Read Online A Sound Like Hope (Fallen Tuesday #3) by Karolyn James - Free Book Online

Help him figure
out a path. It ’ ll do you
good, Trent. You need to find a way to get over the past."
    Trent began to pace in the kitchen.
He didn ’ t like this idea.
How the hell would he be able to help someone? He couldn ’ t even help himself right now.
    “ The
thing is this, ” Frank said, “ if you do this
voluntarily, it ’ ll look
good for everybody. We can release an official statement that you are very
sorry for your actions and that you ’ re
doing everything to fix them. You ’ re
excited to be recording with the band and that your focus is on the album. You
can talk about this program and how it feels good to be giving back and helping
someone who needs it. It ’ s
simple. ”
    “ Simple, ” Trent said. “ Sure thing. Simple. ”
    Trent sighed and shook his head.
    He knew he didn't have much of a choice.
     
    *
     
    Emily taught two classes and then
hung around in the fitness center to talk to Terri and to avoid going home
right away. Nicholas was home and while he was supposed to stay away from his
skateboard for the day, Emily knew better. He was probably going up and down
the street, perfecting jumps and other dangerous tricks. Without a helmet on,
most likely.
    Emily was on edge because she was
waiting for a call from Tim to get the final decision on what would happen with
Nicholas. There were just too many possibilities on the table right now, and
she had no idea what the judge and lawyers would decide on.
    Terri came from the back offices
and took Emily by the hand. “ Follow
me and talk. ”
    Emily followed her into Terri ’ s office. A woman of family and
adventure, her office indicated both. The pictures were either of Terri doing
something dangerous and crazy like skydiving or riding a wild elephant in a vast
safari or of Terri and her mother, father, or even her aunt who moved to
Florida.
    “ What ’ s happening with our boy? ” Terri asked.
    Our boy.
    Emily smiled. Terri was supportive,
but without actually helping. Emily appreciated the attempted motivation.
    “ He ’ s the same, ” Emily said. “ I caught him crying and he got
so mad at me for it. ”
    “ He ’ s trying to be tough, ” Terri said. “ But he ’ s afraid. He ’ s
afraid of what will happen to him. ”
    “ I ’ m doing the best I can, ” Emily said. “ To give him a home. To give him
hope. I ’ m just having a
hard time with it all. ”
    “ Sure
you are. It ’ s a lot to take
on. But you ’ re smart enough
to figure it out. ”
    “ I ’ m hoping to hear something from
the lawyer today. There was talk of a mentoring program. It might do him good,
but then I ’ d feel like I
couldn ’ t raise him. ”
    “ Who
would mentor him? ”
    “ Someone
who could understand him, ” Emily said with a worrisome laugh.
    “ You
have to trust your heart, ” Terri said. “ There ’ s no shame in getting help. You
know that. It could do him good, just like you said. He ’ ll figure it out. ”
    “ He
just thinks his father is going to come back and make everything right. That
hurts me. ”
    “ He ’ s a boy. Every boy wants a
father in their life, don ’ t
they? To Nicholas, he probably can ’ t
figure out why his father would just leave. Or why his mother passed away. Look
at it through his eyes. ”
    Emily blinked and tried to chase
away the tears. She couldn ’ t.
She leaned forward and grabbed a tissue to dab the corners of her eyes.
    “ I
miss Amelia so much, ” Emily
said. “ As my sister. And as
Nicholas ’ s mother. I wonder
how she would handle all this. I wonder if I ’ m
doing something wrong and don ’ t
know it. ”
    “ If
you don't feel wrong, then you ’ re
not wrong, ” Terri said. “ Okay? Trust that. ”
    “ I
try to, ” Emily said. “ I really try. ” She took a deep breath. “ Well, I ’ m going to get back home, if that ’ s okay. I want to be near
Nicholas so when I get this call I can talk to him. ”
    Before Terri could say a word,
Emily ’ s cell phone