Read Online Ties that Bind (Sunshine & Shadow Book 3) by Alie Williamson - Free Book Online

this conversation
going. But…”
         “I know.”
         Lex made a croaking sound that resembled a sob.
“I love you, and it’s killing me to know that I can’t wake up with you, or kiss
you, or hold you as you fall asleep in my arms.”
         “Me too,” April murmured. Her eyes filled with
tears again and she bit her lip.
         “But,” Lex sniffed, “This is the right thing to
do…Isn’t it?”
         April nodded, wiping away the continuous tears
that were running down her cheeks. “It is.” She did her best to stop her voice
from shaking as the sobs wracked her body.
         “April, you have to make me a promise.”
         “What is it?”
         “If you change your mind…”
         “I know where to find you.”
         “Promise you’ll call, April.”
         “I promise.” April’s voice was a whisper, barely
fitting past the lump that had formed in her throat.
         This was goodbye.
         She was saying goodbye to the man she thought she
would spend her life with; the man who had been planning on proposing to her. But
this was the right thing to do. It just proved what kind of man he was that he
had decided to stand by his decision and give the best life possible to that
child. 
         April could picture Lex’s bright green eyes in a
delicate, round, chubby face. His child would be beautiful, just like he was.
And there was no doubt in her mind that he would be a great father. She knew
that his child would want for nothing. It would never go hungry, or thirsty,
and it would never know loss. Because Lex wouldn’t let that happen.
         It devastated April to know she’d never witness
it. She couldn’t believe what was happening, but she couldn’t hide from it
anymore. She couldn’t pretend it was all a dream, because the ache in her chest
was very real, and very painful. Knowing that she might never see Lex again terrified
her.
         “Goodbye, April,” Lex murmured.
         April’s voice was a whisper. “Bye.”
         She hung up, dabbing her cheeks as more tears
rolled from her eyes.
         A knock on her door startled her. She wiped her
nose on her sleeve and sat up in bed.
         “Come in!” she called.
         Kip entered the room. “I knew you weren’t looking
at university brochures,” he said.
         He smiled at her and April was filled with a
strong yearning to leap into his arms. She held out her hands and he sat on the
bed beside her. Crawling into his lap she sniffed.  He held her close to his
chest, rocking back and forth on the bed.
         “What’s wrong?” Kip said. He kissed her forehead,
his lips pressing gently into her skin.
         “I was looking at brochures, but then I…I just…”
         “It’s okay. You’re going through a lot.”
         April nodded. She knew Kip would understand. She
could always count on him. She smiled. There was no reason for Kip to know
about Lex’s phone call. She wasn’t going to change her mind. She would forget
about Lex. She would be happy, and free. It was time to begin living the life
she was meant to lead.
     
         Fine snow drifted down over the ranch, settling
in places, and melting where the ground was too wet for it to stick. From
inside the lodge, April wondered what the animals felt about this weather. She
thought it was beautiful; they probably thought it was annoying, covering
everything in a thick layer of moisture and soaking them to their skin. Behind
the barn she could just see a horse shaking its head, sending thousands of
raindrops into the powdery snow from the previous night.
         She decided to brave the cold and begin her day.
Pulling her tuque down over her ears and her boots on, she opened the lodge
door, feeling the chill hit her cheeks.
         April wandered over to the barn, admiring the way
the trees carried the snow in tunnels of white, encasing each branch like it
was clothed. She