The Naughty List Read Online Free PDF

sisters.
    “Beautiful family,” Maggie said and Daniel saw his late wife smiling at the children. “I do love kids. Other people’s kids. Just never wanted any of my own.”
    “I did,” Daniel said with a sigh. “So much. I loved the thought of taking care of these little people who couldn’t take care of themselves.”
    “You always took such good care of me. You’ll make a wonderful father someday. I’m sure of it.”
    “If that day ever comes…” Daniel watched the scene in the mirror. Etienne entered and told them Anya was on the phone. Smiles crossed all the faces, but Camille lunged for the phone and ripped it from Etienne’s hand.
    “Anya?”
    “Hello, my little monkey,” Anya said and Camille giggled. “Are you ready for Santa Claus?”
    Camille’s small, sweet face clouded over. “Papa said he wasn’t coming this year.”
    “Don’t listen to Papa,” Anya said. “He’s on the Naughty List. You listen to me. Santa’s coming for all of you. He told me so.”
    “He did?”
    “Yes. Santa spends a lot of time Christmas shopping in New York City.”
    “That’s where you live.”
    “I did live there. Now I’m in a big house out in the country. It’s so pretty.” Anya wiped a tear off her face. Daniel could hear the pain in her voice beneath the forced levity.
    “Can I come visit you?”
    Anya’s eyes seemed to flinch at the question.
    “I’ll come visit you first. I miss you. All of you.”
    Camille sighed heavily and sadly, far too sadly for a child so small. Daniel wanted to pick the little girl up and hold her in his arms and tell her silly stories until she smiled again.
    “I miss you, too. Nobody’s here to sing to me.”
    Anya gasped loudly in feigned shock.
    “Not even Etienne? He won’t sing to you?”
    Camille shook her head. “He says he can’t sing or it’ll ruin Christmas for everybody.”
    “He’s right about that, actually,” Anya said and Daniel chuckled. “But I can sing to you if you’ll get into bed and turn out the lights. Promise?”
    “Promise, promise,” Camille pledged, solemn as a judge. She told Etienne that Anya was going to sing to her. Etienne took the phone from her hand and pushed a button to turn the speakerphone on. All the kids gathered even closer to the bed. Camille laid her head down on the pillow and pulled her pink elephant in close, holding him by his fuzzy foot.
    Anya cleared her throat and closed her eyes. Quietly in a voice both melodic and tremulous, she began to sing an ancient carol in her native language.
    “The first Noel, the angels did say, was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay…”
    Daniel’s throat tightened at the sweet sound of Anya’s singing voice. Rarely had he heard her singing before and never like this, never to soothe a child on Christmas Eve.
    All of Anya’s brothers and sisters listened intently to the words. Until the chorus when the two older girls, Aimee and Nicole, began to sing along.
    “
Noel… Noel… Noel… Noel… born is the King of Israel…”
    “She has a beautiful voice,” Maggie said, her voice nearly a whisper.
    “And a beautiful heart…” Daniel stood up. It physically hurt not being able to touch Anya and comfort her. Her grumpy gray cat Leonard slept at her feet but couldn’t do much for her other than help keep her toes warm.
    “She does have a beautiful heart. And soul. And face and body,” Maggie teased. “You’re lucky. She’s a catch. But then again, so are you.”
    “I don’t feel like much of one right now.” In fact, Daniel felt horrible. He’d made Anya question his love for her, and on Christmas Eve of all days.
    “Come here. I want to show you one more thing.” Maggie tugged on his arm and Daniel reluctantly let her lead him away. He didn’t want to leave Anya. Not now. Not ever. But since he couldn’t help her, couldn’t talk to her, it was best to just leave until he could again.
    Maggie took him from the guest bedroom and down to the