Holiday in Your Heart by Susan Fox Read Free Book Online

question about her friend, but she had to know. “Did Brooke hit you?”
    For a moment, he didn’t answer, and then he said, “Yeah. She slapped and punched.” He squeezed his eyes shut. When he finally opened them, he said, “It gets worse. Sometimes Evan got in the way. He took a few knocks.” He gazed straight into Maribeth’s eyes. “There’s no excuse for what I did, and I know it.”
    Maribeth pressed her lips together, trying to settle her nerves and think straight. She agreed that there was no excuse, and knew Brooke did as well. “Brooke drank, too,” she said.
    â€œYeah.” He scrubbed a hand across his stubbled jaw. “Have to say, when I saw in the Gazette that she was married to the RCMP commander, it was a real surprise.”
    â€œShe doesn’t drink anymore. At all.”
    His eyes widened, and then slowly narrowed. “Earlier, you mentioned A.A. Is Brooke doing that?”
    It was hardly a secret in Caribou Crossing, so Maribeth nodded. “She’s been sober for years now.”
    â€œGood for her.” A touch of humor flickered across his face, making him look even more irresistible. Maribeth could certainly understand why Brooke had been drawn to the guy. “Must make her a hell of a lot easier to live with,” he added.
    â€œShe was moody,” Maribeth said. She knew about that from Brooke as well.
    â€œSure as hell was. Especially after Evan was born. When she sparkled, there was no one like her. But it was almost, like, over the top. Like she was burning too bright. Sure enough, one day it would all fizzle. She’d be depressed, pissed off. And I was always mad at the world, so we’d drink, we’d fight.” He cocked his head. “Is she happy now?”
    â€œDefinitely. She’s a happy, serene, wonderful woman.” A woman who’d been diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the same time she’d figured out she was an alcoholic. Brooke had been on bipolar medication ever since, and it worked well for her. But that information was too personal to share.
    â€œI’m glad for her.” His mouth softened with what looked like genuine affection, or at least the memory of it. It suited him. “I don’t want to mess with that.”
    Maribeth nodded. “I hear you.”
    They were both quiet. Maribeth savored the delicious aroma of chocolate and listened to the song on the radio. This wasn’t a Christmas one, but the upbeat “Any Man of Mine” by Shania Twain. Another woman who knew just how she liked things. The familiar words made Maribeth reflect on Mo. Yes, he was, quite literally, a breathtaking guy. But the quality that mattered most in a man was the way he treated people. Mo said he’d changed, and the frank way he talked about himself made her inclined to think he spoke the truth. That he had redeemed himself just as much as Brooke had. Sitting here alone with him in her house, Maribeth’s instincts—which rarely led her wrong—didn’t tell her to feel anxious. Instead, she actually felt comfortable with Mo.
    People deserved second chances. Maribeth believed that, and she knew Brooke did, too.
    She took another sip of cocoa. “Brooke’s strong. She’s gone through a long process of building a new life. I know that meant coming to terms with her past. It also meant her own set of apologies and amends. To Evan, for example. But they worked through it and reconciled, and—”
    â€œReconciled?” he broke in. “They were, what, estranged?”
    â€œOh, right, I guess you wouldn’t know. Yes, for ten years. Evan left town the moment he graduated from high school. He ended up building a successful career in New York City.”
    Mo let out an admiring whistle. “He was always a bright, determined kid. God knows where he got those qualities.”
    She ventured a teasing comment. “Brooke’s no