A Place Called Home Read Online Free PDF Page A

“One drunk driver later and the kids’ college fund is secure.” Because bitterness served no purpose, he reined it in. “As far as current expenses, the kids are eligible for Social Security. Wayne’s already submitted the paperwork to the SSA. In the meantime, I’m not exactly flirting with the poverty line.”
    “I didn’t say you were.”
    “I don’t need your money any more than the kids do.”
    “I know that. I want to help.”
    “Who do you think you’re kidding? You want to salve your conscience. Maybe you even need to. Sorry. Not interested.”
    Thea was done deflecting his darts. She challenged him instead. “If you weren’t prepared to take Emilie and the boys, why did you agree to it?”
    The pitch of Mitch’s voice was like a growl. “For the same reason you did: because I didn’t think anything would ever happen.”
    “So you signed up hoping you’d never be called upon to serve.”
    “Like I said: same as you.”
    They both fell silent, each of them looking away. There was enough self-recrimination to go around without any more pointing fingers.
    Thea was the first to speak, her voice barely audible. “I can’t do it, Mitch. I’m offering exactly what I’m able to give.”
    “Money and a few hours here and there with your best friend’s kids?”
    “Yes.”
    “Jesus, that’s pathetic.”
    “Yes. It is.” There was an ache in her throat. Thea swallowed hard, first literally, then her pride. “Please don’t throw it back in my face.”
    Mitch stared at her a long moment, then he sighed. “I don’t get this.” She wasn’t telling him everything; he was fairly certain of that. He was also thinking that he was unlikely to persuade her to confide in him. He had managed to make himself as likable as Snidely Whiplash was to poor Nell. “What if you took Emilie and I took Case and Grant?”
    When Thea didn’t regard him with horror-filled eyes he knew it was because she didn’t believe he’d ever sanction breaking up the kids. She was right, too. “Okay, it was a bad bluff,” he admitted.
    “Yes.” Thea fingered her necklace. “You have family around, Mitch. A sister. A brother-in-law. Your parents are still young. I imagine your mom is the one watching the kids now.”
    “A lot you know. They’re in school.”
    “Oh.” Her smile was a trifle sad. “Well, there you have it. I don’t know much about it. I think some people are born nurturers, Mitch, and some of us ... that is, some people aren’t.”
    “Yeah? You’re squeezing my bleeding heart.”
    Inwardly, Thea winced. “I’m sorry,” she said, her eyes dropping to his chest. “I wish I could do this differently.” I wish I could be different. “My parents are in their seventies. They travel a lot. So much so that my wedding is scheduled around their itinerary.” She meant to say it lightly, with a little chuckle in her voice, but it was painfully close to the truth. Mitch didn’t smile and her own fell flat. “They’re in Florence now.”
    “I know. We tracked them down in an attempt to find you.”
    “Oh. I hadn’t realized.”
    “No, I don’t suppose you did.”
    Thea let her hand fall to her lap. “The children wouldn’t have the same support with me that they have with you.”
    “No arguments there. I’m realizing you Wyndhams are a cold bunch. Marrying Strahern is overkill, don’t you think? Kind of like frost on a glacier.” He saw she wasn’t going to deign to respond to that but he was sure he hit the big red bull’s-eye. “What about Strahern anyway? He has kids.”
    “Yes, but they’re grown.”
    “No, I mean—” He stopped, momentarily struck dumb. His recovery was swift, though. “My God, you’re not marrying Junior, are you?”
    Thea tried not to bristle. “If you mean Joel Strahern II, then no, I’m not marrying him. Jay happens to be happily married.”
    “His father. You’re marrying his father .” Disbelief was rife in his tone. “He must be in his