Christmas Miracle: A Family by Dianne Drake Read Free Book Online Page A

trying not to disturb the boy. “Considering the way we are now, why would you take us in?”
    Because Tyler was lost, and she knew how that felt. Because James was at a confusing, frustrating place in his life and she knew how that felt. Because Tyler was so connected to her son. “Don’t ask me personal questions,” she said. “I’m not getting involved with you again. This is only a temporary solution to a bigger problem, your problem , and I don’t want you getting any other ideas about anything. Especially about us. That’s the only condition. Tyler gets the spare bedroom, you get the couch, and you both respect my privacy.”
    James looked down at Tyler then turned back to Fallon. “Do you really think he looks like me? People tell me he does.”
    Too much so, she thought. Because she was well on her way to losing her heart to the son, like she’d already done to the father. This wasn’t good. Not good at all. But it wasn’t about her, wasn’t even about James. It was about Tyler. And as long as she kept that in mind, she’d be fine. “He does look like you.” The way she thought their son would have.

CHAPTER FOUR
    “W HAT was I thinking?” Fallon was exhausted from sheer worry by the time the end of the day rolled around. Intermittently, she was positive she’d done the right thing, allowing James and his son to move in temporarily with her. Then she was positive it was the worst thing she could have done. Back and forth, all day long. That, mixed with cold chills, shaking hands and throbbing head. For heaven’s sake! After so many months fighting to be alone, she’d just gone and done the very last thing she’d wanted to do. “How could I have invited them?” she moaned on a weary sigh. Yet how could she have not done that? The bigger question, though, was how could she live with them and still remain disengaged from their lives?
    She was already becoming engaged, especially with Tyler, and that was the problem. A huge problem because he wasn’t her son. Wasn’t a replacement for her son. Yet she had these motherly feelings toward him, feelings she couldn’t have because she and James had no future together.
    “It’s a good deed, the right thing to do,” she said, hoping that saying it aloud would convince her. “The thing any normal, decent person would do.” No personal involvement permitted. “Good deed, good deed…” Besides, theywouldn’t be staying long. “Good deed, Fallon. That’s all it is.”
    The personal pep talk kept up as she prepared the bedroom for Tyler and the couch for James. No physical contact with James. No hugs, no kisses, no nothing. That, more than anything, was going to be the tough part, because there was no denying that she still craved his touch, his kiss. Craved every inch of him in a way she’d never known one person could crave another. “It’s just a good deed…” She had to keep her head about this. Because, maybe, just maybe, helping him through this rough patch would assuage some of her guilt. Or make it ever stronger.
    Nevertheless, she was petrified that one little look from James could undo everything—her resolve, her resistance, both of them flying right out the window. Fighting against everything she’d hoped for in a life with James was the hardest thing she’d ever done. So she had to brace herself for that fight. Had to convince herself she was going to win it. Had to remind herself that she was doing this for James.
    “Good deed,” she said, heading to the kitchen to fix herself a cup of hot tea. “If I don’t let my emotions get the better of me.” Because she’d never stopped loving James, and she truly did care what happened to Tyler. Because she wasn’t strong enough to completely divorce herself from the things she’d thought, for a time, she’d have in her life—the things she’d always wanted. Husband, children… “Because I’m crazy,” she was repeating as someone rang the doorbell. At the same time her