I'll Be Home for Christmas by Fern Michaels Read Free Book Online

was another day. He’d call her as soon as the sun came up, and maybe they could go sleigh riding in Roosevelt Park. Maybe it was time to act like kids again. Kids who fell in love when they were done doing all those wonderful kid things. One day out of their lives, and it was a Sunday. Just one day of no responsibilities. He crossed his fingers that it would work out the way he wanted.
    îŠ¦
    Andi rolled over, opening one eye to look at the clock on her nightstand. Six o’clock. How still and quiet it was. Did she dare stay in bed? Absolutely not. She walked over to the window and raised the shade. It was snowing. Damn, her back was still sore. Maybe she could call one of the companies that plowed out small businesses.
    She was brushing her teeth when the phone rang. Around the bubbles and foam in her mouth, she managed to say, “Dr. Evans.”
    â€œThis is Peter King. I’m calling to apologize and to invite you to go sleigh riding. Hannah died in her sleep. I spent the day with my grandmother. I’m really sorry. Are you there?”
    â€œWait.” Andi rushed into the bathroom to rinse her mouth. She sprinted back to the phone. “I was brushing my teeth.”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œYou should have called me. It only takes a minute to make a phone call.” Hot damn, he had a reason. Maybe…
    â€œI came by last night around ten, but everything was dark, and I didn’t want to stir up the animals so I went home.”
    He came by. That was good. He said he was sorry. He was considerate. “I went to bed early. It’s snowing.”
    â€œI know. Let’s go sledding in Roosevelt Park. My parents used to take me there when I was a kid. I have a Flexible Flyer.” He made it sound like he had the Holy Grail.
    â€œNo kidding. I have one, too. Somewhere. Probably up on the rafters in the garage.”
    â€œDoes that mean you’ll go? We could go to the Pancake House on Parsonage Road for breakfast.”
    â€œWill you pull me up the hill?”
    â€œNope.”
    â€œI hate climbing the hill. Going down is so quick. Okay, I’ll go, but I have things to do first. How about eleven o’clock?”
    â€œThat’s good. What do you have to do? Do you need help?”
    This was looking better and better. “Well, I have to clean the dog runs and change the litter boxes. I was going to go through the things in the attic. You could see if you can locate someone to plow my parking lot and driveway. Don’t even think about offering. I know your back is as sore as mine, and my legs are going to be stiff if we climb that hill more than once. It’s going to take me at least two hours to find my rubber boots. Is your grandmother all right? I have some kittens if you’re interested.”
    â€œIt was a real bad day. She doesn’t want another cat. Hannah is being cremated so she’ll have the ashes. She’ll be okay today. Sadie is real gutsy. I know she’ll love it when I give her one of Rosie’s pups. She’ll accept the dog but not a cat. I understand that.”
    â€œYes, so do I.”
    â€œWhat did you have for supper last night? I’m sorry about standing you up. I mean that.”
    â€œTomato soup, a TV dinner and a stale donut. If you do it again, it’s all over.” She was flirting. God.
    She was flirting with him. Peter felt his chest puff out. “Bundle up.”
    â€œOkay. See you later.”
    â€œYou bet. Don’t get your sled down; I’ll do that.”
    â€œOkay.” A gentleman. Hmmnn.
    îŠ¦
    Peter kicked the tire of his Range Rover, every curse known to man spitting through his lips. How could a $50,000 year-old truck have a dead battery? He looked at his watch and then at the elegant Mercedes Benz sitting next to it. The perfect vehicle to go sledding. “Damn it to hell!” he muttered.
    He was stomping through the house looking for his keys when the doorbell rang.