A Healing Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

telling myself that I needed to pull it together.
    After he parked, Collin helped Lacey out of the Camaro’s small backseat. She got out and waited at the front of the car while Collin shut the door. She placed her small hand in his as they walked together toward the playground.
    As they got closer, Riley caught sight of Lacey and raced toward her yelling, “Wacey! Wacey! You came!”
    I could see Lacey smile as she ran off with Riley, leaving Collin to walk in my direction by himself. He waved, and I smiled back, pointing to the empty seat next to me.
    He reached the bench quickly and sat down. “Hey, sorry I’m late. I got held up at work.”
    “ No problem. It’s fine. Riley’s always having fun at the park. How was work?”
    He laughed. “It was okay, but dealing with people sometimes can be very frustrating. I’m glad you were able to come today.”
    “ Sure, I have to say I was a little surprised that you asked.” I peeked carefully to see what his reaction would be to that one, but he didn’t miss a beat.
    “ Why do you say that? The kids seemed to have had a good time yesterday. I thought it would be more fun for Lacey, and I have to be honest that it gave me an opportunity to see you again.” He grinned at me, his blue eyes sparkling.
    I thought I could get lost in those eyes if I wasn’t careful. I had to turn away; I couldn’t hold his gaze as it did funny things to my stomach. “Okay. I guess I don’t really know what to say to that.”
    “ Ah, honesty. I like that. So is there a special guy in the picture that I should be worried about? No one is going to come around a corner and lose it because you’re talking to me, right?”
    Almost bursting out in laughter at that one, I sought out his eyes once more. “No, no one. You’re in no danger of being attacked on my account. You sure don’t beat around the bush, do you?”
    “ No. What’s the point? Life’s too short; you have to live every day like it’s your last. That’s the way I try to live.”
    I had to agree with him. I, out of all people, knew that too well. Looking away, I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, but I would not let him see the anguish in them. I had to pull myself together and quick. His fingers lightly cradled my chin as he turned my face back toward him.
    “ I’m sorry, did I say something wrong? I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
    I was not going to blabber about my entire life history with him, I was determined. But something in those deep eyes melted all my resolve. The tears slipped silently down my cheek. I could feel their warmth, and then they were gently brushed away with his thumb.
    “ No, it’s okay. It isn’t anything you said. It’s just that I know how short life can be. Do you know anything about my family?” I asked him quietly, trying to keep my voice even.
    “ No, I can’t say that I’ve heard anything. Why?”
    I decided I might as well give him some background. There was no point in hiding what had happened, it was common knowledge anyway. Sitting up, I looked straight into those eyes and found encouragement and strength in them.
    “ Two years ago I was in Oregon with my family———my dad, mom, younger brother and sister. Brandon was nine, and Brooke was four. It was New Year’s Eve, we had been at our friends’ house. They had two girls, and one was my age, the other just a couple years younger. Our parents were in one room, and us kids were all in the game room playing for most of the night. We got to stay up that night and watch the ball drop on TV at midnight. Our parents let us go outside, shoot off firecrackers, and bang on pots and pans. It was a lot of fun for us.
    “ When it was time to go, my family got into our Suburban and headed home. We weren’t going very far; we only lived about ten minutes away. My younger brother had begged to sit in my seat. He usually had to sit all the way in the back, but I let him switch places with me. I never did that, but for