Read Online A Healing Heart by Melissa A. Hanson - Free Book Online Page A

sweatshirt on the way out the door. Driving the short distance to the Howards’ house, it was hard for me to keep my excitement down. I parked on the street and was walking up the front steps when I heard Riley’s scream of delight inside.
    “ Mom! It’s Baiwey!”
    The front door opened before I could even turn the knob. I didn’t even have a chance to put my backpack aside when my arms were full of a squirmy little boy.
    “ Hey, buddy! Are you excited to see Mickey?”
    “ Yes! And Pwuto, and Goofy!”
    Eileen came around the corner with her arms full of clothes. “I’m not sure he even slept last night, he was so wound up. I’ve just got a few more things to pull together, and we’ll be ready to leave.”
    “ Okay, is there anything you need me to do?”
    “ Riley’s only eaten part of his breakfast; maybe you can get him to finish it.”
    “ Sure. Come on, Riley; let’s go finish your food. You want to have lots of energy so you can go on all the fun rides.”
    Riley played with his pancakes but did manage to eat a few more bites. I cleaned up his dishes and washed the syrup from his fingers and face while he wiggled and squealed. Soon after, we were on our way out to Eileen’s car, and we were Disneyland bound.
    Though it wasn’t that far, the trip was long for Riley. He continued to ask the same question over and over: “Are we there yet?” Eileen, who had gotten some background on Collin from my aunt, was of course trying to get as much information from me as she could, asking several questions.
    I had been to Disneyland a lot as a kid but had not been back since the summer before the accident. We had come down for our yearly summer vacation, and it had been Brooke’s first visit. She had been so thrilled to see her favorite princess, Belle. I was hoping that today’s trip wouldn’t bring back too many painful memories.
    “ Is Collin going to call you when they get there?”
    “ Yes, he thought they might be a couple hours behind us. He was going to try to get done faster, but he wasn’t sure when they’d let him go from work.”
    “ Having Lacey there will be even more fun for Riley. Those two have really bonded, haven’t they? The days you meet up at the park, that’s all I hear about, then the days you don’t go to the park, all I hear all day is ‘Can we go see Lacey, Mom, please!’”
    “ Wacey’s coming right, Mom?” Riley’s little voice traveled from the back seat.
    “ Yes, sweetie. We’ll meet them there.”
    “ Wacey’s coming, Baiwey.”
    “ Yes, I know, that’s exciting. Eileen, I just wanted to say thanks for inviting Collin and Lacey.”
    Eileen glanced sideways to look at me, smiling. “It’s no problem, Bailey, really. I think it’ll be fun. I’m also looking forward to meeting this guy who seems to have come in and swept you off your feet and to finally meet Lacey, who seems to have stolen little Riley’s affections.”
    “ Yeah, they really are cute together.”
    The rest of the drive passed mostly in silence, with just the music from the stereo punctuated by Riley’s ever-present “Are we there yet?” mixed in with “Where are we now?”
    Before long, we were driving into the massive concrete parking garage. We parked up on the Mickey Mouse level, to Riley’s delight. After unloading the stroller and our bags, we loaded Riley up and took the elevator to the ground level so that we could catch the next tram to the main gate. Waiting for the tram, my phone buzzed. It was Collin.
    got out early! on my way to pick up Lacey, will c u soon
    cool! we’re just getting on the tram. can’t wait til u get here! :)
    I’ll text u when we get there
    K
    “ Collin?”
    “ Yes, he just got finished with work. He’s on his way to pick up Lacey and will text me when they get here.”
    “ Wow, that was fast. They won’t be far behind us then.”
    Our tram arrived and we stepped in. I helped Riley into the center of the long bench seat while Eileen pulled the