The Miracle on 34th Street Read Online Free PDF Page B

did.
    Bryan knew one thing for sure— he would never let Dorey down.
    "I got you a Christmas present," Bryan said as they stopped in front of their apartment building. "I want to give it to you."
    "What is it?" Dorey asked.
    Bryan pulled a small box out of his pocket and handed it to her. "Open it."
    Warily Dorey ripped off the wrapping and opened the box.
    It was a ring. With a perfect diamond that glinted in the light from the street lamp.
    Bryan waited for her reaction. His eyes were bright with hope.
    Dorey stared blankly. Then she snapped the box shut.
    When she looked at Bryan, her eyes were on fire. "I don't want a ring ," she said through clenched teeth. "You have a lot of nerve doing this to me. You trick me. You trick my daughter. This is cheap."
    Dorey spun around toward the front door, but Bryan grabbed her arm. "I didn't trick you. I mean it. I want to marry you!"
    "You think you can shove a ring in my face and expect to change me?" Dorey snapped.
    Bryan had to swallow hard. His patience was running out. "Dorey, I've been dating you for two years. You have never given me any idea how you feel about me! I've done everything I could to try to make you happy. I love your daughter like she's my own. I've loved you, getting nothing in return—never asking anything in return. I put my faith in you."
    "You're a fool!"
    "At least I'm not living a life of doubt!" Bryan shot back.
    Dorey pulled her arm away and ran toward the building. Her face was red with fury. She took a present out of her shopping bag and hurled it at him.
    Then, fighting tears, she stormed through the door.

December 12, 11:07 P.M.

    13 Days To Christmas
    Bryan slumped on the park bench across the street from his building. He opened the jewelry box and gazed at the beautiful ring he'd bought.
    In a few moments, Kriss Kringle walked out of the building. "Mr. Kringle!" Bryan called out.
    Smiling, Kringle crossed the street toward him. "How was your night?" Bryan asked.
    "Very pleasant," Kringle said. Raising an expectant eyebrow, he continued, "You didn't call me over here to ask me that. What about our plan—me baby-sitting so you could have a date with Mrs. Walker?"
    Bryan sighed. "Your idea was good, Kriss. It just didn't work. We had a good time, but the problem was, I . . . improved on your idea a little bit. I bought her an engagement ring."
    Kringle grimaced.
    "She didn't like it," Bryan went on. "Actually, she said she doesn't like what the ring stands for."
    "Perhaps your timing wasn't particularly good," Kringle suggested.
    "Not at all." Bryan snapped the box shut. "You know, Dorey doesn't tell me too much about herself. But I do know she was married in college. Her husband had problems. When Susan was born, he took off and hasn't been heard from since."
    Kriss Kringle nodded sympathetically. "And she doesn't want her heart broken again."
    "I thought if I gave her a ring, she'd see how serious I was. I thought it would make her feel secure."
    "A noble plan."
    "She won't open up," Bryan complained. "She's filled with cynical ideas and bitter thoughts, and the real tragedy is she's dragging Susan into it with her."
    "Sometimes I think Susan wants to believe in me," Kringle said, "but she's a good girl and loyal to her mother's wishes. If I can't convince the mother, I can't hope to convince the child." He sighed. "The Tooth Fairy taught me that."
    Bryan smiled at that. "You know, I've been in love with her for two years," he said. "I thought if she'd open up a little, if she'd escape this battle with her past, she'd fall in love with me. But she never will—and I can't spend my life waiting."
    "You don't have it in your heart to keep fighting for Mrs. Walker?" Kringle asked.
    "I don't," Bryan replied.
    He got up and signaled for a cab. As a taxi rolled to a stop in front of them, he gave the ring box to Kringle. "Here. In your line of work, I'm sure you can find some lucky guy to give this to."
    Kringle sadly took the box. "I'm very sorry,