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    A Family Christmas
    A Family Christmas
    A Family Christmas
    Ebook154 pages2 hours

    A Family Christmas

    By Michelle Grotewohl

    ()

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    About this ebook

    After being stranded at the airport due to a Christmas snowstorm, Victor accepts an invitation to go home for the night with Justice. He meets her entire family, and is surprised that they are just as open about his presence as Justice herself. He's also surprised to find that he enjoys being with them, especially Justice, and would like to become a more permanent member of the family...

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMichelle Grotewohl
    Release dateMay 10, 2013
    ISBN9781301324095
    A Family Christmas
    Author

    Michelle Grotewohl

    I currently reside in Colorado with my husband and three children. I would love to hear from my readers, as writing has always been a dream of mine, and I am thrilled to finally be published! Thank you so much to everyone who has downloaded or purchased a book for supporting my lifelong dream!

    Read more from Michelle Grotewohl

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      Book preview

      A Family Christmas - Michelle Grotewohl

      A Family Christmas

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright 2013 Michelle Grotewohl

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      * * * * *

      Chapter One

      The layover for the flight from Detroit, Michigan to Phoenix, Arizona was in Denver, Colorado. Seeing as it was only days before Christmas, during a winter when the northern half of Colorado was getting record snowfall, the delay in departure from Denver International Airport caught no one by surprise. The pilot had only gotten the plane on the tarmac half an hour before they’d closed the airport to all flights in or out.

      Victor Augustine had been sitting in one of the chairs near the gate desk, looking up at the flight sign nearby and waiting for them to change ‘Phoenix- Delayed’ to ‘Phoenix- Boarding’, when suddenly every flight switched to ‘Canceled’. His jaw dropped slightly as his eyes widened, then he sighed and stood up to go to the desk and see if they knew when the flight would be open again.

      Thirty seconds later, one of the women at the desk raised her hands to quiet the group around the desk, then raised her voice so everyone could hear her. Ladies and gentleman, I’m sorry to inform you that all flights in or out tonight have been canceled until further notice due to inclement weather. She waited patiently while the group groaned loudly, then smiled calmly. We apologize for any inconvenience.

      Great, Victor thought as every other person there scattered like roaches. Now I have to try to find a hotel room, which all of these other people will likely be doing, as well. Either that, or sleep in the airport.

      With yet another sigh, he grabbed his carry-on and moved slowly toward the baggage claim. Every person who’d been waiting out the layover- and every other person in the airport who hadn’t already known they weren’t going anywhere- was heading in the same direction, and it was nearly forty-five minutes before he could even see the baggage carousel.

      Since he was barely inching along, and there were hundreds of people who’d already left ahead of him, he figured he wouldn’t be getting a cab to the hotel soon, anyway, and so sat with his carry-on and pulled out the book he was reading.

      More than half an hour passed as he was quickly absorbed in the storyline of Jurassic Park. He’d read it before, many times, but Michael Crichton was one of his favorite authors, among Stephen King, Jonathan Kellerman, and James Patterson. He had several books packed away in his bag for the week he’d be spending at his parents’ house.

      Or rather, would have been, if he’d made it to Phoenix. Which he seriously doubted at the moment.

      Thinking about his predicament had him lifting his eyes from his book to judge the situation again. The rushing crowd had thinned considerably, and by his guess, he’d be able to collect his luggage in another ten minutes or so. He saw, too, that several other people had gotten the same idea as him, and were sitting with magazines or Sudoku books or novels.

      An older couple worked a crossword puzzle together a few seats down from him. On another wall, a pretty woman with caramel-colored hair he remembered seeing on his flight sat with her slender denim-clad legs crossed and her nose in the newest Faye Kellerman thriller. He knew because he had it in his bag. A couple chairs away from her, an equally attractive woman in a black floral-print dress sat repeatedly tapping at some game on her iPad.

      With a vague smile at the camaraderie, he went back to his book.

      When he’d finished the chapter, he closed his book and put it away, then lifted his bag and headed for the baggage carousel. As he walked up, a spot opened as someone found their bag and walked away, and he headed for it quickly. He saw his bag coming round the corner, shuffled his feet a bit closer to the carousel to grab it.

      Just as he lifted his arm to reach for his luggage, the woman in jeans who’d been reading across the room from him entered his field of vision.

      Excuse me, she said quickly, her wool coat brushing against him as she leaned around him and grabbed the handle on a large, dark red suitcase. Fast as lightning, she lifted it and pulled, and almost before he could register what had happened, she was trotting toward the door, leaving behind the faint scent of strawberries.

      Victor stared after her, not sure whether she was rude or efficient for the way she’d jumped in front of him. By the time she’d disappeared outside and he looked back at the carousel, his bag had gone beyond his reach, forcing him to wait for it to come back around. Just to be safe, he sidled closer to the track.

      Five minutes later, Victor stepped outside, pulling the lapels of his light jacket close together to block the bitter cold. He hadn’t planned to be in Denver other than for the one-hour layover, and so hadn’t brought a heavier coat.

      He looked around, noticed there were few people waiting now, and even fewer cabs to be had for those that were. Occasionally a personal vehicle would pull up, and someone would jump out, laughing and smiling as they enveloped the person they were picking up in their arms. Victor felt a tug in his chest every time he saw it, and had to avert his eyes.

      One time when he did so, he saw the woman in the jeans watching him, a compassionate smile on her lips. He looked around to be sure she was indeed looking at him, and when he met her gaze again, her smile had turned to a lightly teasing grin. Frowning mildly, he nodded once at her, then looked down at his shoes.

      Slowly, while Victor stood there freezing his ass off and trying to pretend he wasn’t, the Arrival area emptied, until there were only him, the denim lady, and a few other stragglers.

      Just then, a cab pulled up. He glanced at the people around him, saw everyone but Denim Lady was sitting, and assumed they were waiting for loved ones. To prove his theory, Denim Lady grabbed her huge suitcase and started hauling it toward the cab. The driver got out and opened the trunk, then lifted the luggage into it himself.

      Denim Lady opened the door and started to get in, then spotted him watching her absently. She halted, one foot in the cab, one still on the pavement beside it. That faint smile of hers returned. Where are you heading?

      Once more, Victor looked around, wanting to be sure she was talking to him before responding so he didn’t look like a fool. Seeing no one behind him, he turned back to her. Hotel.

      Which one?

      He shrugged. Any.

      She held his gaze for a moment, then jerked her head toward the taxi. Come on. We’ll share.

      Surprised- people in Michigan didn’t typically do this kind of thing…- he gratefully grabbed his bags and brought them to the back of the cab. After helping the driver put them inside and close the lid, he climbed into the cab and looked at Denim Lady. Thanks. I was freezing out there.

      I guess this was only supposed to be your layover, then, she said as the driver got in and started out of the Arrival area.

      She had a pretty voice to match the pretty face, which he now could see included spring-green eyes. Yes. You?

      She shook her head, looking out the window as the airport passed by, barely visible through the dark and the snow. No. My parents have a house up in Evergreen. That’s where I’m heading.

      That pang in his chest struck him again. Oh. That’s nice. Would you like to go there first? It’s the least I can do after you let me share your cab.

      She smiled fully. That’s not necessary. We’ll pass plenty of hotels on the way that you can look into. Besides, it’s Christmas.

      He smiled back, but it felt a little forced. Yes, it was Christmas, but that didn’t guarantee someone would be kind. Nor did it promise for everyone what it obviously promised for her: Family, home, meals around the table with loved ones. Unable to take her hopeful smile anymore, Victor turned to the window and watched the snow-covered airport grounds become snow-covered highway, broken only by the occasional streetlamp.

      Denim Lady leaned forward to address the driver. Take us to the nearest hotel going toward Evergreen, please.

      The driver nodded, but didn’t say a word as he concentrated on navigating the partially slushy road.

      I’m Justice.

      Victor turned away from the window to see her offering her hand. Victor, he said, shaking gently.

      So, Vic, what’s waiting for you in Phoenix?

      Victor, he corrected automatically. How’d you know I was going to Phoenix?

      She smiled again, and he noticed it was beginning to affect him just a little by way of making his stomach flutter a tiny bit. Layover, remember? We were on the same plane.

      Right. Uh, my parents’ house is there.

      That’s nice. Must be warm there.

      He let go her assumption that he would be visiting with his parents. Definitely warmer than here. Average temp right now is about 65.

      Wow. That’s a nice Christmas day. Though we do get those warm days here, too, I can’t imagine Christmas without snow.

      He shrugged. "I enjoy it, as well. It just doesn’t feel like Christmas without snow."

      So you weren’t raised in Arizona, then.

      He shook his head. No. Michigan.

      Ah. Where?

      Novi. I still live there. My parents moved to Phoenix after I graduated college.

      She laughed. We’re practically neighbors. I live in Wixom.

      His eyebrows lifted in surprise. No kidding.

      She shook her head. Small world, huh?

      Yeah, he mumbled.

      They stopped talking as the driver pulled into the hotel parking lot, stopping at the door. Victor turned to Justice. Would you mind waiting while I make sure they have a room, just so I don’t have to wait for another cab?

      No problem. I’m not in a hurry.

      Thanks. He jumped out, went inside. A few seconds later, he got back into the cab with a dejected sigh. All full.

      The driver looked in the mirror at Justice, clearly seeing her as leading the expedition since she knew the area, as well as her destination. The next hotel, please.

      With a nod, he took off, heading back to the highway.

      Once they were on their way, Justice turned back to Victor. I was raised here. My parents have owned the same house since they got married, though it has been renovated several times. She chuckled. It had to be, since it was originally a three-bedroom, and they ended up with five kids.

      Five?!

      Yep, she said on a laugh. And all girls.

      "All girls?!"

      She laughed again, nodding. So now the house is huge, six bedrooms, likely with more to come. Each has it’s own bath, which is nice, especially when it’s full.

      Sounds great. He couldn’t quite keep the touch of forlornness out of his voice, but she didn’t get to ask him about it because they pulled up to another hotel. I’ll be right back.

      Once again, the place was full. As was the next, and the next. Victor decided that if lucky number five was all booked, too, he was going to tell the driver to take him back to the airport. He could sleep there if need be, though he didn’t want to.

      Justice kept up her friendly chatter the whole time they were together, asking him random questions about this and that, deriving information without being pushy or rude. It helped

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