Free Finding Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn

That’s what it is.”
    He looked at the photo of Sir James on the mantel and back at me.
    “Aye, that’s what it is. It’s the eyes. Like a mountain stream in the highlands, that’s what they are. You have the clearest
     blue eyes I’ve seen since Sir James, rest his soul.”
    I swallowed and looked away.
    “Now, he was a man of honor, he was. Why, we wouldn’t be having the Dickens performances if it weren’t for Sir James and his
     generosity to the town and to the preservation of the theater. He was a man of great benevolence. I like to think he would
     have enjoyed our humble show this year.”
    With a nod, he turned to his wife, who had joined us in the middle of his speech. I didn’t look directly at Katharine. I didn’t
     know how much of Andrew’s oration she was taking in, and I also didn’t know how strong her powers of deduction were. She was
     the only person to whom I had shown the photo. And she was standing only a few feet from the mantel. It would be too easy
     for Katharine to connect the dots.
    “Miranda is in need of a ride. To the train station. I offered our services, Katharine. Are you ready to be on our way?”
    Katharine hesitated before asking in her firm, gentle voice, “Did you find what you were looking for when you came here, Miranda?”
    I paused before answering carefully with one word. “Possibly.”
    Katharine stood with her hands folded in front of her elegant red evening gown, and I knew that she knew. I can’t explain
     how I knew, but I did.
    I ventured a glance in her direction. Katharine was looking at me with the sort of smile that is shared between two women
     when one is holding the other woman’s secret as carefully as a bird’s
egg
that has fallen from its nest. It was easy to believe she wouldn’t drop the precious bundle. At least not here. Not on Christmas
     Eve.

Chapter Twelve
    E llie strode across the drawing room toward us with my coat over her arm. Pink sparkles danced in her wake.
    “I’m so sorry, Miranda. I got sidetracked. We should be on our way, don’t you think?”
    Before I could answer, Andrew said, “We’ll be cartin’ her off, so you won’t have to drive in the snow.” He stepped closer
     to Ellie and gave her a good look up and down, as if he had just noticed her outfit.
    Turning to Katharine, he said, “You may need to drive, my love.”
    “Why is that, Andrew?”
    “I avoided overdoing it on the punch, and yet I do believe I’m beginning to see pink Ellie-funts.”
    His pun took only a moment to sink in. As soon as it did, a chorus of groans followed.
    “I will remember that one, Andrew MacGregor.” Ellie held out my coat.
    Andrew intercepted and held the coat for me so I might slip my arms in more easily.
    “Ian will be disappointed.” Andrew’s boldness took over. “Hewould’ve wanted to meet you, Miranda. And what a pity you won’t be staying through Christmas.”
    “Miranda, you are welcome to stay here with us, if you like,” Ellie said. “Our guest room is ready. As I said before, we would
     be honored to have you for as long as you like. Truly.”
    Before I could slide my other arm into the coat, Andrew lowered it nearly to the floor. I turned to see what had happened,
     and he said, “You won’t be needing this in the guest room, now, will you?”
    A string of objections rolled off my tongue. I had already paid for a hotel room in London and my suitcase was sitting in
     that room, unopened, with everything I needed for an overnight stay.
    Ellie quickly made mincemeat of all my objections and indicated with her expression that the decision had been made. I had
     the feeling that if I made another peep, I would be viewed as an annoyance and the invitation would soon be regretted.
    My adrenaline must have been running low by that point because I took the path of least resistance and decided I would stay
     the night. I could collect my thoughts in the solitude of a guest room or a hotel room. The guest room was