Read Online True Love by Lurlene McDaniel - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lurlene McDaniel
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Don’t worry.”
So, her parents left in the early afternoon and Julie and her friends baked pizzas, made tacos, whipped up batches of chocolate chip cookies, hung lights on the back patio and deck, and set up two sets of stereo speakers—indoors and out. Just before six o’clock, the girls went up to Julie’s room and got ready.
“Hair spray!” Solena shrieked. “I forgot my hair spray.”
“Put a lid on it,” Diane called. “Use mine.”
Julie watched her friends running around and felt satisfaction. She thought back to those long days when Luke was in the hospital and recalled how much she had missed this kind of activity. One thing about the whole experience—it certainly made her more appreciative of everyday life. And grateful for life’s “little things.”
Although it was May, the evenings were still cool. Julie wore a dress and a lightweight sweater the same color as her eyes, and when Luke arrived with Frank, his expression told her that her choice had been perfect.
“Look at this,” he said, and sweeping off his cap, he bent to show her the top of his head.
“There’s black fuzz,” she exclaimed.
He grinned. “I figure it’ll soon be long enough for you to run your fingers through.”
“Why wait?” she asked, and brushed her palm over the downy growth.
Frank was dancing past with Solena. “Make a wish,” he called to Julie.
“I wish it’ll grow so long so fast, he’ll have to wear a ponytail to the first football practice.”
“If any of us come to training camp next August with ponytails, your father will personally shave our heads again.”
They laughed, and Julie leaned forward and placed a kiss on top of Luke’s head. Her bright pink lipstick left a perfect imprint of her mouth.
“Oh, man!” Frank groaned in protest. “Wipe it off.”
“Not a chance,” Luke said. He took Julie’s hand and led her out onto the deck, where music was playing and a few couples were slow-dancing. He took her in his arms. “It feels so good to hold you like this,” he whispered in her ear.
A tingle shot up her spine as she realized how much she’d missed him. True, she’d been with him every day, but not like this. Not with him feeling well and wanting to act like aboyfriend again. “I promised my parents there wouldn’t be any trouble,” she said softly.
“What kind of trouble could this lead to?” He nuzzled her neck and her heart thudded expectantly.
“The kind where I lose my head and leave lipstick marks all over your body.”
He chuckled. “Promises, promises.”
“Don’t test my patience, buster.”
“How about if I test your endurance?” With that, he kissed her, holding his mouth to hers until she was dizzy.
The slow-dance music ended and another, faster song began. He broke the kiss and grabbed her hand. “Come on. Go for a walk with me.”
They strolled down the sloping backyard, through the tender green shoots of new grass, until they reached the huge oak tree at the far end of the yard. He leaned against the tree and pulled her against him. She felt his hands smooth her hair and heard him breathe in its fragrance. “Oh, Julie … I’m so glad it’s all over with.”
She knew he was referring to his cancer treatments. “Me too.”
“Of course, I still have to go for blood workevery six weeks for a while. And Dr. Kessler wants another CT scan the first of June.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“I’ll never forget the way you’ve stood by me.”
She pulled away and realized he was being sincere. “Luke, I could never have left you alone in all this.”
Doubt flicked across his face. “Sometimes, I was afraid you would. It couldn’t have been much fun skipping stuff at school—the dances … basketball games. Guys would line up if they thought you were free of me, Julie.”
“Line up for what? A rejection slip?” She reached up and traced her fingertips along a carving in the tree. “Remember doing this?”
He glanced over his
So, her parents left in the early afternoon and Julie and her friends baked pizzas, made tacos, whipped up batches of chocolate chip cookies, hung lights on the back patio and deck, and set up two sets of stereo speakers—indoors and out. Just before six o’clock, the girls went up to Julie’s room and got ready.
“Hair spray!” Solena shrieked. “I forgot my hair spray.”
“Put a lid on it,” Diane called. “Use mine.”
Julie watched her friends running around and felt satisfaction. She thought back to those long days when Luke was in the hospital and recalled how much she had missed this kind of activity. One thing about the whole experience—it certainly made her more appreciative of everyday life. And grateful for life’s “little things.”
Although it was May, the evenings were still cool. Julie wore a dress and a lightweight sweater the same color as her eyes, and when Luke arrived with Frank, his expression told her that her choice had been perfect.
“Look at this,” he said, and sweeping off his cap, he bent to show her the top of his head.
“There’s black fuzz,” she exclaimed.
He grinned. “I figure it’ll soon be long enough for you to run your fingers through.”
“Why wait?” she asked, and brushed her palm over the downy growth.
Frank was dancing past with Solena. “Make a wish,” he called to Julie.
“I wish it’ll grow so long so fast, he’ll have to wear a ponytail to the first football practice.”
“If any of us come to training camp next August with ponytails, your father will personally shave our heads again.”
They laughed, and Julie leaned forward and placed a kiss on top of Luke’s head. Her bright pink lipstick left a perfect imprint of her mouth.
“Oh, man!” Frank groaned in protest. “Wipe it off.”
“Not a chance,” Luke said. He took Julie’s hand and led her out onto the deck, where music was playing and a few couples were slow-dancing. He took her in his arms. “It feels so good to hold you like this,” he whispered in her ear.
A tingle shot up her spine as she realized how much she’d missed him. True, she’d been with him every day, but not like this. Not with him feeling well and wanting to act like aboyfriend again. “I promised my parents there wouldn’t be any trouble,” she said softly.
“What kind of trouble could this lead to?” He nuzzled her neck and her heart thudded expectantly.
“The kind where I lose my head and leave lipstick marks all over your body.”
He chuckled. “Promises, promises.”
“Don’t test my patience, buster.”
“How about if I test your endurance?” With that, he kissed her, holding his mouth to hers until she was dizzy.
The slow-dance music ended and another, faster song began. He broke the kiss and grabbed her hand. “Come on. Go for a walk with me.”
They strolled down the sloping backyard, through the tender green shoots of new grass, until they reached the huge oak tree at the far end of the yard. He leaned against the tree and pulled her against him. She felt his hands smooth her hair and heard him breathe in its fragrance. “Oh, Julie … I’m so glad it’s all over with.”
She knew he was referring to his cancer treatments. “Me too.”
“Of course, I still have to go for blood workevery six weeks for a while. And Dr. Kessler wants another CT scan the first of June.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“I’ll never forget the way you’ve stood by me.”
She pulled away and realized he was being sincere. “Luke, I could never have left you alone in all this.”
Doubt flicked across his face. “Sometimes, I was afraid you would. It couldn’t have been much fun skipping stuff at school—the dances … basketball games. Guys would line up if they thought you were free of me, Julie.”
“Line up for what? A rejection slip?” She reached up and traced her fingertips along a carving in the tree. “Remember doing this?”
He glanced over his
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