Read Online Questing (Cosmis Connections, Book One) by Barbara Huffert - Free Book Online

dad?” Jordan had purposely asked Dee not to tell him about Kiley’s parents.
    “He’s gone too. He was a Marine like my uncle. He was in Kuwait during Desert Storm and went into a minefield in the desert to rescue a little girl.”
    “God, Kiley.” Jordan didn’t know what to say to show how much he hated initiating such a painful conversation over the phone.
    “Not what you expected is it?”
    “Not at all. With your consistently upbeat nature, I’d never have guessed that you’ve endured so much sadness.”
    “I think it’s what makes me care so much about everyone who walks into Mr. Paul’s even though I don’t really know anything about them. I feel like I want to protect all of them.”
    “Including me?”
    “Especially you. Now as I saying, my dad went into the minefield. He carried the girl until he was close enough to swing her to one of the other guys. He hit the mine on his next step. I think he knew somehow that it was going to happen and that’s why he threw the girl.”
    “Sounds like he was a good man.”
    “He was. Before he died, I had a great life. Everyone’s always saying what a bad childhood they had but mine was truly wonderful. My parents were the best. I have so many good memories.”
    “Then you’re very fortunate. Did your mom know what happened?”
    “No. Her memory ended when he was sent to Kuwait. I used to make up letters from him to read to her. That probably sounds bad but it actually helped me. I wrote things that I could imagine him telling us. I think it brought him back to me for just a little bit. In an odd way it gave me the chance to say goodbye.”
    “I can’t begin to imagine how painful this must have been for you.”
    “It was awful at the time. I admit I still cry sometimes but not like I used to. At the beginning, when Mom would ask if we’d had a letter from him, I’d go home and fall to pieces.”
    “And now I brought it all up again. I’m so sorry, sweet.”
    “I’m glad I told you about them. It seems right somehow. I think they both would have appr—ah—liked you.”
    Had she almost said approved of him? Jordan felt as if his heart were going to burst. “I’m glad you told me too. You’re a very strong woman.”
    “Thanks, Jordan but I’m just me. Your turn. Tell me about your parents.”
    “Well, I’m very lucky to still have both of them. They both retired early. Mom worked as a police dispatcher which sounds more involved than it was since we lived in a small town and there wasn’t really much serious crime. There were only two full-time cops and a few part-timers. Mostly, they took care of the people who drank too much. There were some that got violent toward their families so the cops had to haul them into the little jail to sleep it off. They also chased speeders and cornered teenagers who were intent on causing some havoc. My brother, Shane, is a cop now probably because he spent so much time riding in a squad car when he was young.”
    “Is he in the same small town?”
    “No, he’s here actually. He wanted something that wasn’t as tame as our town was.”
    “Are you close?”
    “Pretty much. Shane’s the best big brother a guy could ask for. When I was a kid, I practically idolized him. He’s two years older than I am so growing up he seemed bigger than life. There was nothing he couldn’t do and nothing he hadn’t already tried before me. I wish we could get together more often but he does a lot of undercover stuff now so I can’t always get in touch with him.”
    “Sounds dangerous.”
    “I think it is. Shane doesn’t talk about that side of his job though. I suspect he still thinks I’m a little kid who needs to be sheltered from the worst of it.”
    “What about your dad?”
    “Dad was basically the town handyman. He took care of just about anything anyone needed. He could always fix anything. He’d paint houses or cut down a tree before it fell on a roof. He was even known to drive some of the older