Evergreen Springs. RaeAnne Thayne

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       CHAPTER TWO

      “THAT WAS A good show,” the adorable boy declared when the closing credits to the animated Christmas show on the television started to roll.

      His sister gave a dismissive shrug. “I guess. I thought the elf was kind of stupid. I mean, why didn’t he just give the girl’s letter to Santa in the first place instead of trying to answer it himself because he was trying to be such a big deal?”

      “People can make all kinds of crazy choices in stories,” Devin pointed out. “If Elvis had given the letter to Santa, the story would have ended there and he never would have learned to care more about helping other people than about how important he looked to them.”

      “Maybe.”

      Jazmyn looked doubtful, not particularly swayed by Devin’s thoughtful analysis on the nature of elves in fiction and the character journey of this particular elf.

      “When is Aunt Tricia gonna be done here so we can go home?” the girl asked. “We haven’t even had dinner yet and it’s almost Ty’s bedtime. I’m okay, but Ty is starving. He has to keep his blood sugar steady or he gets crazy.”

      “I do not,” Ty protested.

      “You do. That’s what Mom used to say all the time, remember?”

      “I guess.” He looked upset at the reminder. From what she had seen, the boy was extremely sweet, with those big soulful dark eyes and endlessly long eyelashes. “I guess I am hungry.”

      “If your dad doesn’t come out in a few moments, I’ll grab some crackers and cheese for you. Maybe that will hold you over until you can get some dinner.”

      “But when can Aunt Tricia go home? Is she done with the ’tractions?” Jazmyn asked.

      “Did she have to get a big cast on her leg?” Ty asked before she could answer his sister. “My friend Carlos broke his arm on a trampoline and had to get a big cast. It’s camel-flage.”

      “Camouflage, you mean,” Jazmyn corrected him.

      “That’s what I said.”

      “Your aunt has to stay the night so we can take care of her leg—which isn’t going to need a cast but will probably be in a brace that she can take on and off. I’m not sure if we have one in camouflage but I can see.”

      “What about her babies?” the girl asked. “She’s not going to have them tonight, is she?”

      Devin hoped not. “I don’t think so. They’re a little too small right now.”

      “She’s having a boy and a girl,” Ty informed her. “The boy is going to be Jack and the girl will be named Emma. That was my grandma’s middle name. I never met her because she died. Aunt Tricia said I can hold them anytime I want.”

      “I’m sure you’ll be a big help.”

      “I’m going to. She said I could even feed them a bottle if I wanted.”

      “Lucky.”

      “You don’t even know how to feed a baby a bottle,” his sister said skeptically. “I do. I fed you when you were little.”

      Since Jazmyn was only a few years older than her brother, Devin doubted the veracity of that claim, but she wasn’t about to call her on it.

      “With two babies, there will be plenty of chances for everybody to hold them and feed them.”

      “Don’t talk about food because I’m starving,” the girl moaned dramatically.

      “I’m sure your dad will be out soon to take you back to your house for some dinner.”

      “It’s not my house,” she muttered.

      “It is so,” Ty argued. “Dad said so. We live with him now.”

      “Not for long. Grandma Trixie says she’s going to fight for custody so we can come live with her in California, just as soon as she finds us all a good place to stay.”

      Why would a grandparent think she could possibly win a custody fight against a parent? What was the background? Where was their mother, first of all, and why hadn’t they been living with their father before now?

      Cole’s life seemed a mad tangle of complications.

      “I don’t want to live with Grandma Trixie. I like living with Dad,” Ty said, his voice small. “We have our own rooms now, which we never had before, and a yard to play in and Dad says I can even get a horse of my own after I learn how to ride better.”

      “Who wants a stupid horse?” Jazmyn tossed her brother a disgusted look. “With Grandma Trixie in California, we could go to the beach every day, even in the winter, and maybe even see movie stars.”

      “I’d rather have a horse and live with Dad,” Ty muttered. Devin had the feeling this wasn’t the first time the two of them had engaged in this particular argument. To keep the peace, she opted for distraction.

      “Let’s go see if we can find some crackers and juice. Ty, why don’t you give me a hand?”

      The agreeable boy slid off his chair and followed her to the reception desk. “Hey, Brittney. My man Ty here is hungry and so is his sister. Any chance we could grab a few of those cracker packs and maybe some cookies from the food room?”

      “Sure, Dr. Shaw.” The young receptionist hopped up. “I should have thought of that. What a dope I can be. I’m sorry. Just give me a sec.”

      She smiled. “Thanks.”

      The receptionist hurried away. While she was gone, Ty became interested in the small Christmas tree on the desk, made entirely of inflated nonlatex gloves cascading down with an elastic bandage garland.

      “Are СКАЧАТЬ