Excerpt of Christmas Give by Meda White

When it was time to clear the table, Adam went to Eva and took the plates from her hand. “You need to sit.” “But I…” He placed the plates on the table, picked her up and carried her to Brad’s recliner. “But, Santa Paws, it feels much better.” Her wide-eyed innocent look made her appear younger than her years. He shook his head. “You need RICE.” “I’m too full for rice.” She put her hands on her abdomen. “Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevation.” He tilted the lever on the chair to lean her back. The family went on about their business while he went to the freezer. He grabbed a tea towel and returned to place a bag of frozen corn on her knee. Then he went to her room and got a pillow from the bed to prop under her leg and get it a little higher. “How do you know to do all this?” she asked. “Two knee surgeries and more sprains, bruises, and pulled muscles than I can count.” “That’s a tough line of work. I’m glad you’re moving on.” He smirked while she squirmed and settled. “Will you be needing anything else?” “Only this.” Somehow, from a nearly laid out position, she managed to pull the Heisman pose, using the corn in place of the ball. He’d never fallen down laughing before, but he grabbed his gut and took a knee. “You’re too much.”