Read Online The Christmas Promise (Christmas Hope) by Donna Vanliere - Free Book Online

here you are expected not only to eat the meals but also to help prepare and clean up after said meals.”
    “I don’t—”
    I didn’t let her finish. “You are also expected to clean up after yourself and keep sarcastic remarks to a minimum.” I closed my bedroom door and wondered what I had gotten myself into now.
     

    Donovan ran into the security office at nine thirty that evening. “Miss Glory has two women living with her right now,” Carla said to Chaz. “I don’t know what else to do with him.”
    Chaz shrugged and pointed to the sofa. “He can sleep here till you’re done.” Carla kissed the top of Donovan’s head and went to work.
    “What are you eating, Spaz?” Donovan said, running to the desk. Chaz handed him part of his peanut butter and jelly sandwich. “Peanut butter?” Donovan said. He took a bite. “We need to pack something else for work.”
    “Then your mom should pack you something,” Chaz said. “It’s her job, anyway.” Chaz handed him a packaged cupcake.
    “Oh, yeah!” Donovan said, smiling. “That’s what I’m talking about.” He danced like he’d just caught a ball in the end zone, and raised his hand over his head. “Up high.” Chaz slapped his hand. “On the side.” Chaz slapped it again. “Down low.” Donovan pulled his hand away before Chaz could slap it. “Too slow.” He reared his head back, laughing. His jokes were corny and he drove Chaz crazy with all his babbling, but in a strange way Chaz actually liked the kid’s company.
    “You got a Christmas tree?” Donovan asked, picking apart the cupcake.
    “No. Do you?”
    “No. But Miss Glory gave my mom a big bush with little ormanants on it.” Donovan shoved a bite of cupcake into his mouth. “I told her Santa won’t leave presents under a bush, but Miss Glory said some children on the other side of the world don’t even have a Christmas bush. Is that true?”
    Chaz poured hot coffee into a foam cup. “Yeah, that’s right.”
    “What do they have? Like a flower or a piece of corn or something?”
    “I don’t know,” Chaz said. “But I bet they come up with something that works.”
    “What do you use?” Donovan asked.
    “Nothing. I don’t really do Christmas.”
    “Why not?” Donovan said. “Don’t you believe in Santa Claus?” He was wide-eyed and bewildered at the thought of it.
    “I believe in the spirit of Santa Claus,” Chaz said. “Who wouldn’t?”
    “Maybe you could come over to my house and see if Santa leaves you something under my Christmas bush. He knows you’ll be there because he knows everything.”
    Chaz hadn’t celebrated Christmas with anyone in years and couldn’t imagine what that would be like anymore. “I’ve got plans for that day, but thanks, though.”
    Donovan ran to the video monitors and shoved the last of the cupcake into his mouth. “Take me to Santa’s toy shop.”
    “No,” Chaz said. “You’re not supposed to be on the floor.”
    “I won’t be on the floor,” Donovan said, prancing. “I’ll be in Santa’s toy shop.” He grabbed on to Chaz’s hand, pulling it. “Come on. Just show me.”
    There wasn’t any point in talking Donovan out of it because he’d just run there when Chaz wasn’t looking. Larry, Carla, and Monique were busy cleaning other areas of the store and didn’t notice Donovan dashing through Children’s Clothing to get to the Toy Department. His eyes lit up when he saw the small red workshop with a marshmallow roof splattered with gumdrops, frosting shutters, and a chocolate-bar door. Lollipops sprang out of the garden around the building, gingerbread men clung to the sides, and the door handle was a giant candy cane. Donovan burst through the door and frowned when he saw an empty workshop put together with plywood and two-by-fours. “Where’s the toys?”
    “Santa can’t make stuff here,” Chaz said. “Look how small this is. He just comes here to find out what kids want; then he sends those orders up