Faithless Read Free

first.”
    “Don’t expect your father to any time soon,” Cathy advised. “You know he has firm ideas about that sort of thing.”
    Bella guffawed. “That man hasn’t set foot in a church in nearly forty years.”
    “It’s not a religious objection,” Cathy corrected. She told Sara, “We both remember how devastating it was for you when you found out Jeffrey was catting around. It’s just hard for your father to see you broken like that and then have Jeffrey waltz back in.”
    “I’d hardly call it a waltz,” Sara said. Nothing about their reconciliation had been easy.
    “I can’t tell you that your father will ever forgive him.”
    Bella pointed out, “Eddie forgave you.”
    Sara watched as all the color drained from her mother’s face. Cathy wiped her hands on her apron in tight, controlled movements. In a low voice, she said, “Lunch will be ready in a few hours,” and left the kitchen.
    Bella lifted her shoulders and gave a heavy sigh. “I tried, pumpkin.”
    Sara bit her tongue. A few years ago, Cathy had told Sara about what she called an indiscretion in her marriage before Sara had been born. Though her mother said the affair had never been consummated, Eddie and Cathy had nearly divorced over the other man. Sara imagined her mother didn’t like being reminded of this dark period in her past, especially not in front of her oldest child. Sara didn’t much like the reminder herself.
    “Hello?” Jeffrey called from the front hall.
    Sara tried to hide her relief. “In here,” she yelled.
    He walked in with a smile on his face, and Sara assumed her father had been too busy washing her car to give Jeffrey any serious grief.
    “Well,” he said, looking back and forth between the two women with an appreciative smile. “When I dream about this, we’re usually all naked.”
    “You old dog,” Bella chastised, but Sara could see her eyes light up with pleasure. Despite years of living in Europe, she was still every inch the Southern belle.
    Jeffrey took her hand and kissed it. “You get better looking every time I see you, Isabella.”
    “Fine wine, my friend.” Bella winked. “Drinking it, I mean.”
    Jeffrey laughed and Sara waited for a lull before asking, “Did you see Dad?”
    Jeffrey shook his head just as the front door slammed closed. Eddie’s footsteps were heavy down the hallway.
    Sara grabbed Jeffrey’s hand. “Let’s go for a walk,” she said, practically dragging him out the back door. She asked Bella, “Tell Mama we’ll be back in time for lunch.”
    Jeffrey stumbled down the deck steps as she pulled him to the side of the house and out of view from the kitchen windows.
    “What’s going on?” He rubbed his arm as if it hurt.
    “Still tender?” she asked. He had injured his shoulder a while back and, despite physical therapy, the joint continued to ache.
    He gave a half shrug. “I’m okay.”
    “Sorry,” she said, putting her hand on his good shoulder. She found herself unable to stop there and put her arms around him, burying her face in the crook of his neck. She inhaled deeply, loving the smell of him. “God, you feel so good.”
    He stroked her hair. “What’s going on?”
    “I miss you.”
    “I’m here.”
    “No.” She leaned back so she could see him. “This week.” His hair was getting long on the sides and she used her fingers to tuck it behind his ear. “You just come in, drop off some boxes and leave.”
    “The renters move in Tuesday. I told them I’d have the kitchen ready by then.”
    She kissed his ear, whispering, “I’ve forgotten what you look like.”
    “Work’s been busy lately.” He pulled away a few inches. “Paperwork and stuff. Between that and the house, I don’t have time for myself, let alone seeing you.”
    “It’s not that,” she said, wondering at his defensive tone. They both worked too much; she was hardly in a position to throw stones.
    He took a couple of steps back, saying, “I know I didn’t return a