Read Wanda E. Brunstetter for Free Online Page B

dinner at your place.”
    Bev smiled, and Amy clapped her hands.
    “Can I bring anything?”
    She shook her head. “Just a hearty appetite.”
    Before Dan could respond, two teenage girls strode up to them. Each held several wreaths in their hands. Dan recognized them and realized they attended his church.
    “Hi, Mr. Fisher,” Dorothy said. “Looks like you’re havin’ some fun today.”
    “Sure am,” he replied with a grin.
    “We came by to see if you’d like to buy a wreath for your front door,” Amber put in.
    He glanced at Bev. “Might be nice to have one hanging on the door of Twice Loved. What do you think?”
    She nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
    Dorothy moved toward Bev. “Would you like to buy one to take home?”
    “Thanks anyway, but it will be all I can do to afford a tree.”
    Dan was tempted to give Bev the money for a wreath, but he figured she would see it as charity. She’d made it clear that she didn’t want his help and was making it difficult for him to do anything nice for her and Amy. So he kept quiet and paid the girls for one wreath then went to hang it on the door of Twice Loved.
    Just as the teens were leaving, an elderly couple showed up, wanting to buy something in the store.
    “I’d better get back inside,” Bev said, hurrying past Dan.
    He nodded. “Amy and I will be there in a minute.”
    Bev and the couple entered the store, and Dan reached for Amy’s hand. “How would you like to give your mother a special Christmas present this year?”
    She grinned up at him with snowflakes melting on her dark, curly lashes. “What is it?”
    “Can you keep a secret?”
    She bobbed her head up and down.
    “Let’s go inside my photography studio, and I’ll tell you about it.”

Chapter 8

    I ’m sorry, Leona,” Dan said into the phone, “but I can’t come to your place for Thanksgiving.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because I’ve made other plans.”
    There was a long pause, and he could almost see Leona’s furrowed brows.
    “Are you going to spend the holiday with your folks this year?”
    “No. I’ll be staying in town.”
    “But you’re having dinner with someone?”
    Dan tapped his fingers along the edge of his desk, anxious to end this conversation. He still had some book work to do, and another photo shoot was scheduled in half an hour. “I’ve been invited to eat with Bev Winters and her daughter, Amy.”
    “Bev Winters? Who’s she?” Leona’s voice sounded strained, and Dan had a hunch she might be jealous. Of course, she had no right to be. He’d never given her any hope that he was interested in starting a relationship. Besides, Bev was an employee, not his girlfriend.
    “Danny, are you still there?”
    “Yes, Leona, although I do need to hang up. I’ve got a client coming soon.”
    “First tell me who this
Bev
person is.”
    “She’s the woman I hired to run Twice Loved.”
    Leona made no reply.
    “I really do need to go. Thanks for the invite.”
    Leona sighed. “Have a nice holiday, and I’ll see you soon.” She hung up the phone before he could say good-bye.
    Dan massaged his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. He reached for his cup of lukewarm coffee and gulped some down as the picture of Darcy hanging on the far wall caught his attention. Even though it had been two years since her death, he still loved her and probably always would.

    Bev had been scurrying around her apartment all morning, checking the turkey in the oven, dusting furniture, sweeping floors, setting the table, and preparing the rest of the meal. Amy was in the living room with her new coloring book and crayons. Last week, shortly after their romp in the snow, Bev had seen her daughter go into Dan’s studio. When Amy emerged a short time later, she had a box of crayons and a coloring book, which she said were a gift from Dan. He really was a nice man.
    Bev glanced at the clock on the far wall. It was one thirty. Dan should be here soon, and she still needed to change