Free Her Christmas Protector by Terri Reed

wife.
    “Hear, hear.” Sally raised her glass in one hand while she held on to Jason, her two-year-old son, who sat on her lap shredding a paper napkin. White bits of paper fell to the floor at Sally’s feet but she seemed oblivious to the mess.
    Her dark eyes reflected the soft candlelight and her thick, brown hair had been pulled back into a braid that hung over one shoulder. Specks of paper stuck to her braid.
    “What does ‘hear, hear’ mean, Mama?” six-year-old Gloria asked from her place at the table, next to Faith. In her little hand she held her plastic cup up high like the adults and her big brown eyes were wide with curiosity.
    “It means I agree with Daddy,” Sally replied.
    “Why are we holding our cups up and what’s toast got to do with it?” Gloria asked, her little nose wrinkled in puzzlement.
    Luke’s deep chuckle rumbled through Faith as their gazes met across the table.
    Matt answered. “It’s a tradition. You hold your glass high, say a toast, or a better phrase would be a blessing, and clink the glasses together.”
    “ Gently clink the glasses together,” Sally interjected.
    Faith’s gaze went from one Turner family member to another. The love so obviously shared in this family overflowed, warming her heart. A lump formed in her throat. She ached with longing for a family of her own. Children to cherish, a husband to love. Maybe one day. One day when Vinnie was no longer tracking her.
    “Dottie, will you be making pies again this year for the Christmas festival?” Sally asked as they all began to fill their plates.
    Faith looked to Luke for an explanation.
    “Every year the church has a big festival on Christmas Eve. The whole community gets involved.”
    “Maybe with Faith’s help, I could make some pies,” Dottie announced.
    Luke raised his eyebrows at his mother.
    “Of course I’ll help,” Faith said and ignored the voice inside her head that cautioned she might not still be here by Christmas. If that investigator found out that she hadn’t gone to Alaska, he could come back to Sisters. And then she’d have no choice but to leave.

     
    “That was so much fun,” Dottie exclaimed as Luke drove home from the Turners’.
    “It was. Thank you for insisting I tag along,” Faith replied.
    Luke smiled at her through the rearview mirror, glad to see the animation in her face. She’d been so nervous when they’d first arrived at the Turners’. But she’d quickly succumbed to the exuberance of the Turner family. Luke was grateful for his old friends and their welcoming of Faith.
    He turned the Bronco on to the driveway.
    “Uh-oh,” Dottie muttered. “Reva’s here.”
    Luke pulled to a stop beside Reva’s red car. He’d told her she didn’t need to make dinner because they had other plans. Obviously she hadn’t believed him. He helped his mother out of the car and preceded Faith and Dottie into the dark house.
    “Reva?” he called out as he flipped on the lights.
    She sat at the kitchen table. Luke recognized the hard light in her eyes and the grim set to her mouth. She was spoiling for a fight. He turned his attention to his mother and Faith. “Go on up.”
    Faith gave him a worried look before nodding slowly. His mother’s mouth pressed into a tight line as she preceded Faith up the stairs.
    As soon as they were out of sight, Luke turned to Reva. “Did I miscommunicate to you that we had plans tonight and wouldn’t need you to come over?”
    Reva crossed her arms over chest. “Where were you?”
    Luke pulled out a chair and sat down. He held tight to his irritation. “Reva, don’t you think it’s time you started finding out what you want to do with your life?”
    “I know what I want,” she said, her gaze boring in to him.
    Luke sighed. “You and I are never going to happen.”
    “Why not?” She reached out to put her hand over his. “I could make you happy.”
    He pulled his hand away. “Reva, don’t do this.”
    Her expression crumbled,