Read Online Time to Heal (Harlequin Heartwarming) by Karen Young - Free Book Online

at each other, much as she and Jake had done a few minutes ago in the hall. From the fish tank came the soft gurgling sounds that both found comforting. None of this was the boy’s fault. Surely she still had enough compassion left in her soul to acknowledge that.
    “Call me Miss Rachel,” she told him. “That will be just fine.”
    He smiled with relief. “Okay. I guess I’ll see you in the morning.”
    In the den, Jake was just replacing the receiver. He looked up in the act of reaching for his drink. Seeing her expression, he downed a good half of it before answering. “What is it?”
    “You’ll have to go in there, Jake.”
    “Why? What’s wrong?”
    She looked away as though searching the room for patience. With a deep breath, she faced him again. “Michael is ready to go to bed, Jake. As you asked, I went in to see if he needed anything.”
    His brows lifted. “Yeah, so?”
    “He does need something. He needs pajamas.”
    “Pajamas?”
    “Yes, Jake,” she repeated with measured patience. “As in clothing, something to cover his body. Pajamas, Jake!”
    “Well…” He glanced toward the laundry room, then clapped his head with one hand. “Hell! I forgot to put that stuff in the dryer, didn’t I?”
    “There are no pajamas in the laundry, Jake. He doesn’t have any.”
    “No kidding?”
    “Go see for yourself.” She made an exasperated sound. “He seemed to think it was okay.”
    “Hey…” His tone was meant to soothe. “Don’t worry, I’ll go get him some clothes and then I’ll talk to him. He’s only behaving as he’s been reared to behave, Rachel. He wants to please us—he’d probably sleep in a three-piece suit if I ask him to.”
    “Fine.” She turned away. “I’ll wait for you on the patio.”
     
    T HE DOOR WAS SLIGHTLY ajar when Jake reached Michael’s room. He held an old T-shirt in one hand. With the other, he rapped softly before stepping inside. “Hey, everything okay in here?”
    “Yes, sir. Everything’s fine.”
    The glow of the aquarium bathed the room insoft light. Michael lay on the bed on his side, one arm crooked beneath his head. His only covering was a sheet draped partially over his middle. As Jake approached, he scrambled up until his shoulders rested against the headboard. He was whip-cord lean, his skin winter pale, but the promise of strength and power was there, just as it had been in Jake at the same age.
    Recognizing it, Jake felt sudden fierce father love. It gave him a shock. It was so quick, so…elemental, that he simply stood there at the bed for a moment, his errand forgotten. The boy had walked into his life less than fourteen hours ago and already he felt a kinship that could only be compared with his first moments with Scotty. Scotty had been tiny and discolored and squalling, outraged by the harsh reality of birth and the bright lights and chill of the delivery room. But just one look and Jake’s chest had swelled with emotion, a reaction that went beyond pride, beyond simple joy. It had been instantaneous and profound, and he’d never thought to experience it again.
    He’d been wrong.
    “You, uh…” Jake laughed softly and pinched the skin at the bridge of his nose. “You found everything you needed in the bathroom?”
    “Yes, sir. More than I needed. I had my owntoothbrush and stuff, but I’ve been out of toothpaste for a few days.”
    Jake sat on the edge of the bed. “What were you using?”
    Michael happily shifted over. “Oh, you know, soap or whatever else was handy. Pepsi.” He gave Jake a quick look. “That works pretty good. It foams and all.”
    Jake could only imagine. “Here, I brought you something.” He handed him the T-shirt.
    Michael took it, holding it out to read the words on it. “Kinard County Sheriff’s Department, 1990 Champions.” He looked up eagerly. “Champions of what? Baseball? Basketball?”
    Jake smiled. “Would you believe waterskiing?”
    “Waterskiing! Oh, man, I’ve always wanted