Mistletoe Mine Read Online Free PDF

have a scotch, please,” Emma said.
    She’d surprised him yet again. When did she start drinking scotch? “Ice?”
    “No, thank you.”
    Okay, then . He fixed the drinks, pouring himself a double, as Molly continued: “I’ve put quite a bit of thought into how I’d like this dinner of ours to progress. First, I want to thank you both for agreeing to spend Christmas with me here before the wedding. I know that both of you would rather be just about anywhere else, with anybody else, but you are doing this for me. I recognize it, and I appreciate it more than I can say.”
    Jared handed Emma her drink. Their fingers brushed, and they both jerked, sending the liquor sloshing up the sides of the crystal lowball glass. They didn’t speak. He felt like he had a mountain sitting on his chest.
    Emma said, “Molly, I’m sure that both your father and I want your wedding to be all you’ve dreamed of. If spending Christmas together helps accomplish that, then everything’s fine.”
    Molly’s sad eyes and shaky little smile spoke volumes. Jared felt the sting of guilt he’d grown accustomed to experiencing whenever he thought about the effect of his and Emma’s estrangement on their only child.
    “Good,” his daughter said in response to her mother’s comment. “I’ve been hoping you feel that way, because with that in mind, I have a special request. Consider it my Christmas gift or my wedding gift. I don’t really care which. I want you to know that I want this more than anything else you could possibly give me.”
    Jared’s stomach sank. Surely she wouldn’t ask for some sort of reconciliation as a gift. She had to know that wouldn’t be reasonable. If she were three or thirteen, he could see that she might ask for the impossible, but at twenty-three? She should know better.
    Although … Jared stole another glance at Emma. Was it impossible? Was there any chance that Emma would seize upon the excuse and say “Let’s give it a try”? What would he do if she did?
    Her body language gave no clue as to what she was thinking. His heartbeat accelerated. He licked his suddenly dry lips. With her voice calm and quiet, Emma asked, “What is it that you want, Molly?”
    Molly laced her fingers, straightened her spine, then looked first her mother, then her father, in the eyes. “Mom. Dad. As a gift to me, I’d like you two to get a divorce.”
    Jared closed his eyes.
* * *
     
    Emma’s heart twisted in pain. A divorce? Molly wanted them to get a divorce?
    Emma sliced a look toward Jared. Had this been his idea? Had he put her up to making this request? She couldn’t tell by looking at him, and that only intensified the hurt. Once upon a time, she could read him like a book.
    Molly continued, “I know this might seem like a strange request, but I’ve thought a lot about it. It’s obvious your marriage is over. Neither of you are happy. Neither of you are moving on with your life. That’s no way to live.”
    As she spoke, she looked from Emma to Jared, then back to Emma again. “If you’ve been waiting for me to grow up or graduate, well, you don’t have to wait any longer. You don’t have to worry about me any longer. But as long as you two are stuck in this … limbo … I worry about you. I’ve been worried about you both for years now, and I think it’s time to stop. Don’t you? Please, just go ahead and get a divorce. I know you’ll both be happier.”
    Emma couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She didn’t know what to say or how to react. This suggestion had come completely out of the blue. She waited, hoping Jared would speak first.
    His mouth remained stubbornly closed.
    Figures . She cleared her throat. “Molly, I—”
    A knock at the door interrupted her, and the door swung open. Celeste Blessing swept inside, followed by a woman Emma’s age or maybe a little bit older. They both carried trays loaded with food. “I hope you are hungry,” Celeste said. “Jared and Emma Stapleton,