Free The Wonder of You by Susan May Warren Page A

arm around the child.
    A shadow brushed his heart at the sight.
    And settled there as he drove north to Evergreen Resort.
    He’d always loved the Christiansen homestead: the two-story lodge with the attic bedrooms, the expansive open family room/kitchen with a stone fireplace. The place overlooked Evergreen Lake, with a deck that could host the entire Blue Ox team, and a fishing dock jutting out from shore.
    His wife had grown up here, surrounded by a family that had only seemed to grow stronger with the challenges of the past few years. The wildland fire that destroyed the rental cabins. The accident that left Owen   —Max’s former teammate   —unable to play, and the blowup of his injuries and mistakes that eventually led to thebirth of his daughter with a woman now pledged to marry Casper, his older brother. And now, well, Max hoped very much that John and Ingrid would weather the news of their daughter’s elopement.
    He pulled into the lot behind Amelia and got out, seeing how Grace clutched Yulia’s hand as they walked to the lodge. “Tomorrow, I’ll bet Nana Christiansen will make you cookies.”
    Nana Christiansen?
    Grace opened the door, ushered the troupe inside. Max retrieved their suitcases and followed her.
    Ingrid Christiansen, her short blonde hair tucked behind her ears, already had Grace in an embrace, the smell of baking   —something sweet and chocolaty   —filling the air. Max set the suitcases down.
    “And Max too!” Ingrid stepped past Grace and threw her arms around his waist.
    “Hey . . .” Not Mom . “Mrs. Christiansen.”
    “Call me Ingrid, Max. We’ve been through this.” She caught his face in her hands and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
    Yeah, he liked Grace’s family. Hopefully, after tonight, they’d still like him.
    Ingrid crouched before the little girl. “Are you hungry, sweetie?”
    “I don’t think she speaks English, Mom,” Amelia said. “We tried   —but she seems to understand Russian.”
    “Well, I’ll bet she understands the language of macaroni and cheese and chocolate cake.”
    Max had to love Ingrid for her shower-them-with-food philosophy. Yulia followed her into the kitchen and climbed up on one of the counter stools. A plate of macaroni waited.
    Ingrid dug around for a fork, found one. “Your father is out at the accident site   —they found the family’s car and are towing it tothe police station. Darek went home for the night, but I’m sure he’ll bring the kiddos up tomorrow.”
    “I can’t wait to see Joy. And little Layla. How are Raina and Casper?” Grace said.
    “Good. Raina is still house-sitting for her aunt, so she’ll stay there for a while. Casper usually drops by after work   —but I think he’s itching to go search for Owen.”
    Max didn’t look at Ingrid, the memory of his part in the fight that caused the wounds of his angry, prodigal brother-in-law still raking up too much grief.
    “I don’t know why Casper’s still working at the Wild Harbor,” Grace said. “After all, with the reward he netted after his last find, he has enough money to spend his time hunting for more treasure.”
    “I think he’s just trying to help Ned. You know how he is   —always coming to someone’s rescue,” Ingrid said. “Besides, I think he has plans for the money. Something that includes building a home as soon as he can marry Raina.”
    Max glanced at Grace, an eyebrow up. Now. Tell them now, honey. But Grace was watching Yulia.
    “Poor thing,” Ingrid finally said, pouring the little girl a glass of milk.
    “I don’t know, Mom,” Amelia said. “Maybe it’s shock, but she didn’t seem to care who held on to her, just followed the first person who took her hand.”
    Ingrid frowned. “She’s probably scared.”
    “It could be an attachment disorder,” Grace said. “I’ve read about that   —happens with orphans. They have trouble fixing themselves to one person, feeling that bond.”
    “Even at the