Read Online The Fall and Rise of Kade Hart: A Hart Brothers Novel by A.M. Hargrove - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: A.M. Hargrove
Ads: Link
on
Saturdays with the girls and she is quickly picking up reading
sheet music. If I can get her to play a song or two, it will show
her she’s moving in the right direction.
I’m running late because one of the
residents in Living Free had a setback and had to return to rehab.
The weather has also turned nasty and the blizzard they predicted
is hitting us hard. I hope Emmalia hasn’t been waiting long. I can
barely see to drive, so it takes me longer than usual to get
home.
When I finally arrive, I spy a huddled form
on my front porch.
“Christ,” I yell over the howling wind from
the truck as I get out. “How long have you been here?”
“About twenty minutes,” she calls back to
me.
I slam the truck door shut and sprint to the
house. “Shit. And you walked too, didn’t you?”
“Well, yeah.”
“Jesus, I’m sorry. I would’ve called but I
knew it wouldn’t do you any good. You really need to get a cell
phone. The roads are barely passable already.”
“I know. It was awful walking here.”
I unlock the door and we move into the warm
foyer. She’s shivering.
“Where’s Ethel?”
“Here.” She unbuttons her coat and a furry
head pops out.
“Give her to me and I’ll walk her.”
“No need. I walked her on the way so she
should be good. But she’ll need her dinner soon.”
I noticed she’s shaking like a leaf.
“Let me put on a fire.” In no time, I have a
good one started and she stands in front of it trying to warm
up.
“Emmalia, can I get you a coffee or hot
cocoa?”
“Hot cocoa would be great.”
“Have you eaten?”
“No, but I don’t want to be a bother.”
“You’re not a bother and I have to eat
anyway. I was going to grill a burger, but I don’t want to in this
weather. I’ll cook it inside instead. Does that sound okay to
you?”
“Yeah, that sounds perfect.”
She still has her coat on, but it’s damp
from the snow.
“Let me take your coat and I’ll hang it over
the chair so it can dry.”
“No, I’m too cold and my sweater isn’t heavy
enough.”
“I can lend you a sweatshirt.”
“Oh. Okay.”
I run up to my room and grab a hoodie for
her. When she puts it on we both laugh. It looks like a dress.
“Sorry. I don’t have anything smaller.
You’re a tiny thing, you know.”
“Yeah, but this is nice and cozy. Thank you.
I need to call Sister Helena.”
She heads over to the phone in the kitchen
and makes the call. I head there as well, in order to get dinner
started. I can’t help but over hear her conversation. It seems as
though Sister Helena wants Emmalia to come home immediately. It’s
not safe for her to do so and Emmalia is very agitated. I gently
remove the phone from her hand and speak to Sister Helena.
“Sister, this is Kade Hart. Emmalia can’t
possibly come home. The streets are not drivable. I barely made it
home in my truck and it would be highly dangerous for Emmalia to
walk back to the convent in this blizzard. She’s safe here tonight
and I can see that she gets home in the morning.”
“Mr. Hart, it is most improper that she stay
the night with you.”
“What are you implying, Sister?”
She sputters before answering. “You know
perfectly well what I’m implying.”
“I can assure you there is nothing to worry
about. What you can worry about though, is if I send Emmalia out in
this weather, there will be consequences. Should I call Father
Anthony regarding this issue, because I know what he would say
about this?”
“No. She stays, but is to be brought home at
first light.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I am not a ma’am. I am a nun.”
“Yes, sister.”
She hangs up on me and I’m left staring at
the phone. I hear Emmalia say, “I’m sorry you had to deal with her.
She can be difficult at times.
“I’m not sure what crawled up her ass, but
it wasn’t very friendly.”
Emmalia laughs and says, “She’s like that a
lot. I don’t think she’s very happy, to be honest.”
“I’m incredulous
Saturdays with the girls and she is quickly picking up reading
sheet music. If I can get her to play a song or two, it will show
her she’s moving in the right direction.
I’m running late because one of the
residents in Living Free had a setback and had to return to rehab.
The weather has also turned nasty and the blizzard they predicted
is hitting us hard. I hope Emmalia hasn’t been waiting long. I can
barely see to drive, so it takes me longer than usual to get
home.
When I finally arrive, I spy a huddled form
on my front porch.
“Christ,” I yell over the howling wind from
the truck as I get out. “How long have you been here?”
“About twenty minutes,” she calls back to
me.
I slam the truck door shut and sprint to the
house. “Shit. And you walked too, didn’t you?”
“Well, yeah.”
“Jesus, I’m sorry. I would’ve called but I
knew it wouldn’t do you any good. You really need to get a cell
phone. The roads are barely passable already.”
“I know. It was awful walking here.”
I unlock the door and we move into the warm
foyer. She’s shivering.
“Where’s Ethel?”
“Here.” She unbuttons her coat and a furry
head pops out.
“Give her to me and I’ll walk her.”
“No need. I walked her on the way so she
should be good. But she’ll need her dinner soon.”
I noticed she’s shaking like a leaf.
“Let me put on a fire.” In no time, I have a
good one started and she stands in front of it trying to warm
up.
“Emmalia, can I get you a coffee or hot
cocoa?”
“Hot cocoa would be great.”
“Have you eaten?”
“No, but I don’t want to be a bother.”
“You’re not a bother and I have to eat
anyway. I was going to grill a burger, but I don’t want to in this
weather. I’ll cook it inside instead. Does that sound okay to
you?”
“Yeah, that sounds perfect.”
She still has her coat on, but it’s damp
from the snow.
“Let me take your coat and I’ll hang it over
the chair so it can dry.”
“No, I’m too cold and my sweater isn’t heavy
enough.”
“I can lend you a sweatshirt.”
“Oh. Okay.”
I run up to my room and grab a hoodie for
her. When she puts it on we both laugh. It looks like a dress.
“Sorry. I don’t have anything smaller.
You’re a tiny thing, you know.”
“Yeah, but this is nice and cozy. Thank you.
I need to call Sister Helena.”
She heads over to the phone in the kitchen
and makes the call. I head there as well, in order to get dinner
started. I can’t help but over hear her conversation. It seems as
though Sister Helena wants Emmalia to come home immediately. It’s
not safe for her to do so and Emmalia is very agitated. I gently
remove the phone from her hand and speak to Sister Helena.
“Sister, this is Kade Hart. Emmalia can’t
possibly come home. The streets are not drivable. I barely made it
home in my truck and it would be highly dangerous for Emmalia to
walk back to the convent in this blizzard. She’s safe here tonight
and I can see that she gets home in the morning.”
“Mr. Hart, it is most improper that she stay
the night with you.”
“What are you implying, Sister?”
She sputters before answering. “You know
perfectly well what I’m implying.”
“I can assure you there is nothing to worry
about. What you can worry about though, is if I send Emmalia out in
this weather, there will be consequences. Should I call Father
Anthony regarding this issue, because I know what he would say
about this?”
“No. She stays, but is to be brought home at
first light.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I am not a ma’am. I am a nun.”
“Yes, sister.”
She hangs up on me and I’m left staring at
the phone. I hear Emmalia say, “I’m sorry you had to deal with her.
She can be difficult at times.
“I’m not sure what crawled up her ass, but
it wasn’t very friendly.”
Emmalia laughs and says, “She’s like that a
lot. I don’t think she’s very happy, to be honest.”
“I’m incredulous
Similar Books
