Surrendered Hearts Read Free

didn’t explain why she’d arrived in early June for a wedding that wasn’t scheduled until August. He pulled the frying pan from the cabinet.
    Wes leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms. “Is it okay with you if she stays with us for a while?”
    “Sure. It’s fine.” Bill cracked an egg into the bowl.
    Wes continued watching him. “What’s the matter?”
    “I guess it would’ve been nice if you’d have asked me first, before you invited her out here.”
    A puzzled look settled on his friend’s face. “I wasn’t expecting her to come now, but under the circumstances it makes sense.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Sorry. I guess you didn’t hear the first part of her story.”
    “Nope.” Bill grabbed a fork from the drawer and stirred his eggs.
    “There was an explosion and fire at her apartment in Portland. She lost everything.”
    Bill’s hand stilled. “How’d that happen?”
    “A construction company cut a gas line. She smelled it and went outside to check things out. The guy she talked to claimed it wasn’t dangerous. He was even smoking.” Wes shook his head, frustration lining his face. “When she walked back toward her apartment, the whole back wall exploded and crashed in. Debris fell all around her, but her only thought was getting back inside to rescue her dog.”
    Bill dropped the wire whisk, splattering the egg mixture. “She went back in the apartment after the explosion?” He grabbed a sponge and swiped the counter.
    “Yeah. She ran around to the front and went in that way. She couldn’t find her dog, but she wouldn’t give up. She finally passed out from breathing all the smoke. A fireman found her and carried her out.”
    Bill tried to swallow away the burning sensation rising in his throat. Here he was worried about the inconvenience of sharing his house, and she’d almost died in a fire. “Sorry. I had no idea.” He shook his head. “Man, she must’ve really loved that dog.”
    “Yeah, she’s always been a real animal lover. And since our parents are gone, and I’ve been working on the other side of the world, her dog was like family to her.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “She was in the hospital for a couple weeks for smoke inhalation and burns.”
    Bill winced and glanced at the scar on his right hand. He’d burned it on a camping trip last summer. The throbbing pain from that small injury had ruined the weekend for him. “Were her burns bad?”
    “She didn’t show me, but I saw a scar on her neck when she hugged me. But that’s not all she’s dealing with. The smoke hurt her lungs and voice, so she’s out of a job.”
    “What does she do?” Bill poured the egg mixture in the pan and tossed in some grated cheese.
    “She was an actress at a dinner theater in Portland.”
    Bill groaned inwardly. He should have known she would be an actress just like his former girlfriend. Of course Kelsey was a drama teacher at a small college in Boston, but what was the difference? Both women liked to be on stage. No doubt Jennifer was just as attached to the big city and bright lights as Kelsey.
    “They do Broadway musicals,” Wes continued. “The supporting cast members serve tables and then change into costume for the show. She’s a great dancer, and she has a beautiful voice, but the doctor told her she shouldn’t sing until her lungs and throat have time to rest and heal.”
    “So she’s out of work and has nowhere to go?” The muscles in Bill’s shoulders tensed. It looked like he’d be adding another roommate whether he liked it or not.
    “That’s right.” Wes grinned and slapped him on the back, seemingly unaware of Bill’s discomfort.
    “What are you so happy about?”
    “Oh, I wouldn’t wish this kind of trouble on anyone, but I’ve been praying for a chance to be more involved in Jenn’s life for years. And now, here it is.” Wes chuckled as he pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. “You know how it feels when you