Free The Gift of Christmas Present by Melody Carlson Page A

whatever it takes to help make Aunt Hattie feel welcome.”
    â€œOf course,” Christine said. “That’s no problem at all.”
    â€œAny other surprise visitors you’d like to spring on me?” Mrs. Daniels glared at Jimmy.
    He laughed. “No, Mom, that’s it.”
    â€œNow if I can just figure where we’ll put everyone for the Christmas party,” Felicity said. It seemed an obvious hint.
    Janet frowned. “That’s too bad about your foot, Esther. Otherwise, you might want to have been able to host the gathering at your house.”
    Christine glanced at Mrs. Daniels in time to see her bristle.
    â€œYes, it’s a shame. But as you can see, I have difficulty doing much of anything these days. A Christmas get-together would be completely out of the question.”
    â€œThat is, unless you wanted to put me to work,” Christine offered. She instantly wondered what on earth had prompted her to make such a bold offer. She saw her grandmother’s eyebrows lifting and knew she’d stepped way over the line this time. But after seeing how small Felicity and Jimmy’s house was, she could almost understand their dilemma. “It was just an idea,” she said quietly.
    â€œIt’s a great idea,” Felicity said with a bright smile. “And I would help with everything too.”
    â€œWell, there you go,” Janet said with a twinkle in her eye. “Looks like you’re fresh out of excuses, Esther.”
    Mrs. Daniels scowled at Christine, but then to everyone’s surprise she said, “Oh, I suppose I might as well give in. You’re all ganging up against me anyway. But don’t expect me to lift a finger.”
    â€œOh, you won’t have to, Mom,” Felicity gushed. “Christine and I will handle everything. Won’t we, Christine?”
    Christine nodded, wondering what she’d gotten herself into. She hadn’t really intended to coerce the old woman into opening up her home for the holidays. She knew it could totally backfire on her. But perhaps it had simply been her subconscious mind at work, making sure that she was included in this odd family during the holidays. Of course, she had no idea if they would even want her around. It seemed more than likely that they would simply expect her to play the role of housekeeper and thenmake herself scarce. Well, whatever, she’d already stuck her foot in her mouth.
    â€œI hope you know what you’ve gotten yourself into,” her grandmother said as they drove home.
    â€œI’m so sorry, Mrs. Daniels,” she began. “It just slipped out. And if it makes you feel any better, I don’t want you to pay me for anything I do to get ready for Felicity’s party. I want it to be my gift.”
    â€œFirst of all, I don’t want you to keep calling me Mrs . Daniels. My students always called me Professor Daniels, and my friends just call me Esther. I’ve never been too fond of Mrs . Daniels, it sounds so matronly. Please, just call me Esther.”
    â€œWell, okay.”
    â€œAnd the second thing. I don’t like hearing all this talk about not being paid. I am not a charity case, Christine. And I’ve never cheated anyone out of what is their just due. If you do a job well, you should be paid well.”
    â€œWhat if I mess it up?”
    Esther laughed, but it was her cynical laugh. “Then I suppose you’ll get what you deserve.”
    â€œThat’s what I’m afraid of,” Christine said in a quiet voice. So quiet that she suspected her grandmother hadn’t even heard.

To her own surprise, Esther wished Christine was around to help her prepare for bed. Not that she’d had too much trouble with that lately. It had helped a great deal when Christine had started laying out her bed things, everything right where she could reach it after she sat down. Why, the girl even went to the effort of placing a glass of ice