Obsession Read Free Page A

years!”
    She took his wrist, raised his hand to her lips, and gently kissed his palm. “I know,” she said. “I know you've waited a long time. You've been telling me since high school that you want to marry me. But there was college and graduate school for me, college and law school for you, and now there's Melissa to think of, besides taking care of Dad's affairs. There's just no time to plan a wedding right now.”
    “Toni, I've told you a million times. When we're married, I'll be thrilled to have Melissa living with us. She's almost as much of a kid sister to me as she is to you! And besides, we've both agreed we don't want a huge wedding—just something simple, with Pastor Michael officiating, some family and friends.… Toni, I don't want to downplay the importance of settling your dad's affairs and dealing with your own emotions, but… sooner or later, we've got to pin down a date, don't you think? And as much as I love Melissa, I'd really like to tie the knot before we're too old to think about having kids of our own.”
    Toni smiled. “So would I. You know I want that too. But—”
    “But this is not the time to talk about it. OK, we'll discuss it later.” He pulled back and glanced over at the desk. “For now, let's close that file and lock this place up for the night. It'll all be here waiting for you in the morning.” Brad let her go and reached over to close Julie Greene's file. “There,” he said. “You see how easy that was?” He took her arm and began to walk her toward the door. “Come on, mystomach's growling. And knowing you, I'll bet you haven't eaten anything all day.”
    “Wait,” Toni said, pulling away and returning to the desk. She opened the bottom left-hand drawer and grabbed her purse. “Can't leave without this.” She took a step, then turned back once more. “Think I'll just take this along for drill,” she added, picking up the Greene file and tucking it under her arm. When Brad rolled his eyes at her, she grinned. “Well, Mr. Anderson, what are we waiting for? Let's go. I'm starved!”
     

     
    Melissa was curled up on the worn floral-print couch, writing in her journal, when they walked in. She looked up and brushed her long auburn hair back from her face, a faint smile touching her lips when she saw them. “Hi, guys,” she said, her voice soft with a sadness that broke Toni's heart. The loss of their father had taken a heavy toll on the once bubbly teenager. Seeing the change in her little sister only added to Toni's pain.
    “Hi yourself,” she said, forcing a cheerfulness into her voice and hoping it was reflected in her face. “Glad you're back. Did you have a good time at Carrie's?”
    Melissa shrugged. “Sure. I guess so.”
    Brad walked over to the couch and bent over to kiss Melissa's cheek. “Hey, kid,” he said, holding up the bag of Chinese food. “Brought you some almond chicken.”
    Her smile widened slightly. “My favorite. Thanks, Bro. You're the best.”
    “That's what I've been trying to tell your sister,” he said, turning to walk toward the kitchen. “Maybe you can help me convince her of that so she'll marry me!”
    Melissa laughed and got up to follow Brad. “If she doesn't, I will,” she assured him.
    Toni couldn't help but notice that, even in jeans and a T-shirt, Melissa was beginning to look more like a young woman than a little girl. She breathed a prayer of thanks for Brad's ability to draw Melissa out of her shell. As she entered the bright, pleasant kitchen where she had spent so many hours of her life, the aroma of Chinese food began drifting up from the cartons Brad and Melissa were opening. “How about paper plates tonight?” she asked.
    “Sounds good to me,” said Brad.
    “Absolutely,” Melissa agreed. “And plastic forks too. Why wash dishes when we can just throw them away?”
    Brad laughed. “A girl after my own heart. Maybe I should just go ahead and marry you instead of your sister.”
    “Maybe you