Read Online Her Christmas Hero (Home To Dover 6) by Lorraine Beatty - Free Book Online Page A

explanation.
    “I’ll bring them back to the shop and see what I can do. Should be fun. I’m looking forward to seeing more lights and decorations around town for the holidays.”
    Linc stabbed his roast to keep from expressing a contrary opinion. Apparently he was the only one in town who wanted things to stay the same. No one understood. The familiar events were comforting; the simplicity of the Dover celebrations kept the real meaning of Christmas in people’s minds.
    Gemma smiled at Seth. “Great, but you know we don’t have much time.”
    Seth nodded. “I’ll get right on it. As soon as I have them at the shop we’ll get our heads together and see what we can do. What do you have in mind?”
    Linc listened with growing irritation as Seth and Gemma bandied ideas back and forth across the table. His younger brother was a likable guy. Maybe too likable. He’d never been jealous of him, but suddenly he didn’t like the idea of Gemma and Seth getting their heads together.
    Seth suddenly pushed back from the table. “I hate to run, but I have to meet with a home owner this afternoon. She’s not happy about where we put her breaker box.” He winked and moved to kiss his mom goodbye.
    “Aren’t you staying for dessert?”
    “I’ll come back later. Save me a piece.” He waved goodbye and hurried off.
    Linc was about to ask about his mother’s trip when he heard Evan inhale sharply. Milk from his overturned glass was soaking his mom’s best tablecloth. Linc pushed back his chair. Evan winced and shrank away from him.
    “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.” Tears streamed down the boy’s face.
    Gemma pulled him close. “It’s okay, sweetie. I’ll clean it up.”
    Stunned, Linc exchanged a puzzled look with his mother. Why would a spilled glass of milk upset him so?
    His mother reached out her hand to the boy and smiled. “Evan, come here, sweetheart.” He glanced at her cautiously. “Come on. It’s okay. I want to tell you a story.”
    Gemma nodded and released him. Slowly Evan went over to Francie’s side. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hugged him close. “Don’t you worry about that little spill. It’s just milk. Do you see my boy over there?” Evan nodded, wiping his eyes as he looked at Linc. “Well, I know he looks big and strong now, but when he was your age, he spilled his milk every time he sat down at the table. No matter how hard he tried not to, it still happened. We tried moving his glass way back on the table. We tried using a big old mug instead of a glass. We even tried putting the glass on the sideboard, but he’d spill it carrying it to the table.”
    Evan almost smiled at that image. “Is that true, Coach?”
    Linc wasn’t about to tell the boy that his mother had seriously embellished the incident. “Pretty much. I was all elbows and extra fingers, it seemed.”
    Evan looked at Francie. “When did he stop?”
    Tori chuckled. “He hasn’t. He spilled his juice just this morning.”
    Linc smiled. Well, that was true enough.
    “Linc, would you clean that up and bring this young man a fresh glass of milk? We’re having chocolate cake for dessert. Do you like that?”
    Gemma abruptly stood and hurried into the living room. Tori gestured for Linc to follow their guest while she cleaned up. He found Gemma standing near the fireplace, head bowed, arms wrapped around herself protectively. He couldn’t be sure, but he suspected she was crying.
    “Gemma, are you okay?”
    She swiped at her eyes before facing him. “Yes. I just didn’t expect... I mean, I wasn’t prepared... Your mother was very kind and understanding.”
    He wasn’t sure what she meant. “It was just a little spilled milk. The boy shouldn’t be made to feel as if he’d done something wrong.”
    Her green eyes darkened. “You think I made him that way?”
    “No, that’s not what I said. He just seemed unusually upset over a minor thing.”
    “Minor? In my parents’ home that