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

gaze to the computer.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Rachel crossed to the bed and stared down at the screen.
    â€œReading about ADHD.”
    â€œAnd?”
    Taylor lifted her head and looked directly at Rachel. “This sounds like me. I do a lot of these things. I don’t like to sit for long. I have a hard time paying attention. I…” Wonder replaced any hostility from earlier in her voice. “They say here there’s help for it.”
    Rachel sat beside Taylor. “That’s what I wanted to tell you. There are things we can do to help you cope with it. I’m reading about it and learning everything I can so I can do that.”
    â€œI need to do that, too. I want to understand what’s wrong with me.”
    â€œHon, everyone has strengths and weaknesses. I do.You do. Your brothers. We’ll take your strengths and build on them and work to deal with your weaknesses. We’re in this together. You aren’t alone.”
    Taylor threw herself into Rachel’s arms and hugged her so tightly for a second she couldn’t get a good breath.
    When she pulled back, Rachel asked, “Are you okay?”
    Taylor nodded as she turned back to the computer. “Can I read some more about it?”
    â€œThat sounds great. I have to go pick up my car at the doctor’s office.”
    â€œHow did you get here?”
    â€œMax brought me. We went looking for you. He didn’t want me to drive since I was so worried about you.”
    â€œI’m sorry.” Her gaze focused on the Web site about ADHD.
    â€œAfter I get back, we’ll have lunch and talk some more. Okay? We need to get started on homeschooling today.”
    â€œFine.” Taylor agreed but there was no enthusiasm in her voice.
    Rachel waited a moment to see if Taylor would say anything else or ask another question. When she didn’t, Rachel left, feeling for the first time in a long while a ray of hope even if her daughter wasn’t excited about schoolwork.
    When she descended the staircase, Max sat on the bottom step, his elbows perched on his thighs, his hands clasped loosely between his legs. He glanced over his shoulders, a question in his eyes.
    â€œShe’s reading about ADHD on the Internet. She’s better. I think she’s actually a little relieved to find there’sa name to what she has been privately struggling with, especially the past few years.”
    He shoved to his feet and rotated toward her. A smile ignited his eyes and enveloped his whole face. “Good. I’m so glad to hear that.”
    His expression, as though they shared something, nestled a warm feeling deep in her heart. “I told her I was leaving for a little while to pick up my car. She wanted to read more about what she’d found. Which is great because Taylor doesn’t read if she can help it.”
    Max strolled toward the front door and stepped out on to the porch. “She struggles with reading?”
    â€œYeah. I intend to do a program to help her read better. Dr. Baker gave me a suggestion, and I ordered it. One of the reasons she has difficulty is because it takes her a long time to read. She would often give up before she finished a selection for school. At least at home, I’ll be able to adjust the instruction with that in mind.”
    At his car he pulled the passenger-side door open for her. “That sounds like a good strategy. A lot of subjects hinge on the ability to read.”
    â€œI’m counting on it to help my daughter. I just hope I’m doing the right thing. Jordan struggled with that issue, too, and Nicholas is doing great with homeschooling.”
    Max rounded the front of his Mustang and climbed in behind the steering wheel. “What Taylor was doing wasn’t working. Maybe this will.”
    â€œThat’s what I’m hoping. Lately, I’ve felt helpless where Taylor is concerned. Nothing I’m doing is getting through.”
    As he