Read Online Oceans Apart by Karen Kingsbury - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Karen Kingsbury
Tags: Fiction, General, Domestic Fiction, Fathers and sons, Christian fiction, Religious, Christian, Air Pilots, Mothers - Death, Birthfathers, Air Pilot's Spouses, Illegitimate Children
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there at all. He was a good guy. Out of a hundred opportunities to fall, he’d been almost perfect.
Ninety-nine times perfect.
And that one time had been nothing more than crazy circumstances and strange twists of fate. Even then he hadn’t been bored with Michele or wanted another woman. Michele was everything to him. As the hot water pounded his shoulder blades, Connor let the shower fill his senses and take him back, back to the days when he and Michele first met.
60
SIX
High school romances didn’t mean a thing to Connor. He was a decent football player and a starter on the basketball team, one of the socially elite who had no trouble finding a date. But Connor rarely let things get serious with any of them, not in a physical or emotional way. He dated girls one weekend and forgot about them the next. His father drilled into him the importance of studying, of setting a goal and going after it. From the beginning his goal was clear.
He would be a pilot.
After graduating he earned an appointment to West Point. In his senior year, months away from being made an officer and earning his wings, he made time for some relaxation. That’s why he agreed to go to a barbecue with a group of guys from school. Connor wasn’t given to reckless drinking or drug use, not so much because he was afraid of how it would make him feel, but because he was afraid of his father.
“Always be on top of your game, Son,” he would say. “Keep away from the stupid things other boys do. That goes for women, too.
Don’t let anything take away your edge.” And Connor hadn’t. Not drugs or drinking, and especially not women. Not that there had ever been a shortage. Women liked West Point students, especially seniors, and they’d made themselves available to Connor since his freshman year. His lanky, muscled body and clean-cut dark hair always turned heads, though Connor had come to think of his looks as something of a curse.
Because his father was right. If he got mixed up with a girl too soon, his dedication toward becoming an officer, earning his wings, and 61
– Oceans Apart –
getting in the skies would be compromised. And he wasn’t about to let that happen.
But by his senior year, a barbecue seemed harmless enough.
It was at Paul Overgaard’s house. Paul was also a senior, probably Connor’s best friend at West Point. The two had rooms across the hall from each other, and despite the gravity of their classload, and the goal of making officer, they shared an easy sense of humor.
Paul’s family lived close by, but Connor had never been to his friend’s house until now. From the beginning of the party, he was certain he’d made the right choice by coming. Paul’s parents’ house was a palace. The backyard was spacious with a massive swimming pool and in the distance, a sand volleyball court.
He was glad he’d worn his swim shorts and a T-shirt, and as soon as introductions were over, the guys headed out to the sand pit for a three-game volleyball tournament. The competition felt wonderful—it was good to do something other than flight training and class work.
At the end of the set, his team came up losers, but Connor didn’t care. The stress of upcoming finals was gone, and he ambled with the guys toward the smell of fresh-cooked hamburgers. He made up his plate, grabbed a seat with Paul and a few of his buddies, and took his first bite.
That’s when he saw her.
Like a vision, she strolled out through the sliding doors. She was long legged, with a figure that made him set the burger back down on the plate. She had pale brown eyes and dark hair that fell in waves around her face and shoulders. Her laughter rang out across the patio, and when she smiled, the sun looked dim in comparison.
“What’s the matter?” Paul poked him in the shoulder and followed his gaze toward the group that had just entered the backyard area. “Connor, come on. Don’t be stupid.” 62
– Karen Kingsbury –
He swallowed
Ninety-nine times perfect.
And that one time had been nothing more than crazy circumstances and strange twists of fate. Even then he hadn’t been bored with Michele or wanted another woman. Michele was everything to him. As the hot water pounded his shoulder blades, Connor let the shower fill his senses and take him back, back to the days when he and Michele first met.
60
SIX
High school romances didn’t mean a thing to Connor. He was a decent football player and a starter on the basketball team, one of the socially elite who had no trouble finding a date. But Connor rarely let things get serious with any of them, not in a physical or emotional way. He dated girls one weekend and forgot about them the next. His father drilled into him the importance of studying, of setting a goal and going after it. From the beginning his goal was clear.
He would be a pilot.
After graduating he earned an appointment to West Point. In his senior year, months away from being made an officer and earning his wings, he made time for some relaxation. That’s why he agreed to go to a barbecue with a group of guys from school. Connor wasn’t given to reckless drinking or drug use, not so much because he was afraid of how it would make him feel, but because he was afraid of his father.
“Always be on top of your game, Son,” he would say. “Keep away from the stupid things other boys do. That goes for women, too.
Don’t let anything take away your edge.” And Connor hadn’t. Not drugs or drinking, and especially not women. Not that there had ever been a shortage. Women liked West Point students, especially seniors, and they’d made themselves available to Connor since his freshman year. His lanky, muscled body and clean-cut dark hair always turned heads, though Connor had come to think of his looks as something of a curse.
Because his father was right. If he got mixed up with a girl too soon, his dedication toward becoming an officer, earning his wings, and 61
– Oceans Apart –
getting in the skies would be compromised. And he wasn’t about to let that happen.
But by his senior year, a barbecue seemed harmless enough.
It was at Paul Overgaard’s house. Paul was also a senior, probably Connor’s best friend at West Point. The two had rooms across the hall from each other, and despite the gravity of their classload, and the goal of making officer, they shared an easy sense of humor.
Paul’s family lived close by, but Connor had never been to his friend’s house until now. From the beginning of the party, he was certain he’d made the right choice by coming. Paul’s parents’ house was a palace. The backyard was spacious with a massive swimming pool and in the distance, a sand volleyball court.
He was glad he’d worn his swim shorts and a T-shirt, and as soon as introductions were over, the guys headed out to the sand pit for a three-game volleyball tournament. The competition felt wonderful—it was good to do something other than flight training and class work.
At the end of the set, his team came up losers, but Connor didn’t care. The stress of upcoming finals was gone, and he ambled with the guys toward the smell of fresh-cooked hamburgers. He made up his plate, grabbed a seat with Paul and a few of his buddies, and took his first bite.
That’s when he saw her.
Like a vision, she strolled out through the sliding doors. She was long legged, with a figure that made him set the burger back down on the plate. She had pale brown eyes and dark hair that fell in waves around her face and shoulders. Her laughter rang out across the patio, and when she smiled, the sun looked dim in comparison.
“What’s the matter?” Paul poked him in the shoulder and followed his gaze toward the group that had just entered the backyard area. “Connor, come on. Don’t be stupid.” 62
– Karen Kingsbury –
He swallowed
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