Read Online Divided Hearts by Susan R. Hughes - Free Book Online Page A

now,” Faye said, dunking the washcloth in the water. “Time for a story and off to bed. For both of us.”
     
    * * *
     
    Faye cinched her robe around her waist, taking a moment to smooth down her chaotic tresses as Hannah beat her small palms against the bedroom door.
    “I’m coming, hold your horses.”
    “Ju,” Hannah declared urgently. “Ju ju ju.”
    “Yes, you will get your juice. Even if it means I have to present myself with the worst bed-head I’ve had in years.”
    Unsympathetic, Hannah reached for the doorknob and whined in consternation, unable to quite wrap her fingers around it.
    “All right, let’s go.” Opening the door, Faye let the little girl dart ahead of her into the hallway, and followed close behind as Hannah made her way directly to the kitchen. After a day and a half here the child knew just where breakfast could be found.
    They met both Simon and Mary in the kitchen, dressed and seated at the table, each with a mug of coffee. Faye felt suddenly conspicuous in her robe and slippers.
    “Good morning, you two,” Simon said, offering a soft smile as Hannah scampered across the room, her bare feet pattering on the tiled floor.
    “Morning,” Faye muttered, her pulse jumping erratically as his blue eyes met hers. “Have either of you eaten yet?”
    “Not yet.” Mary began to rise from her chair. “I was about to scramble some eggs. Would you like some?”
    “Yes, but let me do it,” Faye offered. “After all the cooking you did yesterday, I owe you at least one meal.”
    Mary shook her head. “Don’t be silly.”
    “I insist. How do omelets sound?”
    Heeding the resolve in Faye’s tone, Mary relented, taking her seat again. “Sounds perfect. Thank you.”
    Faye turned to Simon. “Same for you?”
    “Sounds wonderful. Use whatever you see in the fridge.”
    Relieved that both of them liked the sounds of the only breakfast she knew how to make, Faye opened the fridge and peered inside, finding eggs, milk, cheese and several mushrooms. She was cracking the eggs into a bowl when she heard a crash behind her; she turned to see Hannah standing by an open cupboard on the far side of the kitchen, hugging a box of crackers to her chest. On the floor a canister of coffee lay on its side, the contents spilled across the tiles.
    Jumping up from his chair, Simon plucked the box from her grasp. “No crackers now, love. Breakfast is coming.”
    Hannah stared up at him in surprise, her mouth drawing down into a deep frown. The lips trembled a moment and then parted, emitting an earsplitting shriek that made her father recoil visibly in alarm.
    “She doesn’t tolerate hunger well,” Faye warned, catching a glimpse of flapping arms and stomping feet. “And her penchant for emptying cupboards is another matter.”
    “This is just what you were like, Simon,” Mary noted, standing up. “Into everything, and not easily diverted from whatever caught your interest.” She moved quickly to a nearby closet to retrieve a broom and dustpan.
    As quickly as she could, Faye grated some cheese and diced the mushrooms. Despite her urge to put the food aside and scoop up Hannah, she decided to let Simon deal with it. Initiation by fire was often the best way to learn.
    “Come on, clear the way.” Hooking his hands under her armpits, Simon lifted Hannah to let his mother sweep under her; further affronted, the little girl howled and thrashed in his grasp, scissoring her feet in the air.
    “Get her some juice,” Mary advised, raising her voice to be heard over the wailing. “That should keep her satisfied until breakfast is ready.”
    Setting the bawling child back on the floor, Simon hurried to the fridge. Clearly agitated, he filled her sippy cup and handed it to her with lightning speed, but she only batted it away, before hurtling herself onto the floor, flailing and shrieking.
    “She didn’t do this yesterday.” Simon turned to Faye with desperate eyes. “What am I doing