Fern Michaels - Betrayal

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Table of Contents

Books by Fern Michaels

Betrayal
Southern Comfort
To Taste the Wine
Sins of the Flesh
Sins of Omission
Return to Sender
Mr. and Miss Anonymous
Up Close and Personal
Fool Me Once
Picture Perfect
About Face
The Future Scrolls
Kentucky Sunrise
Kentucky Heat
Kentucky Rich
Plain Jane
Charming Lily
What You Wish For
The Guest List
Listen to Your Heart
Celebration
Yesterday
Finders Keepers
Annies Rainbow
Saras Song
Vegas Sunrise
Vegas Heat
Vegas Rich
Whitefire
Wish List
Dear Emily

The Godmothers Series:

Late Edition
Exclusive
The Scoop

The Sisterhood Novels:

Home Free
Dj Vu
Cross Roads
Game Over
Deadly Deals
Vanishing Act
Razor Sharp
Under the Radar
Final Justice
Collateral Damage
Fast Track
Hokus Pokus
Hide and Seek
Free Fall
Lethal Justice
Sweet Revenge
The Jury
Vendetta
Payback
Weekend Warriors

Anthologies:

Holiday Magic
Snow Angels
Silver Bells
Comfort and Joy
Sugar and Spice
Let It Snow
A Gift of Joy
Five Golden Rings
Deck the Halls
Jingle All the Way

Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

Epilogue

One year later ...
Christmas Eve

S nowflakes as big as dinner plates rained down in the darkened sky. Opalescent starlight hid behind clouds. The moon peered out from the top of the Black Mountains in the distance. The cabin sat on the side of the mountain, smoke billowing from its chimney.

Inside, the cabin was full of laughter and cheer. Heavenly scents of baking cookies wafted through the cool night air. Emily Winter thought it resembled a scene from a Norman Rockwell painting.

She hoped she was still welcome. It had been a long time, but she was ready to forgive Aunt Kate. She hesitated before knocking. This wasnt her home, this was Colemans. He might not want her here after all. Aunt Kate had sent her dozens of letters inviting her to the mountains. In each letter shed asked her to spend the holidays with them, and Emily decided that she wanted to share this special holiday with someone she truly loved and who loved her in return.

Well, here she was. Do or die. She tapped on the door. She heard laughter and a baby crying. A baby? Odd, Aunt Kate never mentioned anything in any of her letters about one of her friends having a baby. She knocked harder a second time.

The door swung open as she was about to knock again. Emily!

In the flesh.

Coleman opened the door, Come in, youll freeze your butt off out there. Let me take your coat.

Emily knew Aunt Kate and Coleman had married in June. She was happy for them.

Emily stepped inside. The cabin looked like something from a fairy tale. A Christmas tree, at least fifteen feet tall, stood in the corner. Red, green, blue, and every color under the rainbow sparkled from the glow of the lights. A gold star shone as bright as the fire in the stone fireplace at the opposite end of the room. This is how Christmas at Aunt Kates had always appeared in her dreams.

Red sofas and dark green chairs were scattered all about the giant room. People were grouped in small circles. Young and old. Bing Crosby singing White Christmas played softly in the background. Tears filled her eyes at the scene. Uncle Alexher dadwouldve liked this.

Coleman took her coat as she observed the festivities. Its kind of a Christmas party, wedding reception, and baby shower all rolled into one.

Emily smiled. That sounds wonderful. Now, where can I find Aunt Kate? Oh, wait, let me guess. Shes in the kitchen?

Where else? Go on in and surprise her. This will be her best present yet, Coleman encouraged.

Emily followed the scent of baking cookies to the kitchen. She watched the merriment. This was what she wanted, only with three kids and ten dogs. She saw a golden redcolored retriever curled up in a corner, its tail wagging ninety miles a minute.

She took a step, then another before she stopped. Aunt Kate was pulling trays from a huge oven. Three other women were filling baskets with the cookies as fast as they could take them off the cookie sheets.

Unaware of who she was, one of the women invited her to grab a basket. Emily did as instructed. Aunt Kate replaced one cookie sheet with another before she saw Emily standing next to her in the cookie assembly line. Emily? Its really you!

She grabbed her and hugged her, then pushed her away in order to look at her. You are so pretty, Emily. You look like an angel.

Its okay to say I look like Uncle Alex. I know I do.

Oh, Emily, this is the best holiday of my life! When did you get here?

Just a few minutes ago. Coleman let me in.

Sit, sit. You dont have to work. Were baking cookies for the dogs at the local shelters. Just dont take a bite. I dont think this recipe is meant for human consumption.

Is Gertie here?

Shes around here somewhere. I practically had to drag her here. She refused to leave the kennel, unless Laurenshes worked for Gertie since high schoolagreed to come and stay at the house.

Sounds like Gertie, stubborn as ever.

Who said I was stubborn? Gertie entered the kitchen. Emily? Why, Ill be a monkeys uncle. Kate didnt tell me you were coming. My Lord, youve gotten so... grown-up and so pretty. Looks just like Alex. Come here and let me hug you. The two embraced. Gerties eyes filled with tears.

This is the best gift an old coot like me could have. Kate, why didnt you tell me the girl would be here?

Emily looked at Kate.

It was a surprise, Gertie. For everyone.

Emily mouthed thank you to Kate.

So, does she know about the little princess? Gertie asked Kate.

Kate gave Gertie a shut-your-trap look. Emily had seen them at it before.

What little princess are you talking about?

Emily, come upstairs, and Ill show you.

Kate took the young woman she loved so much like a daughter and led her upstairs to a loft that overlooked the great room below.

This is so neat. I would stay up here all the time if this were my room. Emily leaned over and peered at the holiday festivities below.

Its a great cabin. Coleman and I, we plan to live here full-time. Maybe next year. Its taking him a little bit longer to retire than he thought. The wheels of justice do grind slowly. Kate smiled.

How long since youve seen your family? Emily looked sad suddenly, and Kate was sorry shed brought up the topic.

Its over a year. I havent been back since that day in Colemans office. I just never fit in with them, Aunt Kate. I know that sounds terrible. Theyre my family. Theyre just different. I did get a letter from Dad. He hasnt had a drink in over a year. Im proud of him.

And you should be. He didnt always have an easy row to hoe. Kate felt bad for Don, but was glad hed gotten the help he needed.

Theyre still not divorced. Dad doesnt know why Mom wont sign the papers, but he said he was moving on. He likes living in New York again. I guess hes working at a new engineering firm. He seems happy.

The last I heard, Mother had been forced to close her agency, sell the house, and has moved somewhere in Georgia, where shes bought herself a diner. Saras married to that druggie creep, and no one knows where shes got to.

What did you want to tell me, Aunt Kate? I know you brought me up here for a reason.

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