Free A Christmas to Remember by Thomas Kinkade

it all year.
    “Just put it on the table, honey. I’ll sign it when my hands are dry.”
    “Can you be a chaperone? Mrs. Effron says they need a lot of parents, and you didn’t come on any school trips this year, Mom.”
    Lucy could tell he really wanted her to go with his class on their trip, but she couldn’t see how she would manage it. “Let me check the date. I’ll try to come if I can, honey.”
    He gave her a look, and she knew that she had disappointed him once again. His expression brightened a few moments later, though. “Hey, Mom, I think I know what I want for Christmas.”
    “Really? What is it?”
    Christmas! Was Christmas coming already? Lucy felt an unhappy jolt. She wasn’t ready for Christmas, financially or emotionally. She felt so overburdened right now, Christmas would push her right over the edge.
    “Rollies. They’re these really cool shoes. They have wheels onthe bottom and you sort of roll around. A kid in school has them, and—”
    “A kid wore those to school? The principal allows that?”
    “Well, he wasn’t supposed to. He had to take them off and put on his regular shoes. I wouldn’t wear them to school. I just want them, though.”
    “Rollies. Okay, write it down on a list or something for me,” Lucy said. “Now go inside and let your brother study. Don’t forget to take a shower. You need to be in bed by nine.”
    “I know.” Jamie headed for the TV. He was a good kid. Never gave her any trouble. A good student, too. He would get his Rollies. Lucy just hoped they didn’t cost a fortune.
    She felt bad about not going on the field trip and vowed that she would try to make it up to him somehow.
    She could only spread herself so thin, and tonight it looked like she needed to be on top of C.J. He had been staring at the same page for the last half hour.
    She sat down next to her older son and pulled his textbook over so that they were sharing it. “Let’s see what have here,” she said.
    It was going to be a long night.

C HAPTER F OUR
    Cape Light, August 1955
    J UST AS SHE WOULD HAVE PREDICTED , O LIVER DROVE A shiny red convertible, a sports car made in Britain. He drove fast, too, which Lillian would have also predicted.
    They weren’t able to talk much on the ride to town along the winding beach road. Oliver would glance over at her and try to point out some landmark he thought interesting, shouting at her through the wind. By the time Lillian understood what he was talking about, they had flown by it and were miles down the road.
    She was blown to bits, her hasty hairdo dispersed in all directions. She imagined she looked a perfect wreck, but she told herself she didn’t care.
    The worse I look, the better. Maybe he’ll decide he doesn’t like me as much as he thought.
    Oliver parked in front of a diner. The sign out front read THE CLAM BOX and there was a “Grand Opening” banner slung across the doorway.
    Lillian was surprised at the choice. She had expected him to take her to a fancier place—lunch at the yacht club, perhaps, or a real restaurant.
    He turned to her with a grin, and she wondered if her reaction was obvious.
    “I know it doesn’t look like much, and frankly, it isn’t. A buddy of mine—Otto Bates—just opened the place. I thought we could give him some business. Do you mind?”
    “Of course not. This will be fine.” Lunch at a diner would be faster than at a restaurant with more elaborate service. Their date would be over in no time. That’s what she wanted, wasn’t it?
    They walked up to the entrance and Oliver held the door open for her, dipping his head to avoid hitting the banner. It was thoughtful of him to give his friend some business. Maybe he wasn’t as self-centered as she suspected.
    A man behind the counter called out to him cheerfully. “Well, look what the cat dragged in.”
    “Hello, Otto. How’s business?”
    “Booming. Business is booming. Did you come by to try some of my world-famous clam rolls?”
    Oliver