The Christmas List Read Online Free PDF Page A

added, “We really should have gone for more. Much more.”
    â€œI don’t need more.”
    â€œYou should be looking out for your future.”
    Sara gave him a wry smile. “Well, there’s not much point to that, is there?”
    â€œAunt Sara, you shouldn’t talk that way.”
    â€œI’m just being realistic.”
    Steve opened the car door for her. “Would you like me to drive you home? I can have someone from the office pick up my car.”
    â€œI’ll be okay.” Sara sat down in the car and put the keys in the ignition.
    â€œYou know, Aunt Sara, I don’t understand how someone like you ends up with a creep like that.”
    â€œJim wasn’t always like this.”
    â€œThe way he treats people is obscene. Especially the way he treats you.”
    Sara ignored her nephew’s comment. “Thank you for your help, Steve. And I still haven’t received a bill for your services.”
    â€œNor will you.”
    â€œI insist.”
    â€œFavorite aunts don’t get billed. Unless you happen to bemaking some of those tiger rolls you always bring to the family Christmas party, then I’ll accept payment in kind.”
    Sara smiled. “I’ll make a few extra rolls just for you.”
    â€œConsider me in your debt.”
    â€œThank you, Steve. Tell your mother hello for me.”
    He stepped back from the car and shut the door. “Drive carefully.”
    As Sara drove away he said to himself, “That idiot is throwing away the best thing he’s ever had.”

CHAPTER
Six

Kier had met his girlfriend, Traci Steele a year earlier at a real estate showing less than a week after he had separated from Sara. She was nine years younger than he, though she looked even younger. Traci was a stunningly attractive, curvaceous brunette, the quintessential trophy wife.
    At noon he picked her up from her condo in Alpine and they drove to a French bistro just outside Orem. The maître d’ sat them at Kier’s regular table, in the corner near a large window that overlooked the back garden. The yard was covered in snow and ice glistened from the garden statuary. Traci broke off a piece of croissant and buttered it. “So how was my sweetie’s morning?”
    â€œI met with my wife and her attorney.”
    â€œOh, that sounds fun. Did we win?”
    â€œWe settled.”
    â€œJust settled?”
    â€œWe won.” He looked down at his menu. “Sara’s not looking well. I think she’s sicker than she lets on.”
    â€œThat’s too bad. So when is it over?”
    â€œWhen is what over?”
    â€œThe marriage.”
    â€œI don’t know. Soon. Now Lincoln is recommending that I don’t sign anything and just wait.”
    â€œWait for what?”
    Kier looked up from his menu. “For Sara to die.”
    Traci wrinkled her nose. “Oh that’s cold, even for a lawyer.”
    Kier frowned, tired of the conversation. “So what are you having?”
    â€œThe Caesar salad with shrimp.”
    â€œTell me about this bed-and-breakfast you booked us in to.”
    â€œYou make it sound like a jail. I promise you, you’ll love it. It’s called the Snowed Inn. That’s I-n-n.”
    â€œYeah, I get it.”
    Traci ignored his tone. “It’s very quaint. And every room has a hot tub.”
    â€œSo I’ll make dinner reservations for six?”
    â€œOh . . .”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œI can’t get up there until eight.”
    â€œEight? You said five. I canceled a meeting so I could take off early.”
    â€œOh honey, I know. I’m so sorry. I forgot that Mercedes has a dance recital and I can’t miss it. The last time I did she beat me up with it for two months. And then she told her shrink what an awful mom I am.”
    â€œA dance recital?”
    â€œWhy don’t you come with me to the recital and then we’ll drive up