Read Online Topaz Heat (Christian Romance) (The Jewel Series) by Hallee Bridgeman - Free Book Online Page A

dad.”
    “He’s teaching her to row?”
    “Yes.”
    He paused lifting a sandwich to his lips. “I can’t believe she’s five.” He gestured. “She’s a little too small for the oars, isn’t she?”
    “It doesn’t matter. She’s down there on the beach with daddy. If he never takes her to the river, it won’t matter to her.”
    Derrick watched the two as Tony put his hands over his daughter’s and showed her how to control the large oars with her little arms. He lidded his eyes and saw a father with graying hair and a daughter with jet black hair and saw the love shimmering around the pair. Derrick felt a tug of longing.
    He looked back at Robin and found her studying him. “Do you think you’ll ever marry?”
    “Absolutely.” Pulling his eyes away from the perfect scene, he grinned and saluted her with his glass. “I just have to convince her.”
    She raised an eyebrow. “Convince her to marry you?”
    “No. Convince her she doesn’t really want my liver on a plate.”
    Robin threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, how fun. Don’t worry. Tony convinced me, and you have all his charm, if not more.”
    He smiled. “I can’t believe you ever hated him.”
    “Oh, I did. Purely and absolutely.”
    “So, what changed your mind?”
    “He loved me. He loved me enough to introduce me to God.” She propped her chin in her hands. “So who is this mysterious she? Someone in New York?”
    “Long story. I’d love to tell you someday.”
    Robin grinned, “I’ll find out, you know.”
    Derrick nodded. “Robin, I promise you’ll be the first to know.”
    “Okay, I’ll leave it then … for now.”
    He heard a sound behind them and turned his head to see the maid step onto the deck. “Excuse me, Mrs. Viscolli, but there is a telephone call for you.”
    “Thank you, Maria.” She gracefully rose to her feet. “I’ll be right back.”
    Derrick raised his sandwich to his lips again. “No hurry.” He watched Tony kiss the top of Madeline’s head before he lifted her out of the boat. The little girl wasted no time jumping into the wrestling match between her brother and the puppy. Tony stood next to them with his hands on his hips, smiling.
    Robin came back outside with Maria, who immediately started down the stairs toward the beach. Robin walked to the edge of the deck without even looking at Derrick. She gripped the railing with her hand while the wind blew her hair around her head and stared down at Tony. Derrick stood, sensing something was terribly wrong, about the same time Tony paused and looked up. The smile faded from his lips. He said something to the children and ran toward the house. Halfway, he met Maria, pausing long enough to hear her say something before he kept coming.
    In two strides, Derrick stood beside Robin. He could see her knuckles turning white from the force of gripping the railing. The wind was drying the tears on her face as they fell, and she kept her eyes fixated on her husband.
    “Robin, what’s wrong?”
    “Poor Sarah,” she whispered.
    “What?” Panicked, Derrick grabbed her arm and whirled her around. “What happened? What’s wrong with Sarah?”
    “Her dad died this morning.” She covered her mouth with her hands. “Poor Sarah.”
    He wrapped his arms around her and let her cry until Tony reached them. She seemed to sense that he was near, because before he spoke or touched her, she turned to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “He was such a good man,” she said through her tears.
    “I know, cara .”
    “Where’s Maxine?” Derrick asked.
    “En route to the Cape. They left immediately after church. I bet they’re not even there yet,” Tony said. He bent and lifted Robin into his arms, then carried her to a chair and sat down. “We’ll need to call her.”
    Robin kept her head on Tony’s shoulder, but seemed to have the tears under control. “I gave Darlene the number,” she said. “Sarah’s going to be devastated.”
    “Maria will