Read Online Sleigh Bells in Valentine Valley by Emma Cane - Free Book Online

were worth it when he was seventeen and missing out on high school parties?
    She couldn’t let herself think about that now. She was in Valentine Valley for who knew how long, and Ethan had his own bedroom right next door. It seemed crazy to keep him with her, but . . .
    With determination, she went back into the kitchen and found her dad sorting leftovers into plastic containers, Joe still eating two pieces of pie at once, Barney looking starved at his side, and her mom unloading newly clean dishes from the dishwasher. Kate helped her mom with the plates, then started loading the third dirty batch of the day.
    Christina eyed her. “So . . . was Thanksgiving better or worse than you expected?”
    Kate grinned tiredly, then patted her stomach. “I had too much pie. I’m having a food baby, I think.”
    Christina laughed. “Well, if that’s the worst of it, count yourself lucky.”
    â€œIt was okay. Kind of strange with Tony here, if that’s what you’re asking. Probably not strange for you, of course, considering he lives next door.”
    Her mom glanced over her shoulder at Tom and Joe, who’d begun to fold chairs and line them up near the basement door. She lowered her voice. “Did it bother you when he bought the Parsons’ old house? You never wanted to talk about it.”
    â€œHis decision made perfect sense, and believe me, I admire how fair he is about Ethan, everything he does to make things easy for him. Did it bother you when he moved next door?” she teased.
    Christina’s smile faded. “I won’t assign blame for your failed marriage, but I’ll admit it was hard seeing him all the time at first, knowing how hurt you were, knowing that you were alone in Denver, without your family, and he was here.”
    â€œThose were my choices, Mom,” Kate said quietly.
    â€œI made peace with that, peace with Tony. Ethan is more important than any of us. And obviously you’ve both done an excellent job with him.”
    â€œBoth of us? What about all of you? The widows? Everyone has helped raise him—the whole ‘it takes a village’ idea, you know.”
    â€œI appreciate that, of course.” After adding detergent, Christina closed and started the dishwasher, then leaned her hip against the counter. “So what’s going on with your custody arrangement this holiday weekend?”
    â€œYou went right to what I was thinking,” Kate said ruefully, then sighed. “You know me too well, Mom. It’s Tony’s holiday, and I wasn’t supposed to be here. It doesn’t seem fair to change things at the last minute.” She gave a lopsided grin. “And can’t you hear the conversation now? ‘Ethan, have a sleepover at Grandma’s with me.’ Yeah, he’s not too cool for that at all.”
    â€œIf you miss him and want to be with him, he’ll appreciate that.”
    â€œSomeday,” Kate clarified.
    Christina smiled. “Okay, someday.”
    â€œI guess I’ll wait to see what happens. I—I don’t even know how long I’ll stay, after all.”
    As her mom covered a pie with foil, she glanced at Kate with somber eyes. “I’ve already told you you can stay as long as you want. Why go back to your empty condo? You can see Ethan every day while you’re on vacation.”
    â€œI’m not on vacation, Mom,” she said, bitterness coloring her voice. “I’m being exiled for standing up for my beliefs.”
    â€œWell, you haven’t exactly explained . . .”
    â€œI know, and I’m sorry.” But I told Tony . “I’ll tell you what I can, soon, I promise. But right now, I just want to forget about it.”
    â€œThen stay here, where we can distract you.” Christina took her daughter’s hand and squeezed it. “Unless you have a boyfriend you haven’t mentioned, of course.”
    â€œSubtle, Mom.