The Patricia Kiyono Christmas Collection by Patricia Kiyono Page A

nobility.
    Sarah’s position as a news
anchor on the evening news had made her a household name. At one
time she’d dated the son of a state senator, and Melinda had held
her breath, waiting for news of an engagement. But Mitch Carson had
swept Sarah off her feet and they’d married within the year.
Melinda had been furious and had told her daughter she would
neither attend the wedding nor pay for any of it. But her husband
had overridden her. The fool had actually approved of Mitch as a
son-in-law. “Nothing wrong with a man who
works hard,” he’d said when she’d voiced
her objections. Mitch came from a hard-working, honest family, and
as far as Geoffrey was concerned, that was more important than
having money or fame. What mattered was that he loved Sarah and
would be loyal to her.
    Melinda sniffed as she skimmed over the
pages with Sarah’s engagement announcements and wedding invitation.
The only good thing to come from that marriage was Angela. She
looked so much like Sarah it made her heart ache. And Sarah had
taught her well, too. She had looked like a little lady at Sarah’s
memorial service. That father of hers, on the other hand, had
embarrassed her with his choice of apparel. He’d worn a suit, but
it hadn’t fit him well and was at least two years old. She wouldn’t
have been surprised to learn he’d borrowed it from someone. He
hadn’t bothered to shave off his beard, either. He’d looked like a
wild mountain man. There was no way the unsophisticated boor should
be allowed to raise a lovely flower like her granddaughter.
    “ Melinda, where are
you?”
    She put the album back in its box and
replaced it in the closet. Geoffrey had never understood her plans
for Sarah. Best to keep him in the dark. She’d make her travel
arrangements and keep them to herself.
     

Chapter Fourteen
    S ophie
dragged the last of the grocery bags into
the kitchen and set her hands on the counter, leaning against it
until she caught her breath. Cooking for the four of them was no
problem, but gathering enough food for the entire Gardner clan was
a bigger challenge. Since their parents had retired and moved to a
small condo near Lake Michigan, Joanie had taken over hosting the
family holidays. But due to little Abbie’s arrival, it was up to
Sophie to plan and prepare most of the food for Thanksgiving. Mom
Gardner would bring desserts, and their brother and his wife
usually brought snacks, but Sophie would cook the main course and
several side dishes.
    Joanie and Dave had left for the
morning with the kids to visit Dave’s parents. With everyone out of
the house, Sophie had decided it was the perfect time to get the
shopping done. Unfortunately it seemed the rest of Zutphen had had
the same idea. Shopping had taken twice as long as it should
have.
    Before she left for the store,
she’d cleared out a large space in the refrigerator. She’d found
all sorts of half-eaten leftovers that she’d thrown away to make
room for the twenty-pound turkey. Now she just had to wrestle the
monstrous bird into the space she’d created.
    She’d propped open the refrigerator
door and reached for the turkey when her phone rang. Sighing, she
closed the door and checked her phone. The display showed an
unfamiliar number. Was it a telemarketer? She debated a moment then
decided to answer. If it was a poll or something she didn’t want to
participate in, she could always hang up.
    “ Hi,
Sophie.” Mitch. Why does my tummy do
somersaults whenever I hear his voice?
    “ Hi, Mitch.
What’s up?” Did my voice just squeak? I
probably sound like a teenager.
    “ I’m really sorry to bug you about
this, but Angie was adamant she needed you.”
    “ Angie? Is she all right? What
happened?” Something in Mitch’s voice raised the hairs on her neck,
and she gripped the phone tightly.
    “ She’s fine. She just wants your
help decorating her room. My mother is coming down from Muskegon on
Monday to get the house ready for our family