Read Online Her Valentine Family by Renee Andrews - Free Book Online

when you left, all I could think about was finding you and proving to you that I could really wait for you for as long as it took.”
    Jessica’s mouth trembled, and the back of her throat pinched tight, anticipating oncoming tears. “Chad, I’m sorry about leaving the way I did.”
    He sighed. “I drove to your house every day for an entire month after you left. Becky went with me. Your parents said you’d left and that you didn’t want to see anyone, didn’t want to talk to anyone.”
    Because Jessica had told them that, and she’d meant it. But her parents hadn’t told her that Chad had come over. Then again, she’d asked them not to mention him to her because it hurt so much to know she’d left the father of her child. That she’d left the one she loved. Now she wished she hadn’t been so adamant about that request. She didn’t realize that he’d tried so hard to find her. “I didn’t know,” she whispered.
    â€œI even drove to Tennessee,” he said softly. “But I didn’t really know where to go. All Becky knew was that your grandmother lived in the mountains in the northern part of the state.” He smiled. “Tennessee is a big state, and believe it or not, there are more than seventy women named Pearl Bowman who live there.”
    Jessica’s chest clenched, her heart aching for what she’d put him through back then. She had no idea what he’d gone through to find her. “Chad, I had no idea.”
    â€œBut I never found you, and we both went in different directions,” he said.
    â€œCan I get you anything else? Or are you ready for your check?” the waitress said, and Jessica jumped. She hadn’t even heard her approach, and from the look on Chad’s face, neither had he.
    He glanced at his watch. “I’ve kept you too long,” he said. Then he said to the waitress, “the check please.”
    The girl fished the check from her pocket, handed it over to Chad and then looked at Jessica, making her wonder just how much she’d heard.
    But Chad no longer seemed to care and was focused, again, solely on Jessica. He took her hands in his, looked at her with those intense green-gold eyes.
    â€œI can’t believe that we weren’t meant to run into each other on campus the other night,” he said.
    â€œI know. I’ve thought the same thing.”
    â€œI understand that you love your son’s father, that you always will. There’s a bond there that won’t be broken. I do understand that because of what I have with Lainey. No, things could never work out between myself and Kate, but I will always care about her, if for no other reason than the fact that she’s Lainey’s mother. But if you aren’t going to be with his father, and if you’re willing to try at another relationship,” he said, then audibly took a deep breath and continued, “then I want you to try—with me.”
    Jessica’s world seemed to tilt off balance. Chad wanted a relationship with her, and she truly wanted one with him. But he didn’t know the truth about Nathan, andshe still couldn’t gather the courage to tell him. “I don’t know what to say,” she whispered.
    â€œJust say yes.” His smile made the situation seem less dismal, especially when that perfect dimple flashed, and she couldn’t help but picture that very same smile, the very same dimple…on their son.
    â€œYes.”

Chapter Five
    J essica entered the day care center Wednesday morning with Chad’s words still echoing through her mind.
    â€œIf you’re willing to try at another relationship, then I want you to try—with me.”
    He’d made the statement, then paid for their coffees and walked her to the car. There was a moment of awkwardness where he opened her door, leaned in and told her good-night. Jessica thought he might kiss her,