Christmas Gifts: Cinderella and the Cowboy / The Boss's Christmas Baby / Their Little Christmas Miracle

“I think it’s a little late to tell him anything.”

“Yes, I guess so.”

She pulled the cover up over Brady and leaned down to kiss him good-night.

Jack waited until she was ready to leave Brady’s bedroom.

“Do you need help cleaning the kitchen?”

She shook her head. “Carol did it all.”

“That’s what she gets paid to do.”

“I think I need to pay her salary.”

“I think that’s Tom’s job. He likes paying her.”

Elizabeth smiled. “I think he’s interested in her.”

“What do you mean?”

“He told me he would’ve married her a while ago if he hadn’t been feeling so bad.” She tilted her head. “But he seems to be feeling better now.”

“Yeah, I think you’re right. The kids have given him a lift.”

“I’m glad he’s getting something out of us coming here. I need to talk to him about paying rent.”

“You can’t do that!”

She turned to stare at him. “Why not?”

“He wants to provide for you and the kids. His son obviously didn’t.”

“But he did. He just didn’t intend to. So I should pay rent.”

“But who’ll cook if you’re paying rent?”

She looked confused. “I will, of course.”

“We can’t let you cook and clean. Not if you’re paying to live here.”

It’d been such a lovely evening, but now Jack was pushing her again, telling her what to do. “I’m going to ask Tom.” She stomped to the television room. “Tom, you don’t mind my cooking and cleaning, do you?”

“Wait a minute, Tom, before you answer,” Jack said. “She’s talking about paying for living here, and cooking and cleaning.”

Tom frowned. “Why would you do that?”

She tried to ignore Jack. “Now that I have Reggie’s money, I feel like I should pay you something.”

“I don’t want your money, Elizabeth, but I sure can use your cooking.”

“But—”

“I think this argument is over.” Jack reached out to catch Elizabeth’s hand. “You can’t argue with the man.”

She threw off his touch. “We wouldn’t be arguing if you hadn’t interrupted us.”

“I wouldn’t have interrupted if you had told the whole story. Now, Lizzie—”

“Don’t call me that!”

“I can’t believe your family didn’t call you Lizzie!”

Something inside her snapped. Before she could stop herself she blurted, “I didn’t have any family! I was taken away from my mother because she was addicted to drugs. I was five and that’s the last time I ever saw her! I don’t even know who my father is.”

Jack frowned. “You weren’t adopted?”

“Would you want to adopt a child whose mother was an addict?”

“You didn’t take the drugs. Why not?”

“They only want babies. They—” Tears filled her eyes, stinging them, threatening to spill over. “It doesn’t matter anyway.” Spinning on her heel, she walked toward the steps.

Jack’s words stopped her.

“You’re a good mother, Elizabeth. You’re nothing like your mother.”

The tears flowed freely then, and she could do nothing to stop them.

Tom took her in his arms. “You deserved better than Reggie, but maybe it turned out well, after all. We can be a family, all of us here.”

She looked up at him and wiped her tears away. “I’d like that, Tom.”

He smiled at her. “Good. And our family is growing even more. I’ve just asked Carol to marry me.”

She hugged him. “I’m so happy for both of you.”

Carol looked at Elizabeth. “You don’t mind if I come live here?”

“Not at all, Carol. That will be wonderful! I’ve learned that you can never have too much family.” Elizabeth hugged the woman.

“When are you going to marry?” Jack asked as he shook Tom’s hand.

“Whenever Carol is ready.”

“I’m ready now,” she said without hesitation.

Tom beamed at her. “Then let’s get married Friday night.”