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

playing spades with three much older men.
"Okay. Get your son out of here," prompted Larkin.
With his heart pounding, Ray tapped Parker on the
shoulder. Parker turned around and exclaimed, "Mr.
Reynolds!"
Ray commanded gently, "Get your things. I'm taking you
home with me."
Parker protested, "We haven't got the test results back yet. I
don't want to be a bother."
"Fooyay! You and I both know what those tests are going
to confirm."
Larkin slid her hand up Ray’s arm in a calming caress.
Parker surveyed the very pretty auburn-haired woman beside
Ray, and Larkin smiled softly at the young man who had her
husband's eyes. Ray came to his senses and introduced the two.
"Larkin, this is Parker Godchaux, the young man I told you
about. Parker, this is my wife, Larkin."
"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Reynolds," said Parker formally
as he offered a shaky hand.
Larkin took his hand and felt calluses on seventeen-yearold hands that should have been almost baby soft. "Larkin,
please," she said compassionately.
Parker gave a curt nod. "Larkin, you can't seriously want
me in your home."
"Why not?"
"Mr. Reynolds said he told you about me."
Ray grunted, "Ray—for now."
"Yes, he did," Larkin responded. "That's precisely why I
want you in my home. If you are, indeed, Ray's son, you'll be
most welcome. On the other hand, if Robert LaFontaine proves
to be your father, well, we were once friends, and you'll still be
welcome."
"Mr. LaFontaine is not a nice person," said Parker matterof-factly. "I hope he's not my father."
Larkin laughed softly. "Yes, he was most definitely a jerk.
Now, get your things because Ray isn't a jerk."
"No, he seems nice enough," said Parker as he made eye
contact with Larkin. Then, he looked at Ray. "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely," Ray replied with a nod.
Parker turned to the older card players who had been
listening intently. "Excuse me, guys. You'll need to find
another player. I'm gonna sleep in a real bed tonight." Parker
disappeared and returned a minute later with a backpack.
"That's it?" asked Ray.
"Yes, sir."
Outside, Ray said, "Get your bike and follow us. Where'd
you get it?"
"I stole it, of course."
Ray stopped and looked at the boy with raised eyebrows as
he asked, "Really?"
"No, but I had a hard time convincing the cops in Kenner of
that. I saved up money from odd jobs and bought her. She
didn't even run. I fixed her up. She purrs now." Parker beamed
with pride.
"Sounds as if it's in the blood," joked Larkin. "Ray restores
old cars," she explained.
"Really?" asked Parker as his face lit up in curiosity and
excitement.
"Yes, I'll show you," Ray said, "but I don't think it's in the
blood. Raif doesn't tinker with old cars. He would get too
dirty."
"Who's Raif?" asked Parker.
Ray answered, "My twin brother."
Larkin said, "Raif builds miniature villages with miniature
people and animals—all to scale. He has a Victorian village
that he displays in his front yard at Christmas. He even has
Christmas carols playing."
"Awesome!" Parker said, showing that he was still very
much a little boy on some levels.
His outburst stung Larkin's eyes with tears as she realized
this child had not had a good life. She asked gently, "Parker,
where's your mother?"
He shrugged. "I last saw her about a year ago just before
the judge put me in another foster home."
"Did you run away?" asked Ray.
Parker snorted. "Yes. I've only been in this home a couple
of weeks. I just got out of"—He stepped back, unsure of the
response he might get—"juvey."
"For what?" asked Ray.
"This time?" Parker asked.
Ray arched an eyebrow. "Just how many times have you
been to juvey?"
"Several." Can't lie to him. He's a cop and could find out
anyway. He shrugged, hands held out to his sides. "Usually just
overnight or a week in a nothing environment, but this last time
was six months in maximum juvey, you know, reform school."
He raised his eyebrows for emphasis. "I'm sure I'll be headed
back after this family reports me missing, if they