Read Online Heartless by Janet Taylor-Perry - Free Book Online Page A

always left his shoes.
"Welcome home," she said brightly as she slipped her arms
around her husband.
    "Oh, this feels good," sighed Ray. "Where are the kids?"
"Spending the night with Uncle Raif. Come on. I made
your favorite meal." Larkin took Ray's hand and led him to the
cozy dining area off the kitchen. He sat down quietly as Larkin
spread dinner.
"Are you feeling better?" he asked.
"A bit. At least I'm really hungry tonight." She looked Ray
over. "You look so tired though," she observed. "What's
wrong?"
"I need to talk to you about something that happened
today."
"All right, but I have something for you first. Do you
mind?"
She's so happy. He could not douse her enthusiasm. "No, I
don't mind."
Larkin handed Ray his gift. "Open it."
He opened the box and took out the baby shoes. "What's
this?"
"What does it look like?"
"Baby shoes."
"Uh-hum."
"Why do I need baby shoes?"
" You don't."
Blue eyes looked at his wife who had a Cheshire-cat grin
on her face. He exhaled, "Oh, my God!"
Larkin came around the table and sat on Ray's lap. "Yes, it
seems we forgot something after the masquerade ball. You
don't seem as excited as I thought you would be."
"Oh, Larkin, of course, I'm happy. It's just that you don't
know what happened today." Ray rubbed his head.
"Are you getting a migraine?"
"Yeah."
She went to the kitchen and came back with Ray's
prescription. He took a pill as she said, "Maybe you had better tell me what happened today because this is not the reaction I
expected from you."
"I don't know how to tell you, especially now."
"Just say it." Her tone was a bit brusque.
"I met a young man today. His name is Parker Godchaux.
I'm almost a hundred percent certain it should be Parker
Reynolds."
"What?" She sank into her own chair.
"He's Mia's son, and I think mine."
Larkin looked at Ray in total disbelief before she
whispered, "Is he the right age?"
Ray nodded.
"And he knows he's not Robert's?"
"No, he doesn't know. Mia might not know. He asked me to
take a paternity test, and I did. Robert refused. We'll know for
certain in a couple of days."
Her head leaning to one side she asked, "What does he
want, Ray?"
"Just to know who his father is. He wouldn't even come
home with me. He's staying in a shelter, Larkin."
"Where's Mia?"
"I don't know. I don't think he knows. Please, say
something to make me feel better."
"I don't know what to say, Ray. If he's your son, it
happened before I ever met you. I can't be angry or jealous
about that, but I'm scared Ray."
"I would never leave you and the kids. I love you, Larkin."
"I know that. I also know you and your sense of justice. If
he is your son, then you'll want to be his father. And you
should. I'm not afraid of Parker. I'm afraid of Mia."
"Why?"
"She has kept this secret from you for nearly eighteen
years. Your kid is sleeping in a homeless shelter. I'm sorry,
Ray, if this doesn't sound like me, but that woman is a heartless
bitch. If I ever meet her, I will give her a real piece of my
mind."
Larkin stood. "My husband's child will not sleep at a
homeless shelter tonight. Even if that child turns out to be Robert's , he will not sleep in a homeless shelter tonight.
Come on. We're going to find him. It's time for him to know
his father."
8
A Hard-knock Life
    At the third shelter, Ray spotted the old Honda motorcycle
Parker had ridden that afternoon. He and Larkin entered the
dingy, but warm and dry, facility. With the four days of rain
had come much cooler temperatures. As the person at the
entrance announced, "We're full," without looking up, Ray
flashed his badge.
    "I'm Police Chief Raiford Reynolds. I'm looking for Parker
Godchaux. I think he already signed in."
The tired-looking elderly man at the door looked at the
registry. "Yes, he did about an hour ago. He missed dinner. Is
he in some kind of trouble?"
"No."
"Go and find him, Chief."
"Thanks." Ray took Larkin's hand protectively as they
walked though the crowded shelter. "There," Ray pointed out
the youth who was