Read Online Heart's Design: A Contemporary Christian Romance by Joann Durgin - Free Book Online

like that, too, but you have a girlfriend. It wouldn’t be appropriate whether or not she’s here.”
    He stared at her for a long moment. “You’re right. It’s a bad idea. Sorry. Forgive me.”
    “Nothing to forgive. I’m flattered, but I’ve, uh”—Caroline motioned to the bed where she’d left the book—“got some reading to do.”
    “Not homework, I hope?”
    “No. I graduated in May.”
    “Congratulations are in order then. That’s great. Where from?”
    “Wellesley. I’m enrolled at Harvard Law for the fall semester.”
    His eyes narrowed but he recovered quickly and whistled under his breath. “No kidding. Well, I’d better finish what I came up here to do. You don’t mind, do you? I’ll be quiet. Promise. No falling off ladders or…anything else.”
    “Not a problem. Do you need me to spot you?”
    He chuckled. “I’ll be fine and it’ll only take a few minutes. Beverly makes cookies every afternoon for the guests. They’re on the sideboard. Best in the world. You should go try them.”
    Was he trying to get rid of her? Fine. She didn’t particularly want to recline on the bed and read knowing Seth was right outside their balcony. The curtains covering the door leading to the balcony were a bit on the sheer side.
    “Thanks,” she said. “I’m not planning on going out for dinner so the cookies might be perfect to tide me over until breakfast.”
    “Thanks again for coming to my rescue.”
    Caroline nodded and turned to go. “Anytime.”
     
    ~~♥~~
     
    “Caroline, are you awake?” Paulina whispered from her side of the double bed. Kat was a known kicker in her sleep so it wasn’t even a question that she and Paulina would share a bed.
    “At the moment,” Caroline whispered back. “Hopefully not for much longer.” She yawned.
    Paulina turned to face her, getting twisted in the sheet in the process and tugging it away from Caroline. “Sorry,” she said, readjusting it. “Why don’t you just tell your dad you hate the thought of going to law school?”
    “Because I don’t hate it. I just don’t look forward to it.” In a few short weeks, she’d be walking the same halls and sitting in the same Harvard Law classrooms as her father and brothers before her. How many times had her family reminded her of all the brilliant minds who’d studied there—U.S. presidents, senators, congressmen, and justices of the Supreme Court? The dropouts or flunkies were never discussed, but there had been plenty of those to go around.
    “Why? Because of the relationship between your mom and dad?”
    “No, not really.” Caroline pulled the sheet closer around her, intrigued by Paulina’s question. While roommates at Wellesley, Caroline had shared more with Paulina than anyone else about her family’s dysfunction. The effects of her father’s workaholic tendencies on her mother. “The root of Mom’s unhappiness stems from a long time ago. I might never know what caused it but it’s there. I think that’s a big reason Dad’s been happy to throw himself into his work all these years. Their marriage is a partnership as much as anything.”
    “That’s one of the saddest things I’ve ever heard,” Paulina said. “My parents have been married forever, but I know they honestly love and care about each other. I can’t imagine what it’d be like if they fought all the time or were cold and distant.”
    “Mother and Dad don’t fight.” Caroline frowned. “They just…accept. And you’re right. That’s probably the saddest existence of all. I don’t think Dad can comprehend the concept of me doing anything but becoming an attorney and joining the family practice. Mother goes along with his plans for me. Even if she felt differently, she wouldn’t speak up and say anything that contradicted him.”
    “Well, then, that’s his problem,” Paulina snapped. “And your mom’s, too. Shame on them. I can’t believe they’d want their only daughter to sacrifice her happiness for