Read Online I'll Be Home for Christmas by Fern Michaels - Free Book Online Page A

That’s Christmas Eve!…Move-in condition! Fifteen acres! A heated barn for the animals. God must be watching over me. How much is fenced in?…Great. That’s a fair price…. The owners are in California…. I knew you could do it…. Okay. I’ll drive down this afternoon and look at it…. The last of their things will be out by Saturday. I’m very grateful, Tom.” She copied down directions. Her sigh of relief was so loud and long she had trouble taking a deep breath.
    Andi’s second call was to her friend Mickey. “Can you bring the bus by today? Thanks, Mickey. I owe you one.”
    Her third call was to her attorney, who admonished her up one side and down the other for signing the contract before he had a chance to go over it. “You’re lucky everything is in order. Congratulations. I’m going to set up a payout structure you’ll be able to live with.” Andi listened, made notes, gave the attorney her new address and told him to check with information for her new phone number.
    The phone started to ring the moment she hung up from the attorney. The answering machine clicked on. If it was a patient she’d pick up. A hang up. Mr. Lipstick. “Invade my privacy, my life, ha! Only low-life scum do things like that. Well, you got your property, so you don’t have to continue with this charade. It doesn’t say much for me that I was starting to fall for your charms.” Her eyes started to burn again. She cuddled a gray cat close to her chest, the dogs circling her feet. “So I made a mistake. We can live with it. We’ll laugh all the way to the bank. The new rule is, we don’t trust any man, ever again.”
    îŠ¦
    The elaborate silver service on the mahogany table gleamed as Sadie King poured coffee. “You look like you slept in a barn, Peter. Calm down; stop that frantic pacing and tell me what happened. You’ve never had a problem being articulate before. So far all I have been able to gather is someone stepped on your toes. Was it Dr. Evans? I’m a very good listener, Peter.”
    â€œYesterday was so perfect it scared me. She felt it, too, I could tell. Somehow, that goddamn investigative report fell out of my car and she found it. When I went back later for dinner, after I left you, she had it taped to the door. Obviously she read it. I called on the car phone, I banged on the door, but she didn’t want any part of me. I sat in her parking lot all night long. This morning the police came and ran me off her property. Their advice was to write her a letter and not to go back or they’d run me off. I think I’m in love with her, Sadie. I was going to tell her that last night. I think…thought she was starting to feel the same way. My stomach tightens up when she laughs and her laughter shines in her eyes. She gave me her father’s boots that were bright yellow, and his gloves. She’s so down to earth, so real. I even started to wonder how our kids would look. What should I do? How can I make her understand?”
    â€œA letter isn’t such a bad idea. You could enclose it with the invitation to your Christmas party and send it Federal Express or have a messenger deliver it. I’d opt for the messenger because he could deliver it today. If you choose Federal Express she won’t get it until tomorrow.”
    â€œWhat’s the use, Sadie? I don’t blame her. Jesus, the guy even…a diaphragm is pretty goddamn personal. I didn’t want that kind of stuff. I didn’t ask for it either. All I wanted was her financials and a history of the property. I have that same sick feeling in the pit of my stomach I used to get when I was a kid and did something wrong. I could never put anything over on my mother, and Andi is the same way.”
    â€œThere must be a way for you to get her to listen to you. Apologies, when they’re heartfelt, are usually pretty good. Try