Read Online The Gift of Christmas Present by Melody Carlson - Free Book Online Page B

Christine their rooms. Maybe it was because she was the closest to their age group, or maybe they just assumed she was the babysitter. As it turned out, she spent more time with the kids than the adults, which was perfectly fine with her.
    She sat next to Casey at dinner. The other guests consisted of Felicity’s parents, Janet and George, and her newly married sister, Amber, and Amber’s husband, Rick.
    â€œDo you go to college here?” Amber asked.
    â€œYes. I’m a junior,” Christine said.
    â€œI graduated from here,” Amber said. Then, more proudly, “But Rick went to Stanford.”
    â€œI went to school here too,” Jimmy said. “It’s a great place to go.”
    â€œWhat was your major?” Christine asked, only because it seemed the conversation had come to a lull.
    â€œSecondary education,” he said. “I’m a P.E. teacher at Edison High.”
    â€œAnd a coach,” Felicity added.
    â€œI’m majoring in education too,” Christine said. “Elementary ed.”
    â€œGood grief,” Mrs. Daniels said with a frown. “You seemed like you were smarter than that to me. What’s wrong with these young people wanting to waste their lives being teachers?” She seemed to direct this comment to Felicity’s parents. “Don’t young people care about making a good living anymore?”
    â€œThanks a lot, Mom,” Jimmy said. “But don’t forget that my dad was in education and so were you.”
    â€œ Upper education,” Mrs. Daniels corrected him. “I was an English professor, and the head of my department before I retired. And don’t forget that your father had his doctorate. As did my first husband.”
    â€œAnd I’m sure they’re terribly thankful about that now,” Jimmy teased.
    Christine thought she saw her grandmother wince slightly at that.
    â€œSorry, Mom,” Jimmy said quickly. “I guess I’m just saying that everyone’s got to do what makes them happy. Life isn’t just about making money, you know.”
    â€œMy father’s a teacher too,” Christine said quickly, hopingto smooth over whatever had just transpired. “Actually, he retired from public school last spring. But he’s volunteer teaching down in Brazil right now.”
    Fortunately, that took the conversation into a whole new realm as Felicity’s parents enthusiastically shared their latest trip to Mexico.
    Soon dinner was over and it was time for the gifts to be opened. Naturally, all this attention for her older brother was upsetting to Casey, and before long she was in tears.
    â€œIt’s been a long day,” Felicity explained, “and she never got her nap.”
    â€œWould you like me to help her get ready for bed?” Christine offered.
    Felicity looked surprised then relieved. “Would you?”
    â€œSure, if she doesn’t mind.” She turned to look at the little girl’s tear-streaked face. “Would you like to show me your room again, Casey? And where you keep your jammies?”
    Casey nodded, and Christine took her hand and walked her up the stairs to her bedroom. It didn’t take long before she was ready for bed, and although she looked pretty tired, Christine asked her if she’d like to hear a story.
    â€œA book?” Casey’s eyes grew wide as if this were a special treat.
    â€œYeah. Want me to read to you?”
    She nodded and leaned back into her pillow, tugging a stuffed bunny closer to her. Christine took the bunny as a cue and picked out a rabbit story. Casey listened happily but was fast asleep before the story was half finished. Christine set the book down and pushed a stray blondcurl off the little girl’s forehead. She knew this child was no relation to her, but she felt an inexplicable sense of kinship just now. Maybe it had to do with Christmastime or missing her father. Or maybe she was just longing