Miss Kane's Christmas by Caroline Mickelson Read Free Book Online Page A

Christmas so you have months to work on it. It can wait.”
    He narrowed his eyes. “How do you know about my book?”
    She paused for a long moment. “Your mother told me about it.”
    His eyes instantly widened. “My mother? You spoke to my mother? When?”
    “Last night. She phoned again after you were asleep.” Carol had rather enjoyed her conversation with Ben’s mother. Much like Ben’s sister, his mother seemed a very reasonable and perfectly pleasant person. Ben must take after his father. “We had a perfectly lovely conversation.”
    “About my book?” His voice sounded strained. His shoulder must bother him more than he wanted to admit.
    Carol shrugged. “We talked about it enough to know it’s ridiculous. The whole premise is entirely negative. What good can come of spreading a falsehood with the sole intention of taking away people’s joy?”
    “What falsehood?” His brow was furrowed. “That Santa is a myth?”
    “Sshh…lower your voice.” She looked around to see if anyone was paying them any mind. “There are children around.”
    He rolled his eyes. “You’re…you’re just…just so…” he stopped when he saw that his son and daughter were looking up at him expectantly.
    “Miss Kane is so what, Daddy?” Patrick asked. “So nice?”
    “Yes, of course she’s nice,” he conceded.
    “So pretty too, don’t you think?” Hillary chimed in.
    Carol felt her face flush as Ben’s eyes roved over her. After a long moment she looked away.
    “Miss Kane is very pretty,” he finally said, his voice a bit softer now.
    She still kept her eyes averted from his. They all moved up in line as another family went into Santa’s inner sanctum. Thank heaven the line was moving.
    “What do we say to Santa?” Patrick asked.
    Carol opened her mouth to answer him but Ben spoke first.
    “Listen, kids, we need to get this straight right now. There is no Santa Claus.”
    Carol cringed. Ben’s voice was entirely too loud and far too adamant. This wasn’t either the time or place. She shook her head, desperately trying to signal him to be quiet but he ignored her.
    “Santa Claus is a lie,” he went on. “It’s nothing more than a story parents make up to control their children’s behavior for one month out of every year. In fact-”
    His next words were drowned out by the sound of crying children. And angry parents. Voices were raised, nasty looks were aplenty and Carol was sure that the woman behind them wanted to physically harm Ben but instead she settled for hissing at him, “I hope there’s a coal mine in your stocking, you Grinch.”
    Carol’s heart sank. This was a disaster. And it was at least half her fault. She should have known he wasn’t ready for a visit yet.
    “Elf coming through, excuse me, elf coming through,” a voice called as families stepped to the side to make room for one of Santa’s helpers. “Pardon me, please.”
    As the voice grew nearer, Carol’s heart leapt. It was Jolly.
    “It seems there’s a situation here,” Jolly said once she stood before them. The elf gave no indication she recognized Carol. “Anything I can help with?”
    Carol waved her hand in Ben’s direction. “We have a non-believer here.”
    It didn’t escape her notice that Ben had the good grace to flush but he, wisely she thought, remained silent.
    Jolly looked up at Ben and made a tsking sound. “We can’t have that. I think you’d better come with me.”
    “Where?” Ben asked.
    “Wherever Santa wants you to go,” Carol said.
    “Now, that’s just enough, Carol.” Ben’s voice grew louder. “You have to stop this Christmas nonsense. The children find you enchanting. I see why, but this fixation on Santa is just going overboard. It’s too much. It’s all going to end in misery for everyone.”
    “If you don’t stop grousing then yes, I agree, you’re going to make us all miserable,” Carol said. She turned her back on him, focusing her attention on the shrinking line in