Free Embattled Christmas by J.M. Madden Page A

of mind. But Shannon had reached a point when she was no longer comfortable being on camera. They’d adjusted the ones in and around the house. The inside ones were gone. She’d put her foot down on that and it had been their first major disagreement. She’d compromised by letting him keep the cameras up on the outside and putting a couple of sensors on the driveway. He’d grumbled that her safety was at stake, but she had had to remind him that at that moment it wasn’t. In a few years when Gerbowski went up for parole they’d think about beefing it up again.
    John had been pissed for several days and watched her more than normal, but they’d eventually settled into an easier relationship. Shannon was still waiting for him to pop the big question though.
    She knew John wasn’t one for a lot of romance. He seemed genuinely surprised that she was still with him. But she was traditional enough that she wanted the whole enchilada—engagement, marriage, kids. If they followed John’s plan nothing would change.
    She’d begun to drop subtle hints that she would like more, but he was either oblivious or chose not to hear her. Luckily she had some amazing supporters at work. The guys asked him all the time when they were getting married. But maybe that was part of the problem. He’d been put on the spot so many times he was tired of the question.
    This Christmas things were going to change. The annual LNF holiday party was next week. Maybe she would propose to him . Something needed to happen soon!
    As the parade began to pull to a close she played with the skin of his neck, down to the V of his flannel shirt to tug at the dark hair.

Chapter Two
    ‡
    C had frowned in consternation. “You did what?”
    Mercy blinked up at him, her big green eyes swimming in tears. “I told Mrs. Caldora that she smelled like horse butt.”
    He clamped his jaw shut in an effort to choke down the laughter, but he knew he had to be turning red. “And why did you tell her that?”
    Mercy looked down at her twisted fingers in her lap. “She does. She tried to make me say something and I wouldn’t tell her.”
    Chad frowned as her sweet little voice trailed away. Checking the rearview mirror he pulled into a bank lot and parked. This was going to take his total concentration. Turning off the ignition he twisted toward her. “What’s going on, little miss?”
    Mercy glanced out the window, then back down at her whitening fingers. Chad reached out and rested his hand on hers, stilling their movement. He gave her a squeeze of encouragement. “You know you can tell me anything.”
    One tear dripped down onto their clasped hands and Chad felt his heart clench. He was three seconds away from snatching the little girl out of the seat and crushing her in his arms. But she needed to talk obviously, or she wouldn’t have brought it up.
    “She asked me where my father was and I wouldn’t tell her.”
    Chad frowned at the way she phrased the sentence. “Okay. That’s completely your business.”
    She looked up at him as if waiting for him to say more. When he didn’t she pulled her hands from under his and crossed her arms, glaring.
    “What?” he asked.
    She shook her head and turned to look out over the snowy landscape. Chad could tell by the mutinous set of her chin that she would not say any more. She was so much like her mother like that.
    “You only have one more day before Christmas vacation. Do you think you can tolerate her that long or do I need to come in and talk to her?”
    Mercy set her blond ponytail to swinging as she shook her head, still staring outside.
    Chad ran his hand through his hair, trying to figure out where he’d gone wrong. They’d been together for just a few months, so he was still wading through female sensibilities and trying to make a spot for himself in their little family. It had been a work in progress.
    Reaching into his pocket he offered her a package of Smarties, but she turned away without taking