Read Online Let Me Hold You by Melanie Schuster - Free Book Online

every sense of the word for everyone but Alana. The pang in her heart was turning into an unbearable pain and she prayed that no one noticed that her tears weren’t from happiness, but from a long-denied sense of loss and loneliness.
    There was so much happy chatter and laughter that no one paid her any attention, no one but Roland.

Chapter 5
    “W hat a great night,” Alana said cheerfully. “It was a wonderful party. I couldn’t tell who was the happiest about the baby news, the VanBurens or the Strattons. Sydney was adorable, wasn’t she?”
    Roland had been listening to Alana chatter ever since they’d left the party and he let her go on, even though it wasn’t like her at all. The ride home didn’t take long, but she talked the whole time. He turned into her driveway and after helping her out of the car, he walked her to the door. Her eyes had an unnatural sheen to them and it was evident that she was holding on to her composure by a thread.
    “Umm, well, good night, Roland. Thanks for coming with me and umm...”
    “Aren’t you going to ask me in for coffee or a glass of wine or something?”
    Alana blinked. “Sure, why not? Come on in,” she mumbled.
    “Why don’t you turn on the fire and put on some music and I’ll make you a fantastic drink. Do you have any brandy?”
    “I’m pretty sure I do. It’s in the cabinet next to the refrigerator.”
    “You relax and I’ll be right back.”
    When he returned with two pottery mugs of a delicious-smelling drink, Alana was curled up in a corner of the sofa looking melancholy but resolute. The fire was flickering and an old Al Jarreau CD was playing. He handed a mug to her and she took it, murmuring her thanks. He sat down and watched her take her first sip of his version of Irish coffee.
    “This is really good, Roland. Thanks again.”
    “You’re more than welcome, Alana. Anything you want, anytime you want it, honey.”
    They sat in silence for a few minutes until Roland could sense that she’d relaxed a bit. He put his mug on the coffee table and moved closer to her, putting his arm around her shoulders. She gave him a weak imitation of her usual smile and handed her mug to him.
    “I think I’ve had enough for right now.”
    “That’s fine. I’ll make you some more later if you’d like. I’ll do anything for you, Alana.”
    She moved so that her head was on his shoulder and she rubbed her face on his broad shoulder. “Really? Anything?”
    “As long as you do one thing for me. Tell me what made you so sad tonight, honey. I know you were happy for your sister and for Sherri, but I could feel your heart breaking. Talk to me, Alana.”
    He felt her slender body go absolutely still and her sharp intake of breath before he placed her in his lap and held her as close as he could. “It’s okay, Alana, you can tell me, honey.”
    He wasn’t really prepared for the sob that issued from deep inside her, but it didn’t put him off in any way. All he wanted to do was comfort her, to make her realize that he was there for her and always would be. He’d hold her forever if that’s what it took for her to lower her guard and let him in. It was as though a curtain had been lifted in a dark room and revealed everything that had been hidden from his view up until now.
    What he saw was his heart and his future; he was holding the rest of his life in his arms.
    Her broken cries slowed down and gradually stopped. Oddly, the next sound he heard was a loud sniffle and a cracked little laugh.
    “I need you to close your eyes while I go wash my face,” she mumbled. “Otherwise there’s a real good chance that I’m going to leave a nasty trail of mascara and lip gloss all over your beautiful sweater.”
    It was such an unexpected remark that Roland couldn’t stop the deep belly laugh that came out. He tried to kiss her and ended up kissing her hands because she’d covered her face. “C’mon, honey girl, just one kiss to seal the deal. You can’t look