Read Online The Unexpected Holiday Gift by Sophie Pembroke - Free Book Online Page B

Whatever Heather wanted to believe, there was no denying that he wasn’t as healthy as he’d been even one month ago. But maybe his Christmas surprise would help. Remind his father of everything he had to live for.
    Jacob pushed open the door and stepped into the study, his mother close behind him.
    â€˜Jacob!’ James said, struggling to his feet. His arms felt brittle around him, Jacob thought. ‘To what do we owe the pleasure?’
    â€˜Jacob has something to tell us.’ His mum had already settled herself into the armchair by the window, ready to listen. ‘And it has absolutely nothing to do with a woman, except that it might.’
    â€˜Sounds interesting,’ his father said, sitting back down in his desk chair. ‘So, do tell.’
    Jacob perched on the edge of a table, pushed up against the old fireplace. ‘Well, it’s about Christmas, actually.’
    â€˜You’re bringing someone new?’ His mother clapped her hands in enthusiasm. ‘Except you said not a woman.’ Her eyes grew wide. ‘Is it a man? Because, darling, really, we just want you to be happy. And you can adopt these days, you know—’
    â€˜I’m not bringing anyone,’ Jacob said firmly. ‘But I am taking you somewhere.’
    â€˜Somewhere...not here?’ she asked. ‘But it’s Christmas.’
    For a horrible moment it struck Jacob that Clara might actually have read his parents better than he had this time.
    â€˜Do you remember that year we spent Christmas in Scotland?’ he asked, changing tack.
    â€˜In the cottage?’ James said. ‘Of course. It was possibly the best Christmas we ever had.’
    Of course it had been. The last Christmas before the accident. The last time his family had been able to look at Jacob without that shadow in their eyes. The one that told him that they loved him, of course—they just couldn’t trust him. Couldn’t believe in him. Couldn’t move past what had happened.
    And neither could he.
    This Christmas might not fix his mistakes but it was at least one more step in a long line of atonements. Maybe the last one he’d get to make to his father. He had to make it count.
    Jacob forced a smile. ‘Well, good. Because I wanted to give you another Christmas like that.’
    â€˜So you hired the cottage for Christmas?’ James frowned. ‘I thought that cottage was sold on, a few years later. Do you remember, Sheila? We tried to book again, didn’t we? Let me check my files...’
    â€˜Not the same cottage.’ The last thing he needed was his dad disappearing into his filing cabinet for the afternoon. ‘Actually, I’ve found a castle, up in the Highlands. It has huge old fireplaces, four-poster beds... It’ll be perfect.’ Or so Clara promised him.
    â€˜A castle? Jacob, where on earth do you find a castle for Christmas?’ His mother asked, astonished.
    â€˜On the Internet, I imagine,’ his father said. ‘Was it on eBay, Jacob? Because I’ve heard some stories...’
    â€˜I haven’t bought the castle,’ Jacob explained. ‘We’re just hiring it. Clara said—’
    â€˜Clara?’ Mum might be woolly on some things, but she homed right in on the mention of her ex-daughter-in-law. Jacob winced. He’d half hoped to get through this without having to explain the exact logistics. ‘What has Clara got to do with this plan? Are you two back together? What happened?’
    â€˜No, it’s nothing like that.’ How to explain? ‘She runs a concierge and events company in London now, you see. I’ve hired her to organise us the perfect Christmas. I figured that since she already knew us...’
    â€˜And left you,’ his mum pointed out. ‘Jacob, really. Are you sure this isn’t just an excuse to see her again? We all remember how mad you were over her. And how heartbroken you were when she