Read Online One Snowy Night Before Christmas by Pamela Fryer - Free Book Online Page A

around. Her eyes rolled heavenward. “For the
love of—”
    Tom stopped her before she could bolt out the door. He drew
her close with an arm around her shoulders. “Humor him. He’s had a nasty bump
to the head.”
    Her eyes were shiny. She blinked several times. “I don’t
have to put up with this,” she insisted. “Not if I’m footing the bill.”
    “Look at him.” He glanced over his shoulder. Amy leaned over
on the bed, chatting happily with the broadest smile he’d ever seen. Jessie’s
miserable gaze slid their way, then returned his with raw desolation in her
crinkled brow. “He looks exactly like Santa,” he continued. “People have
probably been calling him that for years. If he wants to be a delusional old
man, who are we to stop him?”
    She drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. “This is
ridiculous.”
    “Yes, you and I think so, but he and Amy are having a good
time. I say, let them.”
    “Fine,” she ground out. She allowed him to steer her to the
foot of the old man’s bed.
    “I want a Barbie Malibu house for Christmas,” Amy said.
    “I know you do, I got your letter.”
    Her mouth formed a perfect circle. “You did?”
    Tom squeezed Jessie’s hand. A warm tingle erupted in his
fingers when she squeezed back.
    “Of course. You want a puppy, too, but I think your father
wants to wait a little to make sure you’re responsible enough to take care of
it.” The old man glanced at him and winked. Tom shifted uncomfortably.
    “Uh, I can’t have pets in my place,” he said. Better to put
a stop to this right now. Not only weren’t animals allowed in his rental, his
allergies would kill him.
    “You aren’t going to live there forever, are you?”
    “Santa can see into the future now, too?” Jessie said with a
sarcastic edge. “What are the winning lottery numbers?”
    “You just don’t believe,” Amy shouted. “He really is Santa.
Go ahead, ask him a question that will prove it.”
    “Where do you live?” Tom asked. He glanced at Jessie
levelly. Let this ride , he was trying to tell her. She was smart enough
to see that, but possibly bitter enough to ignore it.
    “At the North Pole, of course.” He winked. Jessie rolled her
eyes Tom’s way.
    “What are your reindeer’s names?” He thought that one might
trip up the old man, but he rattled them off without hesitation.
    “Can you talk to penguins?”
    The old man gave him a sly grin. “Penguins live in the south
pole.”
    “I don’t believe this.” She turned and stalked out of the
room without another word.
    Thankfully Amy didn’t seem to notice, or she just didn’t
care. She continued happily listing off her Christmas wishes until a nurse came
in with a pain-killer for the old man’s bruised ribs. Tom took the opportunity
to make his exit, and Amy gave in without much of a fight after “Santa”
promised to consider the puppy request for next year.
    Jessie sat waiting for them on the same bench Amy had been
dozing on last night.
    “I thought you might have left.” Tom felt bad for the way
things had gone in there. If she was paying his bills, the old man shouldn’t be
riling her like that.
    “I wouldn’t do that to you. You’ve got no ride until your
car is fixed.” She stood and forced a smile. “Besides, I promised I’d take you
to the best outfitter in town. You need some gear.”
    They drove to Mandy’s Mountaineering in silence, but once
inside the mom and pop owned store, Jessie’s mood improved drastically. It was
a comfortable place with rough-hewn wood boasting the latest in everything from
fashionable winter wear to heavy-duty arctic expedition clothing. A giant,
freestanding iron fireplace stood in the center, surrounded by benches
customers sat on to try on ski and snow boots. A roaring fire kept the place
toasty warm. Mandy, the owner, greeted Jessie with a whoop of joy and a hug,
and an invitation to Christmas dinner.
    “Thank you,” she answered. “But I’ve already got plans.