Read Online Mixed Blessings by Cathy Marie Hake - Free Book Online Page B

himself just before he used the adjective pretty when he mentioned her eyes. They were pretty. Beautiful, as a matter of fact. Marie Cadant was a very attractive woman. He rubbed his hand over his jaw and shook his head to clear away those errant thoughts.
    Sandy’s wheelchair whirred down the hall. She looked at the closed door, at him and then jerked her head toward the living room and spun back around. Once they both got out of Marie’s earshot, Sandy warned, “Don’t even think of asking to sleep here tonight. When Marie has nightmares, she comes out here to read her Bible. Upset as she is, she’s going to be up again tonight.”
    â€œHas it occurred to you that maybe I could keep her company and calm her?”
    â€œNot a chance. The only man who ever got past her guard was Jack.”
    â€œJack died two years ago,” he said in an equally muted tone.
    â€œIn that very room,” Sandy informed him. “She brought him home to die. He was shot in the head.”
    Peter sucked in a sharp breath.
    â€œThe doctor gave him maybe two weeks.” Sandy shook her head. “For three months, Marie tended him and did everything he needed. She was too proud to ask for help, and I was too selfish to think of offering.”
    â€œSandy—”
    She shook her head to cut him off. “I see how hardshe has to work to help me. It must’ve been ten times harder with Jack. She took care of him all by herself, and Ricky was younger and more dependent.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I swear, Peter Hallock, I’ll do anything to protect her. If you hurt her…”
    Peter half collapsed on the sofa. He shook his head dumbly. “What it took for her to get through all of that…”
    â€œDon’t make it harder on Marie. She can’t take anything more. She can’t!” Sandy wiped her face with her sleeve.
    â€œHow much does Ricky understand?”
    Her eyes darkened with pain. “He doesn’t remember Jack at all. No matter how bad things are, Marie is always patient with Ricky. He trusts her to be the center of his world, and he depends on her to be stable.”
    Staring at a picture on the mantel of Marie holding Ricky, Peter let out a noisy gust of air. “And the earth just shifted in its axis.”
    Â 
    When Marie woke up, she felt completely disoriented. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d taken a nap. Her head felt stuffy, and she had a weird kink in her neck. She listened for a minute as she sat on the edge of her bed. The silence unnerved her. She bolted to her feet and flew to the door.
    Marie came to a skidding halt at the end of the hall. Sandy was chattering on the telephone. Ricky was nowhere in sight. “Where is he?”
    Sandy tilted her head and mouthed, “In the backyard.”
    Spinning back around, Marie almost lost traction on the freshly polished hardwood. She regained her balance, darted down the hallway and headed toward the porch. Her impulse was to open the door and shout Ricky’sname, but the sound wouldn’t come as she spied them through the window that comprised the upper half of the door.
    Peter knelt in the dirt between Luke and Ricky. Their heads were together, glowing in the afternoon sunlight and they all made truck sounds as they played with an assortment of vehicles. Clearly, they were having a wonderful time. Marie carefully opened the door and eased it shut behind herself.
    â€œOkay, speedy guys,” Peter said. “We have a nice, smooth course. Grab your cars. We’re going to race now.”
    â€œMy fire truck is fast,” Ricky boasted.
    â€œYeah, tiger, I’ll bet you’re the fastest thing around here.” Peter must have sensed Marie’s presence, because he turned toward her, winked and said, “I’ll bet we’re all the dirtiest things around here, too.”
    â€œDirt washes off,” Marie said softly.
    â€œDaddy,