Read Online Holiday Illusion by Lynette Eason - Free Book Online

patience, God? I think dealing with Lucas’s father is going to require a bit more than normal—okay, probably a lot more. Guard my tongue, please, Jesus. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”
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    Two hours later, Lucas had showered and checked his e-mail, and would soon be on his way to check on Paulo, but first he stopped by Anna’s room to knock softly. When she didn’t answer, he peeked around the door to see her stretched out across the bed. Good, she was asleep. Shutting the door gently, he backed away. He’d called the hospital and Mark had reported that Paulo was still hanging in there, his blood work completed. All they needed now was the donor. It bothered him that someone had to die for the little boy to get the heart, but unfortunately that was life—which often involved death.
    â€œLucas, how is she?”
    Godfrey came from the opposite end of the hall where he and Dahlia shared a suite of rooms.
    â€œShe’s asleep right now. I’m going to head to the hospital to check up on Paulo. Mark said he was doing all right, but I’ll feel better if I go over there to see for myself.”
    â€œHow long do you plan to stay…here, I mean, at the house?”
    Lucas shrugged. “I don’t really have a timetable in mind. Right now, my goal is to make sure Paulo gets the help he needs, then possibly head back to Brazil.” But only if that was where Anna was headed.
    â€œReally?” Godfrey looked surprised then he smirked. “You think you’ll go back? I thought you might have ‘sown all your wild oats’ and would be ready to settle down and raise a few kids.”
    â€œVery funny. Since when did you start quoting my father? I’ve always wanted children but that’s no reason to rush the experience…especially with the wrong woman. I have to admit I’m a little shocked at the reception I got from my father. I wouldn’t call it warm, but he didn’t decimate me. You know he’s always blamed me for Lance’s death.”
    His cousin looked away. “Yeah, I know.”
    â€œDo you? Blame me, I mean.”
    â€œNo, Lance was slowly self-destructing. You’re just lucky you weren’t in the boathouse with him when it exploded.”
    â€œLucky? I don’t know. Maybe my father was right. Maybe it should have been me who died instead of Lance.”
    â€œWho’s Lance?”
    Anna’s soft question interrupted the cousins’ conversation. Godfrey and Lucas’s eyes met then Lucas said, “Hey there. I brought your bags up. We didn’t mean to wake you.”
    â€œYou didn’t. My stomach did. I’m starving.”
    Godfrey intervened. “Dinner is served at six-thirty sharp. If you don’t want to eat here, I can let the cook know. Or if you do, she always makes enough, so even last-minute decisions one way or another don’t really matter.”
    Lucas looked at Anna and said, “I want to go to the hospital to check up on Paulo. I thought you might not feel well enough to go. You want to stay here or go with me?”
    Godfrey’s cell phone rang, and he excused himself to answer it. “I want to go see Paulo, but—” she chewed her lip “—I’m afraid of putting him in danger.”
    â€œI’ll be careful. We’ll watch our tail and keep to the main roads. Hopefully, they won’t try anything again today. I called your buddy Justin and let him in on what happened. He said they’d send someone to guard Paulo’s room if we thought he needed it.”
    â€œHe did?” She wondered if she should voice her suspicions about her former supervisor. “What else did he say?”
    â€œTo be careful and that he’d look into everything.”
    Deciding to keep her thoughts about Justin to herself for the time being, she