Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“Ready for this?”
“I’ve never been more ready, cowboy.”
He laughed, cupped my face within his hands, and kissed me.
Vivianne
Six months later
My class was about ready to jump out of their seats as I leaned against my desk and held up a hand.
“I know we’re all excited about Christmas break, but I need your attention for at least a few more minutes.”
They settled down and gave me their full attention.
“Now, over the holiday break, I want you to do two things for me.”
A chorus of moans echoed through the room. I folded my arms, and they came to a stop.
“I want you to take a moment and be thankful for your blessings. That includes your family and friends. And the second thing…I want you to think about something you can do for someone else during your break. It doesn’t have to be big, but I’d like each of you to do something kind for someone you don’t know. Even just a ‘happy holiday’ to a stranger at the grocery store while you’re out and about with your mom or dad.”
All the kids nodded with excitement. I had little doubt most of them would meet the challenge, I knew from experience, this group of kids had very giving hearts.
We’d decorated a special tree in the classroom earlier in the month with snowflakes. Each snowflake held a wish from one of the kids at River Falls Haven, and each of my students could pick a snowflake, if they had permission from their parents, and fulfill a wish. Every single snowflake had been taken, the wishes fulfilled. It was one of the highlights of the semester. I had the best group of kids for my first year of teaching, and their parents were a blessing as well. I was one lucky teacher.
“The bell is about to ring, so let me take this moment to wish you a merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and happy New Year.”
“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Wilde!” they all sang.
The bell rang, and they were off like a herd of cattle heading for their dinner.
“Slow down! No pushing!” I cried out as they all raced out the door.
Jimmy was the last one out. He stopped and held out a small box for me. “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Wilde. This is from my mom and me. It’s for your baby. Don’t open it until Christmas morning, though!”
I reached for the box with one hand, while my other came up to rest on my small baby bump. “That is so very kind of you, Jimmy. Tell your mother I said thank you, and I promise not to open it until Christmas morning.”
His little cheeks turned red before he dashed out the door. With a soft chuckle, I turned and walked over to my desk. I had a few things I needed to wrap up before I headed home. Then the third annual Wilde Christmas Morning for the kids at River Falls Haven was in less than a week, and there was still so much to do.
“Vivianne?”
My head snapped up at the long-forgotten memory of that voice—and I turned to see my mother standing in the doorway of my classroom.
She wore a long winter coat with black high heels. Her hair was pulled up into a neat bun on top of her head. Black leather gloves were folded in one hand. Her makeup was done to perfection, as were her manicured nails.
Shocked at the sight of my mother, whom I hadn’t seen or heard from in over four years, I asked, “Mom? What…what are you doing here?”
She attempted to smile. “May I come in?”
I motioned with my hand for her to enter the room, but I stayed behind my desk.
“I read about your wedding last summer.”
My brows drew down. “You’re reading the paper from River Falls?”
She shook her head. “It was in the Denver Times. It was newsworthy that Senator Pennington’s daughter was married, but the article said it wasn’t known if her parents were in attendance.”
Even more stunned, I took a step back, but I quickly regained my composure. “Well, I’m sorry if that made Senator Pennington receive bad press. It wasn’t intended.”
She swallowed. “You mean your father?”
“No. I mean Senator Pennington.”
Letting out a long breath, she turned and took in the room. “You’re teaching. What grade?”
“Fifth-grade English and history.”
Looking back at me, she smiled slightly, then dropped her gaze to my stomach. “And expecting a baby. When are you due?”
Our baby was due on March 12, but there was no way I was going to tell her that.
“Did you come here for a reason, Emily?” I knew calling her by her first name would get under her skin.
“It’s Emily now?”
Shrugging, I replied, “I was caught off guard when I first saw you.”
“Vivianne, I’m your mother. You can call me Mom.”
“Can I? Because from where I’m standing, you never really acted much like a mother.” I let out a sharp huff of breath. “I’m pretty sure a father and mother wouldn’t turn their own child out the moment she turned eighteen.”