Bound for Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page A

upstairs beside his and his brothers was the master bedroom that used to be his parents room.
    Looking around his room decorated in simple dark blue and gray with its full size bed and matching furniture, Evan thought about the last time he’d been in the room. His father had the first stroke and he’d come home for a month. However, after his brother’s death and after he’d joined the military he’d come home and he and his father had been closer than they had been in years. Before that he’d only seen his father twice a year; Christmas and Fourth of July weekend. Then he’d made the mistake of telling his father two years ago that he was getting out of the military when his enlistment was up this time. The thin camaraderie that had been between them for eight years shattered like a twig under a heavy foot.
    Evan shook his head, clearing it of thoughts he didn’t want to have at the moment. As he began unpacking, he considered the wisdom of returning to a house so full of ghosts and shadows. He wondered if he’d taken time in his life for a wife and kids if this situation would have been a little more bearable. Having someone besides Tre in his corner. His mother had been that person for him, but she’d passed from breast cancer the year before his senior year in high school. Cynthia Douglas had been sweet, with a caring heart and the cornerstone of the family. Before she passed she’d made him promise to follow his own dreams. Then he’d pushed her words and his vow away after Derek’s death.
    Closing the closet door, Evan walked out of the room passed his brother’s closed door and went downstairs, he needed air. A moment to breath, but duty called.
    Teresa was coming out of his father’s room and pulling the door closed.
    “How he doing?” He asked crossing the living room.
    “Okay, but his pressure keeps spiking, which isn’t good,” she said.
    “I’m sure my being here hasn’t helped.” Evan didn’t have to be told how much it probably angered his father that he was home.
    “Well, it’s not any higher than usual.”
    “I can sit with him while you run an errand or something?”
    “No need.” She headed to the couch and picked up a magazine that rested on the coffee table. “I’ve given him some meds and he’s resting now.”
    Evan glanced at his watch. Tre had invited him over for dinner and he hadn’t planned to go, but after being in the house and encountering his dad, Evan truly needed some space. “I’m going to run out for about an hour or so.”
    “Take your time, Mr. Douglas, your father usually sleeps for a bit in the evening.”
    “Would you like me to bring you something back?” Evan offered.
    “No, I’m good.” She curled her petite frame in the corner of the sofa and began flipping through the glossy pages.
    Teresa was an attractive woman, with her short bob accentuating her small face and large blue eyes. There wasn’t a ring on her finger signaling that she was married or engaged. He wondered how a woman spent most of her days trapped in a house with a sick man. Didn’t it wear on her? Something else Evan noticed was that even though Teresa was pretty there was no spark of interest for him towards her. Redheads had always been his thing. Not that he should be lusting after his dads nurse. The woman would be there to do a job.
    However, his mind couldn’t help comparing this woman with the sexy black lady from the airplane. He would have loved the opportunity to get to know her better. A chance to kiss her, even. But, he’d allowed the likelihood of that prospect to slip through his fingers. Had to. His dad and his new job were his priority.
    “If you change your mind, my cell phone is still the same and should be in my dad’s chart.”
    Glancing up for a moment, she gave him a kind smile. “We’ll be fine, Mr. Douglas.”
    “Evan please. One Mr. Douglas is all this household can take.” Evan knew that statement was true in many ways.
    “See you later,