A Family for Christmas by Mary Eason Page B

that was the result of far too many sleepless nights spent worrying over Sammy and then Jack.
    “Momma, we’re going to Denver,” Sammy shouted with glee when she walked into the great room again more than half an hour later.
    “We are?” Her gaze slid to Jack . All the obvious questions there .
    “Yes, we are. It’s almost Christmas. This will be a special year for all of us and I want us celebrate.”
    Her heart did a little somersault, even though she knew Jack was referring to finding out about Sammy.
    The drive into Denver was normally a good hour’s journey from the farm. Today it felt twice as long.
    Rachel sat next to Jack with Sammy happily chattering away in the back seat and pointing out different places along the way, oblivious to the tension between the two adults.
    “Relax,” Jack whispered so that only she could hear. “Everything will be okay.”
    “Momma, are we going to live here or can we move in with Gran?” Sammy had clearly been considering all their options and it was easy to see which one was his favorite.
    She closed her eyes. She didn’t want to have this discussion now. Not when she was sitting far too close to the man of her dreams. Jack smiled sympathetically before answering Sammy.
    “I was thinking maybe you and your mom could come to live at my place in Austin. I have a big house that will be just perfect for the three of us. And it’s not that far from your grandmother or Uncle Mike. You can see them any time you want.”
    “Yippee!”
    “I take it Sammy likes the idea of living in Austin?” Jack tried to break the tension reverberating between them, but for Rachel, trusting Jack again didn’t come so easily.
    Reluctantly, she nodded. “You could say that. It’s all he’s talked about for days. He didn’t want to leave—” She stopped when she remembered all the reasons why she’d left Austin in such a hurry.
    “Then I think you should listen to our son. He’s pretty smart, I’d say.”
    “Momma, should I call him Daddy?”
    Sammy might be eager to accept Jack as his father, but he was still finding some things a little awkward.
    Jack answered the question for her. “Do you want to call me Daddy?”
    “ Um, y es.”
    “Then that’s what you should call me. It’s okay, son. I know this is hard . We’ll get used to each other soon enough. Now why don’t you tell me what you’ve asked Santa to bring you this year?”
    For the rest of the trip, Sammy recited by heart the list of things he’d asked Santa for. Most of the stuff was small. She’d managed to pick them up along the way. There was only one thing on the list that she knew would be impossible for her to afford this year. Sammy had wanted this one particular remote controlled car ever since he’d seen it on T.V. and no matter how much she tried to tell him that Santa might not be able to find it for him his year, Sammy wasn’t daunted. He’d simply smile and tell her Santa could find anything.
    Jack parked the truck outside of one of the few empty spaces at the mall, which was packed for a weekday.
    “Okay, where to first?” Jack opened her door and then turned to look at her while she tried to remember the last time she’d actually been to this mall.
    “I’m not really sure—”
    Once inside, Sammy spotted the mall Santa right away. “Look, Momma, Santa’s here . Can we ask him about the car?”
    Jack waited until Sammy’s full attention was on the Santa and his elf helpers. “What car?”
    “It’s a four wheel drive remote control car that he’s had his heart set on ever since he saw it on T.V. a few months back. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I can’t get it for him.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because it’s very expensive. Too expensive for a toy he’ll be tired of in a few weeks.”
    He touched her arm. “Rachel, I know what you’re saying, and I know you mean well, but Sammy’s only four. He’s not going to be spoiled by a little overindulgence from time to time.