Love Gently Falling (17 page)

Her mom scowled. “What's wrong with French cuisine?”

“Nothing.” Emma glanced around the messy kitchen. Hopefully Nona hadn't seen it like this. Was all this chaos the result of her mother's attempt to simply roast a chicken? “But, really, Mom, if you need to go home and take care of—”

“I do not
need
to go home,” her mom said sharply.

“Okay…” Emma started clearing the counters and straightening the kitchen, all the while wondering why her mother was in such a foul mood right now. Certainly, she was sad over Poppi's sudden demise…but then so was everyone.

“As a matter of fact, I do not plan to go home at all,” her mother abruptly declared.

Emma paused from wiping the countertop.
“Wh-what?”

Saundra turned away from Emma. Fussing with the old spice rack, she meticulously turned each little jar to face out. “I wasn't certain you were coming, Emma,” she said slowly. “So I have, uh…well, I've made plans to stay with Nona for a while myself.”

“But I
told
you I was coming—and that I'd be here this evening.” Emma dropped the dishrag into the sink and placed a hand on her mother's shoulder, forcing her to turn around, face to face. Locking eyes with Saundra, Emma was determined to get to the bottom of this. “You
knew
that, Mom. So why are you acting like you didn't? Or that you need to be here when you knew I was on my way? What's up?”

Her mother looked uneasy as she fingered her pearls, pressing her lips tightly together as if trying to come up with an appropriate answer.

“What is going on, Mom?” Emma studied Saundra closely…something was not right.

“Nothing's going on.” Saundra looked down.

“I can tell something's wrong. What is it?”

Saundra folded her arms across her front with a stubborn look.

“Does this have to do with Dad?” Emma demanded. “Did you guys get in a fight?”

“Fine. If you must know,
I've left your father
.”

“What?”
Emma blinked. In all the years…all the fights…her mom had never left her dad before. Not that Emma knew of anyway.

“You heard what I said, Emma. I've left him. I'm finished. I'm done.” Her mother's lower lip trembled slightly as she reached for a tissue from the box that Nona always kept on top of the old refrigerator.

“But why?”

“Why?”
She looked at Emma with teary eyes. “Because—because it's over—that's why. And please, do not tell Nona about this. She is already stressed over losing Poppi and there's her blood pressure to consider. I don't want her to find out that her only son is a miserable excuse of a husband—not to mention a cad.” And now she turned away and hurried from the room.

Emma just stood there feeling dazed. Poppi had died yesterday. And now her parents' marriage was over as well? Not to mention Nona's health was suffering. What more bad news awaited her? She hadn't heard from her younger sister yet…hopefully Anne and her son, Tristan, were okay—although the recent divorce had probably taken its toll on both of them. Emma shook her head sadly as she opened the old fridge. Perusing the assortment of covered Tupperware containers and casserole dishes, trying to find something suitable for dinner, Emma realized that her family was quickly coming unraveled.

“A sweet, quick read that celebrates love's beginnings as well the spirit of Valentine's Day.”

—Serena Chase, USAToday.com

“A delightful story about the loss and recovery of romance, love and hope…
Once Upon a Winter's Heart
will revive anyone who's given up on romance and wants a happy ending.”

—
Family Fiction

“Melody delivers all that is sweetest and best about love in this Valentine's novella and does it with a tasty dash of Italian spice. Now that's amore!”

—Robin Jones Gunn, bestselling author of
Sisterchicks in Gondolas

“A sweet love story,
Once Upon a Winter's Heart
is a beautiful picture of the joy of being swept off your feet.”

—Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of
Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan
 and
Where the Trail Ends

“Delightful…Should be on everyone's must-read list for the holiday season.”

—
RT Book Reviews
Top Pick

“A wonderfully sweet story, with vivid descriptions that pull you right into the pages.”

—Bookreporter.com

“This magical Christmas story is filled with anticipation, holiday traditions and delight…a true gift for the readers.”

—
RT Book Reviews

Once Upon a Winter's Heart

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