The Gift of Christmas Present by Melody Carlson Read Free Book Online Page A

up a bit by changing her mind about things like how she liked her coffee or the best way to dust the antique furniture. Still, Christine was trying to be patient. But by four o’clock, two things happened that just about undid her. First the deliveryman arrived with the recliner. And that was not so bad, but just as he was setting the rather bulky chair in the center of the living room, Mrs. Daniels’s daughter-in-law, Felicity, showed up quite unexpectedly.
    â€œWhy is there a La-Z-Boy truck in your driveway?” she demanded as soon as she was in the door.
    Mrs. Daniels turned and stared at her. “Well, hello to you too, Felicity.”
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Felicity asked when she saw thedeliveryman removing the plastic wrappings from the chair.
    â€œWhat does it look like?” Mrs. Daniels asked in an exasperated voice. “I’ve purchased a recliner.”
    â€œA recliner?”
    â€œThat’s what they call them.” Mrs. Daniels glanced over to where Christine was looking on without speaking. “And I’d like you to meet my new housekeeper, Christine Bradley. Christine, this is my stepson’s wife, Felicity Daniels.”
    Felicity moved her attention from the recliner to Christine. “Aren’t you a little young to be a housekeeper?”
    â€œI’m nearly twenty.”
    â€œOh. Well, do you have much experience doing—”
    â€œFelicity,” Mrs. Daniels interrupted. “I am the one who hired Christine, and she works for me. I am perfectly capable of ascertaining her qualifications, thank you very much.”
    â€œWell, I—”
    â€œAnd what brings you here this time of day, anyway? Shouldn’t you be picking up the children or something?”
    â€œThey’re at my mother’s.”
    Mrs. Daniels seemed to stiffen a bit. “Of course.”
    â€œWell, that’s it,” the deliveryman said as he gathered up a bundle of plastic. “You wanna try her out before I leave?”
    Mrs. Daniels frowned at him, then seemed to think better of his suggestion. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I will.” She hobbled over and eased herself down, tested the leg rest, then leaned back and nodded. “It’s just fine. Thank you.”
    â€œMerry Christmas, ma’am,” the man said. He hesitatedfor a moment, and Christine wondered if he expected a tip or something. But finally he just backed out and left.
    â€œIs that where you’re going to leave it?” Felicity asked. “Right in the middle of the room like that?”
    â€œMaybe.” Mrs. Daniels smiled smugly. It was plain that she enjoyed irritating her daughter-in-law. Then she turned to Christine. “I’d like a cup of tea, please. The same kind you made for me yesterday will be fine.”
    Christine glanced at Felicity. “Would you like a cup too?”
    Felicity flopped down on the couch across from her mother-in-law. “Sure, why not.”
    Mrs. Daniels didn’t look pleased. “So what brings you by today, Felicity?”
    Christine couldn’t hear the rest of their conversation from the kitchen, but she hurried to make the tea and returned quickly with a tray, complete with a small dish of some chocolate mint cookies she’d spied in the pantry. She set it down on the glass coffee table between them. Then she took her time handing Mrs. Daniels her tea and offering her the cookies.
    â€œI already told you that I have no plans for the holidays,” Mrs. Daniels said. “What’s so unusual about that?”
    â€œI just don’t understand it,” Felicity said. “You have this big, beautiful home. And it would be so lovely to decorate it for Christmas.” She pointed toward the staircase. “I can just imagine that banister strewn with evergreen garlands—”
    â€œI do not want my banister strewn with evergreen garlands, thank you very much.”
    â€œWhat about a