Read Online Twelve Days in December: A Christmas Novella by Michele Paige Holmes - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Michele Paige Holmes
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hand extended. Charlotte took it and allowed him to pull her to a standing position. “This gift is not something that I am purchasing for you. ”
“For Alec, then? But you have given him everything he could possibly need or want as well.”
“Precisely,” William said. “Plus, he is too little to understand, so this item is not for him either, though I do hope it will hold some importance for him as he grows older.”
Charlotte felt her curiosity piqued. She tilted her head, looking up so she might meet William’s eyes. It did not appear that he was teasing. “I give up then. I suppose I shall just have to wait until you give me this present that is not for me or Alec.”
“You shall have to wait,” William agreed mysteriously, then said no more on the matter. “Church services start on the hour. We should go soon if we wish to get a seat up front. I think Alec will enjoy it more if he can see all of the candles.”
“Spoken like a father already,” Charlotte said, feeling her heart expand a little more. She allowed William to help her with her cloak, all the while commanding her insides to quit fluttering at his touch as he lifted her hair and his hands brushed her shoulders. When she had fastened the clasp, he still stood behind her, and the urge to lean into him for just a moment became too much to resist. As she took the tiniest step back, his arms came around her, and he leaned close, his face near to hers.
No words were exchanged; none were needed as they stood together, watching Alec still rocking furiously before the glow of the Christmas tree.
“Perfect.” William broke the silence with his whisper. Then with an audible sigh he released her and stepped back.
Charlotte felt the absence of his warmth and much more, but she dared not dwell on that.
“How are we ever to get him off of that thing?” she asked, looking down on Alec. “Or do you propose we take him to church on it?” She laughed at the foolishness of her own suggestion.
Instead of answering her, William withdrew a candy stick from his pocket and knelt beside Alec. Placing his hand on the back of the rocking horse, William gradually brought it to a stop.
“Would you like to go for a ride outside and have a piece of candy?” he asked.
“Candy,” Alec repeated and held his hands out to William.
“You’ll spoil him,” Charlotte scolded half-heartedly.
“That is my intention.” William scooped Alec into his arms. “Today, at least. And on his birthday, and when we picnic in the summer, and when he is old enough for a real horse and—”
Charlotte laughed. “I can see now the kind of father you are going to be.”
Uncertainty filled William’s gaze as he looked at her.
“A wonderful one,” she finished, swallowing the emotion that had risen in her throat. The past five days had found her more wont to cry and laugh than she had for quite some time. I was numb for so long, Charlotte realized. She had coped by feeling nothing, and now it seemed that William was causing her to feel everything.
December 28
William cradled a sleepy Alec in his arms as they left the church. Between his wedding, Christmas services, and the Sunday services today, it was the third time in a week he’d been to church, each time more favorable than the previous.
Because Charlotte is at my side. On the day of their wedding he had been too consumed with worry to enjoy much of anything until after the ceremony. Christmas services had been pleasant, until Charlotte had to take Alec out to tend to him before the meeting was over. But today Alec had slept through most of the bishop’s message and the choir and congregation singing. William had offered to hold him, and Charlotte had happily agreed. For a toddler, Alec was already quite large, and no doubt her arms became tired.
For William the novelty of holding a sleeping child was a new and wonderful experience. Innocence in my arms and perfection at my side. After being in their
“For Alec, then? But you have given him everything he could possibly need or want as well.”
“Precisely,” William said. “Plus, he is too little to understand, so this item is not for him either, though I do hope it will hold some importance for him as he grows older.”
Charlotte felt her curiosity piqued. She tilted her head, looking up so she might meet William’s eyes. It did not appear that he was teasing. “I give up then. I suppose I shall just have to wait until you give me this present that is not for me or Alec.”
“You shall have to wait,” William agreed mysteriously, then said no more on the matter. “Church services start on the hour. We should go soon if we wish to get a seat up front. I think Alec will enjoy it more if he can see all of the candles.”
“Spoken like a father already,” Charlotte said, feeling her heart expand a little more. She allowed William to help her with her cloak, all the while commanding her insides to quit fluttering at his touch as he lifted her hair and his hands brushed her shoulders. When she had fastened the clasp, he still stood behind her, and the urge to lean into him for just a moment became too much to resist. As she took the tiniest step back, his arms came around her, and he leaned close, his face near to hers.
No words were exchanged; none were needed as they stood together, watching Alec still rocking furiously before the glow of the Christmas tree.
“Perfect.” William broke the silence with his whisper. Then with an audible sigh he released her and stepped back.
Charlotte felt the absence of his warmth and much more, but she dared not dwell on that.
“How are we ever to get him off of that thing?” she asked, looking down on Alec. “Or do you propose we take him to church on it?” She laughed at the foolishness of her own suggestion.
Instead of answering her, William withdrew a candy stick from his pocket and knelt beside Alec. Placing his hand on the back of the rocking horse, William gradually brought it to a stop.
“Would you like to go for a ride outside and have a piece of candy?” he asked.
“Candy,” Alec repeated and held his hands out to William.
“You’ll spoil him,” Charlotte scolded half-heartedly.
“That is my intention.” William scooped Alec into his arms. “Today, at least. And on his birthday, and when we picnic in the summer, and when he is old enough for a real horse and—”
Charlotte laughed. “I can see now the kind of father you are going to be.”
Uncertainty filled William’s gaze as he looked at her.
“A wonderful one,” she finished, swallowing the emotion that had risen in her throat. The past five days had found her more wont to cry and laugh than she had for quite some time. I was numb for so long, Charlotte realized. She had coped by feeling nothing, and now it seemed that William was causing her to feel everything.
December 28
William cradled a sleepy Alec in his arms as they left the church. Between his wedding, Christmas services, and the Sunday services today, it was the third time in a week he’d been to church, each time more favorable than the previous.
Because Charlotte is at my side. On the day of their wedding he had been too consumed with worry to enjoy much of anything until after the ceremony. Christmas services had been pleasant, until Charlotte had to take Alec out to tend to him before the meeting was over. But today Alec had slept through most of the bishop’s message and the choir and congregation singing. William had offered to hold him, and Charlotte had happily agreed. For a toddler, Alec was already quite large, and no doubt her arms became tired.
For William the novelty of holding a sleeping child was a new and wonderful experience. Innocence in my arms and perfection at my side. After being in their
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