Read Online Midnight Before Christmas by William Bernhardt - Free Book Online Page B

Carl. I’ve been so bad. I know I have.”
    “No, honey. It was me. All me.”
    “No, I’ve treated you like hell. I’ve kept you away from your boy. That was wrong. A boy needs his daddy.”
    Tears cascaded down Carl’s cheeks. He couldn’t help himself. She was saying all the right words. “It’s okay, honey.”
    “It’s not okay. It was wrong. But I’d like to make it better now. I mean—if you’ll let me.” He could hear her breathing deeply, swallowing her pride. “If you’ll still have me.”
    “Of course I will, honey. You know I will.”
    “You’re so good to me, Carl. You always have been.”
    “Aw, honey, I love you. You know I do.”
    “I know, Carl. I want you to come to me. Please. Now.”
    “But—” He pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at it. Was this a dream or a hallucination? “But what about Frank?”
    “Frank is gone, Carl. Gone forever. He’s out of my life.”
    “Are—are you sure, honey?”
    “I’m sure. That was such a mistake. I don’t know what came over me. But I know this: I want to start doing things right. Starting today. Starting with you.”
    “I do too, baby. I do too.”
    “And—oh, there’s so much more I want to tell you. To show you. I’ll—well, I’ll let it be my Christmas surprise.”
    “I love surprises, baby. Especially from you.”
    “Please come to me, Carl. Come now.”
    Carl’s hand began trembling. “I—I’ll be right over, sweetheart. Where are you?”
    “I’m at home. Don’t ring the bell; I don’t want Tommy to know that we’re together again yet. Let it be his Christmas surprise. He’ll be so happy.”
    “Whatever you want, Bonnie.”
    “Just come to the house and wait outside. When I see you, I’ll come out to meet you.”
    “I’ll be there, Bonnie. I’m leaving right now.”
    “Please do, Carl. I can’t wait to be with you. I can’t wait to hold you in my arms, to feel you pressing up against me—”
    “I’m coming, Bonnie. I’m coming right now.”
    “And Carl?”
    He jerked his head back to the receiver. “Yes, baby?”
    “I love you, Carl. I—I always did, you know.”
    The line disconnected. Carl suddenly realized his face was bathed in tears. He was blubbering like a baby. Everyone in the bar was staring at him—and he didn’t care. He just didn’t care.
    It would take him ten minutes to get back to the alley where he’d ditched the pickup. Maybe less if he ran. After that, it wouldn’t take him fifteen minutes to get to Bonnie’s house.
    To their house.
    He tossed the contents of his wallet down on the counter, wiped his eyes, and raced out the door. The bracing wind gripped him, shook him, roused him, cleared his head.
    This was really happening, he told himself. Really, really happening. He was coming home.
    He was part of a family again. On Christmas Eve.
    Bonnie stretched across the sofa and punched the button disconnecting the speakerphone. “How did I do?”
    Frank sat at the end of the sofa, her feet in his lap. “You were brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.” He bent down and kissed her big toe. “Do you think he’ll come?”
    She laughed. “I know he’ll come.” She readjusted the pillow under her head. “Idiot.”
    “Good. And all will go as planned?”
    “Are you kidding? The stage is set. After that scene you provoked this morning, after the fool tried to kidnap Tommy—hell, by now the police must assume he tried to poison the kid. They’re scouring the city for him, and I’ve got a restraining order in my pocket—which the chump is about to violate. Everything is set up perfectly.”
    “I’m so glad.” Frank wriggled the top of her foot into his mouth and nibbled on the tips of her toes.
    “Will you be ready?” Bonnie asked pointedly.
    “Oh, yes. Oh, yes.” He lowered her feet gently to the sofa, then reached across the end table to his black tote bag. Carefully he removed the sturdy wooden box inside, opened it, and took out the shiny silver pistol