Page 16 of How The Mountain Man Stole Christmas
“See anything you like?” She’d been daydreaming again and looked up to see Fin striking a pose.
“Yes, but not now.” She threw her bed pillow at him. “Now go get dressed.” He dodged the pillow, running into the bathroom. He’d told her sometime during the last week that after his sister-in-law passed and he moved in, Kaleb had abathroom constructed for Fin’s privacy. Heaven forbid he run naked down the hallway.
By the time he’d emerged, showered, and dressed, she’d gotten herself ready and made the bed.
“Damn, a tiny bit of me wanted to forget we had to go downstairs and hoped I’d find you still naked in my bed.” He wrapped her in his arms, kissing her tenderly.
“Later, I promise.” Then she grabbed his hand, pulling him out the bedroom door behind her.
While the girls were stuffing the last bit of ripped wrapping paper from the floor into a garbage bag held by Fin, a knock echoed at the front door.
“I’ll get it.” Harper leapt from the couch. Kaleb was cooking in the kitchen, and he’d told her more than once to make herself at home, she was part of the family.
I guess that means answering the door too.
When she opened the door, a myriad of emotions encompassed her, shock, relief, and surprise. She had never been so happy to see the woman standing on the front porch.
“Elsie, I’m so thrilled to see you!” She lunged and engulfed the older woman in a tight squeeze and then a kiss on the cheek. She looked up, pointing in the same direction. “Mistletoe, the men insisted on it.” Harper escorted the woman inside and helped with her coat. “Burr, it’s freezing outside.” She shut the door and turned back to the older woman. “You’re just in time for breakfast; Kaleb is cooking it up now.”
“Oh, pish posh, I’m not going to interrupt your Christmas morning.”
“We won’t take no for an answer.” Fin chimed in as he joined the women, embracing their guest. “Merry Christmas Elsie, we were starting to worry about you.” He stood next to harper with an arm resting comfortably around her shoulders.
“Don’t waste your time worrying about this old bird. I get around just fine.” She raised her eyebrows at the couple standing before her. “But it sure does look like the two of you have been getting on quite well.”
“Both smiled but Fin spoke up first. “You could say that,” he winked at Harper. “And I’m not letting her get away either.”
“Well, it’s about time.”
Harper and Fin’s mouths dropped open, surprised by Elsie’s admission.
“Now, where are those little girls? I brought presents for them.”
“Here let me carry those.” Fin took the large bag from her. “Head on into the kitchen, I’m sure the girls are stuffing their faces right now.”
Once they’d convinced Elsie to eat something hot, they all retired to the living room where the girls were chomping at the bit to open more presents.
“I have something for you as well Harper.”
“Oh, Elsie you shouldn’t have. With the ice storm we had, I wasn’t able to get out to shop for anybody.
“No worries young one, I didn’t shop, for much anyway. This got delivered to me so I brought it to you.” She dug into her oversized purse and handed Harper a thick brown padded envelope.
“What is it?” Puzzled, Harper held the dirt-colored priority package and looked at the return address. “New York? I don’t know anyone in New York.” Turning the envelope over, she pulled theopen heretab that slices through the top and pulled out a small stack of paper clipped papers.
“This is from a law office.” She eyed Elsie; eyebrows raised. “I don’t know who Barrett; Baker & Brown is.” She looked toward fin for some help.
“Let me take a look.” He read the first page then leafed through the next few before he turned to Harper. “Honey, these are court papers releasing this case.” Fin continued to leaf through the rest of the stack.
“What case, and releasing it from what?” She was really confused. She didn’t remember ever getting into any trouble with the law. “And why am I getting all this stuff?” She motioned to the papers Fin was still reading.
“From what I can tell, these are adoption papers.” He looked at her before continuing. “Usually, those kinds of papers are sealed for privacy.”
“Okay but why me? I don’t know anyone that was adopted.”
Fin pointed to a spot on the form. “Here it lists Frank and Lila Stevenson as the birth parents to a girl named Chloe, born March 23rd.”
“Those are my parents but that doesn’t make any sense. They never put me up for adoption and that’s not my birth date. So, what does this all mean?”
