Read Online As Time Goes By (The Californians 2) by Lori Wick - Free Book Online
Authors: Lori Wick
Tags: Fiction, Historical fiction, General, Romance, Historical, Christian fiction, Religious, Christian, Frontier and Pioneer Life - California, INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE
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very long for things to turn for the worse. Almost upon arriving, her mother, Theresa Donovan, was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Mother's last weeks with them had been so brief, and then her father returned to the islands to settle affairs. That had been nearly a year ago. It seemed that every few months something arose to keep Patrick Sean Donovan II separated from his family.
At first the children stayed with their aunt in San Francisco, but that arrangement didn't work. They then headed north to Santa Rosa, where Kaitlin took a teaching position and met Marshall Riggs.
It was love at first sight for Marshall--"Rigg" to friends and family alike. But for Kate, whose world was a painful place with the loss of her mother and absence of her father, their relationship was strained.
But Rigg was not easily discouraged, and he lovingly befriended all three Donovans, eventually winning Kailin's heart. They had been married since October, and now Kate was due in August.
Kaitlin had kept in as close touch with her father as the mails would allow, but at times like this, when Sean was acting up, or on her wedding day, she missed his presence so much that she wanted to sit down and cry. It
78 As Time Goes By 75
didn't help to be pregnant, teaching school, and in a constant state of fatigue.
"Sit down, Kate," Rigg instructed his wife, who had been standing next to him for a few minutes without saying a word.
"No, I'll get the biscuits ready."
"I've already done that." He led her to a chair and pushed a mug of coffee into her hand. For the first time Kate realized Marcail had set the table. The sisters looked at each other and Marcail smiled uncertainly.
She had never seen her big sister tired like this, and watching her brother grow daily more rebellious was really something new. It was hard to have Father gone, and the nine-year-old missed him a lot, but not like Sean did. In fact, to watch Sean, you'd think that Father was gone just like Mother and not coming back at all! Marcail took great comfort in the fact that he would return some day. If anything was bothering her right now, it was that Kaitlin was so tired and had to see a doctor because she was pregnant. Marcail didn't like doctors.
"Did you see Bobbie again?" Marcail, who had been working at not chattering when her sister was tired, simply nodded.
"You'll have to tell her sometime how much you liked her the very first time you met." Marcail nodded again. May had taken her to school and she had immediately told her sister all about Bobbie Bradford and how nice she had been.
"She wears glasses, Katie, and they make her awful cute. Do I need glasses?" Kate had told her no, even as she wondered about this woman who worked for her father-in-law. She knew that she and Jeff had been in school together and she knew the Bradfords from church, but beyond that Bobbie was a mystery.
Sensing that Marcail needed a hug, Kate reached for her. Marcail stood by her older sister's chair, secure in the embrace while Rigg continued to put supper on. They had just sat down to eat when Sean came in the back door.
79
eleven
The night was cold, but Jeff was in no hurry to get home. He had dropped Sylvia off at her sister's house and was taking the long way home. They had parted on good terms even though an hour ago she had been furious with him.
Conversation over supper was light and Jeff had been having a great time until Sylvia asked how work had gone that day.
"It went well. Bobbie is a hard worker and off to a great start."
"Bobbie?"
"Bobbie Bradford. She started work at the office today. I told you about it."
"No, Jeff, you didn't." Sylvia's voice had become very low and Jeff could see she was angry. It always amazed him at how quickly that could happen.
"I must have forgot. Well, anyway, she's doing great." '`i wasn't aware that your father was in the market for a new employee." She was still furious. Jeff, hoping she would calm down, answered carefully.
As Time Goes By
At first the children stayed with their aunt in San Francisco, but that arrangement didn't work. They then headed north to Santa Rosa, where Kaitlin took a teaching position and met Marshall Riggs.
It was love at first sight for Marshall--"Rigg" to friends and family alike. But for Kate, whose world was a painful place with the loss of her mother and absence of her father, their relationship was strained.
But Rigg was not easily discouraged, and he lovingly befriended all three Donovans, eventually winning Kailin's heart. They had been married since October, and now Kate was due in August.
Kaitlin had kept in as close touch with her father as the mails would allow, but at times like this, when Sean was acting up, or on her wedding day, she missed his presence so much that she wanted to sit down and cry. It
78 As Time Goes By 75
didn't help to be pregnant, teaching school, and in a constant state of fatigue.
"Sit down, Kate," Rigg instructed his wife, who had been standing next to him for a few minutes without saying a word.
"No, I'll get the biscuits ready."
"I've already done that." He led her to a chair and pushed a mug of coffee into her hand. For the first time Kate realized Marcail had set the table. The sisters looked at each other and Marcail smiled uncertainly.
She had never seen her big sister tired like this, and watching her brother grow daily more rebellious was really something new. It was hard to have Father gone, and the nine-year-old missed him a lot, but not like Sean did. In fact, to watch Sean, you'd think that Father was gone just like Mother and not coming back at all! Marcail took great comfort in the fact that he would return some day. If anything was bothering her right now, it was that Kaitlin was so tired and had to see a doctor because she was pregnant. Marcail didn't like doctors.
"Did you see Bobbie again?" Marcail, who had been working at not chattering when her sister was tired, simply nodded.
"You'll have to tell her sometime how much you liked her the very first time you met." Marcail nodded again. May had taken her to school and she had immediately told her sister all about Bobbie Bradford and how nice she had been.
"She wears glasses, Katie, and they make her awful cute. Do I need glasses?" Kate had told her no, even as she wondered about this woman who worked for her father-in-law. She knew that she and Jeff had been in school together and she knew the Bradfords from church, but beyond that Bobbie was a mystery.
Sensing that Marcail needed a hug, Kate reached for her. Marcail stood by her older sister's chair, secure in the embrace while Rigg continued to put supper on. They had just sat down to eat when Sean came in the back door.
79
eleven
The night was cold, but Jeff was in no hurry to get home. He had dropped Sylvia off at her sister's house and was taking the long way home. They had parted on good terms even though an hour ago she had been furious with him.
Conversation over supper was light and Jeff had been having a great time until Sylvia asked how work had gone that day.
"It went well. Bobbie is a hard worker and off to a great start."
"Bobbie?"
"Bobbie Bradford. She started work at the office today. I told you about it."
"No, Jeff, you didn't." Sylvia's voice had become very low and Jeff could see she was angry. It always amazed him at how quickly that could happen.
"I must have forgot. Well, anyway, she's doing great." '`i wasn't aware that your father was in the market for a new employee." She was still furious. Jeff, hoping she would calm down, answered carefully.
As Time Goes By
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