Family in His Heart Read Free Page B

patience and hopefully some love.
    Fighting his son to live his Christian morals and values had gone by the wayside. Lately, Nick struggled to communicate about anything with Gary. He wondered if his wife hadn’t died would Gary be different? Jill. Her image flashed through his mind along with guilt-laden memories. He stifled the vision before it got hold of him again.
    The May sun beat against the window and Nick rolled down the pane to let the breeze drift in. The earth smelled pungent as if the winter’s debris had revitalized the soil, making everything ready to grow. How often had he wished he could be revitalized that simply.
    Revitalized. He pictured Rona, the woman at the restaurant. Now that was energy. She darted from one station to the next, pouring coffee, bussing tables and taking orders without a hitch—a bundle of the cutest energy he’d ever seen.
    He could see her straight honey-colored hair bouncing against her shoulders, the sweep of the wave that tucked beneath her chin when she tilted her head. And those eyes, as gray as a stormy sky but with a hint of sunshine behind the clouds.
    Nick snorted at his flowery rumination. What was he doing thinking of a stranger at the Harbor Inn? He needed a woman muddling his mind like he needed another belligerent son in his life. What he really needed was a housekeeper. Had he known she was looking for work he’d have told her about the job right away, stranger or not. He was desperate.
    A breeze drifted in, bringing the scent of freshly mowed grass. He turned toward the school again and saw Gary meandering around the back of the building, his arm wrapped around a girl encased in the tightest jeans Nick had ever seen and a knit top that exposed more than it covered.
    He shook his head, disgusted and saddened with today’s morals. As if he hadn’t noticed him, Gary leaned against a tree, nestled the girl into his arms and planted a kiss against her mouth. Nick tooted the car horn, hoping to end the public display.
    At first, Gary didn’t move, then finally rolled his shoulders from the tree trunk, eased away from the young woman and ambled toward the SUV.
    Nick rested his arm against the window frame and watched him amble nearer. “I’ve been waiting.”
    “I’m not going home. I forgot to tell you.”
    The young woman adhered to his side like a static-charged balloon. “Hi, Mr. Thornton,” she murmured.
    “Hi,” he said, giving her a glance but not remembering her name—if he’d ever known it. “Gary, you should have told me. I’ve been hanging around town waiting for you. Better yet, you should have asked. What’s up?”
    Gary’s face twisted to a sneer. “I’m going to Phil’s. We have some things to do.”
    “What kind of things?”
    “Dad, get off my back. Things.”
    Nick’s body stiffened. “Please be more respectful, Gary. What kind of things? Studying?”
    “Yah, studying.”
    The girl snickered and nestled closer against his side.
    Studying held about as much reality as cleaning his room. “It’s a school night and I’m not coming back to pick you up.”
    “Phil’ll bring me home or I can spend the night.”
    “No, you can’t. I want you home.”
    Gary slapped the car roof. “Come on, Dad. I’m not six anymore. I’m sixteen.”
    “That’s right, and when you’re twenty-one and earning your own living, you can stay out as long as you want.” Nick’s jaw tightened. “You’ll be home by nine.”
    Gary scowled. “Ten.”
    “Okay, ten, but no later.”
    Gary drew back, lifted a hand and walked away.
    Nick pondered the gesture as his son strode away from the SUV. Had it been a goodbye wave or an I-don’t-want-to-hear-this-anymore gesture.
    Nick fell back against the seat, feeling the warm breeze but forgetting the fresh scent and hopeful sense of something new he’d had earlier. He and Gary had become an old argument for the past two years. The first year after Jill’s death had been one of silence. The last two had