Read Online When Sparks Fly by Kristine Raymond, Andrea Michelle, Grace Augustine, Maryann Jordan, B. Maddox, J. M. Nash, Anne L. Parks - Free Book Online
Authors: Kristine Raymond, Andrea Michelle, Grace Augustine, Maryann Jordan, B. Maddox, J. M. Nash, Anne L. Parks
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How’s Bill?”
“He’ll be fine. He just needs to take it easy for the rest of the day.”
She glanced at Joe to find him staring intently at her, the expression on his face hard to read. “I hope having us here isn’t the cause of this. Maybe we should go stay in Springfield.”
“No!” Joe said, the word coming out harsher than he intended. Ignoring the look Ted cast his way, he softened his voice and continued. “Having you stay here had nothing to do with this. I told you that Dad had a stroke a few years ago. He likes to think that nothing has changed but that isn’t the case.” He reached over and clasped her hands. “Please, Monica, stay. He enjoys having you here. We all do. And he adores Kimber.” The little girl looked up from her sandwich and smiled, melting his heart. “Dad and Mom would both be upset if you left. Besides,” he said, lowering his voice, “you promised me a dance.”
A thrill went through her at his words. She didn’t want to leave. It had only been a day but she couldn’t imagine these people not being in her life. Still….
“I mean it. Stay.” The quiet tone of his voice belied the apprehension he was feeling, afraid she’d say no.
“If you’re sure it’s not too much trouble,” she conceded hesitantly.
“It’s no trouble at all!” Fran strode into the room, her emotional countenance having been replaced with a more authoritative one. “Monica dear, you and Kimber are more than welcome to stay as long as you like. Oh, you put up the groceries. You didn’t have to do that. Thank you, dear.” She moved briskly around the kitchen, setting the kettle to boil and removing a cup and saucer from the cabinet. “Bill would like some tea. Can I get anyone else anything? Ted, I thought you’d gone. Can I make you something to eat?”
Joe and Monica exchanged a look. Walking over to his mother, he wrapped his arms around her in a bear hug, forcing her to be still. “Mom, Dad’s going to be fine. You need to take a breath and calm down.”
Slapping him on the arm, she struggled to remove herself from his arms. “Joseph, let me go! I’m fine! I need to make the tea. Your father is waiting and…,” she stopped resisting and sagged against him. “Oh, Joe, I don’t know what I’d do if I lost him.”
Loosening his hold, he patted her on the back and said soothingly, “You’re not going to lose him, Mom. He’s going to be with us for a long time.”
“He is at that,” Ted agreed. “Just as long as he remembers to take his medication.” He looked at his watch. “I have to be on my way. Fran, if there is anything you need, don’t hesitate to call, day or night. It was nice to meet you Ms. Russo. And you, little miss,” he said to Kimber, causing her to laugh. Giving Joe a meaningful look, he left the house to return to his office.
Wiping her eyes, Fran straightened and fussed with her hair. “I must look a sight. Let me finish making your father’s tea and then I’ll go freshen up.”
“I’ve got it right here, Fran. I can take it to him if you’d like,” Monica offered, holding a bamboo tray containing cups and saucers, a porcelain teapot filled with hot water and wrapped in a cozy, sugar, cream, slices of lemon, and spoons.
“Why, thank you dear, you didn’t have to do all that. I think I’ll take it to the bedroom. Bill could probably use some rest after his excitement.”
“Can I make either of you something to eat? Some soup, maybe?”
“No, thank you. Not right now. That’s very thoughtful of you, though. Joe, honey, do you think you could help your father to our room?”
“Of course, Mom,” he agreed, leaning over and giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Anything for you.”
Swatting him on the shoulder, she said, “Oh you!” then smiled at him. “What would I do without you?” Taking his face in her hands she gave him a big kiss back, much to the delight of Kimber.
“My mommy does that to me sometimes,” she
“He’ll be fine. He just needs to take it easy for the rest of the day.”
She glanced at Joe to find him staring intently at her, the expression on his face hard to read. “I hope having us here isn’t the cause of this. Maybe we should go stay in Springfield.”
“No!” Joe said, the word coming out harsher than he intended. Ignoring the look Ted cast his way, he softened his voice and continued. “Having you stay here had nothing to do with this. I told you that Dad had a stroke a few years ago. He likes to think that nothing has changed but that isn’t the case.” He reached over and clasped her hands. “Please, Monica, stay. He enjoys having you here. We all do. And he adores Kimber.” The little girl looked up from her sandwich and smiled, melting his heart. “Dad and Mom would both be upset if you left. Besides,” he said, lowering his voice, “you promised me a dance.”
A thrill went through her at his words. She didn’t want to leave. It had only been a day but she couldn’t imagine these people not being in her life. Still….
“I mean it. Stay.” The quiet tone of his voice belied the apprehension he was feeling, afraid she’d say no.
“If you’re sure it’s not too much trouble,” she conceded hesitantly.
“It’s no trouble at all!” Fran strode into the room, her emotional countenance having been replaced with a more authoritative one. “Monica dear, you and Kimber are more than welcome to stay as long as you like. Oh, you put up the groceries. You didn’t have to do that. Thank you, dear.” She moved briskly around the kitchen, setting the kettle to boil and removing a cup and saucer from the cabinet. “Bill would like some tea. Can I get anyone else anything? Ted, I thought you’d gone. Can I make you something to eat?”
Joe and Monica exchanged a look. Walking over to his mother, he wrapped his arms around her in a bear hug, forcing her to be still. “Mom, Dad’s going to be fine. You need to take a breath and calm down.”
Slapping him on the arm, she struggled to remove herself from his arms. “Joseph, let me go! I’m fine! I need to make the tea. Your father is waiting and…,” she stopped resisting and sagged against him. “Oh, Joe, I don’t know what I’d do if I lost him.”
Loosening his hold, he patted her on the back and said soothingly, “You’re not going to lose him, Mom. He’s going to be with us for a long time.”
“He is at that,” Ted agreed. “Just as long as he remembers to take his medication.” He looked at his watch. “I have to be on my way. Fran, if there is anything you need, don’t hesitate to call, day or night. It was nice to meet you Ms. Russo. And you, little miss,” he said to Kimber, causing her to laugh. Giving Joe a meaningful look, he left the house to return to his office.
Wiping her eyes, Fran straightened and fussed with her hair. “I must look a sight. Let me finish making your father’s tea and then I’ll go freshen up.”
“I’ve got it right here, Fran. I can take it to him if you’d like,” Monica offered, holding a bamboo tray containing cups and saucers, a porcelain teapot filled with hot water and wrapped in a cozy, sugar, cream, slices of lemon, and spoons.
“Why, thank you dear, you didn’t have to do all that. I think I’ll take it to the bedroom. Bill could probably use some rest after his excitement.”
“Can I make either of you something to eat? Some soup, maybe?”
“No, thank you. Not right now. That’s very thoughtful of you, though. Joe, honey, do you think you could help your father to our room?”
“Of course, Mom,” he agreed, leaning over and giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Anything for you.”
Swatting him on the shoulder, she said, “Oh you!” then smiled at him. “What would I do without you?” Taking his face in her hands she gave him a big kiss back, much to the delight of Kimber.
“My mommy does that to me sometimes,” she
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