BOH 8-21-07 (00178434).DOC Read Free Page B

light in the room. She didn’t need the
    scowl on Doreen’s face to figure out she’d ruined their
    plans.
    Mike flipped the overhead light on and blew out the
    candles. “Sorry you had to spend the night. Everything all
    right with Katy?”
    “Of course. We get along great.”
    Cyn stared transfixed at Doreen’s hand curled
    around Mike’s arm. The woman’s red nails became
    splotches of blood on his BDUs. She hyperventilated.
    15

    Pam Champagne

    Mike fought the panic welling in his own lungs. Cyn’s
    eyes grew wide as she gasped for air. He recognized an
    anxiety attack. Shaking off Doreen’s hand, he rushed to
    her side and grasped her shoulders. “Take a deep breath
    and let it out slowly. That’s right. You’re doing fine.”
    Putting his arm under her knees, he picked her up and
    carried her to the couch. “That’s it. Slow and deep. I’ll get
    some water.” After one look at Cyn’s pale face, he took off
    for the kitchen. He grabbed a bottle of water from the
    refrigerator and returned to a nightmare.
    Doreen loomed over Cyn, her face twisted with anger.
    “You think this will work? Mike’s smart. He’ll see right
    through your phony act.”
    Cyn began to gasp again and shrank against the
    couch cushions. “I…I’m not…can’t breathe…”
    Mike exploded. He strode to Doreen’s side. “That’s
    enough! You have no idea what’s happening here.”
    His faithful neighbor and babysitter drew herself to
    full height, hands on her voluptuous hips. “I know a scam
    when I see one. This,” she pointed a finger at Cyn,
    “woman has managed to worm her way into your home.”
    Mike’s fists clenched. He had no one to blame but
    himself for this. He’d known, almost from day one that
    Doreen had more on her agenda than just taking care of
    his daughter. He should have nipped it in the bud, but
    he’d procrastinated, happy with the convenience of a
    babysitter right next door. “Listen carefully, Doreen, I’m
    only going to say this once. This woman’s husband was
    killed three days ago in Iraq.”
    The shock, and perhaps regret, that came and went
    on Doreen’s face didn’t soften his anger. She directed her
    attention to Cyn. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize.”
    “Look at me.” The guilt-ridden expression on
    Doreen’s face when she turned to him made him sick. He
    had no pity for someone who’d used his daughter as a
    means of worming her way into his affections. “I don’t
    need you to look after Katy. I’ll drop a check in your
    16

    Bridge of Hope

    mailbox.”
    He went down on one knee to hand the water to Cyn.
    Concerned at her chalk-white face, he dismissed Doreen
    from his mind. “How are you feeling?”
    With shaky hands, she held the bottle and swallowed
    a mouthful of water. Tears dripped from the corners of
    her eyes. “I hurt.”
    Christ. Perhaps she should have spent the night in
    the hospital. “Where?”
    She shook her head, blond hair swinging from side to
    side. “Peter’s never coming back,” she managed to choke
    out before she began to cry in earnest. Twisting her body,
    she turned to face the back of the couch.
    Mike relived the pain she was experiencing. He sat
    on the edge of the cushions and rubbed her back, trying
    not to notice the bones protruding in her shoulders. “Cry
    until there are no tears left. I’m here. You’re not alone.”
    She was so thin. Peter had only been gone a few days
    so he doubted that was the reason. He suspected
    loneliness might be the culprit. No family and no friends
    that she’d spoke about. Even with a husband who was
    crazy about her, she needed friends, other outlets.
    Military wives usually banded together. The loss of
    someone else’s husband was like losing one of their own.
    Why hadn’t she made friends with the other wives?
    Mike didn’t realize Cyn had stopped crying until her
    soft, even breathing dragged him out of his thoughts.
    Running his hand over her silky hair, he tucked a loose
    strand