Read Two Hearts for Christmast for Free Online Page B

be ignored, Anthony took his grandson next and held him up in the air.  “There’s my little soldier. How’s my namesake doing, huh?”
    “ Dear, he hardly knows he’s your namesake,” his wife pointed out.
    “ Yes he does,” Anthony protested.  “Robin, what’s your name?”
    “ Robin.”
    “ Great job.  What’s your middle name?”
    “ Anfonee.”
    “ Good, sport.  And your last name?”
    “ Darcy.”
    “ That’s right.  Now what’s my name?”
    Robin was enjoying the game.  He pointed to his grandfather and said, “Pop Pop.”
    “ That’s right,” Margaret praised.  She sat down and placed Robin on her lap.  She gazed at Yvette.  “Where’s Chris?”
    A shadow flitted across Yvette’s face.  “He’s running late.  He got held up at work.”
    “ What?” his mother exclaimed.  “I told him not to stay too late.  Honestly.  That boy’s been working like a madman.  We wanted him to get used to running the company because his father and I wouldn’t always be around, but it wasn’t our intention to have him working so hard that he misses things like his daughter’s shows.”
    ***
    Lacey peeked out behind the curtain at the gathering crowd.  She spotted her mom, her brother and then her grandparents.  She smiled, but they couldn’t see her.  She studied the group again, and then frowned.  Her father wasn’t among them.  She scanned the entire room, but didn’t see him.  With a worried expression, Lacey closed the curtain.  In the distance, she heard her teacher calling the group to take their places in line.  She wrung her hands nervously.   He’ll make it , she told herself confidently.   Daddy will be here.  
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    7 CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    Everyone took their seats, and waited for the leader to welcome everyone and start the show.  Lacey spared a glance toward her family.  They were waving, and smiling at her.  Her grandfather was frantically snapping pictures with his cell phone.  She tried her best to smile as if nothing was wrong.  In truth, there was plenty wrong.  Her dad was not sitting next to her mother and brother, waving and smiling at her.
    ***
    Yvette observed her daughter from the auditorium chair she was sitting in.  She knew Lacey had noticed that Christopher wasn’t there.  She was trying to be brave, but the disappointment at his absence was as obvious on her daughter’s face as it was on her own.  
    The play began, and the kids began reciting their lines.  Yvette prayed that she would stay focused on the job she had to do, and not the fact that her father hadn’t shown up.  The kids were fantastic, and Yvette made herself relax and enjoy the performance.  When Lacey had to sing a solo, it was all she could do not to stand up and cheer.  She didn’t want to embarrass her daughter, but Anthony had no such qualms.  He stood up and snapped pictures like it was the last time he’d ever see her on stage.  Yvette couldn’t contain her laughter when Robin said, “Pop Pop, sit.”
    When it was over, all the kids found their parents and everyone was asked to pitch in and put the folding chairs away at the back of the room.  Yvette picked Robin up so he wouldn’t be in the throng of people and chairs.  Anthony took their chairs and disappeared into the crowd.  
    “ Mom,” Lacey said coming up to her.  “Did you see me?”
    “ Of course, honey,” Yvette enthused.  “You were fantastic.  You missed it, but your grandfather must’ve taken fifty pictures of you.  I’ll bet if we put them all together and show them real fast, you’ll have a movie.”
    “ There you are, kiddo,” Anthony said coming up to the group.  He hugged his granddaughter.  “You were fantastic, Lacey.”
    “ You sure were,” Margaret said fussing over her.  “You were the best actress in the group.”
    Lacey hugged her tightly.  “Thanks, Grandma.  I was so nervous.  I thought I’d mess up.”
    “ But you