Read Online A Family Reunited by Jennifer Johnson - Free Book Online
Authors: Jennifer Johnson
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world was cruel. She glanced at her younger daughter, who twirled a strand of long hair between her fingers and continued to pat Callie’s stomach. Kirk and Callie stared at each other as if nothing in the world could shake them. Or maybe it’s time I tried trusting God again.
“Give him a chance.”
Pamela turned to see her mother talking into Emma’s ear. She kissed her granddaughter’s cheek, and Emma rested her head on her grandma’s shoulder. Hurt still traced Emma’s features, and Pamela bit back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks.
Give him a chance. Give him a chance. Her family’s advice washed over her like a hot shower on a cold day. But sometimes the water was too hot, and the steam took away all ability to breathe. Gasping at the pressure against her chest, Pamela turned and walked away from her family.
She had to be strong. Jack had the ability to rip her heart into shreds. Again. She couldn’t take that chance.
Chapter 8
P amela placed the orange-and-black bracelet on the plastic hook of the fishing pole, then tugged the line. The small girl on the other side of the wooden partition that was decorated with an ocean theme lifted the hook over and squealed when she saw her prize. Emma pulled her sweater sleeve, and Pamela looked at her daughter. She pointed to the plastic spider she’d just stuck on the hook. “Gabe will love this.”
Peeking around the partition, Pamela spied a dark-haired boy who’d been in Emma’s class since kindergarten. She’d wondered if her daughter had a crush on the little urchin. Judging by the blossoms of pink on each of Emma’s cheeks, Pamela’s assumption had been correct.
She grinned at her girl. Emma looked adorable with her long hair French braided with a dark brown bow wrapped around the bottom of the mane. The green-and-brown polka-dotted shirt complimented the brown corduroy skirt and brown boots with fur at the top. She and the girls had enjoyed buying a few new outfits with the money she’d gotten from Jack.
Emma’s friend, Sabrina, raced up to the makeshift booth, and they hugged. Sabrina tugged at Emma’s shirt. “Come on. Let’s go play.”
Emma frowned. “I’m helping my mom.”
Pamela waved to Sabrina’s parents, who stood beside the beanbag-tossing game. “I’ll be fine. Go play.”
Emma’s face lit up, and Pamela realized it had been a while since she’d seen her daughter smile so big. “Really?”
“Of course.” She shooed her away. “Go on.”
Pamela placed another trinket on the plastic hook, then sat on the stool. With the start of the cake walk, fewer children came to the booth.
“You need some help?”
Pamela gasped when she looked up at her former professor. “Peter, what are you doing here?”
“It’s been a few days since I’ve seen you. I knew your girls came to this school.” He shrugged. “So, here I am.”
Pamela thought of the past few days. She’d washed sheets, vacuumed and checked both girls’ hair for nits each day. Just to be sure she’d conquered the little critters, she planned to smother their hair in mayonnaise again over the weekend. She thought of Jack and his willingness to dig right in and help. She couldn’t imagine Peter being so willing. And she still didn’t know why Jack had known so much about delousing a person and a house.
Pushing her thoughts away, she patted the stool beside her. “Have a seat. As you can tell, I’m not busy at the moment.”
He sat beside her, then placed his hand on the top of her knee. “So, what have you been up to these last few days?”
Pamela stiffened. Uncomfortable, she pivoted, allowing his hand to fall off her leg. “Nothing much. Studying and cleaning.”
Both true statements, although she had no intention of expounding on how much cleaning had been involved. The smell of his musky cologne wafted to her nostrils, and she sucked in a deep breath. He smelled delicious, as always. His hair lay in perfect dark waves, and his
“Give him a chance.”
Pamela turned to see her mother talking into Emma’s ear. She kissed her granddaughter’s cheek, and Emma rested her head on her grandma’s shoulder. Hurt still traced Emma’s features, and Pamela bit back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks.
Give him a chance. Give him a chance. Her family’s advice washed over her like a hot shower on a cold day. But sometimes the water was too hot, and the steam took away all ability to breathe. Gasping at the pressure against her chest, Pamela turned and walked away from her family.
She had to be strong. Jack had the ability to rip her heart into shreds. Again. She couldn’t take that chance.
Chapter 8
P amela placed the orange-and-black bracelet on the plastic hook of the fishing pole, then tugged the line. The small girl on the other side of the wooden partition that was decorated with an ocean theme lifted the hook over and squealed when she saw her prize. Emma pulled her sweater sleeve, and Pamela looked at her daughter. She pointed to the plastic spider she’d just stuck on the hook. “Gabe will love this.”
Peeking around the partition, Pamela spied a dark-haired boy who’d been in Emma’s class since kindergarten. She’d wondered if her daughter had a crush on the little urchin. Judging by the blossoms of pink on each of Emma’s cheeks, Pamela’s assumption had been correct.
She grinned at her girl. Emma looked adorable with her long hair French braided with a dark brown bow wrapped around the bottom of the mane. The green-and-brown polka-dotted shirt complimented the brown corduroy skirt and brown boots with fur at the top. She and the girls had enjoyed buying a few new outfits with the money she’d gotten from Jack.
Emma’s friend, Sabrina, raced up to the makeshift booth, and they hugged. Sabrina tugged at Emma’s shirt. “Come on. Let’s go play.”
Emma frowned. “I’m helping my mom.”
Pamela waved to Sabrina’s parents, who stood beside the beanbag-tossing game. “I’ll be fine. Go play.”
Emma’s face lit up, and Pamela realized it had been a while since she’d seen her daughter smile so big. “Really?”
“Of course.” She shooed her away. “Go on.”
Pamela placed another trinket on the plastic hook, then sat on the stool. With the start of the cake walk, fewer children came to the booth.
“You need some help?”
Pamela gasped when she looked up at her former professor. “Peter, what are you doing here?”
“It’s been a few days since I’ve seen you. I knew your girls came to this school.” He shrugged. “So, here I am.”
Pamela thought of the past few days. She’d washed sheets, vacuumed and checked both girls’ hair for nits each day. Just to be sure she’d conquered the little critters, she planned to smother their hair in mayonnaise again over the weekend. She thought of Jack and his willingness to dig right in and help. She couldn’t imagine Peter being so willing. And she still didn’t know why Jack had known so much about delousing a person and a house.
Pushing her thoughts away, she patted the stool beside her. “Have a seat. As you can tell, I’m not busy at the moment.”
He sat beside her, then placed his hand on the top of her knee. “So, what have you been up to these last few days?”
Pamela stiffened. Uncomfortable, she pivoted, allowing his hand to fall off her leg. “Nothing much. Studying and cleaning.”
Both true statements, although she had no intention of expounding on how much cleaning had been involved. The smell of his musky cologne wafted to her nostrils, and she sucked in a deep breath. He smelled delicious, as always. His hair lay in perfect dark waves, and his
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