Christmas Miracle: A Family Read Online Free PDF Page A

from revealing it.
    Could he have done things differently? Probably. Would it have made a difference to his relationship with Fallon? That, he didn’t know.
    “There’s someone I want you to meet,” he said, glancing down at Tyler then back at Fallon’s car, which was turning onto a side street. He loved Fallon, and he loved Tyler. It was time to set at least one of his mistakes right. “Look, Tyler, we’re going to make a quick stop before we go to the hospital, and I need you to be on your very best behavior. Do you think you can do that for me?”
    Naturally, Tyler didn’t respond. All he did was follow James to the car, and crawl into the back seat after James opened the door for him. Dutifully, the little boy fastened his seat belt then he sat there like a perfect little gentleman, hands folded in his lap, staring out the window.
    For a moment James studied Tyler in the rear-view mirror once he’d settled himself into the driver’s seat, wondering what went on in the child’s mind. Wondering what he could do to find out.
    Wondering what he could do to make Tyler accept him as his father.

CHAPTER THREE
    “I W ANTED to see how you’re doing,” James said, brushing the snowflakes from his hair.
    She hadn’t even had time to take off her scarf. “I’m keeping busy,” Fallon said, being careful to keep her back to him lest any expression of excitement or expectation accidentally crossed her face. After all, he hadn’t come back to walk with her after that first time, although she’d half expected him to. Maybe even subconsciously wanted him to. He hadn’t called either, and she’d half expected that. But it was probably for the best. She was working now. Not so many hours, but the progress was steady and Fallon was pleased that they were moving in the right direction to get the Three Sisters Women’s Clinic and Hospital set up and staffed. It felt good to be busy again, she had to admit.
    “The hospital is coming along nicely. I’m in the process of ordering room equipment right now…beds, tables, those sorts of things. And I’m beginning to go through job applications, trying to figure out what kind of staffing we’ll need.”
    “I’d intended on stopping by sooner, maybe taking another morning walk with you. But things have gotten pretty hectic, and—”
    “And that’s fine. I prefer my walks in solitude.” Oncethough, she hadn’t. “It keeps life less complicated that way.”
    “Maybe it does,” he said, almost under his breath. “Anyway, I saw you drive by, and as I was in the area I thought I’d stop by for a minute to see how you’re doing.”
    Finally, she turned to face him. Not that she wanted to, but she had the feeling that if she didn’t, he might linger there in the doorway indefinitely…standing there, waiting for something, anything, from her. This was so awkward. She’d made love to this man. Spent nights in his arms, laughing, talking, pouring out hopes and dreams, being happier than she’d ever been in her life. Had had his baby . And now the only thing between them was cold, white awkwardness. It hurt, and she couldn’t be anything but unapproachable. Because being anything more only encouraged him, and he deserved better than make-believe encouragement. “Look, I appreciate you coming by,” she said, fixing her stare on the floor for she knew what fixing her stare on his beautiful eyes would do. “But I’ve got catalogs to go through, and some phone calls to—”
    “Bathroom. Now!”
    The tiny voice came from behind James, and Fallon immediately stepped sideways to take a look. Gasped when she saw the child. Felt her heart start to race when she noticed his startling resemblance to James.
    “Now!” the little boy said. His face was deadly serious. Full of anger. An expression much too old for someone so young.
    “Down the hall,” she said, pointing to it. “First door.”
    Without a word, the child scampered out from behind James and ran down the