Free Emilie's Christmas Love by James Lavene, Joyce Lavene Page A

uncle.
    Emilie was ignoring them both, making faces at the little girl. She put out a finger for her to look at the huge, sparkling, costume ring. The little girl tried her best to get the ring off.
    "Hello again," Nick softly replied.
    "We meet in strange places." Her attention returned to the baby. "How old is she?"
    "A little over a year," he said. "Her name is Amber."
    "She's my sister," Adam told his teacher in disparaging tones. "She cries a lot."
    "I'm sure she does" Emilie laughed as Amber grabbed for her finger again. "She's happy right now."
    Adam sneered. "That's only because she didn't poop her pants and Uncle Nick's holding her."
    Emilie laughed and looked back at Adam's disgusted face as he squirmed around on the bench beside his uncle.
    "All right. Let's take a look at your fortune." She looked into the crystal ball, making mysterious motions across the glass with her heavily ringed hands.
    Nick watched her animated face. She looked good even with the heavy make up. The dark eyeliner emphasized her eyes, even in the dim light.  
    Amber laughed and Emilie glanced up at her, making a funny face that set the little girl off even more. Emilie crossed her eyes and wrinkled her nose. She twisted her lips in a strange caricature of their usual smooth lines.
    Money, brains, and beauty, and a sense of humor, Nick mused. Not to mention a fortune, a big house and some great cars. She had a soft heart and a sweet body. She kissed like an angel. It was hard for him to believe that she hadn't been snatched up by some man.
    If he was in a different position . . .
    "I see something good coming to you." Emilie glanced up at Nick who mouthed the word bicycle at her. "Wait! I see something. Can it be something with wheels? Something that can take you places?"
    Adam made a face, straining to peer into the crystal ball that was glowing softly on the dark table. "I don't see anything."
    "You have to have the sight," Emile told him briefly. "I see something here that looks like—"
    "A Corvette?" Adam prompted.
    Emilie frowned at him. "A bicycle. Not a Corvette."
    Nick laughed. "What would you do with a Corvette anyway?"
    "Let you drive it, Uncle Nick," Adam said in his slightly falsetto voice.
    Nick rumpled the boy's light hair. "Thanks, buddy. If I had one, I'd let you help me drive it."
    "Cool!"
"This is a bicycle." Emilie brought him back to reality. "I see a bicycle in your future."
    "I asked for one for Christmas," Adam told her with a shy, smile. "Amber wants a dolly."
    "Do you want a dolly?" Emilie turned to the little girl.
    Amber laughed up at her then hid her face against her uncle's shoulder.
    "She's shy," Adam explained to his teacher. "Is there a dolly in her future?"
    Emilie looked into the crystal and smiled. She noticed Amber sneaking peeks at her. "I think there is. Yes! I see one here for sure."
    "You're going to get a doll, Amber," Adam told her, shaking her arm a little.
    Amber grinned, showing her little white teeth. She opened her eyes wide, but didn't say anything. Not even a cooing sound came from her pink lips.
    "Could I hold her?" Emilie asked tentatively, prepared for Nick to reject her request.
    Used to the question from women he passed in the mall and grocery shopping, Nick held the little girl out to her.
    Emilie took her into her arms as though she were the most precious creature in the world. Amber looked up into her face and smiled, then reached for the huge brooch on the front of Emilie's turban.
    "No, Amber," Nick cautioned.
    The pretty face crumpled, ready to cry. Emilie thought fast, substituting a spool of twine from her pocket into the little girl's questing hands.
    The bright gold color attracted Amber's gaze at once. She took the spool greedily, clutching it tightly in her little hands.
    "You're good with her," Nick told her gently. "You should have some of your own. Or maybe you do?"
    She glanced across the table at him. "No, I'm afraid not. I was married a long time ago. But I can't have