Dream Keeper by Gail McFarland Read Free Book Online Page A

mother.
    Marlea looked from her daughter to Mrs. Baldwin. “Raydeer claw?”
    Taking a second to straighten her snowflake etched sweater, Mrs. Baldwin laced her fingers in front of her and nodded. “Reindeer claws,” she enunciated clearly. “The cookies are called reindeer claws. See the shape right there? Jabari fell asleep and I made those for her.” Near her knees, Nia jogged in place and held onto her cookies.
    “Did you say thank you to Mrs. Baldwin?” Nia nodded happily. Marlea bent to inspect the cookie Nia was trying to fit into her mouth. Smiling, she broke the treat in two, gave the child the smaller portion and folded the rest into a napkin. Aware of the reduction in size, Nia stopped jogging, but was more than ready to follow Mrs. Baldwin back to the kitchen. Connie and Jeannette tagged along, promising to bring a plate back.
    “Bet they won’t. They’ll get in my kitchen, start sampling those cookies, and it’ll be all over for the rest of us.”
    “Speaking of bets…” Marlea stuffed the napkin into her pocket and faced Rissa over an open bag. “The night is young, and I’m going to keep my eye on you.”
    “Over a silly bet? Girl, it is not that serious.”
    “Silly or not, you made the bet and I intend to collect on it.”
    “I know you’re a teacher and they don’t make a mint, but I thought my brother made a little bit of money. Why are you trying to hold me up for a hundred bucks?”
    “You told.” Marlea looked wise. “I knew you would.”
    “Did not,” Rissa hissed back.
    “Told what?” Climbing down from their ladders, AJ and Dench looked curious.
    “Nothing,” Marlea and Rissa said together.
    “And you’ve just got to know that that means something,” Dench said softly.
    “I actually forgot to tell,” Rissa said quickly. Marlea’s neck gave a satisfying snap when she twisted to face her. Calmly, Rissa dug deep into one of the bags and pulled out a red beaded garland. “Mom called as I was coming in this afternoon.”
    “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing, AJ. She’s fine, loving Greece, but she’s not going to make it tonight or tomorrow. Something about missing a plane and being stranded on Mykonos and not getting home for another week.”
    “Sounds like ‘something’ means ‘someone.’ ” AJ grabbed a bundle of lights and handed one to Dench. “Does ‘something’ have a name?”
    Dench slung his lights over his shoulder and swung a long leg onto the ladder. Climbing, he looked over at AJ. “Dude, you’re wrong for that.”
    “Maybe.” AJ stepped up on his own ladder and began to anchor the lights on the tree. “But I’m not the one sitting on an island in the Aegean sipping drinks with ‘something.’ ”
    “Hey, your mother is an attractive woman.” Dench reached around the tree, exchanged light bundles with AJ, and moved down a step on the ladder. “She’s done all she needs to do with you and Rissa, she’s a widow, and in good health. She deserves some fun.”
    “Even if it is with ‘something.’ ” Boxes of glass bulbs came out of Rissa’s bags. She stole a glance at her watch. Dang. Only eight-fifteen and I can feel Marlea watching me like a hawk, just lying in wait, trying to make me confess.
    Marlea looped small wire hangers into a dozen glass ornaments. “I’ll know if you cheat.”
    “I’m married to the sexy man on the ladder over there, I don’t have to cheat,” Rissa hissed, trying to keep her voice low. “What do you think of these?”
    “Love them.” Marlea reached to hold a pair of the beautifully crafted African kings in her hand. Turning one, admiring the real silk of his purple and gold robes and turban, she sighed. “Maybe next year, when Nia is a little older, something like this will stand a chance at our house.”
    “A little problem I can’t wait to have.”
    Marlea looked up. “You really didn’t tell him?”
    “Cross my heart.”
    “Hmm. AJ said…”
    “ You told,” Rissa gasped. Her eyes