Read Online A Curvy Christmas by Harmony Raines - Free Book Online

your mind by the looks of it. So tell.” She pulled Robin into the lounge. “Not too many cakes girls,” she called as they past the kitchen.
    “OK. Mommy. Two each.”
    “No three,” Jess insisted.
    “You’d better ask Robin.”
    “Three is fine, try different ones.” She desperately wanted to join them in the kitchen and spare herself Helen’s inquisition.
    “So. Tell,” Helen said folding her arms. “While Max and Dan are away it seems to be up to me to check you’re OK.”
    “I am.” She looked at Helen and knew she had to give a good explanation. “I did bring someone home, but not a stranger. It’s Greg, the guy I was seeing before. Well, sort of seeing.”
    “Ohhh. I thought he was out of the picture. That must have been a surprise for you.”
    “Not really. I went looking for him.” Robin wasn’t sure what Helen’s reaction would be after all the hassle she had been through with her husband.
    “Good for you, Robin. About time you showed him what you want.”
    “I hope so. I’m not good at the long term stuff. What if it doesn’t last?”
    Helen smiled sadly. “Listen, Robin. I am not a good advertisement for marriage, but look at Max and Dan. You get out of it what you put in. Be honest with him, tell him how you feel. Not just now, but down the line. There’ll be rough times, but the good ones make up for it. I would not give up a day of the good times I had when I was married to lose the memory of the bad.”
    Another knock at the door made Robin jump nervously. “Even better,” Helen said, “I get to meet him.”
    She grinned wickedly, and Robin looked at her desperately. “Please behave.”
    “Don’t worry. He’s safe with me. I don't know any of your secrets. Max on the other hand, I bet she could tell him some juicy titbits from your past.”
    “She needn’t waste her breath. He knows some of them already, it turns out we met years ago. But I’d forgotten. And by the end of tonight he’ll know the rest.”
    “Hey, Robin. Don’t look so down. You haven’t got that many skeletons in your closet, I was only joking.”
    “But what if I have, Helen?” Robin asked quietly, as she turned and headed for the door.
    This was not going exactly how she had planned things. It wasn’t Helen’s fault, it was thoughtful of her to come and see Robin, after all her plans had been to spend a lonely Christmas here on her own. She could only hope that Greg wasn’t put off by her having company.
    Only one way to find out.
    “Greg,” She opened the door to see Greg standing there his arms filled with bags. “Wow, did you buy the shop?”
    “Not quite, but I decided if we were going to do Christmas together we should do it properly.” He moved forward, and a box dropped out of his arms.
    “You even bought Christmas crackers.”
    “Yes. I’m afraid the gifts inside are probably childish, but I haven’t pulled one of those for years.”
    “Did you say crackers?” Laura asked, coming out of the kitchen, cake in hand.
    “You have company,” Greg stated, looking surprised.
    “Yes. Look, come on in, let me help you, and then I’ll introduce you.” She picked the box up off the floor and gave it to Laura. “Here, take these into the kitchen will you please, Laura.”
    “Sure, Robin.” She took the box, shaking it as she went and listening to see if she could work out what was in the crackers, a very happy smile on her face.
    “I’ll take these,” Robin said to Greg, wrestling two bags from him, trying not to let the rest slip out of his hands.
    “Thanks, thought my fingers might drop off.” He smiled at her, unfazed by the new guests in the apartment.
    Robin carried the bags to the kitchen, and put them on the table, ready to be unpacked. First she thought she should do the introductions, Helen might leave once she had met Greg. That sounded harsh, she loved Helen and the girls, but if she had the merest excuse, she would put off telling Greg. Robin knew herself well