Read Online Love Finds You in Frost Minnesota by Judy Baer - Free Book Online Page A

girl doesn’t need to think she’ll be taken from her parents! I’d love to find that grandmother of Greta’s. That would solve a lot of issues for everyone.”
    “But no one knows who she is!”
    Merry couldn’t debate that. She’d been in the white pages online looking for a Bernice Olson in Minnesota. None lived in this immediate area. But this was the season of miracles, Merry told herself. Then she looked at Lori’s crestfallen face.
    “Sorry if I came down on you too hard,” Merry murmured. “When Greta told me what happened, I lost it.”
    “I deserved it,” Lori admitted. She made a zippering movement across her mouth. “No more speculating, especially not where children might overhear.”
    “Thank you.” Merry turned and left the break room. She hoped Lori wouldn’t be upset with her, but she’d said what she needed to say. She felt like a mother lion protecting her cub where Greta was concerned.
    * * * * *
    Jack drew up to the school in Merry’s car and watched kindergarten children pour out of the doors. It was some time before he spotted Merry. She was holding a child’s hand as they walked toward a tall young woman with shiny dark hair. The little boy released Merry’s hand and ran into his mother’s open arms. He spun out of them after a brief hug and reached again for Merry. The adults laughed and Merry put the child back into his mother’s embrace.
    Then another parent came up to her. And another. Merry was the most popular girl on the playground, Jack mused. Finally she made it to the car.
    “I wasn’t sure you’d ever get here,” Jack commented as she slid into the vehicle. “What are you? Most Admired Teacher of the Year?”
    Her laughter was like music in his ears.
    “I see you got my car running,” she commented, deflecting the attention from herself.
    “Yes. I thought I’d better drive it a little. I hope you don’t mind.”
    “Mind? I feel like a princess! Usually I’m alone with my car troubles. This is great!”
    Somehow that little phrase “usually I’m alone” struck a chord in him. Though he tried to ignore it, he, too, felt alone far too often.
    When they arrived in Frost, a black Volvo was parked in Merry’s driveway. Merry jumped out of the car and hurried up the garage stairs, leaving Jack to follow.
    Inside, a good-looking blond fellow in a business suit was sitting at the kitchen table reading the St. Paul Pioneer Press , drinking coffee, and looking as comfortable as if he did it every day of the week.
    Jack immediately felt a stab of resentment. Who was this guy making himself at home in Merry’s house?
    Someone she knew very well, he realized when Merry raced across the room, gave the fellow a quick hug, and shone a smile on him.
    “Zeke, what are you doing here in the middle of the day?”
    “I drove out to see how you were doing.” He tipped his head toward Jack, who still loomed in the doorway.
    Merry waved Jack over. “Zeke, this is Jack Frost. Jack, Zeke is the one who lined you up to stay at my B-and-B.”
    Jack stretched out his hand. “Pleased to meet you. I have you to thank for a roof over my head—and great cooking, I might add.”
    Zeke nodded knowingly. “The best. Glad it’s working out.” He turned back to Merry. “How are things in the store?”
    “My hard work is finally beginning to pay off. I’ve had more customers from the Twin Cities and surrounding communities than ever before. Christmas has been good for Frost.”
    An empty feeling grew in the pit of Jack’s belly as he sat down on a chair on the far side of the table. His long-dead relatives now had him embroiled in this holiday funfest, something he’d avoided all his adult life. The emptiness grew into an aching pain in his gut. Maybe this was what he got for suppressing all his negative feelings and emotions over the years. Everything that reminded him of his past was flying in his face, taunting him. Perhaps his father had been right, that ignoring a problem