Her Christmas Hero (Home To Dover 6) by Lorraine Beatty Read Free Book Online

letting his tenant’s words get to him.
Little substance.
She obviously didn’t think much of him. But what disturbed him more was the reaction she’d unleashed when he’d pulled her into his arms to keep her from falling down the brick steps.
    She’d been warm and soft cradled against him. Her scent had disrupted his senses and sent his thoughts pinballing in a dozen different directions. She felt right in his arms and he’d wanted to hold her forever. She’d felt it, too. The awareness. He’d seen it in her eyes. But he also knew she’d deny it. Maybe he could change her opinion of him.
    “Linc!”
    He recognized the shout. His sister Victoria was here. He met her in the hall. “Hey, sis. Everything okay?”
    She glanced around the room, tears welling in her eyes. “No. Nothing is okay. I miss him so much.”
    He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Is there anything I can do?” Here was his chance to step up and fill in for Dad.
    “No. I came to tell you that I’m going away for a while.”
    Linc clenched his teeth and stepped away. Why was everyone leaving? “Tori, this is no time to be running away. We need to stick together. Mom will be home soon and she’ll need you here. She needs
all
of us more than ever now.”
    His sister shook her head and brushed away tears. “I can’t handle being around the house without Dad here. I’m going to visit my friend Judy in California. It’ll give me time to sort things out.”
    “Why can’t you do that here?”
    Her eyes narrowed and she pressed her lips together. “I knew you’d say that. Why does it matter? Gil and Beth aren’t here, either.”
    “Bethany is working, and Gil is fighting for custody of his daughter.”
    “And I’m fighting for my sanity.” She shook her head, scowling. “I knew you wouldn’t understand. You’re not like the rest of us.”
    He planted his hands on his hips. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “You don’t feel like we do. You’re not emotional.”
    He winced. Gemma had said the same thing. Didn’t they understand he felt just as deeply as anyone else? He simply chose not to expose his emotions for the world to see.
    Tori reached out and touched his arm. “I’m sorry, Linc. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I know you’re hurting, too. See how upset I am? I need to get away.”
    “You mean run away. Like Mom.”
    “It’s not running away, it’s stepping aside and trying to deal with the grief.” She slipped her arm around his waist. “It’s too fresh here, Linc, too raw. I need to get some perspective. That’s why Mom went to Aunt Mary’s. It’s too hard to sort through the pain when you’re surrounded by memories.”
    “Some of us have to stay and deal with the realities.”
    “You’re the big brother. You can handle anything.” Tori patted his cheek. “I already told Mom. I’ll keep in touch, promise.”
    “What about the real estate office? I thought you were running it while she’s gone.”
    “Mom said to close it down. Business is slow. Besides, she’ll be home in a few days.”
    Linc walked his sister to the front porch. He’d never felt as helpless, like a catfish floundering on a dock. The harder he tried to keep the family together the faster they seemed to pull away. It didn’t make any sense.
    Tori stopped on the porch and faced him. “I love you, big brother. We all depend on you. Now that Dad is... You’re our rock.” She wrapped him in a warm hug.
    Did Tori have any idea the weight of that responsibility? “You’ll be home for Thanksgiving, won’t you?”
    “I don’t think I could celebrate without Dad here. It will be too awful.” She glanced over his shoulder and smiled.
    He looked around and saw Gemma standing at the edge of the sidewalk holding the registration forms. “Done already?”
    “Evan is eager to be on the team.”
    “Gemma, this is my baby sister, Victoria. Tori, this is Gemma Butler, she’s...”
    “Taking over Mom’s job. I know.”