Free Merry's Christmas: A Love Story by Susan Rohrer Page A

it’s...” Merry closed her eyes,
imagining music. She extended her arm as if being held, and three-stepped in
time. “First with the left. One, two-three. Then back a little to the right,
two-three. Left, two-three...”
    Daniel watched Merry as she turned, a
look of fascination on his face.
    Suddenly self-conscious, Merry came to a
stop. “So, something to consider. That is, if it suits your...situation.”
    Again, much to Merry’s chagrin, Daniel
remained enigmatic. “Yes, well—given the situation with Catherine...I may go
another way.”
    Merry accepted it, sensing it was as far
as she should go. “Okay. Let me know if you change your mind.” She took her bag
of discards toward the garage, quietly encouraged.

    Tara was already decorating the living
room mantle with holly and pine when Merry came back inside. Merry purposely
didn’t make anything of it, but she was quietly thrilled to see Tara taking an
initiative. She watched, impressed, when Tara picked up a spool of red ribbon,
pulled out a length of it, and looped it repeatedly to fashion an artful bow.
If it had been a step in the right direction when Ollie had join in, Tara
taking part seemed a quantum leap.
    As respectfully as she could, Merry
placed family photos amongst the greenery they arranged on the mantle. She
picked up a photo of Amanda with the twins as grade-schoolers, dressed
identically. “So, you two used to dress to match.”
    Tara shrugged pleasantly. “Kind of geeky,
but I liked it. I guess I’m more into the whole twin thing than Hayden is.”
Tara picked up a particularly striking photo of her father, and drew it to
Merry’s attention. “Isn’t this great of Dad?”
    Just then, Hayden leaned in momentarily
from the kitchen. “Dinner,” she called.
    Tara barked back, “Just a minute. Helping
here.”
    Not wanting to get between the sisters,
Merry took the photo of Daniel. “I’ll get this. You go, eat. Really. It’s
fine.”
    Tara set the bow down, and then headed
toward the kitchen.
    Merry carefully placed the photo of
Daniel at the center of the mantle. She lingered over his image, nestling it
into the pine and holly boughs. It really was good of Daniel, she thought. All
of his photos were. His dark hair, bright smile, and shining eyes were
undeniably appealing. But mostly, she realized, it was the man himself who was
starting to make her heart flutter in ways it never had before. Merry checked
to make sure she was unobserved, then stroked the photo affectionately.
    ♥    ♥    ♥
     
    In his pajamas,
Daniel turned off the bedside lamp. Moonlight spilled through the window as
Daniel stood there, deep in thought. The Charity Ball had been a reasonable
idea for Catherine, he supposed. She would enjoy the opportunity to dress up
and mingle with the upper echelon. Catherine was a sensation in those settings.
What’s more, she would be happy to write a generous check for the Children’s
Hospital.
    Tentatively, Daniel began to practice the
three-step Merry had taught him. One, two, three...one, two, three , he
counted.
    Passing by in the hall, Hayden watched
her father, wryly amused. “What are you doing?”
    Daniel stopped abruptly, suddenly
embarrassed to realize his awkward attempt had been observed. “Nothing. Just
something Merry suggested. Clearly not my skill set.”
    Hayden stifled a grin. “Not so much.”
    “Goodnight, Hayden,” Daniel said as he
pulled back the covers to get into bed.
    “Night, Dad.” Hayden padded down the
hall.
    Daniel sat on the bed, shaking his head
at the oddity of it all.
    ♥    ♥    ♥
     
    The wee hours
of the morning found Tara hard at work, the beam of a flashlight spilling on
her father’s newest note to Merry. She could see that her gift idea was
catching on and it encouraged her creativity.
    Ollie sleepily shuffled into the study.
“Did he send another one?” he wondered a bit too loudly.
    “Shhh! Want him to hear us?”
    Ollie nestled up to see Tara’s