One Special Christmas & Home for the Holidays by Irene Hannon Page A

I.”
    â€œWe’re going to make cookies tonight and watch Mary Poppins. ”
    â€œNow that sounds like fun.”
    â€œYou can come, too,” Sarah offered.
    â€œI’d like to. But I promised my friend I’d come to his party. Maybe we can watch a movie together sometime, though.”
    â€œCan Mommy watch, too?”
    Eric glanced up at Kate apologetically, realizing he’d put her in an awkward position. “Sure. If she wants to.”
    â€œOh, Mommy likes movies. Don’t you, Mommy?”
    Kate didn’t answer. Instead, she picked up her purse. “Shouldn’t we be leaving? I promised Sarah I wouldn’t be gone too long, and it’s getting late.”
    He rose slowly, aware that she was laying out the ground rules for tonight. Clearly, it was going to be a short evening. Still, it was better than nothing, he consoled himself. Even a couple of hours in the company of adults, where she could laugh and relax, might help chase the haunted look from her eyes.
    â€œYes, we should.”
    As he turned toward the door the phone rang, and Kate hesitated. Then she sighed. “I’d better get it. It will only take a minute.”
    â€œNo rush.”
    Although Sarah’s chatter kept him occupied duringKate’s absence, Eric took the opportunity to glance around her modest apartment. There was a small living room, a tiny kitchenette with a counter that served as a dining table, and—judging by the three doors opening off the short hallway—apparently two bedrooms and a bath. The unit was barely large enough for two people, let alone three, he concluded with a frown. How had they managed in such a confined space when her mother was alive?
    Apparently there’d been no choice. His mother had mentioned Kate’s comment about her finances being depleted, and this tiny, older apartment was eloquent testimony to a tight budget. Yet she’d made it a home, he realized, noting with appreciation the warm touches that gave the rooms a comfortable, inviting feel. One of Sarah’s drawings had been framed and hung on the wall. A cross-stitched pillow rested on the couch. Green plants flourished in a wicker stand by the window. And several family photos were prominently displayed.
    His eyes lingered on the photo on top of the television. Kate was holding a tiny baby and a man sat next to her, on the edge of a couch, his arm protectively around her shoulders. Jack. Eric recognized him from the night of the accident. And on the opposite wall hung a wedding picture in which Kate and Jack were slightly younger—and obviously very much in love.
    â€œThat’s my daddy,” Sarah declared, noting the direction of Eric’s gaze.
    He smiled down at her. “That’s what I thought. He looks very nice.”
    Sarah turned to study the picture gravely. “Mommy says he was. She says he loved me very much.” She transferred her gaze to the photo on the TV. “That’s me in that picture, when I was a baby. That’s my daddy, too.I don’t remember him, though. He went to heaven right after I was born.”
    Eric felt his throat tighten, but before he could respond Kate spoke from the hallway.
    â€œI’m sorry for the delay. We can go now.”
    He looked up, and the raw pain in her eyes tugged at his heart.
    â€œDid you know my daddy?” Sarah asked Eric, oblivious to Kate’s distress.
    With an effort he withdrew his gaze from Kate’s and glanced back down at Sarah. “No. I wish I had,” he said gently.
    â€œSo do I. Then you could tell me what he was like. Mommy tells me stories about him, but sometimes she cries and it makes me sad.”
    â€œSarah! That’s enough about Daddy!” Kate admonished, her face flushed. When she saw Sarah’s startled gaze, her eyes filled with dismay and she gentled her tone. “You don’t want to keep Aunt Anna waiting, do you? She’s probably all