Read Online A Daughter for Christmas by Margaret Daley - Free Book Online Page A

teens. Some very troubled.” He held out his hand.
    She fit hers in his, and for a brief moment she didn’t feel so alone. Walking toward the entrance, she thought about Max coming into her life at just the right time when she needed someone who understood what was going on with Taylor. Thank You, Lord, for sending him to Tallgrass.
    After inspecting every dark corner, the music and bells and dings on the machines booming through the air, Rachel emerged outside in the sunlight, relishing the quieter atmosphere on a street several blocks from the main thoroughfare through the town. “I really didn’t think she would be here, but I needed to check it out since she was caught sneaking in here during school last Friday.”
    â€œWhere do you want to go next?”
    â€œHome. I want to see if she is at Mom’s. Sometimes Granny doesn’t pick up the phone because she doesn’t move fast. She actually told me once she doesn’t understand the need of us youngsters—me included—needing to be available 24/7 with their cell phones. She wanted to know when I had any downtime.”
    â€œShe’s got a good point.”
    â€œMy grandmother usually does.”
    â€œI’m still going to find a way to wheedle that fudge recipe out of her.”
    Rachel tried to suppress her chuckle but couldn’t. “I wish you the best with that one. She would be a great spy. She doesn’t give anything away she doesn’t want to.”
    Max pulled onto their street. “Do you want to check your house or your mother’s first?”
    â€œMine. Maybe she came home. I can always hope.”
    â€œYeah, hope is important.”
    The way he said that last sentence alerted her that there was more behind his statement than the mere words. She locked gazes with Max as he brought his Mustang to a stop in her driveway. “If it wasn’t for the Lord and my family, these past few years would have been so much worse than they were. And believe me, it hasn’t been easy holding a family together when your husband dies suddenly.”
    â€œI’m glad you had something.”
    She slid from the front seat and stood, staring at him over the top of his car. “It sounds like you didn’t.”
    â€œLet’s just say I haven’t found the Lord there for me when I needed Him.” He pivoted and strode toward her house.
    She quickly followed, wanting to pursue the subject, but the tense set of his shoulders and clenched hands forbade it. Music blared behind the closed front door. “She’s here or at least she was. When she turns the music up loud like that, she’s really upset. She usually uses her iPod otherwise.”
    Inside the foyer, the vibrations blasted Rachel. “I’ll go up and see if she wants to talk. Thanks for helping.”
    â€œI’ll be here when you come down.”
    â€œYou don’t have to be. You’ll need something to eat before you go back to work.”
    â€œMy next appointment isn’t until one-thirty. It won’t hurt me to go without lunch. You might need someoneto talk to, and besides, someone will have to take you back to get your car.”
    â€œOh, I forgot.” Which she was discovering she did a lot around her new neighbor. As she hurried up the stairs, she felt the heat of his look on her, and instead of sending her into a panic, she responded to it with a quickened heartbeat.
    Rachel didn’t bother to knock on Taylor’s door this time because the music was so loud she wouldn’t hear, anyway. When she entered the bedroom, Taylor sat on her bed cross-legged with Rachel’s laptop, studying the screen intently. She marched over to the CD player and switched it off.
    Blessedly, silence ruled for a few seconds before her daughter jerked her head up and glared at her. “Mom, I was listening to that.”
    â€œAnd the whole neighborhood. Use your iPod.”
    Taylor returned her