Free Christmas at Twilight by Lori Wilde

“Hatred isn’t a good thing.”
    â€œBut I do hate ’em. They hurteded Kimmie’s Unca Hutch.”
    Curiosity drew Kimmie down the walkway to join Ben in front of her uncle.
    Hutch smiled softly at his niece, but he didn’t make a move.
    â€œI ’member you now.” Slowly, Kimmie reached out to touch Hutch’s face with her palm. “You tooked me for i-scream.”
    He nodded once more.
    It was hard to tell in the darkness, but Meredith thought she saw a sheen of tears mist Hutch’s lashes, but it could have been nothing more than the reflection of Christmas lights in his eyes.
    â€œI hate bad guys too,” Kimmie said, just as fiercely as Ben. Then she wrapped her little arms around Hutch’s neck and planted a kiss on his cheek.
    There might not be tears in Hutch’s eyes, but there certainly were in hers. Meredith pressed the back of her palm against her nose and sniffled. She blinked, turned to Jesse and Flynn. Their eyes were none too dry either.
    Jesse plucked the keys from his pocket and put them in her upturned palm. “I moved the minivan to your driveway. You left the keys inside. You’ve got a crunched fender, but the fence took the brunt of it.”
    Meredith glanced over her shoulder at the fence. It was split right in two and leaning over. No one mentioned the pepper spray. “Thank you. I do so appreciate you keeping the kids.”
    â€œNo problem,” Jesse said.
    â€œAnytime.” Flynn smiled. “The children were so good. Ben’s an utter joy.”
    â€œHe has his moments.” Meredith ruffled her son’s hair,
    â€œAre you coming to the cookie club swap party on Friday night?” Flynn asked. “We’d love to have you.”
    She didn’t want to get too close to the people in this town. If she made friends, it would only hurt that much more when she had to leave. “I don’t know.”
    Flynn touched her shoulder. “Please come.”
    â€œMaybe. Right now I have to get these two home to their supper. Thanks again for everything.”
    Hutch got to his feet, loomed tall over the children now, but he looked uncertain as to how to proceed.
    The Calloways said good night and shut their door, leaving the four of them alone in the darkness.
    A momentary awkwardness fell over them. Ben and Kimmie held hands, looked from Meredith to Hutch and back again.
    â€œC’mon,” Meredith said, acting as if this was a totally normal day. “Let’s go eat. We’re having macaroni and cheese for dinner. Last one to wash their hands is a rotten egg.”

C HAPTER 5
    N ow that he could see clearly, Hutch noticed how much things had changed.
    The cabinets and drawers, which had been a sloppy mess when Ashley and Kimmie lived here alone, were neatly organized. Bowls stacked according to size and construction, plastic bowls on one side, earthenware on the other. Silverware was separated by type in a drawer divider instead of being thrown into a heap. Oatmeal and a variety of nuts and dried fruit filled the pantry instead of the Pop-Tarts, sugary cereals, crackers, and cookies that Ashley usually bought. Fresh apples, oranges, and bananas sat in a wicker basket on the island. Yellow smiley face magnets pinned the children’s artwork to the refrigerator. A waist-high wire shelf was parked against the north wall, and on it rested a Christmas cactus in full bloom, two poinsettias, several seedlings in small black plastic containers that had just started to sprout.
    This woman was good for his sister. She brought peace, tranquillity, and a sense of order to the house.
    He stood in the doorway of the kitchen, arms folded over his chest, shoulder braced against the wall, watching Jane microwave macaroni and cheese—homemade leftovers from the looks of it—and then put green beans on the stove to heat. She moved with such grace, her body loose and fluid, as if she had dance training. The