A Passion Most Pure Read Online Free PDF Page A

Steven?"
    Steven's blue eyes lit with excitement. He was slight for his eight years, with a generous spray of freckles that imparted an elfin quality to his delicate face. "I've won every one, Father, and Mrs. Broyles says I'm the best speller in three years! I do hope you'll be able to come to the spelling bee next Thursday after school."

    "Steven, your father will be working," Marcy reminded him gently.
    Patrick saw disappointment in his son's eyes.
    "How about I come in Father's place?" Sean asked, eyeing his younger brother.
    Patrick glanced at his eldest. At the age of twenty, Sean was a stabilizing force among the O'Connor siblings. Tall and lean of stature with a shock of blond hair neatly combed back, Sean possessed Marcy's blue eyes, infused with the playful twinkle of his own.
    "Thanks, Sean, but I have every intention of being there." Patrick reached to tousle Steven's red hair until it stood up on his head.
    Marcy started to object, but Patrick gave her a look of warning. "I'll simply tell Ben I have a personal matter of great importance to attend to-case closed." Patrick pushed his empty plate away and stretched comfortably back in the chair.
    Marcy stood up from the table with a noticeable sigh and headed to the kitchen. "Charity, I need your help with dessert, please. Faith, your night to clear the table, I believe?"
    Charity jumped up in a rush, bumping her elbow into her sister's arm as Faith guzzled the last of her milk. Faith groaned when a spray of milk sloshed up her nose.
    "Oops, sorry," Charity muttered.
    "Sorry, my eye, you did it on pur-" Faith stopped midsentence, her gaze meeting her father's. She clamped her lips shut while milk dribbled from her chin. She swiped it with the sleeve of her blouse and rose from the table. In stoic silence, she collected dirty dishes and piled them high until Patrick could no longer see the scowl on her face.

    He shook his head and turned his attention to Elizabeth, his shy daughter with the violet eyes that often held a faraway look. An avid student of literature, Beth reminded him of how Marcy might have been as a child. For that reason, among others, he fostered a great affection for this soft-spoken daughter of his. Leaning across the table, he stroked her cheek with his hand and was rewarded with a gentle smile.
    "And where have you been today, Beth, in your great world of literature?"
    All shyness vanished as Beth shared the adventures of Miss Jane Eyre. Patrick listened attentively while Katie sat with hands folded on the table and eyes rolling upward.
    "All she does is read, read, read!" Katie complained. "When I grow up, I won't just read about things, I'll do them!"
    "Don't be precocious, Katie," Patrick reprimanded.
    "I already am, Daddy, there's nothing I can do about it." Katie's tone was matter-of-fact.
    Patrick bit back a smile before turning to his eldest son. "Tell me, Sean, how is business down at Kelley's?"
    A conversation ensued about the nuts and bolts of the hardware store where Sean worked. Suddenly the lights dimmed, and Marcy reappeared carrying a cake aglow with candles. Faith and Charity followed, plates and utensils in hand.
    "Happy birthday, Father!" the family chimed in unison as Patrick made great show of extinguishing the candles that lit up the room.
    "Did you make a wish, Daddy?" Katie demanded. "'Cause you have to make a wish."
    "Yes, Katie, I did indeed. But it's hard to believe any wish I could make would be better than this-breaking bread with the woman I love"-Patrick winked at Marcy"surrounded by the children born of that love."

    "Daddy," Katie said with no small exasperation, "it's cake, not bread, and why on earth would you want to break it? Mama and I worked very hard to make it."
    Laughter filled the room, and Katie was clearly annoyed. "What? What'd I say?"
    "Katie, love, it's from sheer delight of your adorable ways that we laugh, I can assure you. Now get over here, little girl, and give your daddy a birthday kiss."