New Beginnings by Charlotte Carter Read Free Book Online Page A

“Being separated the better part of four years while he’s at Annapolis would put a strain on any relationship. Maybe she’s right to break it off now rather that drag things out for years and then have it end badly.”
    Fern’s reaction surprised James. “You would have waited four years for me, wouldn’t you?”
    “Of course I would have.” She stroked his cheek with her hand. “I was head over heels, helplessly in love with you the moment I met you.”
    A quick grin lifted his lips. “The feeling was mutual, Mrs. Bell. Definitely mutual.”
    He covered her hand with his and they shared a quiet moment, looking into each other’s eyes, remembering the years they’d had together and being grateful for every moment the Lord had given them.
    Saturday afternoon, Elena stepped back from the Christmas tree she and Cesar had purchased that morning and inhaled the evergreen scent. The fresh smell swept through the room; and when she closed her eyes, she could imagine standing in a forest glade. Christmas music playing on the stereo supplied the sound track that could have been sung by birds in the treetops.
    How wonderful it was to feel healthy again, with only an occasional zing reminding her of the surgery. Best of all, she had the threat of cancer well behind her, free to feel fully alive.
    Cesar set up the tree in front of the living room windows. Rafael helped him string the lights, including the bubble lights, electric candles from the 1950s. Like so many things in her house, she loved the retro feel of her Christmas decorations.
    Cesar’s job completed, he left to help a friend work on his transmission.
    Now the ladies took over—she, Izzy, and Sarah, who’d come by to help. They would hang the ornaments, many of which had been handed down to Elena through her family or she’d picked them up at the Once Upon a Time store in Deerford.
    Selecting a glass ball from the box of ornaments, Elena studied the best place to start.
    Rafael sat on the couch, his legs stretched out, ready to supervise the action.
    Elena pointed to a wooden ornament in the box for Izzy to hang. “Seems to me we are at least a week later than usual getting the tree up this year.”
    “For pretty good reason,” Rafael said. “There have been just a few more important things going on, Mama.”
    Elena gave a rueful grin. “True, true. I’ll be glad to get a vacation. Although I still have some shopping to do. I need a new pair of wool slacks and your dad needs some new clothes too. And I’ll need a new carry-on bag. Our old one has all but fallen apart.”
    “Sounds like your trip will cost you a lot more than the airline tickets,” Rafael commented.
    “I’m sure your parents think it will be worth every penny they spend.” Sarah hung a porcelain ballerina at eye level.
    “Mommy, are you going to sleep in daddy’s bed when you stay here with me?” Izzy asked.
    Rafael made a choking sound, and Sarah’s cheeks bloomed a bright pink.
    When Elena turned toward her son, she caught a surprising gleam in his eyes and an amused smile on his lips. Oh dear…
    “I think Sarah would be more comfortable staying in my room,” Elena said. “There’s more room in the closet for her things.”
    Keeping her face averted, Sarah continued hanging ornaments on the tree.
    “Mommy could sleep in my room. I’ve got a closet.”
    “But your bed is too small for two people,” Elena pointed out.
    “Then I could sleep with her in your big bed. Dorie and Bearbear would like to sleep with her too.”
    Elena smiled. “We’ll let your mommy decide where you’ll sleep while she’s here. She’ll need her rest because she’ll have to go to work every morning while you’re at school. So you do whatever she says is best.”
    “I can sleep real quiet. I wouldn’t wake her up.”
    Elena knew that wasn’t entirely true. Some mornings she found Izzy sound asleep at the foot of her bed, the covers all in a jumble. And if she had a stuffy nose,