A Promise of Fireflies Read Online Free PDF Page A

that held her world together. Her mother, whose long fingers stroked her baby-fine hair, whose voice lulled her into slumber when she cried for an absent father, and whose love was warmth enough for them both, was gone. And Chandler embraced another. His dreams, his future, and his love were hers no longer. And his seed—the evidence of their love—ceased to flow inside her. She would no longer feel the connection, the oneness Chandler had provided for nearly twenty-four years.
     
    CHANDLER PULLED THE door shut, and with a doleful click the latch engaged, the sound the signal she was safe from the outside world, something he’d done without a conscious thought hundreds of times. He shouldn’t leave her like this, vulnerable and upset. Her body language was unmistakable; the unwavering staunchness, the resolve—the barrier she built whenever threatened. Rain spit in his face and pelted his clothes, yet his throat had dried to a sticky silence. He hadn’t counted on invisible fingers reaching in and twisting his gut. It was inconceivable how badly he had hurt her. Again. He sloshed through a puddle where the concrete sank. Why hadn’t he fixed it? Standing alone in the rain, he wished he had.
    Drenched and hair dripping, he shoved his hands in his pockets and turned back toward the house. He stopped midway. Powerless to see a way back through, he stood in the rain staring at the door. “Dammit, Ryleigh.” He tipped his face to the sky and let the cold rain pour over him, her name dissolving into the force of the storm. “What have I done?” He couldn’t bring himself to finish walking the few steps to tell her what he needed to. Instead, he made his way through the rain to his truck, heaved the door open, and stepped in. He’d done this to them. He’d severed the ties that bound them as one, and the reality forced him to bear its heavy weight.
    They were broken. And though he was one of the best contractors in town, this was one thing Chandler Collins didn’t know how to fix.
     
     
    NATALIE JO BURSTYN felt like throwing up. She’d risen discreetly and left the room. With one of the most forgiving hearts she’d ever known, she knew Ryleigh would have taken Chandler back in a heartbeat. Maybe now she could finally accept the fact he wasn’t coming back. Maybe now she could leave her wedding ring at home.
    “Hey,” Ryleigh said as she entered the kitchen.
    “I’m so sorry, Riles.”
    “You promised things would get better.”
    Natalie looked away. “I still believe that. God won’t give you any more than you can handle.” She couldn’t keep her words from growing heavy in the weight of sadness. Her friend hurt. And so did she.
    “Mom said that when Chandler left. I’m not so sure I believe it right now.”
    “You’ll believe again. Someday.” Natalie gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “I love you, Ryleigh, and you will get through this. I’ll make sure of it. Mitch and I will always be there for you.”
    “You’re a lucky girl, Nat.”
    “Mitch knows better,” Natalie scoffed. “I’d break his friggin’ legs if he ever cheated on me.”
    A frown curdled what had almost been a smile.
    “Do you have any of the Syrah wine left? The one made here in Arizona?”
    Ryleigh examined her.
    “The bottle your boss gave you for Christmas.”
    “Coming from Bernadette, I figured it wasn’t worth drinking. Why?”
    “It’s actually an exceptional quality.”
    Ryleigh reached into a nearby cupboard. “She couldn’t have known what she was buying.”
    Nat twisted the opener and popped the cork with the skill of a seasoned pro. A fragrant fog rose from the bottle and she promptly filled their glasses with the smooth, aromatic liquid.
    “To the future,” Natalie said, raising her glass.
    “If there’s one worth toasting.”
    “There will be.” Natalie grazed a finger around the rim of the glass. “Don’t you have something to show me?”
    “Mmm, the old Kodak.” Ryleigh raised her