The Christmas Secret. Lee Mckenzie

I’m working on is due tomorrow—but I’ll take Will and Hershey to the park this morning.”

      “Good idea. It’s supposed to rain this afternoon. Did those women say what time they’d be here?”

      “Around ten-thirty. Claire DeAngelo called last night to say they had a meeting first thing, but they’d be here after that.” He intended to be out of the house by then. “The interior decorator, I think her name is Kristi, would like to start clearing out the kitchen. I hope you don’t mind.”

      “Not at all. I plan to do a little Christmas baking before they arrive, then I can give her a hand.”

      “Thanks. If there’s anything you’d like to keep, I want you to feel free.”

      “That’s very generous of you. I’m mighty fond of a couple of your grandmother’s teapots.”

      “Then I want you to have them.” It wasn’t as though there was any shortage of teapots in this house.

      Will’s fork clattered to the table. “Going to park now?” he mumbled around his last mouthful of eggs.

      “Remember your manners, William,” Annie said. “Good little boys don’t talk with their mouths full, do they?”

      Will swallowed. “All gone.” To demonstrate, he opened his mouth wide.

      Annie laughed and lifted him down from the table. “Come with me. We’ll wash your hands and face and get your jacket and mittens while your father finishes his breakfast.”

      AJ watched them leave the kitchen, admiring her patience. He should be taking notes because it wouldn’t be long before he would be taking care of William on his own. He looked forward to it, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have regrets.

      Adopting his own son hadn’t been the first time he’d used the family fortune and status to get something he wanted, but it would be the last. His parents, make that his father, had issued an ultimatum the day he’d brought William home. He could keep his position in the business or he could keep his illegitimate son. One or the other. Not both.

      His decision had been a no-brainer and he’d never regretted putting his son first. Grandmother Harris, horrified by her son’s hard-hearted stand, had opened her door to AJ and William. Her health was failing and he couldn’t turn his back on her, so although he had already purchased the house in Idaho, he’d moved in with his son and hired Annie Dobson to look after them. His grandmother was able to spend her final years getting to know her great-grandson in the home she loved. AJ had never regretted doing what he’d had to do to get his son, and he never would. He hadn’t regretted postponing the move to Idaho, either. Now, as long as he was careful, he wouldn’t regret letting Sam’s company sell this house. He hoped.