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    What if...this Christmas
    What if...this Christmas
    What if...this Christmas
    Ebook101 pages1 hour

    What if...this Christmas

    By KELLY RAE

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    About this ebook

    Marriage is a wonderful institution for some people, other people. Katie Wright doesn't see it as a necessary step in her life, or her relationship. Unfortunately her boyfriend, Chris Staller, doesn't see things the same. Because of their divide, this Christmas could be the first of many or the last of too few.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKELLY RAE
    Release dateApr 11, 2015
    ISBN9781513019574
    What if...this Christmas

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      Book preview

      What if...this Christmas - KELLY RAE

      Chapter One

      Katie strolled down Main Street, sloshing her new bright teal boots in the melting snow. She was headed to meet Chris, at Martha’s Ice Cream Haven, for a hot chocolate. Martha’s had been a special place for them since their first date in high school. Martha was also a surrogate mother to Chris, making her special all on her own. This was their usual Sunday morning routine, a little hot chocolate with Martha and her scone of the week. Then, depending on the weather, they would head out on some adventure or to a quiet movie. Christmas, was just about three weeks away, so the weather wasn’t permitting them to do a lot at this point. She had no idea what was on the agenda for the day. Chris was being a little secretive these days and rather than making Katie excited, it was scaring her a tad.

      Katie was afraid the surprise was going to be a marriage proposal. She loved Chris, she had loved him since she was just a kid. The decade they had spent apart hadn’t diminished her feelings for him, nor had it made the slightest dent in his for her. Of course, she’d been completely stubborn about it when they did get their second chance. She’d made him work, probably harder than she should have. She didn’t want to do the same thing with an engagement, but the reality was she was unsure about marriage.

      Her parents had been happily married and they were a stellar example of how to do it right. She had seen plenty of other marriages, good and bad. She just didn’t want to have so much to lose, which sounded silly, even in her own head. She couldn’t shake the feeling that it would hurt a lot more to lose a whole lifetime with someone than to just break up with a boyfriend. Yet, at the same time, she wanted to spend her whole life with Chris. Her mind was working a lot more like an elliptical exercise machine than its usual efficient treadmill setting. Maybe she was being presumptuous and he wasn’t even going to ask. She needed to try not to let her apprehension show, or he would surely notice.

      She made her best effort to shake off her suspicions and stepped in front of Martha’s store. The Ice Cream Haven had been a staple on this street for more than thirty-five years. Martha had owned it for the last twenty or more. Every store on Main Street had that small town feel, with striped awnings, brick exteriors and for the most part a warm and friendly greeting when you walked in the door. Like the one that Katie was about to receive, as she entered Martha’s.

      Katie, honey, we were just wondering when your sweet self was going to walk through the door. Martha smiled and got up from her seat to hug Katie.

      I was just taking my time this morning. I walked over.

      Hi, sweetie, Chris said as he leaned in for a kiss. It’s too cold to be out walking all over town.

      I know, I know, but I have on my new teal boots and the winter coat you bought me, so no harm done. Katie strutted around the store showing off her outfit, until Chris grabbed her into an embrace, kissing the top of her head.

      And yet, I worry still, Chris stated.

      Anyway, worrywart, what’s the scone of the week? Katie asked. I’m starving this morning.

      Ohhh this week you are in for a treat. It’s a cinnamon apple scone. I got the recipe online and I had to eat a whole batch myself just to make sure they were perfect for you two, Martha declared as she walked over to give Katie a hug as well.

      Chris laughed. Well, with taste testing dedication like that, how can they be bad?

      Martha patted him on his cheek and walked into the kitchen area where she kept an array of special treats, including the ones she always shared and stocked just for Chris. Together they took a seat at the closest table.

      His love for Martha was inspiring. His respect and concern for her always warmed Katie’s heart. Chris’ mom was not very motherly and she lived hundreds of miles away, and his Dad had never really been in the picture at all. If personality were the main indicator, Martha could pass for Chris’ mom. In terms of looks, they had no real similarities. Martha had green eyes and olive skin with dark brown hair. Chris had eyes that looked a lot like earth, not dirt, but sediments. They were hazel, with more specks of green and yellow than brown. Chris’ eyes made her melt, akin to one of the romance novels, she often read and hid in her room so Chris wouldn’t tease her about them. The only thing that worked better on her than his eyes was the way his forehead crinkled when he smiled. Looking at him now, his plain brown hair tousled from the wind, his out-of-proportion nose and his baby face, the severity with which she loved him struck her and she felt a physical pang in her heart. She was glad that she hadn’t let her stubborn pride stop them from being together. It was almost two years now that they had been a couple. Two years of real happiness, unexpected in her life, but such a blessing.

      Babe, what should we do for our Sunday? Chris broke her little spell.

      I don’t know, how about a movie? Katie suggested.

      OK, we can walk over and see what’s playing at the theater, after our hot chocolate, if you like.

      Sounds good, Katie agreed.

      You seem distracted, Angel. What’s up?

      Nothing, Babe, prom.... Katie started to promise and then Martha came back to the table with three plates and a hot chocolate for all. Whew, she didn’t have to lie. How do you tell a man that you are distracted because you are scared he wants to marry you? If you want to keep him, you don’t!

      Here we go, my loves. Prepare to be impressed. Martha grinned.

      Thankful for the interruption, Katie got right to work on her scone and hot chocolate, letting Martha and Chris do most of the talking. With her final bite, she made a promise to herself that she would shake this fear and just deal with things as they came along. With that promise, the day ended up going much better than expected. Thank goodness, because she had many other things to concern herself with, like the workload she had that was more fitting for two people.

      Chapter Two

      What a week at the office. The entire courthouse was going crazy trying to get everything they could completed before the holidays. They had one more week before the holiday break, which for almost everyone was two weeks. Katie would still work a few days here and there, but for the most part, she was going to relax and try to enjoy the holidays. As an Assistant District Attorney, in a relatively busy county, Katie was eager for the break from work. She and Chris were headed out of town for a long weekend. Chris also had the entire week off, due to his schoolteacher schedule. He had given his winter sports teams and coaches the week off from practice, which pleased a lot of kids and parents. The parents always let him know what they thought about any and all of his decisions. Sometimes Katie didn’t think he was paid enough to deal with the parents. Nevertheless, Chris loved his job, which was something they had in common.

      While she was growing up, Pennsville had been a rather small town, a town she had dreamt of getting out of to explore the world. Unfortunately, she’d been too busy going to school and

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