Read Santa Wore Combat Boots Online

Authors: Barbara Witek

Santa Wore Combat Boots (9 page)

BOOK: Santa Wore Combat Boots
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EPILOGUE

 

“We’ve been so good this year I hope Santa brings tons of presents!” Sarah clapped her hands then hugged her brother.

“You think you’ve been that good, huh?” Emma laughed and set cookies on a plate while Jake poured the cup of milk.

“There, I think we’re almost ready,” he said.

“What else do we have to do?” Sarah’s eyes grew wide.

“You and Ben need to go to bed. Santa will never come if you’re awake.”

“Let’s hurry, Ben!” The two hustled from the kitchen and thumped all the way up the stairs. Emma and Jake followed at a slower pace, stopping to set the milk and cookies by the tree. Emma paused at the base of the stairs, leaning to stretch her back.

“Are you okay?” Jake placed his hand on her very round stomach. With the baby due in three weeks, he was a nervous wreck every time she felt a twinge.

“I’m fine. You try carrying all of this extra weight. I’m as big as a house. I don’t know how Santa does it.” She watched as a devilish smirk crossed his face. “Don’t get any ideas. I’m not dressing like Mrs. Clause.”

“You’re already my Mrs. Nicklaus, and you’d look beautiful no matter what you wore.”

“You’d better be careful or Santa won’t leave you any presents,” she scolded even though she wore a bright smile of her own.

“I have all the presents I
need right here in this house.”

Emma moved his hand to feel the baby kick. “I think someone agrees with you. Let’s get the kids tucked in so we can finish wrapping their gifts.

Ben was already half asleep when they entered his room. They pulled the blankets under his chin and kissed his head. Next they found Sarah gazing out the window at the bright moon.

“What are you doing? I thought you’d already be in bed,” Emma said as she drew the curtains.

“I was saying Merry Christmas to Daddy,” Sarah replied and jumped under the covers, holding up a downy white feather. Emma and Jake moved to the window. The faint image of a soldier could be seen shimmering in the moonlight below.

Emma placed her hand on the window pane. Jake covered her hand with his while keeping a protective arm around her. The soldier smiled at them before he disappeared into the twinkling night.

“Merry Christmas,” the couple said with all of the love they felt in their hearts, and two angelic feathers floated before them reaffirming that all was finally right.

 

 

About the Author

 

Barbara lives in upstate New York with her supportive husband and their three children. She’s been a writer for as long as she can remember. If she doesn’t have a laptop you can bet she has a notebook. Barbara loves to travel and hopes to one day take a trip to Ireland for “research
.
” But until that happens she will settle for an occasional getaway with her favorite alpha male.

 

Fun Facts

 

- Loves camping, hiking, anything that gets her outside and in touch with nature.

- Avid dog lover who at a young age claimed she was going to have a house full of puppies, not kids!

- Dreamed of being a professional ice dancer.

- Enjoys crocheting and scrapbooking.

- Will never turn down strawberry
liquorice
.

BOOK: Santa Wore Combat Boots
4.97Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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