The Christmas Kite Read Online Free PDF

the ones he wanted. When she paid and stepped outside, the bakery lured her again, and she headed that way with the wavering promise she would only buy bread.
    Passing the kite shop, the Help Wanted sign rose to meet her. She paused. Closing her eyes, she asked God for a hint of what to do. When she opened them again, the elderly gentleman smiled through the store window and waved them in. Before moving she looked heavenward. Was this God’s doing, or just an older man’s friendly bidding?
    She pulled open the door, and Mac stepped in ahead of her.
    “Good morning,” Otis said. “I see you got a couple more kites today. No luck with the last one?”
    Meara chuckled. “‘No experience’ is the best way of putting it. I should have asked for a hint about launching one of these things. I’m grateful it was the two-dollar-and-fifty-cent version and not one of these.”
    Otis nodded. “Yep, you don’t wanna spend your money on one of these gems unless you know what you’re doin’. Now, that’s for sure.”
    Otis bent down and gave Mac a hearty smile. “How’s things goin’, sonny?”
    “Good. I like…kites. They’re high in the sky.”
    “They sure are.” He patted Mac’s head as the child’s focus swept the kite-filled ceiling. “You want to look at all the kites, boy? You can wander around if you want.”
    Mac looked at Meara, who gave an agreeable nod. “But not too long,” she added. “And don’t get into anything.”
    He wandered away, his mouth gaping at the colorful creations.
    “That’s a nice boy you got there.”
    “Thank you.” Flustered, she wondered if the comment was meant to open the door to questions about Mac.
    “I had a cousin with a Down syndrome boy. He threw temper tantrums till you could hardly bear it. Your son seems easier goin’.”
    Her question had been answered. “Mac’s no problem. He frightens easily. You know—dogs, birds, anything that comes up on him too quickly. But he’s a good boy.”
    “You’re a visitor in town. Tourist, I suppose.”
    Meara glanced down the aisle, checking on Mac. He stood near the back of the shop, staring at the kite they’d watched sailing over the lake. “No, we’re staying in a cabin up the road. I’m looking for a place to rent for a while.”
    “You and the boy are alone?”
    Her stomach jolted. She’d not been asked the question before and the reality shivered through her. “Yes, my husband died a few months ago. We lived with my in-laws and…” She ran her fingers through her hair. “I guess you didn’t ask for my life story.” She managed a smile. “We need a furnished place. Do you know of any?”
    He hesitated, pinching his lower lip between his thumb and finger. “So happens, there’s an apartment over this shop. Not too big. Couple of bedrooms and bath.”
    “We don’t need anything fancy for now. The cabin only has one bedroom, so most anything would be a mansion to us.”
    Dunstan’s family home was a mansion. The thought slammed into the pit of her stomach. Never again would she want to live in a huge estate like his, especially not as a prisoner. That’s how she’d felt. When she focused on the kite shop proprietor, he was studying her.
    “I even think the place up there has a few pieces of furniture,” he said, pointing his thumb toward the ceiling. “But it hasn’t been rented out since I can remember. Might be a mess now, for all I know.”
    “I’d like to take a look. Could I contact the owner?”
    “Let me talk to Mr. Baird. I’m not sure he’s even interested in using it as a rental. Right now, this whole strip of shops is in a bit of trouble…. But then, you don’t need to hear about that.”
    He gave her a friendly smile, just as she had given him. The “bit of trouble” phrase caught her curiosity.
    “Drop back tomorrow,” Otis said, “and I’ll let you know what he says.”
    “Thanks. I’d really appreciate that.”
    Mac wandered back down the aisle, and she called to