Just One Kiss (Whisper Lake #4) - Barbara Freethy Page 0,56

handle it," her mom admitted. "But I didn't drink last night. And I came back today because I knew I had to see my grandchild, and I had to try to help you." She drew in a breath and let it out. "I've been sober for almost four years, Hannah. Four years! When are you going to believe that I'm better?"

"It's not that easy. I've seen you fall too many times to count."

"I've never gone this long. I'm not saying I'm cured. I know that this is a disease that I will always have to deal with. But all we're talking about right now is an hour where you go get a tree and I bake cookies with my grandson. I'm not going to set anything on fire."

She had to let her mom off the hook on that particular concern. "I know that, Mom." After one last minute of silent debate, she said, "Okay. It would be helpful if you could watch Brett while I run out to the tree lot."

"Take your time. I don't have anything else going on today."

"All right." They walked back into the kitchen. Brett had stopped stirring the dough and was playing with the unused cookie cutters on the floor. "Brett," she said. "I'm going to run out and do an errand. Grandma will watch you. You're going to be very good, right?"

Brett nodded. "I will."

"I'll be back soon." She looked back at her mom. "Call me or text me for any reason—promise?"

"Yes."

She really hoped she wasn't making a mistake, but her mom could hopefully handle this, and she was only a phone call away. With that reassurance in mind, she headed for the door. She only had a few days to turn her house into a Christmas wonderland for Brett, and she was going to take whatever time she could get to do that. She might not be able to bring Kelly home, but she could make sure one little boy had a happy Christmas.

Chapter Fourteen

As Hannah wandered around the Christmas tree lot, she realized two things: one, most of the good trees were gone, and, two, she would not be able to fit the tree in the back of her small car. She did know someone who had a truck, but was she really going to bring Jake back into her life, when she was trying to get rid of him?

As if on cue, her phone rang, and Jake's number flashed across the screen. A hot tingle immediately ran through her body, but she tried not to think about that. "Hello?"

"Hey, where are you?" Jake asked. "I need to talk to you, but I'm in front of your house, and I don't see your car. I do, however, see your mom's car, which is why I haven't rung the bell."

"Sorry about earlier. She was a little harsh."

"She was protecting you. I respect that."

"Why do you need to talk to me?"

"I got some information from Trevor."

"What is it?"

"I'd rather tell you in person."

"Is it bad?"

"Where are you, Hannah?"

"I'm at Donny's Christmas Tree Lot," she said.

"I'll be there in five minutes. And it's not bad. I just want us to talk about it in person."

"Okay. I'll see you soon." While she was waiting for Jake to arrive, she made another pass through the selection of trees. She was curious as to what he'd learned, but it didn't sound that earthshaking, so she focused on the trees.

She hadn't bought a Christmas tree in a long time, probably not since Tyler had hit his twenties. Before that, she'd tried to make Christmas special for him. But after that, they'd both been content to order a pizza and exchange one present, which was usually some kind of a joke.

Now things were different. Although, in some ways, the situation with Brett felt remarkably familiar. She was trying to make a happy Christmas for someone whose parent should have been the one to do it. But that wasn't Brett's fault, and she had a feeling he would like a big tree, something that would make his eyes light up. That's what she wanted to see—that spark of joy.

"Well, if it isn't one of the Starks. How are you, Hannah?" an older, gray-haired man asked.

"I'm doing well." She smiled at Donald Ralston, the owner of Donny's Christmas Trees. His family had a Christmas tree farm just outside of town, and she'd gone to school with his son, Andrew.

The Ralstons had been selling trees for decades, and there was a time when