The New Year's Wish by Dani-Lyn Alexander Read Free Book Online Page B

Davenport’s to replace your shirt. It’s only a block over from the Macy’s Parade route, and I thought Gracie might like to come with us and watch the parade.”
    A squeal pierced Garrett’s brain. “Oh, can we Daddy? Can we? Please?” Gracie jumped from the stool and flung herself into his arms. She kept her arms tightly around his neck as she turned to look over her shoulder at Olivia. “I watch the parade on TV every year, but I’ve never seen it in real life.” Gracie turned her attention back to Garrett. She looked him squarely in the eyes. “You know what, Dad?”
    He sighed, already knowing he was going to give in. “What, Gracie?”
    â€œIf you ruin something of someone’s, you really should fix it or get them a new one.”
    â€œOh, you should, should you? And who told you that?” He looked over Gracie’s shoulder at Olivia and winked.
    She peered at him from beneath her lashes and smiled back, and his gut clenched. He forced his attention back to Gracie.
    â€œMiss Carmichael said so. When Jenny broke John’s project on purpose, she said Jenny really should fix it or make him a new one. She said that’s good character.” She nodded for emphasis, her expression serious.
    Garrett hugged her tight, holding her close for an extra few seconds, inhaling the scent of baby shampoo and contemplating the fact his daughter was growing up so fast. She squirmed out of his arms too soon, and he reluctantly released her.
    â€œWell, I guess we wouldn’t want to do anything to hurt Olivia’s good character, would we?”
    Gracie clasped her hands together beneath her chin, her eyes wide with hope, as she shook her head and waited.
    â€œGo get your coat.”
    â€œYay!” She ran from the room.
    Garrett glanced at his watch. “Will we be able to make it in time?”
    Olivia laughed, her eyes now filled with the delight he’d come to enjoy when she played with his daughter. “We will if we go to the end of the parade route and don’t stop at Davenport’s until after. Have you been to the parade before?”
    â€œUm . . . no. We moved here after Thanksgiving last year, and before that I’d never been to New York.” He pulled out a stool and gestured for her to sit, then moved to sit across the table from her.
    â€œHow did you end up in New York?”
    A painful memory tugged at him, but he ignored it. Stephanie was no longer important enough in his life to hurt him, but that didn’t change the fact that her betrayal had hurt. He blew out a breath. “I was the head of a large investment firm in Florida. There were some . . . problems with one of our employees stealing. By the time we figured out what was going on, a lot of money had been embezzled. The members of the board decided I should have been more on top of things, and they let me go.” He shrugged. “I moved around for a couple of years, but it was hard to find decent work and still take care of Gracie, especially before she started school. Then, last year, I met Mr. Harris at a party. We talked for a while, and he offered me a position at Harris and Harris. So, here I am.”
    â€œFlorida, huh?” Olivia smiled.
    â€œYup.”
    â€œSo . . . that’s where you got that southern accent.” She grinned.
    He couldn’t help but laugh.
    â€œReady, guys.” Gracie tore back into the room.
    Garrett checked the turkey, glanced at the clock, and went to grab his jacket. “Okay. Let’s go. I can leave the turkey cooking, but I have to get back in time to make the rest of the dinner.” Olivia took Gracie’s hand, and they followed him out as he locked the front door. “What are you doing for dinner, Olivia?”
    She shrugged. “My parents had a political event to attend, and I’m supposed to meet them for dinner there, but I was thinking of skipping out