Santa Wore Combat Boots Read Online Free Page B

I’m looking for a legitimate medium to help me contact Larry.”
    “You are?” Strange, but he didn’t look as shocked as she thought he would.
    “So far I haven’t had any luck. I went to see Madame Zelda over in Lewis County, but she was as phony as a three-dollar bill. And now I can’t find the list with the remaining names on it. Without that list, I’m afraid I’m losing my only chance.”
    “First off, I don’t think you’re crazy.”
    “Really?” Emma motioned toward the small oak table and they sat down.
    “Of course not. What I do think is you need to find a healthy way of dealing with this.”
    “Don’t lecture me on death and grieving. I’ve heard it all over the years from the women at the Post 518 Bereavement Group. I’m through grieving and I’m ready to start living.” She hoped she sounded convincing.
    “Then what exactly do you want the medium for? They can’t bring him back.”
    “I know.” Emma sighed, suddenly wondering if telling Jake had been such a good idea. “But they can connect me to his spirit and I can be with him whenever I want.” She hesitated when he didn’t say anything and added, “See, you do think this is crazy.”
    “No more crazy than the time you and Traci attempted a three-legged race on skates.”
    “How did you know that?” she shot him a questioning look.
    “You told me about it last summer, don’t you remember?”
    “No. As a matter of fact, I don’t think we’ve ever talked about that, or the pie.” She wrinkled her face, trying to access the deep recesses of her own memory.
    “Oh, come on, we must have.” He leaned back in the chair. “How else would I know something like that about you?”
    “I don’t know, Jake Nicklaus.” She pursed her lips and tapped them with the tip of her index finger. “I’m beginning to wonder if you don’t have some secret power.”
    “Why do you say that?” He crossed his arms over his broad chest, his face registering amusement.
    “Because...you’re always around right when I need you, you’re always doing such thoughtful things for me and the kids. And come to think of it, I don’t really know that much about you.”
    “What do you want to know?” He raised his brows in a relaxed fashion.
    “Where do you come from?” Emma thought she would start with something simple.
    “Just outside of Pittsburgh. That’s where I grew up, anyway.” He was so carefree when he spoke, but he wasn’t giving her any detail.
    “Family still there?” Over all the years he never mentioned his family. She figured it couldn’t hurt to ask.
    “No. Never really had one. I moved around a lot.” He dropped his eyes to the bare table between them.
    “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” She raised her gaze to her flowered wall boarder, feeling as though she were prying.
    “Don’t be. I’ve had a pretty interesting life.” He paused for a moment and then added, “Glad to be where I am right now.” He placed his palms on the table in confirmation.
    “Oh.” She felt her face flush. Damn that wine.
    “I meant here, in Martin’s Landing.” He corrected himself.
    “Right, of course.” Well, she could now add foolish to her growing list of feelings.
    “Do you have plans for the weekend?” he asked, and she was thankful he’d changed the subject before she asked anything else that would embarrass her.
    “Sunday dinner with my family, but that’s about it. What about you?” She wasn’t sure why she was asking.
    “I’m pulling a double down at the fire station. One of the guys wanted the weekend off to do some shopping with his wife. Have you finished yours yet?”
    “Heaven’s no. I’m not really sure what I’m doing for the kids. The cold weather hit early this year and I had to turn the heat on. My bill is atrocious. I think it will be a pretty lean Christmas this year.”
    “It’s not about the gifts you know.”
    “I know. But I love to see the kids faces light up when they unwrap their