Read Online 'Tis the Season by Judith Arnold - Free Book Online Page B

inspired him to take crazy risks. But no father could protect his child completely fromdanger. He could only hug, and yell, and make sure his child knew how much he was loved.
    Evan left the room, closing the door behind him, and descended the stairs. The voices of Evan’s friends emerged from the kitchen in a rumble, but Filomena Albright remained in the family room, studying the framed portraits of the kids on display on the mantel.
    â€œI think this is yours,” he said, presenting her with the muffler.
    â€œThank you.” She took it and smiled again. It was an amazing smile, full of energy and vitality, full of soul. He felt bewitched by it.
    â€œCan I offer you a drink?” he asked. “Or an apology?”
    â€œDon’t apologize. Your children are adorable. I was hoping they’d come back.”
    â€œCome back?”
    â€œThey’ve been to my house before.”
    â€œThey’ve been visiting you?” Why didn’t he know this? How much of their lives was he in the dark about?
    â€œNo, they didn’t visit me. They were just snooping around the house, I think. Peeking through the windows. I found your daughter’s barrette near one, and their footprints. It’s an intriguing house. I guess they were drawn to it.”
    He struggled to assimilate this information, plus what he’d gleaned from Billy. “According to my son, your house is haunted.”
    â€œHaunted?” She tossed back her head and let loose with a rich, throaty laugh that was even more enchanting than her smile. Maybe Gracie was right. Maybe Filomena Albright was a witch.
    â€œThey didn’t say anything to me about my house being haunted,” she told him. “But the house was empty for five years. I suppose it might have seemed a little spooky to them.”
    Five years? Had they been going to her house for five years? That was impossible! Gracie wasn’t even five years old.
    Evan felt, if possible, more overwhelmed, more confused. He was sure everything would make sense if only Filomena Albright wasn’t standing so close to him, looking so utterly gorgeous.
    â€œEvan!” Murphy called from the kitchen. “Is everything all right, or should I phone the police?”
    â€œNo police,” he shouted back, then smiled at her and explained, “My buddies. I guess they deserve an explanation.” He deserved an explanation, too. Maybe Filomena would offer one.
    Touching his hand to her elbow, he ushered her into the kitchen. The guys were standing around the table, clutching their beers, eyeing Evan curiously—and Filomena even more curiously. “This is Filomena Albright,” he said, discovering that the name rolled rather pleasantly off his tongue. “This is Dennis Murphy, Tom Bland, Levi Holt and Brett Stockton.”
    They stared at Filomena as though she were an alien who’d just dropped in from another planet.
    â€œMost people call me Fil,” she said.
    â€œFil?” Evan nodded, then gestured toward a chair. “Please, have a seat. I’ll get you something—a cup of tea, maybe? Coffee? Beer?”
    â€œNo, really, I’m fine.” The men shuffled around the table, presenting her with a chair and smiling bashfully, quizzically. Evan recalled a scene in a movie he’d watched recently with Gracie, the Disney version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs . In the scene, the dwarfs all made a fuss over beautiful Snow White. His kitchen had only five “dwarfs,” and their physiques ran from average to tall, but they exhibited that same deference, awkward and eager to please the lovely young stranger in their midst.
    â€œI’m interrupting your game,” she said, noting the piles of chips and playing cards on the table.
    â€œThat’s okay,” Tom said. “I was losing, anyway.”
    Filomena smiled. The guys laughed, except for Evan, who wished they’d all go away so he could learn more