A Soldier's Christmas

“Um, hello.”

“You’re Bri

tish. I love your accent.”

“Yes. Yes, I am, and I’m Debbie Fletcher, a friend of your brothers.”

Logan stood back and let Emma have her fun with her brother. Travis squirmed where he sat with the odd glare at his sister when Debbie wasn’t looking. It was nice not to be put on the spot again, although he knew that wouldn’t last with the visit to her parents’ house after they’d eaten.

“Don’t you have somewhere else to be?” Travis grouched.

Logan coughed into his hand to try and hide his laughter, but with the look being thrown at him, he didn’t think it had worked.

“We’re here for breakfast,” Emma grinned at her brother, and his eyes narrowed, obviously knowing what was coming, “and I think we should join you.”

Logan grinned before he took pity on Travis. The man obviously wanted to be left alone with Debbie. “Babe, we have things to talk about, so why don’t we leave your brother in peace to finish his breakfast with his friend.” He wrapped his arm around Emma’s shoulders.

She looked undecided, but gave in. “I guess...but I need to talk to you sometime today.” She pointed at Travis as she talked.

“I figured. Go eat and stop bugging me.”

“Travis?” Debbie laughed behind a napkin. “You seriously talk to your sister like that?”

“Only when I want to annoy her.” Travis continued eating so Logan saw that as his cue to get Emma away from the table.

“We’ll see you later,” Logan chuckled as he pulled Emma over to the far side of the restaurant. “You loved making him squirm,” he commented as they got rid of their outdoor gear.

“I did. He’s done it to me often enough, including last night when he interrupted us.” Emma took her seat next to him.

“I thought you told me he was engaged. Did that go south?”

“Yeah. I don’t know what went wrong, but one minute he seemed to be really into her and the next they were through.” She shrugged. “Who knows what’s going on with Travis? He won’t say anything until he’s good and ready, which makes me wonder just how long he’s known about me being R. Logan,” she whispered.

About to answer Emma, a large mug of coffee was placed in front of him and a menu shoved under his nose. “What will it be?”

Emma wouldn’t meet his startled expression at the abruptness in which the woman appeared, so he quickly chose a full American and passed the menu back.

“Service always like that?” He pointed in the woman’s direction.

“It depends who’s working. Gloria hates working here and makes no bones about it. Our breakfast will be good though.”

“Okay.” He took a sip of his coffee and said what he’d planned to before they’d been rudely interrupted. “No matter how long Travis has known about your writing, he’s obviously kept it to himself.”

“True.” Emma curled a leg under her. “Let’s forget about him for now. Have you walked around the town yet?”

“I have. Visited your town square, and bought some cookies from the bakery. They were good.” He rubbed his stomach. “Ate them all while I watched a movie the other night.”

Emma shook her head, and softly smiled. “I’m really glad you’re here, Logan.”

Logan took hold of Emma’s hand and entwined his fingers with her delicate ones. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

The sour waitress interrupted them, but he didn’t mind that much when the aroma from the food in front of him reached his nostrils.

Emma chuckled. “You look like you’ve not eaten for a while.”

“Not like this.” He pointed at his plate with his folk. He wasn’t lying either, and had no idea what he wanted to eat first because he had so many choices—hash browns, sausage, bacon, tomato, biscuit and eggs.

After a few mouthfuls, he thought about being where he was with Emma, and suggested, “You know, in a way, your mom has done us a favor by holding our letters back, if that happens to be the case.”