Read Online Nothing Short of a Miracle by Carol Henry - Free Book Online
Authors: Carol Henry
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account.” Chad drew in a steady breath. “Look, man. I’m sorry about Patti, but you have to get out there again. Start dating.”
“You think I haven’t had a date or two? I’ve tried.” Dennis hunched his shoulders. “What about you? You dating anyone?”
Chad could tell Dennis had just changed the subject by turning the tables. Dennis and Patti had been married five years when she developed a rare form of cancer and within months had died in Dennis’ arms. They’d had the kind of love his mother and father shared—a lasting love. Much different than the kind of relationship between him and Tanya.
“No one serious,” Chad said. “And I don’t have any plans to get serious about anyone any time soon.”
“Then you’re prepared for the parade of ‘hopefuls’ to begin?” Dennis stated the obvious. “You’re leaving yourself wide open coming home without a girl on your arm.”
“I know. But I can handle it.” Chad chuckled, glad they were on less serious grounds.
“Good luck. Between your mother and Ethel, I’m damn well not betting on you.” Dennis lifted his long-necked bottle and took a long draw. Chad followed suit.
“That reminds me, you know the woman I told you about when I met you at the gas station the other day? The one with the baby whose car I bumped into?”
“The foot-stomping mother?”
They laughed, took another drink, and quietly contemplated their own musings for a moment.
“Yeah, her,” Chad confirmed. “Her name is Gabriella Rumsey. Imagine my surprise when I walked into my parents’ home and found her sitting there with her baby in my mother’s arms like it was just another everyday afternoon.” Chad proceeded to tell Dennis about the incident that had unfolded. “She already has them wrapped around her little finger. The baby, too. You know how my mother and Ethel are when it comes to babies. All you have to do is put one in front of them, and they’re all over it like melted chocolate!”
“So what’s this Rumsey woman got to do with your mother?”
“I think she’s out for more money from the accident.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Like I said, she was at my parent’s house when I got home earlier today. I walked in on them. My folks decided they need a nursemaid for my mother. They hired her. Invited her to move in with the baby. Can you believe it?”
“Uh-oh. You are so in deep doo-doo. I’m thinking cupid is about to be conjured up.”
“They can conjure all they want, it ain’t gonna happen. There is no way I’m ever going to let a woman get her hands on me or my money again. And if you so much as mention I’m a writer in front of her or any other woman, you’re dead meat.”
Chad recalled with startling clarity how Gabriella Rumsey had thrown his money at his feet, and had refused the position—at first. Probably just a ploy on her part to throw him off guard. No doubt she was after a bigger pay off.
“You know, Hempstead. You’ve become very cynical since you got involved with Tanya. Not everyone is out for your money just because Tanya was a moneygrubber.”
Chad remembered all too well having been hit up by Tanya’s lawyer for a financial settlement to “facilitate their amicable separation.” Hell, they’d only been engaged a few months. He’d been shell-shocked. But he’d given in after a fight. He didn’t want his Bronson B. Brady pseudonym mucked through the tabloids. Giving in had been worth it if for no other reason than he wouldn’t have to spend the rest of his life with Tanya bleeding him dry.
No, sir. Marriage was not on his agenda in the foreseeable future.
Chad rubbed his hand across his eyes and down over his chin. He needed a shave. He needed sleep.
“I don’t need the complication. And I definitely don’t need a baby hanging around. Man, I don’t need to get involved in a family dispute or whatever has this woman being a single mother right now. I’m not even sure she was married.
“You think I haven’t had a date or two? I’ve tried.” Dennis hunched his shoulders. “What about you? You dating anyone?”
Chad could tell Dennis had just changed the subject by turning the tables. Dennis and Patti had been married five years when she developed a rare form of cancer and within months had died in Dennis’ arms. They’d had the kind of love his mother and father shared—a lasting love. Much different than the kind of relationship between him and Tanya.
“No one serious,” Chad said. “And I don’t have any plans to get serious about anyone any time soon.”
“Then you’re prepared for the parade of ‘hopefuls’ to begin?” Dennis stated the obvious. “You’re leaving yourself wide open coming home without a girl on your arm.”
“I know. But I can handle it.” Chad chuckled, glad they were on less serious grounds.
“Good luck. Between your mother and Ethel, I’m damn well not betting on you.” Dennis lifted his long-necked bottle and took a long draw. Chad followed suit.
“That reminds me, you know the woman I told you about when I met you at the gas station the other day? The one with the baby whose car I bumped into?”
“The foot-stomping mother?”
They laughed, took another drink, and quietly contemplated their own musings for a moment.
“Yeah, her,” Chad confirmed. “Her name is Gabriella Rumsey. Imagine my surprise when I walked into my parents’ home and found her sitting there with her baby in my mother’s arms like it was just another everyday afternoon.” Chad proceeded to tell Dennis about the incident that had unfolded. “She already has them wrapped around her little finger. The baby, too. You know how my mother and Ethel are when it comes to babies. All you have to do is put one in front of them, and they’re all over it like melted chocolate!”
“So what’s this Rumsey woman got to do with your mother?”
“I think she’s out for more money from the accident.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Like I said, she was at my parent’s house when I got home earlier today. I walked in on them. My folks decided they need a nursemaid for my mother. They hired her. Invited her to move in with the baby. Can you believe it?”
“Uh-oh. You are so in deep doo-doo. I’m thinking cupid is about to be conjured up.”
“They can conjure all they want, it ain’t gonna happen. There is no way I’m ever going to let a woman get her hands on me or my money again. And if you so much as mention I’m a writer in front of her or any other woman, you’re dead meat.”
Chad recalled with startling clarity how Gabriella Rumsey had thrown his money at his feet, and had refused the position—at first. Probably just a ploy on her part to throw him off guard. No doubt she was after a bigger pay off.
“You know, Hempstead. You’ve become very cynical since you got involved with Tanya. Not everyone is out for your money just because Tanya was a moneygrubber.”
Chad remembered all too well having been hit up by Tanya’s lawyer for a financial settlement to “facilitate their amicable separation.” Hell, they’d only been engaged a few months. He’d been shell-shocked. But he’d given in after a fight. He didn’t want his Bronson B. Brady pseudonym mucked through the tabloids. Giving in had been worth it if for no other reason than he wouldn’t have to spend the rest of his life with Tanya bleeding him dry.
No, sir. Marriage was not on his agenda in the foreseeable future.
Chad rubbed his hand across his eyes and down over his chin. He needed a shave. He needed sleep.
“I don’t need the complication. And I definitely don’t need a baby hanging around. Man, I don’t need to get involved in a family dispute or whatever has this woman being a single mother right now. I’m not even sure she was married.
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