Two Hearts for Christmast by Lisa Y. Watson Read Free Book Online Page B

was too late to back out now.  He ran a hand over his stubbled jaw.   This will either be the best idea I’ve ever had, or the worst.   With determined steps, he strode back into the house.  He had some fences to mend, and the sooner he got to it, the better.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    8 CHAPTER eight
     
     
    Christopher chose the path of least resistance first.  He popped his head in to his son’s room.  The lights were out, but the moment he cracked the door and peeked in, his son bolted up in his toddler bed.  He walked over and sat down next to the small bed.
    “ Daddy.”
    His heart tightened.  “Hey, Robby.  You should be sleep, little man.”
    “ Daddy, up.”
    “ Not now, Robby.  It’s late and you need to go to sleep.”
    His son held out his arms, and unable to help himself, Christopher gathered him up for a hug.  But instead of Christopher giving him a hug, Robin put his head on his shoulder, and patted his father’s arm.
    Emotion ripped through him.  “You’re giving Daddy a hug, huh?  Thanks, Robin.  Daddy really needs one right now,” he said, quietly.  “I’ve got two beautiful ladies in there that I need to apologize to.”
    “ Kiss.”
    Christopher smiled.  “It’s gonna take a lot more than just a kiss, buddy.”
    He gave Robin a final hug and kiss, and tucked him back under the covers.
    “ Goodnight, Robby.”
    “ Night Night, Daddy.”
    Standing up, Christopher walked silently out of the room and shut the door lightly behind him.
    He walked down the hall to Lacey’s room.  He knocked gently on the door.  When she bid him to enter, he opened it and went in.
    “ Hi, sweetheart,” he said.  “Can I talk to you a minute?”
    She nodded and sat up higher in bed.
    Christopher walked over and sat down at the foot of her bed.
    “ Lacey, I know I’m not your favorite person right now, but I want to make sure that you know how much I wanted to be there tonight.  And not just that, but how important you are to me.  I would never purposefully hurt you.”
    “ I know,” she murmured.  “But I wanted you there, Daddy.  I was so nervous, and then when I looked out and saw Mommy, and Robin and even Grandma and Pop Pop and you weren’t there…it made me sad.”
    “ You’re right, Lacey.  My not being there put a damper on your big night.  I can’t explain, other than to say that I had a crisis at the farm that couldn’t be avoided.  It was my responsibility as the man in charge, and I had to stay there and make sure it got fixed.  I realize that it doesn’t help your disappointment, but it was the only reason I wasn’t there, Lacey.  I hope in time you can forgive me.”
    She was silent for a few moments before she said, “I already forgave you, Dad.  I know emergencies come up.  I’m over it.”
    He scrutinized her closely.  That wasn’t a complete truth, but he didn’t press his luck.  He moved closer and gathered her in his arms.  He kissed the top of her head.
    “ I love you, Lacey.”
    “ I love you, too, Dad.”
    He tucked her in like he’d done Robin.  He was about to leave when he noticed the penguin he’d given her sitting on her window seat.  She had brought it upstairs.  It made him smile.  Turning out the light, Christopher stepped out into the hallway, shutting the door gently behind him.  He walked further down the hall, squared his shoulders, and went into his bedroom.
    Yvette was lying in bed, using her laptop.  She glanced up when he walked into the room and shut the door.
    “ Hi,” he said, sitting on his side of the bed and facing her.
    “ Hi,” she replied before shutting her laptop and setting it on the floor.
    “ I just came from Lacey’s room.”
    “ Is she okay?”
    “ Yes.  I…I wanted to make sure that she and I were okay before she went to bed.  It was important for her to know that I would never intentionally hurt her, or not be there for her.”
    “ I’m glad,” Yvette told him.  “I’m sure