Monday Morsels: The Mistletoe Effect

The Mistletoe Effect

Captured by Christmas Anthology

by Lainee Cole

     “HELLO, ALEX.”
     Alex Randle did a double-take when he realized the woman standing on the porch was his ex-girlfriend. “Mia Pearson?”
     The years had been kind to her. Fine blond hair tumbled to her shoulders. The winter wind had put color in her cheeks. A dark blue scarf topped her winter coat, and underneath she wore form-fitting blue jeans tucked into knee-high boots. She was curvier than when they’d been dating, but still beautiful, and stylish as usual.
     He took a moment to consider his reaction. Affection, but nothing more. They’d made the right choice when they’d broken up over seven years ago and agreed to be just friends. That had never happened. Mia left town, and he hadn’t heard from her since.
     Still, she'd managed to track him down at his parents’ house the day after Thanksgiving.
     “Come in.” He opened the front door a little wider. She avoided looking at him as she stepped inside, with a little blonde girl in tow. He hadn’t noticed her until that moment. Alex closed the door and ushered them into the family room where his mother had a fire burning in the fireplace. “Have a seat. Can I take your coat?”
     She shook her head. “It’s Mia Fairchild now,” she corrected, taking a deep breath. “And this is our daughter, Holly.”
     “You look great. Married life suits you.” He smiled and squatted down to the little girl’s level. “Hello there, Holly. It’s nice to meet you. Did you bring your dad with you to visit?”
     She stared back at him with big blue eyes.
     “Not exactly,” Mia hedged as he glanced up at her, then back at Holly. She cleared her throat. “Holly is our daughter, Alex.”
     Alex lost his balance and sat down hard on the floor. “What?”
     Shock and disbelief warred within him. He stared at Holly. Her face was pale and tears welled in her eyes. Mia wrapped her arm protectively around the girl. He hadn’t meant to scare her.
     As he scrambled to his feet, Holly darted behind Mia. Alex glared at his ex. She’d never let his height intimidate her before, and today was no different. She stood her ground, even when he leaned toward her. “Would you care to repeat that?”

Want to read more?

In The Mistletoe Effect, Christmas is second-grade teacher Tess McCall’s least favorite holiday, but she’s doing her best not to let it show. Learning he’s a father to seven-year-old Holly makes Alex Randle anxious about the upcoming holidays. When Tess’s class starts reading to shelter dogs, Holly and the antics of shelter dog Mistletoe lead them all to rediscover the magic of Christmas.

Also in this anthology:  Snowbound by Lynn Crandall

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