Once Upon a Christmas by Lauraine Snelling, Lenora Worth Page A

cream.”
    “Looks like she knows her own mind,” Arne said as he passed the chair with a stack of plates to carry to the kitchen.
    “That she does.” How much do they know about us? Thane picked up his plate and started to rise, but Elsa shook her head. “You’re company, you get to be waited on.”
    “That’s for today, after that you’re considered family and we all pitch in.” Jason passed by carrying two serving dishes.
    After dessert, Amie followed the two girls back to a bedroom that had been turned into a children’s sleepover and playroom with a dollhouse, dolls, and all kinds of games and craft things.
    “So, how’s the house hunting going?” Suzanne asked as she poured him a second cup of coffee.
    “I made an offer on one this morning, that’s why I was almost late to church.”
    “Where?” Jason held up his cup.
    “Out off Alhambra Valley Road.”
    “Good for you.” Arne picked up the trash to take out, but Jason smiled.
    “I’ll do that.”
    “So, did you get the tree up?” Arne led the way into the family room where a larger tree filled the bay window.
    “Last night. Blythe brought over her ornaments and tree stand.”
    “You didn’t have any ornaments?” Suzanne turned from adjusting one of the red glass balls on the tree.
    “I haven’t had a tree since…well, a lot of years. It never seemed necessary and what with getting my business off the ground, I just didn’t take the time.”
    “How sad. Don’t you ever go home for Christmas?”
    Suzanne’s question made Thane sigh. “After my parents died, there’s been no home to go back to.”
    “Leave it to me to stick my foot in my mouth. I’m sorry.” Suzanne sat down on the arm of the chair Jason had leaned back in. “Guess we take a lot for granted, don’t we?”
    “So, tell us about your house.” Jason slid his arm around his wife’s waist.
    Thane told them about the houses he’d looked at and why he chose the one he did. After the discussion, he turned to Suzanne. “I have my ad here, you want to look at it?”
    “Of course.” She crossed the room to get it and read it standing by Thane. “Will driving be important?”
    “Of course.”
    “Then you need to add that. And English speaking.”
    He nodded. “Thanks. Anything else?”
    “You’ll want to run it in both the Contra Costa Times and the San Francisco Chronicle. ”
    “And the Oakland Tribune? ”
    “Wouldn’t hurt.”
    Amie came and leaned up against his knee.
    “You tired, sweetheart?”
    She shook her head, but the eyes told the story.
    “Think we better get on home. Thank you for the delicious dinner and good visit. You all have a gift of making a stranger feel welcome.”
    “You’re not a stranger, son. You’re welcome anytime.” Arne stood and shook Thane’s hand.
    Elsa pressed a package in his hand. “For later.”
    “That’s one thing you’ll learn about our family. You never go home without something to snack on later.”
    “Thank you, all.”
    Alison helped Amie into her coat. “Here, you take this one.” She pressed a tiny baby doll into Amie’s hands.
    “Thank you, Alison. That was most generous.” Thane picked Amie up and with the package under his other arm, headed for the car, the family goodbyes and come again’s ringing like the bells of Christmas.
    When they returned home, for the first time, in spite of the tree and the scattered toys and Matty yipping her joy, the condo seemed lifeless. He put the sleeping little girl in her bed and tiptoed from the room. Four o’clock. Time to get back to work. Ah, Blythe, it’s a shame we can’t work in the same office.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
    “S ometimes I hate myself.”
    Blythe spun her chair around and stared out to the backyard. Harley, tail in the air, was sniffing along the back fence. Dusk blurred the edges of the cedar fencing, turning the Eucalyptus trees into ghosts floating above the fence. Why did she let work come first?
    You had to. You made a choice and a