Ginger Chambers All That Love Is (pdf)

Odnośniki

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

decision to let the boy work in such a dangerous place.
It was all Brad could do not to strike out in anger and
pain, but Ronald was speaking from pain, as well, and
probably at Vivian s behest. So Brad endured
it& because he felt he deserved punishment. How s
she doing? he asked now.
Still hurting, Jill said.
Aren t we all, he muttered.
He pulled her to her feet, encircled her with his arms
and held her against him. He needed to feel her
warmth, needed the reassurance that even though
they d lost a child, they hadn t lost each other. But she
might have been made of stone. She allowed him to hold
her, but gave nothing in return.
Though if that was all she was capable of at that
moment, he didn t care. He at least was touching her,
could feel her breaths and inhale her natural sweet
scent. He kissed the top of her head, rocked with her
from side to side. His emotions, still unstable, almost
betrayed him again. Not since the funeral had they both
cried& and maybe that was what they needed most to
mourn their loss together. So that together they might
heal.
Jill, he said softly, close to her ear. We can t fix
GINGER CHAMBERS 147
it so that he s back. I wish we could. I wish there was
a way. But there s not. He ll always be a part of us,
though. We ll
Stop it! she cried, suddenly coming to life to push
him away. Don t talk like that!
Don t talk like what? I
I don t want to forget him!
I never said we would. Jill He attempted to
draw her back against him, but she evaded his grasp.
I don t want you to touch me right now, Brad. I
just I just& can t!
What did she say to you? he demanded, anger at
his mother-in-law and her poisonous tongue replacing
his sorrow.
Who? she asked, seemingly puzzled.
Your mother!
She didn t say anything.
I can tell by the way you re acting that she did.
It wasn t of any importance.
Tell me what she said, he insisted.
I told you& it wasn t anything. Now, please,
Brad& don t.
She d grown even paler, and extended a hand behind
her to locate a chair, which she immediately sank into.
Anger, fear, sorrow& he cast them all away as he
knelt beside her. I don t want to upset you and I don t
want to hurt you. What I want is for us to get through
this. And we will. As dark his voice broke on the
word as everything looks right now, we will get
through it. He took her hand. I love you, Jill. And I
love the children we ve brought into this world. There s
nothing I won t do to keep all of you safe. You believe
that, don t you? You believe me?
148 ALL THAT LOVE IS
Seconds passed before she replied, I believe you.
Now& I just want to be alone. Please& Try to under-
stand.
WAS THERE ANYTHING he should have done differently?
Over the next week she d never told him explicitly
to move out of their bedroom. But she behaved as if he
wasn t there. Each time he reached for her after they
settled between the sheets just to hold her, with no
plans for anything else she pulled away and presented
her back. Leaving him with an aching heart.
A minor illness soon followed, and her mother
arrived at their house to fuss over her. Then, before he
was quite aware of what was happening, he began to
spend his nights on the sofa bed in the family room.
He could have knocked down the door, demanding
his right to be with his wife as her husband, but what
would he have gained?
Instead, he d waited and struggled to understand,
and though the time seemed interminable, Jill had
slowly reentered life and once again become his wife
in every sense of the word.
Except they never again spoke of Mick.
Until now.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
San Francisco
Tuesday
STEFFIE AWOKE with the sun the next morning and her
first thought was the safety of her parents. As far as she
knew, there had been no incoming calls during the
night, but she was a sound sleeper, as was Tony. Tony
could sleep through a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. And
had.
She hopped up, dressed and went downstairs, where
she fortified herself with a glass of orange juice before
checking for messages on their service. There were none.
Shortly, Tony padded into the kitchen barefoot, his
shirt unbuttoned, his hair uncombed. He motioned to
the phone with a yawn. Nothing?
Not a thing. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

zanotowane.pl

doc.pisz.pl

pdf.pisz.pl

angamoss.xlx.pl