Read Online Stuck On You (A Christmas Novella) by Rhonda Gibson - Free Book Online

love at first sight but was pretty close. Morgan closed the front door behind him and hung his coat on one of the hooks by the door. “Mom, Dad?”
    “We’re in here, son,” his father called from the den. “Your mother has decided to put the tree up in the den.”
    “Well, I just think it will be cozier in here this year,” his mother said.
    Morgan saw that several boxes of decorations and the Christmas tree box had been brought down from the attic. “I thought I’d be bringing those down,” he said, coming farther into the room.
    “Your mother couldn’t wait.”
    His mother ignored the sarcasm in his father’s voice and pointed to the far corner of the room. “Would you move the tree over there, son? Your father refused to move it one inch more into the room. I don’t know what’s gotten into him lately. It’s bad enough he bought that red monster out there without even consulting me, and now he’s refusing to help out around here.”
    At the age of seventy-two, his father still got around very well. But Morgan hated the thought of his climbing up and down the ladder that ran to the attic. He decided not to get into the argument about the new car but wanted his mother to know he didn’t like the fact they didn’t wait for him. “Mom, you should have waited for me to help you and Dad,” he said, pulling the heavy box into the corner she indicated.
    “Nothing’s gotten into me,” his father grumbled as he stalked off to the kitchen.
    His mother hugged Morgan. “Come on into the kitchen. I made pot roast for dinner. That ought to sweeten him up, and if that doesn’t work, I made his favorite lemon pie.”
    Morgan shook his head as he followed his mother into the kitchen. His parents could argue with the best of them, but when it came time to go to bed, he knew they’d forgive each other and go to sleep content with the world once more.
    After everyone had been served and grace had been spoken, Morgan’s mother asked the question he’d been waiting for. “What have you been up to, honey?”
    He took a deep breath and plunged in. “I met the woman I’m going to marry.”
    His father dropped his fork; his mother sputtered and almost spit out the water she’d just drunk from her glass.
    “You’re both going to love her, too. I would have brought her with me tonight, but I know how you feel about Christmas tree night.” He felt like a man standing in front of a freight train. Should he shut up and get out of the way of danger or continue to talk and stare like a deer in headlights?
    His mother was the first to speak. “You met the woman you’re going to marry?” She picked up his father’s fork and handed it back to him.
    Morgan nodded.
    “Does this woman have a name, son?” his father asked, forking a slice of roast and chewing it slowly. “Her name is Sheila Fisher.”
    “The children’s author?” his mother gasped.
    Morgan looked at her in surprise. “You know her?”
    “Not personally, no. But your niece and nephew have all of her books. I bought them for the kids last Christmas.” His mother began to eat.
    Morgan chewed his meat slowly and digested the fact that his family had seen Sheila’s books and he hadn’t. He decided to make a trip to the mall bookstore and see what her books looked like. He’d been so enthralled with the woman that he’d forgotten she had other books out.
    “How did you meet?” his mother asked.
    “She came to the signing right after Thanksgiving.” He buttered a roll. “Sheila’s using the Woodland characters in her next series of books.”
    “How exciting!” his mother proclaimed.
    “Not to mention flattering,” his father added before taking another bite of pot roast. “Think you’ll be bringing her by soon so we can meet her?”
    His mother looked at him with the same question in her eyes.
    “I’ll bring her over for one of Mom’s wonderful dinners sometime. . .soon,” he promised with a smile.
    His mother grinned her approval.