Her Christmas Hero (Home To Dover 6) by Lorraine Beatty Page A

you shouldn’t be looking for a clone of me.” She stood and came to him. “You should be looking for the woman God has chosen for
your
life.”
    “You and Dad had the perfect marriage. That’s what I want, and I’m not going to settle for anything less.”
    His mother touched his arm lightly. “Your father and I had a wonderful life together, but you’re only seeing the last twenty years. You didn’t see the years when we struggled, when he worked late and I never saw him, when we fought over money and how to discipline you kids. We worked at making our marriage strong. It didn’t start out that way and it bothers me that you think so.”
    “I know marriage takes work. But I’m not settling for someone who isn’t right.” Linc saw sadness fill his mother’s eyes. “I’m sorry if I upset you, Mom. I just want lasting love like you and Dad had. He was a lucky man to have someone like you who made him happy every day.”
    His mother’s eyes clouded over and her shoulders sagged. “Did I make him happy every day?”
    “Of course. You made each other happy.” The sadness and doubt in his mother’s eyes tugged at his heart.
    “I hope so.” She picked up her e-reader and clutched it to her chest. “I’m turning in. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    Linc watched his mom walk away with a heavy heart. He wasn’t sure what he’d said to disturb her, but since his father’s death, she reacted oddly to many things. As deeply as he grieved, he couldn’t begin to imagine the pain of losing a spouse of thirty-nine years.
    He turned out the lights in the kitchen and made his way to his room. The silence in the house pressed in on him. Dad had been a night owl, staying up late to either work or watch
SportsCenter
and get caught up on his favorite teams. The lack of noise emphasized the giant hole inside him that his father had once filled.
    Climbing into bed, he stared at the ceiling. He missed his dad’s wise council now. His dad would know how to keep the family together and the company running. He’d probably have some sound advice on what to do about Gemma, too.
    Pressure began to build deep in his gut, moving upward, pressing against his ribs with tremendous force. Covering his eyes with his forearm, Linc gave in to his grief.
    * * *
    Crisp Saturday-morning air blew strands of hair across Gemma’s cheek. She ignored it. Fingers pressed against her mouth, she held her breath, her heart stilled as Evan cut sharply to the right, avoiding the grasping hands of another player, and charged toward the goal line, scoring a touchdown that won the game. Evan slammed the ball to the ground and jumped up and down, a huge smile on his face.
    A shout of triumph from Linc distracted her. His usual scowl was gone, replaced with a heart-melting smile that softened his sharp features and raised his handsome quotient several notches. It increased her pulse rate, too. She watched as Linc jogged across the field, gathering his players like little chicks and handing out high fives and hugs. When he got to Evan, he scooped him up in a bear hug before setting him down and ruffling his hair.
    Gemma didn’t know which sight pleased her more: her son’s happy smile or the pride reflected in Linc’s deep blue eyes. Both were a sight to behold, and both were images she thought she’d never see. This was Evan’s third ball game, and the second they’d won. Evan was consumed with playing flag football. Being part of the team had accomplished more than she’d ever dreamed.
    Francie Montgomery came to her side. “What a great game. Evan is thoroughly enjoying himself.”
    Unable to speak around the lump in her throat, she nodded, fighting back tears. Who would have thought that Evan would blossom under someone like Linc? A man she thought she’d never want to know.
    “And I think my boy is enjoying himself, too. It’s good to see him having fun. Linc is far too serious. Your son is good for him.”
    Gemma glanced at her