Read Online Military Daddy by Patricia Davids - Free Book Online Page B

raked a hand through her hair.
    Annie sat forward. “Just keep talking to her. Pay attention to how she acts. Search her room if you suspect something. She’ll hate you for it, but you can’t let that stop you. Alcohol makes people great liars. If she says she’s going to stay over at a friend’s house, call and check up on her.”
    â€œIn other words, don’t trust my own daughter?”
    â€œMy mother trusted me. Maybe if she had been less trusting, things might have turned out differently. I’m not saying it was her fault—it wasn’t. I’m saying I got away with it for a long time before anyone noticed. There is no easy answer. You’re a good mother, Marge. You’ll figure it out.”
    â€œI pray with all my heart that you’re right.” Marge pushed up out of her chair. “I wish my Ben was still here. Raising a child alone is no easy task.”
    As Marge left the room, Annie laid her head back against the sofa cushion and sighed. She knew raising a child alone wouldn’t be easy. Olivia’s stunt today had driven home that point and proven once again that Annie had trouble making good choices.
    If someone as wise and full of faith as Marge struggles with being a single parent, what chance is there that I can do it by myself?
    Yet raising her baby alone was her only option…wasn’t it?

Chapter Six
    T he following Monday afternoon Annie finished cleaning her last room in the east wing of the hotel, happily pocketed a handsome tip and began pushing her cart toward the maids’ closet. As she turned into the service corridor, she saw Crystal hurrying toward her. “Annie, you’ve got to come to the break room.”
    â€œIn a minute. I need to get restocked first and empty my trash.”
    Crystal grabbed her arm. “Leave it. You’ve got to come see this.”
    â€œSee what?”
    â€œCome on. Quit stalling.”
    Apparently Crystal wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Annie gave in and allowed her friend to pull her toward the break room. Yanking open the door, Crystal grinned and announced, “They’re for you!”
    Puzzled, Annie glanced from her friend to the group of maids lined up in front of a table. At the sight of Annie, they stepped aside. In the center of the table a large bouquet of sunflowers and green, lacy ferns filled a silver vase to overflowing.
    Annie looked from her smiling coworkers to Crystal. “For me? There must be some mistake.”
    Crystal rushed past her. “There’s no mistake. It’s got your name on the card. I’m so jealous. Nobody has ever sent me flowers.”
    No one had ever sent Annie flowers, either. She crossed the room slowly. With hesitant fingers, she touched the velvetlike yellow petals. “Who would send me flowers?”
    Marge was the only person Annie could think of who might do something like this, but it wasn’t Annie’s birthday or any special occasion that she could think of.
    Crystal pushed her closer to the table. “Open the card and find out, silly.”
    Annie stuck her hands in the pockets of her uniform. What if it was some kind of mistake? If she opened the card and found out these weren’t for her, she might actually cry. She looked at Crystal. “You open it.”
    Crystal pulled the card from its plastic holder and held it toward Annie. “I’m not going to read your love note.”
    Annie snatched it from her hand. “It isn’t a love note.”
    â€œYou don’t know that.”
    After a half second of hesitation, Annie slipped her finger beneath the flap of the envelope. Ripping it open, she pulled out the card. Turning her back on Crystal’s interested gaze, she read the brief note handwritten in bold, dark strokes.
    I’m sorry you had such a fright on Saturday. I hope you and your friends are all doing okay. Shane
    It certainly wasn’t a love letter, but it did