Read Online A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Julie Lessman
Ads: Link
his hopes for avoiding confrontation with his mother were not based in reality. He blinked and tried to smile despite the throbbing in his head, but she only stared at him coldly. Her eyes were puffy and ringed with dark shadows, suggesting a fitful night's sleep. Or none at all.
"Mother, you're up. I hope I didn't wake you."
"Of course I'm up. It's morning, Collin. You promised me you would be home early. You promised. But obviously you've the same talent for breaking promises as your father."
Her words were a punch to the gut. He bit hard on his tongue, fearful he would say something he would regret. She was his mother, after all. He owed her that. He pushed past her to his room.
She followed, jerking his arm to spin him around. "You're worthless, just like your father, you know that, Collin? I should have never married him. I could have avoided all of this. Instead, I'm living in a rundown flat in a wretched part of town." She flung his arm away and stepped back, the rage in her eyes tempered by a gloss of tears. She shivered. "With nothing to my name but the shame of a son with the morals of a cat."
He stared, his anger suddenly melting into empathy. She was alone. Her bitterness cut her off from anyone who might attempt to love her. His father had tried and failed. She had been the world to him, the love of his life. But it hadn't been enough. He'd given his love, and she took until she owned him. Collin reached for the door, his fingers taut on the knob to keep from slamming it closed.
"Good night, Mother. I'm sorry for disturbing you." With deadly calm, he quietly clicked the door in her face. He flipped the lock. She was all he had. And so when he rose from his much-needed sleep, he would make peace, exchanging civilities and common courtesies as most families did. Until the next time.
Faith couldn't resist a tiny smile. She watched Maisie harpoon the last piece of sponge cake on her plate. Finally, she'd been able to get her best friend over for dinner so her family could meet her-and love her just like Faith did. Maisie seemed delighted to meet them as well. After chuckling at one of Sean's corny jokes, she ducked to whisper something in Katie's ear.
Faith fought the urge to emit a deep sigh. Her gaze flitted from face-to-face, each rosy and smiling in the glow of flickering candlelight. Family. Good-natured teasing, the synchronized voices of children and adults laughing and sharing. She knew Maisie had never experienced anything like it before. Unless you counted Thanksgiving at Aunt Edna's, which, according to Maisie, consisted of Maisie and her parents sitting around a sparsely set table with her poor, near-deaf aunt. The meal would usually progress in silence, occasionally punctuated by inane topics such as Aunt Edna's arthritis or the neighbor's fondness for gin. As an only child of immigrant parents, Maisie Tanner was obviously mesmerized by this nerve center of perpetual motion known as the O'Connor family.
Washing her dessert down with a gulp of milk, Faith turned to her mother. "I know it's my turn to clear the table, but Maisie needs to do some research at the library for a night class she's taking. Would you mind if I went with her? I've arranged to read to Mrs. Gerson tomorrow night instead."
Marcy smiled. "No, of course not, Faith. Beth can clear the table for you tonight, and you can take her turn next week. Is that all right with you, Beth?"
Elizabeth nodded, giggling at Steven as he sculpted uneaten mashed potatoes on his plate.
"Mother. . ." Charity's voice sounded tentative. "I have a paper to write also. May I go?"
Faith felt her breath hitch in her lungs. Her gaze darted to her mother's face, then to her sister's. The hopeful look on Charity's face was more than convincing.
Her mother seemed hesitant, no doubt contemplating the month of confinement she'd given Charity three weeks earlier. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt ..." she began, glancing up at Patrick. The smile died on
"Mother, you're up. I hope I didn't wake you."
"Of course I'm up. It's morning, Collin. You promised me you would be home early. You promised. But obviously you've the same talent for breaking promises as your father."
Her words were a punch to the gut. He bit hard on his tongue, fearful he would say something he would regret. She was his mother, after all. He owed her that. He pushed past her to his room.
She followed, jerking his arm to spin him around. "You're worthless, just like your father, you know that, Collin? I should have never married him. I could have avoided all of this. Instead, I'm living in a rundown flat in a wretched part of town." She flung his arm away and stepped back, the rage in her eyes tempered by a gloss of tears. She shivered. "With nothing to my name but the shame of a son with the morals of a cat."
He stared, his anger suddenly melting into empathy. She was alone. Her bitterness cut her off from anyone who might attempt to love her. His father had tried and failed. She had been the world to him, the love of his life. But it hadn't been enough. He'd given his love, and she took until she owned him. Collin reached for the door, his fingers taut on the knob to keep from slamming it closed.
"Good night, Mother. I'm sorry for disturbing you." With deadly calm, he quietly clicked the door in her face. He flipped the lock. She was all he had. And so when he rose from his much-needed sleep, he would make peace, exchanging civilities and common courtesies as most families did. Until the next time.
Faith couldn't resist a tiny smile. She watched Maisie harpoon the last piece of sponge cake on her plate. Finally, she'd been able to get her best friend over for dinner so her family could meet her-and love her just like Faith did. Maisie seemed delighted to meet them as well. After chuckling at one of Sean's corny jokes, she ducked to whisper something in Katie's ear.
Faith fought the urge to emit a deep sigh. Her gaze flitted from face-to-face, each rosy and smiling in the glow of flickering candlelight. Family. Good-natured teasing, the synchronized voices of children and adults laughing and sharing. She knew Maisie had never experienced anything like it before. Unless you counted Thanksgiving at Aunt Edna's, which, according to Maisie, consisted of Maisie and her parents sitting around a sparsely set table with her poor, near-deaf aunt. The meal would usually progress in silence, occasionally punctuated by inane topics such as Aunt Edna's arthritis or the neighbor's fondness for gin. As an only child of immigrant parents, Maisie Tanner was obviously mesmerized by this nerve center of perpetual motion known as the O'Connor family.
Washing her dessert down with a gulp of milk, Faith turned to her mother. "I know it's my turn to clear the table, but Maisie needs to do some research at the library for a night class she's taking. Would you mind if I went with her? I've arranged to read to Mrs. Gerson tomorrow night instead."
Marcy smiled. "No, of course not, Faith. Beth can clear the table for you tonight, and you can take her turn next week. Is that all right with you, Beth?"
Elizabeth nodded, giggling at Steven as he sculpted uneaten mashed potatoes on his plate.
"Mother. . ." Charity's voice sounded tentative. "I have a paper to write also. May I go?"
Faith felt her breath hitch in her lungs. Her gaze darted to her mother's face, then to her sister's. The hopeful look on Charity's face was more than convincing.
Her mother seemed hesitant, no doubt contemplating the month of confinement she'd given Charity three weeks earlier. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt ..." she began, glancing up at Patrick. The smile died on
Similar Books
