Read Every Last Breath for Free Online

into the living room, “I was thinking it may fit here. We’ll have to trim it, of course, but the light from the window is perfect.”
    “Mommy, you’re cutting my tree?”
    Maggie spun on her heels. “Hey baby. This is Mr. Hall. He’s Mrs. Von Eiffer’s nephew.”
    Eli rushed forward. “Wow, you are a super tall man. I’ve seen you before when we drove by.”
    Ben knelt down. “Hi there little man,” he said as he held out his large hand. “I’m glad to meet you.”
    “Can you help us with the Kris-maas tree?” Eli loved to exaggerate the word Christmas.
    Ben stood up. “That’s why I am here.”
    Eli’s neck bent up, “How’d you get to be so tall?”
Ben laughed heartily, like Santa but without the beard.
    “Magic boots.”
    Eli shifted his eyes to the floor. “Wow.”
    “Mom can I get magic boots for Christmas?” He pleaded.
    She looked to Ben as if the stranger could help her out with this one.
    He looked down at the boy, “You better write that letter to Santa if you want the boots. And tell him you are eating your veggies too.”
    Eli’s shoulders fell. “But mom, we already did that in school. I mailed it to the north pole last week.”
    Ben patted his curly head. “That’s okay. You can always talk to Santa at the mall, right?”
    “But my mommy doesn’t like the mall. We never go.”
    “Never?” he asked glancing at Maggie.
    “You have to take the kid for Christmas. I work in Denver and the mall there is decorated like the North Pole. You have to come see it. The display is outlandish and very appealing, I promise.”
    Eli tugged on Ben’s jeans. “What’s outlandish mean?”
    “It means the elves are there. And there is a train, and lots of goodies.”
    “Can we go mom, can we?”
        She skirted the question. “Denver is a long drive bud. Plus, what are we gonna do with Vala? We can’t leave her here all day.”
    “We could bring her with us.”
    “Honey, why don’t you help Mr. Hall with the tree and I will think about it.”
    The boy slouched over and mumbled to himself.
    “Do you need my help?”
    “I think we can handle it.”
    Maggie made a mental note that Ben was helping boost Eli’s self esteem. It was a man project and she didn’t need to interfere.
    She pulled out some leftover roast beef for dinner and made sure there was enough in case Ben wanted to stay. She could thank her mother for the Italian cooking gene, she made more than was necessary for just her and Eli, and would continue to do so. Besides, Eli was always asking people to stay for dinner. She assumed he missed his father and tried to create his own family by having friends come for dinner.
    He invited everybody, even kids from school who lived an hour away.
    Five minutes later the garage door swung open and in came her little tyke with a red nose and zipped up coat that made him a bit clumsy. “This way,” he hollered. She rushed to the door and closed it behind them.
    The tree farm had an extra large stand, for an additional twenty bucks, plus tip for whoever tied the monster pine onto her car. She was in for well over a hundred dollars by time they left. But the smile on Eli’s face was worth it.
    The tree was up in no time, without much effort either. “Wow,” Maggie rounded the kitchen corner and stared at the massive pine.”
        “I can’t believe it fits.” Of course given his height, Ben made the tree a bit smaller.
    “I took another six inches off just to be sure. I figured you may have an angel or star that you want to fit at the top.”
    “We do. Thank you.”
    Maggie turned back to get some money for Ben.
    “Hey mom, can he stay for dinner?”
    She smiled, having been one step ahead of him. Ben held out his hand in protest. “That’s not necessary.”
    “It’s no problem. I was already heating up dinner when you were outside.”
    He straightened up. “I’m grateful for the offer but I have to get back.”
    Eli’s shoulders caved yet again.