Forever This Time by Maggie McGinnis Read Free Book Online Page A

handwritten checks for the older employees. Said it made them feel like they were working for a real person, not a corporation.
    Molly’s parting jab about Avery’s House had him all off-kilter, and he hated that he’d let her get to him. But she was right. Josie was here in town, and it was only a matter of time before she either saw the house herself … or someone told her about it.
    He wished he’d had time to prepare for this—wished he had a clue how to tell her about Avery’s House. He’d dreaded it for years—had been sure she’d be furious or hurt or both—but until now, time and circumstances had been on his side.
    But now? Both time and circumstances threatened to conspire against him, and he needed a plan. He needed to tell her about the house before somebody else did.
    His phone chimed with an incoming text from Molly.
    Don’t forget about Santa!!!
    He sighed as he glanced at the closet door where Andy hung his Santa suit. Shit.
    When Andy got back, he’d be grateful to Ethan for keeping the office running, but if he found out Santa had been hanging on his door rather than roaming the park, Ethan would never hear the end of it.
    What’s a Christmas park without a Santa? he’d bellow. Especially on a Saturday?
    Ethan got up slowly and pulled the suit from the hanger, frowning. It was one thing to pick up the extra payroll and employee scheduling. It was quite another to don a Santa suit and head out into the park with a basket of candy canes and a big, happy ho-ho voice—especially when the last thing he was feeling right now was happy.
    He held the suit up to his chest and shook his head as he looked down. He had six inches and twenty pounds on Andy, who ran five miles a day and hadn’t let a carb pass through his lips in years. The Santa pants would be halfway up his shins.
    He looked out the window toward the igloo entrance, which was spilling a steady stream of people and strollers into the courtyard. It was nine o’clock and already seventy-five degrees, forecast to be ninety by noon. If he was going to put a damn Santa suit on, he’d better do it now before it got so hot he’d have a heat stroke inside the costume. Maybe the boots would cover up the fact that the legs were almost a foot too short.
    His desk phone rang, saving him for another couple of seconds. But when he answered, the voice sent familiar chills up his spine.
    â€œEthan, it’s Diana.”
    He sat down gingerly. The last call from Josie’s mom had brought him both the sobering news that Andy was ill and the accompanying announcement that Josie might be coming home. “Morning, Diana.” His voice was careful. “How’s Andy?”
    â€œStable, which is an improvement, so that’s something. They’re moving him out of ICU this morning.”
    â€œWell, that’s definitely good news. Is there anything I can do? Do you need anything?”
    â€œIt’s so good of you to offer, thank you. I think I’m all set right now. Better now that Josie’s here.”
    Ethan swallowed hard. “Of course. It was … nice of her to stop by the park last night.”
    â€œDid she? That’s great! I had no idea she’d already been there.” Diana paused, apparently gathering her thoughts. “So listen, Ethan. I know you probably think you can run the entire park on your own, and maybe you can. Goodness knows I have no idea what goes on in that office, which is how Andy and I have engineered it so we don’t kill each other.”
    She took an audible breath. “I’ve asked her to see if she can help you out—just for the weekend. Just, you know, to keep busy and maybe feel needed. If you could find it in yourself to try to make her feel welcome, I’d be so grateful.”
    Ethan sent his fingers through his hair, probably making it stand on end. He was supposed to make her feel welcome?
    He