Read Online Operation Christmas by Barbara Weitz - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Barbara Weitz
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the tin sent chills of remembrance down his spine.
“You like it?” she asked without looking up.
“I do. Kinda says more than here’s some cookies.”
“I wish we’d had angel tins when Danny was in Iraq.”
Jess wanted to say as much as he wanted to believe in miracles he doubted the tins held any real protection by a Guardian Angel she seemed to think. He’d seen too much destruction and maiming of innocents. He held the thought to himself. “How long were you married?”
“Three years. I moved in with my parents shortly after he enlisted. Actually, Danny wanted me to live with them while he was gone. So I wouldn’t be alone.”
“He was right. If it weren’t for my sister, I don’t think it would be much fun going home at night.”
“Your sister lives with you?”
“Yep. Her and all her BFF’s. You wouldn’t believe how much girls text.” That got a smile out of Madeleine. “She might dress a little strange, but she’s a good kid. As long as she keeps her grades up and doesn’t get caught up with a bad bunch, I’ll be happy.”
“Where’s your mom?”
“San Francisco. My folks divorced a couple of years after I went into the Corps. Mom wanted Crystal to live with her, but she wouldn’t go. She had just entered high school. Dad’s heart attack came shortly after I returned from Afghanistan. It’s just me and Crystal now.”
“A teenager’s a lot of responsibility for a young guy to handle alone.”
“Sometimes. Mom keeps trying to get her out to California, but she refuses to leave me. I think Crystal thinks I’ll slip into some kind of depression if she goes.”
“Will you?”
“I’ve had some rough moments. It’s not easy adjusting to one arm. Then I think of Tamara. It’s tough to pity yourself when you hang around such a strong woman.” He smiled at the pile of labeled boxes. “I think we’re done here.”
“This is a nice thing you do, Jess.”
“I’m not sure how it started. Walked into your folks’ bakery last year and saw the tins. Shipped forty last year. Seventy-five this. If it gets much bigger next year, I’ll have to recruit outside volunteers. Crystal and her string of friends will be in college.”
When Madeleine locked her fingers together to stretch out her arms, her gaze settled on her coat and purse. Panic set his mind scrambling for some way to keep her from walking out the door. He might not see her again. She’d already pretty much shut him down and there weren’t any excuses left. “Please. Go have a late snack with me. I’ve not eaten dinner and hate eating alone.” He pulled in a breath. “Damn. That sounds pathetic.”
“What about your sister? Is she home alone?”
“Not tonight. My aunt lives near and comes to the house when I’ve got a late night.”
“I’m surprised your sister doesn’t resent being watched so close.”
“Luckily, she likes my aunt. She’s our mom’s twin, but they’re day and night. Mom’s the artsy, independent type and Aunt Bev’s the homebody. She never had kids so she dotes on Crystal. It’s the only reason Mom agreed to leave Crystal behind to finish her senior year here in Illinois. Although Crystal’s stubborn as a mule and still wouldn’t have gone.”
Jess realized he had shared more about his family with her than even Tamara. But Madeleine’s hesitance to see him as anything more than a friend made him work too hard to win her over. And what better way than sharing details of your personal life.
Still, he feared turning her away with his persistence that was beginning to sound like desperation. The thought caught him up short. “Listen. You don’t have to catch a bite with me. I’m sure you’re tired. I’ll nuke something when I get home.”
Madeleine stared at him with those soft brown eyes full of indecision and way too much pain for a woman not thirty. He could relate. Most the time he acted forty; another side effect of the military way of life and war.
“Actually,
“You like it?” she asked without looking up.
“I do. Kinda says more than here’s some cookies.”
“I wish we’d had angel tins when Danny was in Iraq.”
Jess wanted to say as much as he wanted to believe in miracles he doubted the tins held any real protection by a Guardian Angel she seemed to think. He’d seen too much destruction and maiming of innocents. He held the thought to himself. “How long were you married?”
“Three years. I moved in with my parents shortly after he enlisted. Actually, Danny wanted me to live with them while he was gone. So I wouldn’t be alone.”
“He was right. If it weren’t for my sister, I don’t think it would be much fun going home at night.”
“Your sister lives with you?”
“Yep. Her and all her BFF’s. You wouldn’t believe how much girls text.” That got a smile out of Madeleine. “She might dress a little strange, but she’s a good kid. As long as she keeps her grades up and doesn’t get caught up with a bad bunch, I’ll be happy.”
“Where’s your mom?”
“San Francisco. My folks divorced a couple of years after I went into the Corps. Mom wanted Crystal to live with her, but she wouldn’t go. She had just entered high school. Dad’s heart attack came shortly after I returned from Afghanistan. It’s just me and Crystal now.”
“A teenager’s a lot of responsibility for a young guy to handle alone.”
“Sometimes. Mom keeps trying to get her out to California, but she refuses to leave me. I think Crystal thinks I’ll slip into some kind of depression if she goes.”
“Will you?”
“I’ve had some rough moments. It’s not easy adjusting to one arm. Then I think of Tamara. It’s tough to pity yourself when you hang around such a strong woman.” He smiled at the pile of labeled boxes. “I think we’re done here.”
“This is a nice thing you do, Jess.”
“I’m not sure how it started. Walked into your folks’ bakery last year and saw the tins. Shipped forty last year. Seventy-five this. If it gets much bigger next year, I’ll have to recruit outside volunteers. Crystal and her string of friends will be in college.”
When Madeleine locked her fingers together to stretch out her arms, her gaze settled on her coat and purse. Panic set his mind scrambling for some way to keep her from walking out the door. He might not see her again. She’d already pretty much shut him down and there weren’t any excuses left. “Please. Go have a late snack with me. I’ve not eaten dinner and hate eating alone.” He pulled in a breath. “Damn. That sounds pathetic.”
“What about your sister? Is she home alone?”
“Not tonight. My aunt lives near and comes to the house when I’ve got a late night.”
“I’m surprised your sister doesn’t resent being watched so close.”
“Luckily, she likes my aunt. She’s our mom’s twin, but they’re day and night. Mom’s the artsy, independent type and Aunt Bev’s the homebody. She never had kids so she dotes on Crystal. It’s the only reason Mom agreed to leave Crystal behind to finish her senior year here in Illinois. Although Crystal’s stubborn as a mule and still wouldn’t have gone.”
Jess realized he had shared more about his family with her than even Tamara. But Madeleine’s hesitance to see him as anything more than a friend made him work too hard to win her over. And what better way than sharing details of your personal life.
Still, he feared turning her away with his persistence that was beginning to sound like desperation. The thought caught him up short. “Listen. You don’t have to catch a bite with me. I’m sure you’re tired. I’ll nuke something when I get home.”
Madeleine stared at him with those soft brown eyes full of indecision and way too much pain for a woman not thirty. He could relate. Most the time he acted forty; another side effect of the military way of life and war.
“Actually,
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