Touch of Fire Read Free Page A

the wall.
    “Sam!” Garrett stopped in the doorway. He quickly spun around, hand over his eyes, and stepped back into the hall.
    Sam ran right up to the tub. “Dad! Barbie’s alive!”
    “Sam, come on out of there! Remember our talk about privacy, sweetheart?”
    “I don’t care if Barbie’s in here while I go potty. I don’t need privacy.” The little girl climbed up onto the toilet. “Really, I don’t.”
    Nicole pulled the curtain. “Garrett, it’s all right. Just close the door. And my name’s Nicole, sweetie.”
    “Oh! She talks too! Wait ‘til I tell Gillian!”
    *****
    Garrett awkwardly reached back, blindly searching for the door. His palms were sweaty and his heart was racing like mad. As soon as his hand connected with the knob, he quickly pulled the door closed.
    “Good God!” He looked down at his slightly trembling hands, leaned heavily against the wall, then slid down its length until he was crouched on the floor. “Get hold of yourself. It’s just the smell of her bath salts,” he murmured struggling to overcome his feelings of arousal and guilt. Garrett looked down at his wedding ring and closed his eyes.
    *****
    “I’m so sorry, Garrett” Amanda said. “I’m afraid I’ve ruined all of your plans. And you went to so much trouble making dinner and getting a sitter.”
    Garrett smiled down at her as he slid the now soiled pajama top from her frail shoulders. “Nothing to be sorry about. You can’t help it. You’re sick, baby. I just wish the food would stay down. You’re as weak as a kitten.”
    “Maybe I can try some broth after my bath?”
    “That’s my girl. You’ll feel better after a nice long soak. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
    Tears ran down her cheeks as Garrett lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bathroom. “You used to love to brush my hair. Remember? Now it’s all falling out. I’m going to be bald. This isn’t how I want you to remember me.”
    “Don’t cry, sweetheart. It’s going to be all right. You’ll see. In a few months your hair will grow back. It’s only hair. You’re still beautiful, darlin’.” He pushed open the bathroom door, carried her across the threshold, then carefully lowered her into the bath. Candles surrounded the tub and he’d taken the time to add her favorite bath salts to the water.
    “Thank you for loving me,” Amanda whispered.
    “I will always love you,” Garrett promised, his heart breaking as he leaned over and kissed her tenderly on the lips.
    *****
    “Daddy, is your feelings hurting?”
    Garrett quickly wiped the tears from his face and climbed to his feet. “I’m good, baby. Just a bit tired is all. No worries. Let’s get you some breakfast.”
    “I ate with Angela and Brenda,” Sam replied, brushing her long, dark brown hair out of her eyes. “Angela makes pamcakes in funny shapes. They made me laugh. Oh! I almost forgot. Miss Nicole is stuck. She needs help.”
    “Stuck?” He turned toward the door. “Sam, you go get dressed. Angela and Brenda will be here to pick you up soon.”
    He heard her walk down the hall and open the door to her room. He waited for her to go inside, then he raised his hand and knocked on the bathroom door. “Everything all right?”
    “I’ve managed to get out, but it was touch and go there for a while. I could use a shirt or something, though.”
    “One shirt coming right up.” Garrett ran back to his bedroom and quickly pulled a white dress shirt out of the closet. By the time he returned to the bathroom Nicole was standing in the open doorway, balancing on one foot, the bright red bath sheet wrapped around her.
    “Do you have any Band-Aids?”
    Garrett handed her his shirt. “Did you clean the wounds and get all of the glass out?”
    “You said to soak. I soaked.” She motioned for him to turn around.
    He turned his back on her and waited patiently.
    “There. It’s safe to turn around now,” Nicole said.
    “Sorry about the interruption earlier.