Free Mistletoe and Montana by Anna Small Page A

few times a year.”
    Molly was there, or else she’d have used
a few choice words. Dammit, but he always knew how to press the right buttons.
She wished she could channel her daytime TV character; a supreme bitch who had
the world eating out of her hand.
    “You didn’t have to move to Montana. The
judge said…”
    His whistle pierced through the phone
and she winced. “Spare me your support of that crook! He’s a fan of your inane
show, and that’s why he took your side.”
    “Ben, we don’t have to do this…” Why,
after all these years, did tears spring to her eyes the moment she heard the
anger and hurt in his voice?
    “Right. I’ll get them at Billings. Just
like last summer.”
    Her phone screen darkened. She looked up
to see Molly’s little red face. “Daddy can’t wait to see you and Ian. Christmas
in the snow will be lots of fun.”
    The rosebud lips quivered. “I don’t want
to see Daddy. I want to stay here, with you.” She threw herself into Joely’s
arms. Joely stroked her hair from her face and patted her back.
    “You always have fun up there. Daddy
probably has some new horses and calves. You can play in the barn with the
kittens, too.”
    “The kittens are all grown up.”
    “There will be snow. Daddy can make a
snowman for you.”
    “I hate snow. It’s too cold. I want to stay
here. You won’t have anybody for Christmas.”
    Joely forced a happy face. “I have Sarah
and…and George from the show, and…you know, all those people I work with.”
    “Why don’t you and Daddy love each other
anymore?”
    It was the same question every time a visit
to Montana came around. It served both to send Joely on a guilt trip and coddle
Molly.
    “Honey, sometimes….”
    “Sometimes parents can’t live with each
other anymore. It has nothing to do with love.” Ian’s mocking tone reached her
from the den where he was glued to his game console.
    “Ian…” Joely pulled Molly onto her lap.
“Molly, honey, Daddy and I aren’t together anymore, but that doesn’t mean we
don’t love each other.”
    “That is what it means. That’s why it’s
called divorce.”
    She closed her eyes and forced herself
to remain calm. “You’re not helping, Ian.”
    “That’s okay,” Molly said, cuddling on
Joely’s shoulder. “Maybe you can take us, instead of Sarah.”
    “Maybe.” She rubbed her eyes with one
hand and hugged Molly with the other. “Maybe I will.” It wasn’t as if she had a
hundred reasons to stay home. Matt was already in London, and had probably
forgotten her the moment his plane landed to an airport full of screaming fans.
The hot lump of tears in her throat began to melt. “Maybe I will take you guys.
I can do some shopping up there. I always wanted a bearskin coat.”
    “Mommy!” Molly shrieked with laughter.
In the other room, Ian snorted. Joely sighed and slid her legs beneath her.
    “Tell me about this cartoon again,
honey. Who’s the cat with the crazy teeth?”
    Molly’s descriptions of the characters
helped soothe Joely’s worn spirit. Catching a glance of palm trees rustling
gently in the warm breeze, she almost looked forward to the trip north. If only
she were going for pleasure, and not having to face the man who broke her
heart.
    If only Santa
Claus were real, and divorce was only a fairy tale. A sad, twisted fairy tale.
     

 
    Chapter 2
     
     
    “That snow will be coming down all day,”
Ben remarked, ruffling Ian’s hair. “We’ll be able to make a big snow fort
tomorrow and throw some snowballs. Would you like that?”
    Ian’s shoulders twitched noncommittally.
“I guess.”
    Joely turned away so Ben wouldn’t see
that she’d heard. Ian was taking Matt’s leaving too hard. She hadn’t thought
they were very close, but Matt had been part of their lives for a year. They
were standing in Ben’s kitchen at the ranch. He’d been waiting at baggage claim
for them, and she almost didn’t recognize him, but the kids did, of course. It
was a