Read Online Condemn Me Not by Dianne Venetta, Jaxadora Design - Free Book Online Page A

We’ve already saved up for most of her
tuition.  If we make a plan, I think we can manage the rest.”  His eyes darted
toward the stove, the pot of unattended water, spits of liquid shooting over its
rim, sizzling as they landed on the hot stove below.
    Claire
looked at him, a slew of misgiving hurtling through her mind.  Granted business
had been good of late, what with everyone opting to salvage their old cars
versus buying new ones, but she knew deep down, Jim viewed every job as though
it were his last.  Business was fickle.  As the owner, he knew that better than
anyone.  To say he was conservative with a dollar was an understatement.  He
was downright tight to the nicked edge of a penny.
    “Is
there something else?” he asked.
    Claire
could feel the heat of the burners beside her, feel the urgency of rice that
needed to be added, chili that needed to be stirred.  The oven timer would
sound soon, calling her to remove the bread, serve the dinner.  But peering
into her husband’s eyes, she felt cornered, trapped by his enthusiasm, his
quick solution.  “I just don’t know if it’s a good idea.  We really don’t know
anything about this school setup, where she’s going to live.”
    “What
are you talking about?  You know very well it’s one of the best.  And if she
can get in, she deserves to go.  You considered it for yourself at one time.”
    Tears
pricked at Claire’s eyes.  But the stakes were so high, the negatives, the
pitfalls...
    Jim
leaned over and turned the burner down.  Giving his full attention to his wife,
he held her shoulders and asked, “What’s this really about, Claire?”
    She
paused, then spewed, “It’s about my only daughter moving halfway around the
world to live in a foreign country all by herself.  I can’t believe you’re okay
with that.”
    “I
don’t like the distance any more than you do, but I trust Becky’s judgment.  We
raised a fine young woman and we need to trust her.”
    “But
she doesn’t know what lies ahead!”
    “None
of us do.”
    “She’s
too young,” Claire pushed back from his grasp.  “She’s only eighteen!”
    He
nodded.  “True.  But technically, she’s an adult.”
    “What
if she needs me?” she cried weakly.  “I won’t be there, can’t be there...”
    Gathering
Claire into his arms, Jim pulled her close.  He caressed her face with a loving
gaze and replied softly, “She has you.  She can call you.  I’ll get her
one of those phone cards, with unlimited calling.  She’ll be able to call you
whenever she wants.  And we can fly her home from time to time.”
    No,
Claire thought, arms entrenched by her sides, his warm, hard body secured around
her own.  Jim couldn’t be saying this.  He couldn’t mean it.
    “There’s
no difference in her living on her own in a big city here in the states versus
Paris.”
    “Of
course there is—she’d be closer.  I could drive to see her.”
    He
cocked his head to one side and the lines across his forehead deepened.  “Is
this about you, or Becky?”
    Claire
remained mute.
    Tenderness
settled in as he peered down at her, loosening the knot of questions in his
eyes as he whispered, “We can’t hold her forever, Claire.”
    We
can with a united front, she protested silently.
    “She
has to move on at some point.”
    Doesn’t
have to be thousands of miles from home.
    Jim
hugged her tight.  Strong and protective, he wanted to comfort her, protect her,
Claire acknowledged—even if it was from herself.  He kissed the side of her
head and murmured into her hair, his breath warm and moist, “This is her life
were talking about, not yours.”
    Hot
tears rolled down her cheeks.  Her body went limp against him.  How come it
didn’t feel that way to her?

 
     
     
     
     
    SIMONE
AND MARIAH
     
    “Stop!”
Mariah shrieked.  “Why do you feel the need to control every aspect of my
life?”  Wearing a path in the shiny, chocolate brown wood floors, Mariah