Harlequin Holiday Collection - Four Classic Seasonal Novellas

her and the kind of life you always said you wanted.”
    “I was twelve when I said that. I didn’t know anything.” Her mouth firmed. “I’ve learned, believe me. I can’t count on anyone else. I’ve made my plans, and I’ll follow them.”
    “Gran would say we’re not in charge of planning our own lives.”
    “Your grandmother is a lovely person, but I have to do what I think is best for my child.”
    With her face hard and determined and her voice brittle, she didn’t look anything like the girl he remembered.
    “All right, Ally.” He felt a flicker of anger. “But while you’re doing what you’ve planned, just be careful you don’t turn into the same kind of person your husband was.”

Chapter Seventeen
    “Come on, Kristie. Help me put some ornaments on the tree.” Allison had run out on Christmas Eve to get a small tree, in spite of the fact that they’d be leaving soon, hoping that might make her daughter happy. It wasn’t working.
    “I want to go to David’s house.” Kristie shoved her lower lip out. “They invited us, remember?”
    “I know, but—” But what? She could hardly tell her daughter that she wasn’t sure of her welcome there. Or that she didn’t want to be confronted by David, challenging her decisions.
    I’m right. I know. I have to take care of my daughter.
    But David’s words kept coming back to her every moment that she wasn’t actively pushing them away. Are you sure you’re doing what’s right for Kristie? That was what his argument amounted to. Are you sure you aren’t turning into the same kind of person your husband was?
    Of course she wasn’t. Was she arguing with David or with God?
    You gave me this special child. Surely You expect me to take care of her as best I can.
    Turning into the same kind of person your husband was? Had she really begun measuring herself by Richard’s standards?
    She rejected that, a little panic-stricken. If she didn’t have the plans she’d been relying on, what did she have?
    Help me. Please, she prayed. Show me that the decisions I’ve made are right for us.
    The knock at the door came on the heels of her prayer, almost like an Amen.
    She opened it to find David standing on the porch. For a moment she could only stare at him. “David.”
    He lifted an eyebrow. “It’s Christmas Eve. You promised to spend it with us, remember?”
    “I don’t remember promising anything.”
    “Mommy, you did. You promised.” Kristie’s pout had vanished as she hobbled to the door. “We have to go to David’s. I want to put my sand dollar on his tree.”
    David smiled at her. “You go get it, okay?”
    “Okay.” She hurried toward the kitchen, eyes shining.
    David looked at Allison, and she felt a ridiculous longing to step forward into his arms and rest her head on his shoulder.
    “Well?”
    “I wasn’t sure you’d want us to come now.”
    He reached out, taking her hands in both of his. “Sugar, if that isn’t the silliest thing I ever heard, I don’t know what is.”
    His warmth flowed along her skin.
    “Come on,” he teased. “You know we’re friends, no matter where we are.”
    She did know that, didn’t she? “Okay. Christmas Eve with the Caldwells it is.”

Chapter Eighteen
    The whole downstairs of the inn overflowed with Caldwells—sisters, brothers, cousins. And kids, running around, dodging between adults, filled with all the excitement of Christmas. His mother, Gran, and Miranda had filled countless trays with more food than anyone could possibly eat, but everyone who came through the door brought more. The air was filled with the mingled scents of pine, cookies, baked ham, roast turkey.
    David spotted Kristie in the living room near the tree. She wasn’t running, of course, but she seemed to be having a good time. Sammy, bless his good heart, was sitting on the rug playing a game with her.
    When David had lifted her up to hang her sand dollar on the tree, she’d put her arms around his neck and squeezed. He’d felt as if she was squeezing his heart.
    He’d managed to put himself in a position so he could see Ally wherever she moved. Right now she was helping his sister arrange cookies on a platter. Their heads were together, and they were laughing.
    In a few days she’d be gone. She and Kristie would go back out of his life as suddenly as they’d appeared, and he might never see them again.
    There’s nothing you can do, he told himself. Ally’s changed. She’s not the girl you