The Wishing Tree Read Online Free PDF

nephew.
    "What about work?" she'd asked him, worried still she was keeping him from something more important. Suddenly, he wondered what that would be? What could be more important than Ria and Miguel?
    "I'm off today and tomorrow," he said. It was two days until Christmas Eve. Most people had already bought their trees, but there would always be a few who'd come at the last minute. He knew David and Eric would be able to handle things, even if he took off the rest of the week.
    "Oh, well … that's good," Ria said sincerely. "I don't want you missing work days for us, Pete."
    He leaned over to kiss her cheek. "You worry too much. What good is it being the boss' son if I don't get to take off whenever I want?" Truth was, he couldn't remember the last vacation he'd taken. Hell, he couldn't remember the last two days in a row he'd taken off.
    "What are we going to do today?" Miguel asked from the backseat.
    "I'm gonna get clean before we do anything ," Pete said.
    "Then can we go somewhere?"
    "Miguel—" Ria began.
    "Sure," Pete answered, squeezing her hand. "Where did you want to go?"
    "To Hooper's Theater," Miguel answered with no hesitation.
    "What's happenin' at Hooper's, big guy?" Pete glanced into the rearview mirror.
    "Movie marathon!"
    "It's a Christmas cartoon and movie marathon for kids," Ria explained. "I haven't had the money to do those kinds of things for a while now."
    "Want to do it?" Pete asked softly.
    "You may not care about it. We don't have to—"
    "I love movies. My treat, okay?"
    She smiled. "I'd love to go."
    Pete glanced in the mirror again, meeting Miguel's hopeful look.
    "They say it's a Christmas extravaganza…"
    At that, Ria and Pete both laughed. "We're gonna go see for ourselves," Pete assured him, "as soon as I get presentable."

Chapter Seven
    It was the best day Ria could remember having had for years. It meant so much to her, more than Pete could ever know, to see her son so happy. It seemed like such a small thing, but it was an expense she had not been able to afford. It seemed every spare penny went in trying to keep up with the bills.
    This day had been the best gift she could ever have received – so special, she had not even thought to wish for such a thing on "the wishing tree." Pete Cochran had walked into her life yesterday and made it a beautiful, magical dream ever since – just by doing the simplest things.
    The tree had been a wonderful surprise, but for him to have brought the lights Miguel wished for, to have set it up for them, and helped decorate it … meant the world. Dinner afterward, filled with laughter and conversation, revealed an easiness between them she'd never experienced with anyone else.
    Then, the one thing that marred the day had happened – the horrific altercation between Pete and her brother. Fear had been all-consuming. She'd seen Julio fight before. He knew a score of dirty tricks. What a relief that Pete ended the fight as quickly as possible, and had gotten the better of Julio. Maybe her brother would think twice about ever approaching her again.
    Now, they drove toward her apartment, Pete's hand enfolding hers. Miguel had fallen asleep in the back seat after a long day at the movies, lunch at McDonald's, and Christmas shopping.
    Pete had stopped at the bank after they'd left the theater to get some cash. Inside the shopping mall, their next stop, he paid for Miguel to ride the indoor carousel. As he rode under their watchful eyes, Pete had reached for her hand and pressed two hundred dollars into her palm, closing her fingers around it.
    "I want you to have this. Buy whatever Miguel has his heart set on. We'll figure out some way to get it home without him seeing it. If you need more, let me know."
    " Pete—" she was at a loss for words. His generosity deserved so much more than a pitiful thank you .
    He bent to kiss her lips. "I want to do this. I want him to have his best Christmas ever. Then, after we shop for him, we'll shop for you."
    She shook