Read Online 01_The Best Gift by Irene Hannon - Free Book Online Page A

expression on his face.
    “How are you, son?”
    Even after the man spoke, it took Blake a few moments to recover. “What are you doing here?”
    “Paying you a surprise visit,” the woman said, her delight undiminished by Blake’s abrupt greeting and lack of enthusiasm.
    “We’re on our way to a convention in Chicago and thought we’d make a little detour, stop in and see how you are,” the man spoke again.
    Blake finally recovered enough to move forward, but he kept the counter between himself and his visitors. “You could have called first. I would have been more prepared.”
    “Then it wouldn’t have been a surprise,” the woman replied brightly.
    Though A.J. stood mere inches away from him, Blake seemed oblivious to her presence. And unsure how to proceed. So A.J. took charge. She stepped forward and held out her hand.
    “Welcome to Turning Leaves. I’m A. J. Williams, Blake’s partner.”
    The woman took her hand first. “I’m Jan Sullivan. This is my husband, Carl. We’re Liam’s…sorry, Blake’s…parents.”
    “Nice to meet you,” Blake’s father said as he gave her hand a hearty squeeze. “You must be Jo’s great niece. We were sorry to hear of her passing. She was a wonderful lady.”
    “Thank you.” Since Blake still wasn’t speaking, A.J. filled in the gap. “Did you just arrive?”
    “Yes. We’d hoped to spend a couple of days in St. Louis, but we took an interesting detour or two on the way here that delayed us,” Carl said. “So we’ll need to leave tomorrow if we want to get to Chicago for the whole convention. But we couldn’t come this close and not stop in to see Blake.”
    A.J. recalled that Blake had once told her his parents were from Oregon. She looked at Blake’s father in surprise. “Did you drive all the way from the West Coast?”
    “Yes. We love road trips. But we haven’t had time to take many these past few years.”
    “This sure brings back a lot memories, doesn’t it, Carl?” Blake’s mother was looking around the shop, a smile of recollection on her lips.
    “Yes, it does. That was a good summer for us. I see you’ve made some changes.”
    “When were you here last?” A.J. asked.
    “Oh, it’s been several years. I love the reading area in the front. It’s so inviting,” Jan said.
    Finally Blake spoke. “Do you need a place to stay tonight?” The question was clearly prompted only out of a sense of obligation. He hadn’t moved from behind the counter, and A.J. suspected that a whole lot more than a glass display case separated Blake and his parents.
    “No, thank you, son. We already checked into a hotel.”
    Blake’s relief was almost palpable. A.J. looked at him curiously—and with a certain degree of censure. His parents had obviously made a special trip to see him. Whatever their differences, surely he could afford to be hospitable for one night. And if he couldn’t, she could, she decided.
    On impulse, she spoke. “I don’t want to impose on family time, but if you don’t have any other plans for the evening, I’d be happy to offer you a home-cooked meal.” She looked over at Blake. “You’re invited, too, of course.”
    Blake stared at her as if she’d lost her mind.
    “Why, thank you!” Jan replied. “But it’s such short notice…I’m afraid it would be too much trouble.”
    “Not at all. Sometimes impromptu parties are the most fun.”
    “We couldn’t agree more, right, Carl?”
    “Absolutely.”
    “Unless Blake has other ideas, I think that sounds lovely,” Jan said.
    They all turned to Blake expectantly. It was clear he had no ideas at all.
    “Blake, would you prefer to go out to dinner somewhere with just your mom and dad?” A.J. prompted when the silence lengthened.
    If looks could kill, A.J. would be history. But she tilted her chin up and steadily returned his glare.
    “Dinner at your place sounds fine.” Blake ground out the words through clenched teeth.
    A.J. ignored Blake and turned back to his