Wish on the Moon Read Free Page A

bar to
take along," and headed toward a group of vending machines.
    Laura smiled. "I guess they thought we might
want to talk. I hope I prepared Mandy for everything on the drive
here. She asks so many questions. Is there anything I should know
that she shouldn't hear?"
    He wondered if the reason Laura hadn't wanted
to ride with him was really to allow her to answer her daughter's
questions in private. "It's hard to believe she was ever withdrawn.
She's such a bubbly child."
    "When Doug died, she cried constantly. She
stopped talking. She wouldn't eat. I'd lost him. I was afraid I'd
lose her."
    Mitch tried to hold himself aloof from the
pain in Laura's eyes. But he couldn't. It touched an empty part of
him, a part his father had damaged long ago. "What did you do?"
    "I held her, talked to her about Doug, took
her for walks. George bought Puffball and after that she perked
up."
    "You knew George then?"
    "He worked with Doug."
    Had she been involved with many men since her
husband died? According to her father, in her teens she had gone
through boyfriends like milkshakes. It didn't matter. It wasn't his
business.
    Laura touched his arm. "So is there anything
I should know before we arrive in York?"
    Her fingers seemed to scorch him through his
suitcoat. "Just that I don't want Ray to get upset. You're there to
reassure him, not to make his blood pressure soar," Mitch said more
tersely than he'd intended.
    She looked horrified and snatched her hand
back. "I would never do that."
    He could still feel the imprint of her
fingers. "I'm just concerned for Ray's health."
    Her chin tilted up mutinously. "Look. I don't
know what kind of person you think I am, but I wouldn't do anything
to hurt my father. I'm making this trip to see him through his
surgery. You and I don't have to be friends, but at least we can
try to have an...amiable relationship."
    He'd get along with Laura for Ray's sake.
"Amiability's not a problem."
    "I guess you'll have to prove that, won't
you, Mr. Riley? Your amiability hasn't been excessive since you
barged into my life yesterday."
    He glanced at her speculatively and wondered
exactly what would happen if they became...amiable. Since
yesterday, erotic thoughts were becoming a habit. He'd just have to
wipe them out of his head.
    After hugs all around for Anne and George,
After going through security, Laura helped Mandy put her shoes back
on. Her touch was gentle and caring with her daughter. She seemed
like a good mom. He supposed in the days to follow he'd find
out.
    When boarding began, Mandy jumped up and down
with excitement, tugged on Laura's arm, and pointed to a baby, to
the waiting airplane, to the TV running a cable news program. She
was fascinated by every detail of the airplane and asked
innumerable questions, some of which Laura couldn't answer but
Mitch could.
    Laura seemed to notice everything about Mitch
Riley. Nothing ruffled him...not waiting...now Mandy's
questions...not other passengers bumping through the aisles. During
his visit to their house, she'd classified him as cultured,
aggressive but reserved. He held onto his opinions and emotions
with tight control. She recognized those qualities because she was
so different--the opposite, really. She said what she thought, she
played with the moment, she let her feelings show much too
easily.
    She could understand why her father had
chosen Mitch as a partner. They were very much alike. Except...
Besides Mitch's outward attractiveness, something inside him called
out to her. Was her woman's intuition working overtime? Probably
more like her imagination, she thought with chagrin. Whatever it
was, she shoved it aside. Mitch was simply someone she had to
contend with while she was in York.
    York. Where her mother had died, where her
father had shut her out, where love had become an ultimatum. Her
feelings for her father were confused. Part of her still loved him.
But part of her still hurt too, even after six years.
    Finally they were seated. Mandy