A Home for Christmas Read Online Free PDF

enough.
    “I can do that,” Riley said after watching her
struggle to reach for a moment.
    “Would you? My ladder isn’t quite tall enough.”
    He held his hand out for the star and to help her
down from the ladder.  He stepped up and easily placed it on top, then
handed her the plug.  She waited until he stepped down and stepped back to
be able to see, then plugged the star in.
    “That’s really something,” he said, looking at
her tree.  “I think you could give my mom a run for her money in the tree
decorating department.”
    Jenna smiled at him.  “Thanks.  I’ve
always loved decorating for Christmas.”
    He looked around the living room, at her snow
villages, Nativities, garlands and wreaths.  She had a collection of
gingerbread men, snowmen, Santas and reindeer.  Every surface that could
be covered, was, but it all flowed together well. 
    “You’ve got a real Christmas home.  All
that’s missing is a fire.”
    “We do fires every once in a while.  Still a
little warm for one right now though, unfortunately.”
    “True…this all really is nice.”
    Jenna studied him a minute.  “Did you miss a
lot of Christmases at home when you were in the Navy?”
    “Too many,” he said, a sad look crossing his face
briefly.  “I spent many a Christmas under the stars in the desert. 
We did go to Bethlehem one year, though, when we were between missions. 
That was really something.  Just to be in the same place where it all
started,” he said, a smile returning to his face.
    “Oh, wow, that gives me chills just thinking
about it.”
    “It was surreal.”
    Cam paused his game and was listening to Riley
talk.  Jenna noted the almost star-struck look on her son’s face while he
listened.  Not even a full day together and Cam already had a bit of hero
worship going on.
    “Riley?” Cam asked.
    “Yeah?”
    “I guess, since you were a SEAL, that you’ve…you
know, killed people before?”
    “Cam, I don’t think-“ Jenna began but Riley held
a hand up to stop her.
    “No, it’s OK, it’s only natural for him to be
curious.  And yeah, Cam, I’ve had to kill people, that’s what you do when
you’re in the military and fighting.”
    Cam’s eyes were huge.  “A lot of people?”
    “Even one is a lot,” Riley answered.
    Cam nodded.  “Have you ever been shot?”
    “Yes.”
    “You have?” Jenna asked, shocked.
    Riley’s green gaze shifted to her.  “Yes. 
Four times.”
    Jenna gasped and involuntarily reached out to
place her hand on Riley’s forearm.
    “Don’t you guys were body armor?” Cam asked.
    “Usually, but there are times, like when we had
to swim, that you can’t wear Kevlar.”
    “Were any life-threatening?”
    “Only one, and really only because it took so
long to get treated.  The other times I was hit, I was able to get
treatment soon afterward.  The last time I was hit, though, was a pretty
bad fight.  We lost one of our own.  My team leader and I went to retrieve
his body and we were ambushed.  The others got me and the body of our
friend when our team leader allowed himself to be taken prisoner.  We took
Zig’s body somewhere safe, then went back to get our commander.  It took
twelve hours.  By the time we got him, I’d lost a lot of blood.”
    “Oh, my God!” Jenna cried softly, 
“Riley!  How…I don’t,” she took a deep breath, “what you guys go through,
what you sacrifice.  I just can’t imagine.”
    He shrugged.  “Just part of the job. 
We lost Zig, but we weren’t going to lose Mike.”
    “And you got him back?” Cam pressed, “He
survived?”
    “They tortured him.  He was in pretty bad
shape, but yeah, we got him back and he did survive.  Too stubborn to
die.”
    “Sounds like you were, too,” Jenna said.
    “Wasn’t going to let them get me.”
    They were quiet a moment.  Jenna had to
fight an overwhelming urge to pull him into her arms, as much to comfort
herself as to offer comfort to him. 
    “Do you have a