory thank you. He says he's protecting the child from discovery by
journalists that would love nothing more than to track down his boy, but,
honestly, I think he's protecting his heart more." The doctor rapped his
knuckles on the table. "Which brings us back to the operation."
    Cecelia looked questioningly at him.
    He said, "If this operation is not successful,
Mac's going to need all the support he can get. And the way he keeps everyone
at arm's length, support will be difficult to come by." The doctor studied
Cecelia's face. "For whatever reason, the man has allowed you into his
life. He could have hired the most discreet and experienced nurse to stay with
him, but he didn't. He chose you." With frankness, he asked, "Why do
you think that is?"
    Cecelia whispered, "I have no idea."
    Dr. Hillsborough placed his elbow on the table
and put his chin in his palm. "Well, whatever the reason, I believe you
have touched the man's heart."
    Cecelia blinked back tears.
    "And obviously, he's touched yours,"
the doctor concluded. He puffed a breath. "So, that brings us back to his
care over the next few weeks." Dr. Hillsborough then proceeded to outline
the medications and daily routine for Mac week by week.

Chapter 12: Santa's Workshop
    Cecelia grinned at her employees, who were now
close friends, and said during one of their early morning meetings, "You realize,
don't you, that there are only a couple of months until Christmas?"
    Julie said, "I love this time of year. When
do you want to start decorating?"
    "That's just what I wanted to talk about.
When did Dixie usually put up the decorations?"
    Justin interjected, "Around the middle of
November."
    "So that means we should make this place
look like Santa's workshop in three weeks," Cecelia responded.
    "Santa's workshop?" questioned Justin.
    Cecelia couldn't contain her