A Forever Christmas. Missy Tippens

no love lost between the two of them.”

      “Dad never has forgiven him for hurting me.”

      Katherine stood and patted Sarah’s cheek. “Neither of us could ever stand to see you in pain. So be careful.”

      “I’ll be fine.”

      “Well, keep your distance. Simply put the play together, and then back away. You’ll be back in Nashville soon enough.”

      Yes, Sarah decided. She could do that. She could direct the pageant and return to her normal life. But she doubted the look on Hunter’s face would ever leave her.

       Chapter Two

       A t nine o’clock that night, Gregory headed toward home. He parked in his driveway, then made his way across the street to his dad’s. He slipped quietly into the house.

      His father was snoozing in the recliner with the television turned down low. Gregory touched his shoulder. “Dad. I’m here.”

      Harry jumped. Then he rubbed his hand over his face, brushing against whiskers. “Chase cried for his Aunt Lindsay again tonight. And then for you right before he fell asleep.”

      “I’m sorry to put you through that again.”

      “You need to be home at night, son. No need to work yourself to death.”

      “I don’t want to miss out on a potential new customer. I’m trying my best to keep my seasonal workers busy through the winter. Or at least through Christmas.” And he needed to grow his business to be able to buy a bigger house before the boys were grown and walking all over each other. And so each could have his own bedroom.

      And then there was the fact that he wanted to provide a perfect Christmas so maybe Hunter and Chase wouldn’t be so upset by Lindsay’s absence this year. “It’s just hard right now because they still miss Lindsay. They’ll adjust.”

      “You know, son, it’s past time to move on and start dating. Molly Patton seems to be interested, and those boys need a mother.”

      “Dad…”

      He waved and headed toward his room. “Think about it.”

      Gregory slipped into his old bedroom and found Hunter and Chase huddled in the bed, Hunter on his side in the fetal position, Chase plastered up against Hunter’s back as if he’d snuggled there for comfort.

      That certainly didn’t help with the guilt.

      He picked up Chase, then nudged Hunter awake. Hunter usually complied, then didn’t even remember it in the morning. But this time he seemed more alert as he followed Gregory down the hallway.

      “Where have you been, Daddy?” Daddy. He never called Gregory that unless he was upset or scared.

      “I had a late meeting.”

      “But I don’t want to have to wake up and move to my bed,” he whined.

      He wished the boys could be at home every night. But he hated to ask his dad to come there. He was already imposing by asking him to babysit so often. “I’ll see what I can work out with Granddad.”

      When they got to their house, a shivering Hunter threw off his jacket and fell into bed. He started to doze almost immediately. Chase cried when Gregory laid him down in his own twin bed, so he took him and put him in Hunter’s bed, where he slept every night, anyway. Then Gregory watched as the two settled in.

      Keeping up this kind of pace wasn’t easy. He was worn out after twelve hours on the job. But it would be worth it to see the look on the boys’ faces on Christmas morning when they discovered the new game system, then looked outside and saw the huge trampoline—the exact one they’d circled in the toy store wish book.

      He’d make it up to them by providing his sons with the best Christmas ever.

      

      The next day, Sarah’s father left early for the office, and her mother tried to persuade her to attend a luncheon at the country club with her. Sarah had no desire to go, smile and make small talk with a group of her mother’s friends, so she declined. Instead, she ate a quiet lunch alone in the echoingly empty house. She didn’t so much mind being alone. But she had to battle her thoughts. About Peter. About his parents and their regret.

      About Gregory…and Delia.

      Delia had been two years older than Sarah, more mature, more experienced. Her father had been in the same firm as Sarah’s dad, so they’d grown up together at parties and social functions. They’d even spent the night at each other’s houses a few times.

      And Delia had always had a thing for Gregory. She said she liked to go after guys who drove her dad crazy. Guys who presented a challenge.

      Gregory had told Sarah he loved her. But apparently, love hadn’t been enough. Because when she’d broken off the relationship and asked him to wait until she graduated and finished college, he’d ignored her plea and moved on. Then within a few short weeks, he’d been dating her supposed friend—seriously.

      Very seriously.

      Seriously enough that he and Delia were forced to get married right after they graduated, because she was pregnant.

      Recalling it made Sarah sick. Still to this day.

      And then when Gregory and Delia lost that baby, Sarah wondered if she’d lied about the pregnancy to trap him. But somewhere through the years, Sarah concluded the suspicion had been a way to try to ease the sting of rejection. She’d asked him to wait for her, but he’d chosen Delia, plain and simple.

      Not pleasant memories, so she puttered around the house trying to forget, wondering how she was going to fill her day.

      The phone rang. “Hello?”

      “Well, it’s official. I’m stuck on the couch until this baby gets here,” said Donna Rae.

      “Is everything okay otherwise?”

      “Yes, so far. But I promised the doc I would be good. Vinny’s trying to farm out the younger kids for me during the day.”

      “Let me know if I can help.”

      “Well, you can. I was supposed to go to a meeting at the church tonight as director of the play. Seven o’clock. Can you go and be me?”

      “Of course. What do I need to do?”

      “Just tell them about our progress. Let them know if there’s anything you need for the lighting and sound. And give them a copy of the rehearsal schedule so they’ll know when you’ll be at the church.”

      “You’ve got it.” She’d have to sit down and come up with a plan. “Maybe I can go over early to look at what’s available for sets.”

      “They’re in the basement storage closet. The custodian will help with setting up the stage area. Oh, and call Gregory if you need anything made. He’s pretty handy with tools.”

      Her heart fluttered. “Okay.”

      “Thanks a million. I really owe you.”

      As soon as they hung up, Sarah grabbed a notebook and her copy of the script. Maybe she could put some sort of new twist on the play this year. For variety.

      The one thing she wasn’t going to do, though, was ask Gregory to build any props.

      

      That evening, Gregory whipped into the church parking lot and nabbed the closest spot to the back door. “Come on, boys. Hop out. I’m late for the meeting.”

      “Do we have to come?” Hunter asked.

      “Yes, you do. I’m sorry, but Granddad is on this committee, too.”

      “I’m hungwy,” Chase said in a pitiful little voice.

      They’d