Promises to Keep Read Free Page B

logical that he should have a comparable paragon for a wife. He deserved a woman who never had to worry about dandruff or split ends, who never scratched or perspired—at least in public. His wife shouldn't succumb to nail-biting and if she cried, she should do even that beautifully.
    But then, she knew very little about Garth while he knew a disturbing amount about her. She felt uneasily at a disadvantage with him because of this.
    Yet for all his physical perfection Garth claimed he didn't know why she'd run away. What was it he'd said when she'd asked about this? His reply had been evasive, something about not being sure. He'd glossed over the subject so quickly that she hadn't really noticed it at the time. But certainly his answer implied that he had a good idea what had prompted her to take flight and, for reasons of his own, didn't want to reveal it to her.
    Julie thought that on the surface their reunion had been a strangely emotionless one, especially since they were newlyweds. When he'd left for his motel the night before, he'd drawn her to him with one arm negligently about her shoulders and kissed her lightly on the forehead. For an instant, she'd had an impulse to put her own arms around him and lift her mouth for his kiss. She had wanted to do this so badly, it had taken all the strength of her will not to.
    Instead, she'd met his eyes directly and with an elaborate display of casualness, she'd said, "Good night."
    His arm had tightened about her, his fingers digging threateningly into the soft flesh of her upper arm, and amusement kindled the golden sparks in the depths of his eyes, turning them a fiery green.
    "My name is Garth," he reminded her silkily. "Use it."
    "G-good night,
G-Garth
."
    "Again," he commanded. "And this time, try to say it like you mean it."
    "Good night, Garth," she complied throatily, making his name sound like an endearment.
    "Good night, Julie," he said softly.
    For a moment she'd thought he might kiss her once more, but he'd only touched a fingertip to the dimple in her chin, turned on his heel, and walked away from her. He'd pushed through the swinging door of the hospital entrance and disappeared into the darkness, leaving her with an empty feeling of dissatisfaction.
    Sighing, Julie turned back to the mirror. She refused to engage in further speculation about Garth Falconer and fixed her attention on arranging the jabot at the neckline of her blouse. He was due to arrive in a few minutes, and intuition told her that he disliked being kept waiting.
    "Yoo-hoo, kiddo." A rapid series of knocks that was a private signal between them preceded Mrs. Jenkins as she opened the door wide enough to pop her head in. With her blue-white hair unconfined by its customary net and her head cocked to one side, she looked more than ever like a jolly sparrow.
    "Come in, Mrs. Jenkins," Julie invited.
    "Got any coffee going begging this morning?" Mrs. Jenkins asked hopefully.
    "Yes, I have. If you'd like to sit down, I'll get some for you."
    "Don't mind if I do."
    Mrs. Jenkins limped to the chair nearest the door while Julie went to the breakfast tray by her bed to fetch the cup. This had become a daily routine, and she no longer needed to ask how her visitor took her coffee.
    "I don't know why the coffee on my tray is always stone-cold," Mrs. Jenkins complained mildly. "Yours is always nice and hot and they serve us from the same cart."
    "And I don't even like coffee," Julie said as she handed the elderly lady her cup. "I much prefer tea, but even though I request it when I mark my menu for the day, they never bring it."
    Mrs. Jenkins sampled the steaming beverage and leaned back in her chair. "Aaah!" she exclaimed blissfully, "you've put in just the right amount of sugar today. I don't know what I'll do for my morning coffee now that you're leaving. Doctor Forsythe says he'd like to keep me here a few more days."
    Her button-bright eyes gleamed above the rim of her cup as she looked Julie up and down.