Read Online A Child's Heart: Book Number Two in the Who's Your Daddy series by Rhonda Marks - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Rhonda Marks
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pointed out as he abruptly stopped walking.
“No, everything’s fine,” Javier replied with what he hoped was a neutral expression on his face.
“No it’s not. Come.” Instead of pr oceeding inside the house for lunch, his host directed him to the far side of the house and to a gazebo in the center of the yard. “Talk to me, man to man, not as business associates. Something is troubling you.”
“It’ s just that, how can I put it—”
“It’s a woman, right?”
Javier ducked his head and nodded. “Yes, it’s a woman and it’s also my daughter.”
“So the woman is your wife?”
“No, no.” Not yet at least. “The situation is kind of complicated.” Javier gave Pedro a truncated version of the past three months, pausing every once in a while to clear up portions of the story.
“So you see, although I’m thoroughly enjoying your hospitality, I’m kind of anxious to return to the States or at least back to the city so I can call my ladies.” My ladies. The thought of both Tesia and Nitika being a permanent part of his life made him feel good. Damn good.
Pedro dug into his front pocket and pulled out a small phone. “I’m sorry for not thinking you’d like to call anyone. Here, use my satellite phone and call your lady.”
Javier gratefully took the phone and shook Pedro’s hand. After walking a short distance away to gain a little privacy, he dialed Nitika’s number and smiled. Hopefully he was not going to be disturbing her since it was night at home. His smile turned into a frown though when the call went unanswered and the voicemail did not engage. He tried her cell and got the same response. Something was wrong.
He handed the phone back to Pedro and the look on his face must have said volumes. His host draped his arm over Javier’s shoulders and led him to the home. “Maybe they’re out of the house,” he offered.
“Maybe,” Javier replied. Maybe Tesia is back in the hospital. A chill ran up his spine at that thought. “Pedro, may I make one more call?”
“Of course, my friend.”
Javier quickly called his parent’s home and prayed that they would pick up. “Hello?” his mother answered.
“Thank goodness! Hi, Mom.”
“Javier! Where are you?”
“In Madrid on business. Mom, I don’t have much time to talk. Have you heard from Nitika and Tesia?”
“No, not lately. Is there anything wrong?”
Javier hesitated and clamped his mouth closed. He dearly wanted his mother to contact Nitika and make sure everything was alright, but he didn’t know how Nitika would react. “No, no, nothing’s wrong.”
“Are you sure dear?”
“Yes, Mom,” he replied with his fingers crossed. “Take care now, okay and I’ll see you when I get back.”
“Alright, dear. Be careful.”
Javier rung off and once again handed the phone back. Deep down he knew that something was amiss and he needed to get back home.
“Pedro, can we make this a working lunch. I need to return home as soon as possible.”
“I understand, my friend. We will have an agreement this afternoon so you can be on your way.”
Javier gave him a shaky smile as they walked into the house. Please God let his little girl be alright.
Chapter Eight
“So , how’s Javier?” Elise peered expectantly over the rim of her coffee cup in her friend’s direction.
Nitika simply stared down at the pie before her and said nothing. She didn’t have anything to say really. The block was still on her phone, so she had no idea if he’d tried to call or not. “Don’t know. Haven’t heard from him lately.”
Carefully setting down her cup, Elise reached out and smacked Nitika on the hand.
“Ow! Whatcha do that for?” she asked, rubbing the sore spot.
“Because I know you did something stupid. Tell me now!”
Still eying her friend cautiously, Nitika scooted out of her reach. “He hasn’t called lately.”
“Define lately.”
“H e went a week without calling—”
“So let me guess, you blocked
“No, everything’s fine,” Javier replied with what he hoped was a neutral expression on his face.
“No it’s not. Come.” Instead of pr oceeding inside the house for lunch, his host directed him to the far side of the house and to a gazebo in the center of the yard. “Talk to me, man to man, not as business associates. Something is troubling you.”
“It’ s just that, how can I put it—”
“It’s a woman, right?”
Javier ducked his head and nodded. “Yes, it’s a woman and it’s also my daughter.”
“So the woman is your wife?”
“No, no.” Not yet at least. “The situation is kind of complicated.” Javier gave Pedro a truncated version of the past three months, pausing every once in a while to clear up portions of the story.
“So you see, although I’m thoroughly enjoying your hospitality, I’m kind of anxious to return to the States or at least back to the city so I can call my ladies.” My ladies. The thought of both Tesia and Nitika being a permanent part of his life made him feel good. Damn good.
Pedro dug into his front pocket and pulled out a small phone. “I’m sorry for not thinking you’d like to call anyone. Here, use my satellite phone and call your lady.”
Javier gratefully took the phone and shook Pedro’s hand. After walking a short distance away to gain a little privacy, he dialed Nitika’s number and smiled. Hopefully he was not going to be disturbing her since it was night at home. His smile turned into a frown though when the call went unanswered and the voicemail did not engage. He tried her cell and got the same response. Something was wrong.
He handed the phone back to Pedro and the look on his face must have said volumes. His host draped his arm over Javier’s shoulders and led him to the home. “Maybe they’re out of the house,” he offered.
“Maybe,” Javier replied. Maybe Tesia is back in the hospital. A chill ran up his spine at that thought. “Pedro, may I make one more call?”
“Of course, my friend.”
Javier quickly called his parent’s home and prayed that they would pick up. “Hello?” his mother answered.
“Thank goodness! Hi, Mom.”
“Javier! Where are you?”
“In Madrid on business. Mom, I don’t have much time to talk. Have you heard from Nitika and Tesia?”
“No, not lately. Is there anything wrong?”
Javier hesitated and clamped his mouth closed. He dearly wanted his mother to contact Nitika and make sure everything was alright, but he didn’t know how Nitika would react. “No, no, nothing’s wrong.”
“Are you sure dear?”
“Yes, Mom,” he replied with his fingers crossed. “Take care now, okay and I’ll see you when I get back.”
“Alright, dear. Be careful.”
Javier rung off and once again handed the phone back. Deep down he knew that something was amiss and he needed to get back home.
“Pedro, can we make this a working lunch. I need to return home as soon as possible.”
“I understand, my friend. We will have an agreement this afternoon so you can be on your way.”
Javier gave him a shaky smile as they walked into the house. Please God let his little girl be alright.
Chapter Eight
“So , how’s Javier?” Elise peered expectantly over the rim of her coffee cup in her friend’s direction.
Nitika simply stared down at the pie before her and said nothing. She didn’t have anything to say really. The block was still on her phone, so she had no idea if he’d tried to call or not. “Don’t know. Haven’t heard from him lately.”
Carefully setting down her cup, Elise reached out and smacked Nitika on the hand.
“Ow! Whatcha do that for?” she asked, rubbing the sore spot.
“Because I know you did something stupid. Tell me now!”
Still eying her friend cautiously, Nitika scooted out of her reach. “He hasn’t called lately.”
“Define lately.”
“H e went a week without calling—”
“So let me guess, you blocked
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