Read Online A Christmas to Remember by Thomas Kinkade - Free Book Online Page B

some chili he had brought home from the diner, his usual fallback. Lucy was getting sick of it, but she didn’t dare complain. Fortunately, the boys would eat anything.
    “Did you get any calls about the job today?” she asked as they began to eat. Charlie had been running an ad in the Cape Light Messenger for waitressing help, to fill in for Lucy’s absence. The sooner he had more help in the diner, the better his mood would be.
    “I got a few. Nobody with the right experience.”
    “Maybe you could train someone. Start them off when it’s slow. I could help.”
    “When are you going to help? You’re hardly there as it is. I’m darned if I do hire someone and darned if I don’t. I’m not looking forward to shelling out that extra paycheck every week. We’re skating on thin ice as it is, Lucy.”
    According to Charlie, they were always on the brink of financial disaster. Lucy had begun to doubt these dire reports, though. Her husband seemed to find resources when he needed them to buy a new piece of kitchen equipment, or even a new truck last year. Of course, she was never privy to the financial side of the business. Charlie laughed off her inquiries, claiming she wouldn’t understand.
    “It’s just temporary,” she reminded him. “As soon as I finish the training and get my degree, it will be much easier for us.”
    “If we make it till then,” he mumbled.
    “Of course we’ll make it. Don’t be so negative.” Lucy took another bite of chili. The boys were quiet tonight, she noticed. She didn’t like to talk about the family finances in front of them. Kids didn’t need those worries.
    “I hope you’re right, Lucy. This whole family has made an awful lot of sacrifices. I hope it’s worth it.”
    Charlie didn’t say more about it, and Lucy was thankful he let the matter drop.
    She had wanted to tell them all about her first day at the hospital, but no one asked her about it. Then again, if she ever admitted today’s mishap to Charlie, he would pounce on it as another sign that she wasn’t cut out for nursing and should just give it up.
    She didn’t need that. She wasn’t going to tell him about having coffee with Jack Zabriskie either. Charlie would just get the wrong idea.
    “Well, I should get going.” Charlie pushed back from the table and got up. “I’ll be home at the usual time.”
    “I’ll be here.” Lucy watched him grab his jacket off one of the pegs near the back door and head out into the night.
    Lucy carried the dishes to the sink. The kitchen looked like a cyclone, even though Charlie hadn’t really cooked. The dishes from breakfast were still piled in the sink, and the dishwasher needed emptying.
    “I don’t have any clothes to wear for tomorrow, Mom,” Jamie said. “Can you wash my basketball uniform, too?”
    “Just bring it all down. I’ll get to it.”
    “Me, too. I need some clean jeans and underwear.” C.J. set a stack of books for his report on the table. Quite a big pile of books, Lucy noticed with dismay.
    She filled the sink with soapy water and started washing the pots. “What’s your topic, C.J.?”
    “The Louisiana Purchase. You have to write out a speech, like, if you were in the Congress and trying to talk for it, or against it.”
    “That’s interesting.” Lucy dug into the burned bottom of the chili pot with a soap pad.
    “Right, Mom. It’s so interesting, I’m going to fall asleep.”
    Lucy laughed at him. “Let’s save some of those wise remarks for the essay. You crack those books and take notes, the way I showed you the last time. I’ll help you get organized and do a first draft.”
    “First draft?” he groaned. “Can’t we just write the stupid thing?”
    “Just take the notes. I’m not going to write it for you, you know.”
    C.J. made a face but started working.
    Jamie came into the kitchen with a notice for her to sign about a field trip. The fifth grade was going to a science museum in Boston. Jamie had been talking about