Read Online Winter Wishes (The Play #1.5) by Karina Halle - Free Book Online Page B

that out when the time comes,” Lachlan fills in, putting his hand on my knee. “Kayla’s grandfather on her father’s side was born in England before he moved to Iceland, so we may be able to get her a UK ancestry visa if nothing else.”
    “Well, well, well.” A low, strong brogue just shy of Groundskeeper Willie sounds out from behind us and I crane my neck to see George McGregor standing in the doorway. “I guess you decided to show.”
    Lachlan’s grandfather is exactly what I thought he would be. Tall, but hunched over. Thick white hair. Furry eyebrows. Glasses. A permanent scowl. Old man cardigan and hiked-up pants. A cane which seems more for ornamental use than mobility. Even though he’s ancient, there’s something about him that makes me sit up straighter.
    “George,” Lachlan says to him with a polite nod. “Thank you for having us for Christmas. This is Kayla.”
    I try and give him my most charming smile and hold out my hand, but he doesn’t even look my way, keeps shuffling toward the empty armchair beside Jessica. “Thank her,” he says gruffly, pointing at Jessica. “She’s the one who thought this was a good idea.” He settles into his chair, folding his hands across his lap. “I would have been perfectly happy with just me and the boys down at the Lions club for dinner, maybe Christmas mass too.”
    “Oh hush,” Jessica says and for once I see her looking a little less composed. “Of course you’re going to spend Christmas with family.” She pauses. “Lachlan here was trying to introduce you to Kayla, his girlfriend.”
    Finally, the old man looks at me. He squints and his scowl deepens. “Oh is that who that is. I thought you brought me a new nurse. Like that Vietnamese one I once had.”
    I swallow hard and keep the fake smile pasted on my face. “It’s nice to meet you,” I say loudly, in case he can’t hear well.
    “No need to shout, I’m not deaf,” he grumbles. “So you’re the one who moved here for this guy, is that so?” He gestures to Lachlan with a wave of his hand.
    “I did,” I tell him, shaking just slightly. “I love Scotland.”
    “That’s just what we need,” he says. “Another immigrant from a foreign country.”
    “She’s American,” Lachlan says, a hard edge to his voice. “She’s born and raised in San Francisco.”
    “And America is a foreign country, is it not?” His grandfather challenges him back. He nudges Jessica. “Jessy, fix me up a plate.”
    Jessica nods and busies herself putting together a plate of cookies and appetizers from the table. Silence falls across the room as she does so and I can hear Lachlan breathing heavily, probably trying to control his temper. He gets really defensive over me, especially when it comes to the fact I’m half Japanese. I admire him for it, but the last thing I want is for him to fight his grandfather.
    I put my hand on his back and rub his strained muscles, wishing we were back in that castle, or back in bed at home. Anywhere but here, really. But I smile for him anyway, refusing to let him think anything is bothering me. I’m a big girl, I can handle it.
    “So what work do you do?” George says through a mouthful of cookie, crumbs shooting out every which way.
    Oh, just the right question to ask.
    “Well, I, uh,” I start to say. “I’m a writer. I was hoping to get a job here in that field.”
    He laughs unkindly. “Good luck with that. You think you can just get a job like that? Get in line with all the people who are actually UK citizens, born and raised, who need work and can’t get it. You think you’ll get something? You’re better off cleaning houses.”
    I can feel my face flaming up. I don’t even have a rebuttal because what he’s saying is totally true and my worst fear.
    “Actually,” Lachlan says, stepping to my defense again. “Kayla is extremely smart and talented, more so than half the tossers in this country. If anything else, she’ll be a worthy addition to