Free Golden Christmas by Helen Scott Taylor Page B

have
more time."
    "You go now." Jonathan squeezed her hand.
"I'll head inside and find the others. I need a drink to warm me
up."
    "Okay. See you in a minute." Vicky pressed a
kiss to his lips, then she and Chloe ran across the village green.
The brittle, icy grass crunched like sugar beneath their feet. She
glanced back a couple of times to make sure Jonathan made it inside
safely, but she needn't have worried. He held the handle on Honey's
harness as his dog led him around the pub to the private back door,
then they disappeared inside.
    Chloe unlocked Holly Cottage and they hurried
along the corridor. The unmistakable smell and sound of puppies
greeted them as they cautiously pushed open the kitchen door, wary
in case any of the pups were on the other side.
    Jessie waded out from the heap of her
brothers and sisters and scampered towards Vicky, yapping with
excitement. Tripping over her paws, she landed in a heap at Vicky's
feet.
    "Oh, you sweet, adorable little darling."
Vicky scooped up her baby and buried her face in the pup's soft
fur. She couldn't wait to have her full time and take her to see
her mum and dad. They would love her on sight, just like Vicky
had.
    Chloe cleaned up some puppy poop before she
cuddled her little boy. Although little was not the right
word to describe the pup she'd chosen. He was already twice the
size of Jessie.
    "Have you thought of a name for him?" Vicky
asked.
    "Paddy. Because he's got such big paddy
paws."
    "His paws are nearly as big as Jessie's head,
and he's going to grow into those paws."
    "I know. Auntie Shell says Paddy is going to
be a monster."
    They made a fuss of the other puppies,
playing with them all for a few minutes, then Vicky checked her
watch. "We'd better go back to the pub or we'll be late for
dinner." She pulled her phone from her pocket. "Before we go, will
you take a couple of photos of me holding Jessie? I want some
pictures to show my parents."
    Chloe took the phone and snapped some photos
while Vicky posed with her puppy.
    "Will you take some pics of me and Paddy?"
Chloe said, handing back Vicky's phone. "Dad makes me use this
stupid old phone of his." She pulled an old-fashioned flip phone
from her pocket and grimaced. "It doesn't even have a decent
camera. Dad says I'm not old enough to have a smart phone that goes
on the Evilnet . I'm nine and he still treats me like a
baby."
    "Sounds like your dad is doing what he thinks
is best for you." She sympathized with Owen Bramwell's concerns.
She'd been cautious letting Josh use electronic devices. He'd been
allowed a few hours a week on her iPad under supervision.
    It surprised her to realize that a few weeks
ago, thinking of her son like this would have twisted her heart so
badly she might have cried. Now it didn't hurt quite as much.
    "I guess." Chloe pouted.
    Vicky put Jessie back in the dog bed and
smiled as the little golden puppy wormed her way between her bigger
siblings to the food dish. She held up her phone and snapped some
pictures of Chloe and Paddy. The pup was so heavy that Chloe had
difficulty holding him when he wriggled.
    "I'll e-mail them to your dad and he can
print them out for you."
    They locked up the cottage and ran back
across the village green, laughing together, their breath billowing
in huge smoky clouds as they puffed like dragons, trying to outdo
each other. She'd thought she could never bear to play with a child
again, yet she enjoyed Chloe's company.
    The delicious smell of roast turkey filled
the air as they burst in the back door of the Fat Goose. Vicky
followed Chloe past the restrooms and kitchen to the restaurant
where a Christmas tree twinkled in the corner with presents beneath
it. The pub was closed to the public today, and it was strange to
see the room so empty of people.
    A round table was laid for dinner with a
golden candle centerpiece and red-and-gold napkins. The reflected
firelight danced across the glasses and silverware.
    Owen Bramwell sat beside Jonathan at