Read Online A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Julie Lessman
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her lips.
A muscle jerked in her father's jaw. "I think it would, Marcy. The answer is no."
"But Patrick, it's just the library ..."
Something cold slithered in Faith's stomach when his lips flattened into a tight line. Faith peeked at Maisie out of the corner of her eye, then shifted to stare at her plate, awaiting her father's reply. There was none.
An awkward laugh gurgled from her mother's throat. "Patrick, she's been cooped up for three weeks now and only has a few days left on her punishment. I know we haven't discussed it, but I'm sure it will be fine to let her go."
He remained silent. Faith sensed the drama in the room, keenly aware that Charity also observed the silent debate between her parents.
Like a spring-propelled toy, Charity shot from her seat. "Oh, Mother, thank you so much! I've been going stircrazy, and I really need to get out. I love you!" Before her mother could speak, Charity hugged her, then smiled at her father. "Thank you, Father." She blew a kiss in his direction, causing his lips to compress even more. "Faith, can you wait until I finish the dishes?"
Faith's eyes widened. "No, that will take-"
"No need, Charity." Her mother's voice was strained. "I'll do your dishes this evening."
Charity appeared skittish with excitement. "Mother, you're wonderful! May I be excused?"
Marcy nodded, and Charity flew from the room.
Maisie cleared her throat. "Dinner was wonderful, Mrs. O'Connor. Thank you so much. I'll help clear the table." She rose, stacking Katie's plate on top of hers, followed by utensils.
"No, you two get going; you've got a lot of research ahead of you." Patrick avoided his wife's eyes. "We enjoyed having you for dinner, Maisie. Please come again." He pushed his chair from the table and stood, his smile cool. "Marcy, may I see you in the kitchen?"
The unease in the room was as thick as the mashedpotato sculpture on Steven's plate. Faith stood and clamped a hand on Maisie's arm, dragging her from the room while she waved her good-byes. In the hall, Maisie cocked a questioning brow, but Faith simply put a finger to her lips while she ushered her friend to the parlor to wait on Charity. Faith's stomach felt as jumpy as water drops on a heated cast-iron skillet. She released a quiet sigh. Turmoil or no, Charity or no, family was family. And she wouldn't trade hers for the world.
Her heart raced like a frightened bird's as she ran to the phone and cranked its handle. She gave the operator Mary Flannery's phone number and waited for her friend to answer.
"Hello?"
"Mary? It's me, Charity. I have another favor to ask.
Would you mind running next door and giving Collin a message for me?"
Mary giggled. "You know I never mind having an excuse to talk to that man, Charity."
"Great! Would you tell him the book he's requested is in?"
A sigh drifted over the line, edged with tease. "That man sure reads a lot of books."
It was Charity's turn to giggle. "Yes, he's very well-read. Thanks, Mary. I owe you."
Charity returned the receiver to its cradle and leaned against the wall, eyes closed and hands pressed to her chest. She could hardly believe in less than an hour she would be with him again. A shiver of delight tickled her spine. She reminisced about the day on the porch and the kiss that possessed her thoughts the last three weeks. Goose bumps popped at the memory.
Inhaling a deep breath, she composed herself and opened her eyes. I must contain myself. Collin was five years older than she was, not one of the simpering schoolboys always vying for her attention. He could have any woman he wantedshe had to make sure it was her. He must see her as mature and desirable. Taking another deep breath, Charity ducked out of the kitchen and vaulted up the stairs two at a time.
She knew she could do it; doubt never even entered her mind. It was time she was concerned about. She needed time with Collin. And her parents had seen to it she had precious little of that. But she did have tonight.
A muscle jerked in her father's jaw. "I think it would, Marcy. The answer is no."
"But Patrick, it's just the library ..."
Something cold slithered in Faith's stomach when his lips flattened into a tight line. Faith peeked at Maisie out of the corner of her eye, then shifted to stare at her plate, awaiting her father's reply. There was none.
An awkward laugh gurgled from her mother's throat. "Patrick, she's been cooped up for three weeks now and only has a few days left on her punishment. I know we haven't discussed it, but I'm sure it will be fine to let her go."
He remained silent. Faith sensed the drama in the room, keenly aware that Charity also observed the silent debate between her parents.
Like a spring-propelled toy, Charity shot from her seat. "Oh, Mother, thank you so much! I've been going stircrazy, and I really need to get out. I love you!" Before her mother could speak, Charity hugged her, then smiled at her father. "Thank you, Father." She blew a kiss in his direction, causing his lips to compress even more. "Faith, can you wait until I finish the dishes?"
Faith's eyes widened. "No, that will take-"
"No need, Charity." Her mother's voice was strained. "I'll do your dishes this evening."
Charity appeared skittish with excitement. "Mother, you're wonderful! May I be excused?"
Marcy nodded, and Charity flew from the room.
Maisie cleared her throat. "Dinner was wonderful, Mrs. O'Connor. Thank you so much. I'll help clear the table." She rose, stacking Katie's plate on top of hers, followed by utensils.
"No, you two get going; you've got a lot of research ahead of you." Patrick avoided his wife's eyes. "We enjoyed having you for dinner, Maisie. Please come again." He pushed his chair from the table and stood, his smile cool. "Marcy, may I see you in the kitchen?"
The unease in the room was as thick as the mashedpotato sculpture on Steven's plate. Faith stood and clamped a hand on Maisie's arm, dragging her from the room while she waved her good-byes. In the hall, Maisie cocked a questioning brow, but Faith simply put a finger to her lips while she ushered her friend to the parlor to wait on Charity. Faith's stomach felt as jumpy as water drops on a heated cast-iron skillet. She released a quiet sigh. Turmoil or no, Charity or no, family was family. And she wouldn't trade hers for the world.
Her heart raced like a frightened bird's as she ran to the phone and cranked its handle. She gave the operator Mary Flannery's phone number and waited for her friend to answer.
"Hello?"
"Mary? It's me, Charity. I have another favor to ask.
Would you mind running next door and giving Collin a message for me?"
Mary giggled. "You know I never mind having an excuse to talk to that man, Charity."
"Great! Would you tell him the book he's requested is in?"
A sigh drifted over the line, edged with tease. "That man sure reads a lot of books."
It was Charity's turn to giggle. "Yes, he's very well-read. Thanks, Mary. I owe you."
Charity returned the receiver to its cradle and leaned against the wall, eyes closed and hands pressed to her chest. She could hardly believe in less than an hour she would be with him again. A shiver of delight tickled her spine. She reminisced about the day on the porch and the kiss that possessed her thoughts the last three weeks. Goose bumps popped at the memory.
Inhaling a deep breath, she composed herself and opened her eyes. I must contain myself. Collin was five years older than she was, not one of the simpering schoolboys always vying for her attention. He could have any woman he wantedshe had to make sure it was her. He must see her as mature and desirable. Taking another deep breath, Charity ducked out of the kitchen and vaulted up the stairs two at a time.
She knew she could do it; doubt never even entered her mind. It was time she was concerned about. She needed time with Collin. And her parents had seen to it she had precious little of that. But she did have tonight.
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