A Promise of Fireflies Read Online Free PDF

eyebrows. “It’s definitely my father,” she said, a trace of excitement elevating her tone.
    They entered the den and Ryleigh picked up the computer print she’d made of the photograph and handed it to her.
    “It’s a little blurry,” Ryleigh added with a vague smile. “I enlarged it on the computer.”
    Shock widened Natalie’s eyes. “All by yourself?”
    “Bite me.” She pointed to the picture. Although somewhat blurred, I-C-O-T-T was clearly visible on the uniform near the pocket.
    “Your dad was a nice looking man, but this other guy is seriously handsome. Gorgeous eyes.”
    “His name is hidden, but military buddies sometimes kept in touch. If I only had a name.”
    Natalie’s insides leapt at her friend’s sudden enthusiasm.
    “He probably doesn’t remember or care. Otherwise why didn’t Mom ever mention him?”
    Natalie set the snapshot on the improvised desk. “Okay, Sherlock. Grab a bug detector, a magnifying glass, and cell phone spyware and start investigating.”
    “What?”
    “I read John Grisham. Once in a while.”
    “Nat, I don’t know—”
    “Your eyes speak louder than words, Ryleigh Collins. Your curiosity just shifted into
    overdrive.”

Chapter Five

     
    EVAN’S WHITE CIVIC was parked in the drive and the house brightly lit, a sure sign her son—one with little sense of utility costs—had arrived. Ryleigh closed the garage door and Kingsley pranced around the corner, greeting her with a hearty meow, followed by footsteps.
    Kingsley darted as Evan approached.“That cat hates me, I swear,” he said as he wrapped her completely in a hug. College life had added a few pounds to his lean frame, and at an inch over six feet, he’d matured into his father’s features, the line of his jaw as strong as his will. But his blue-green eyes were hers. They too smiled when he spoke. A lump welled in her throat. When had it happened? When had he crossed the delicate line between boy and man? “Damn cat disappears every time I walk into a room. Shoulda named him Houdini.”
    She smiled at Evan’s cheeky comment. “I’m glad you’re home. And Kingsley doesn’t hate you.”
    “Kingsley hates everyone except you, Mom.” An artful smirk curled his mouth. “His face is squashed, he’s fat, ferociously finicky and arrogant. And he sheds.”
    “Animals can sense how you feel about them.”
    “Now that we’ve established your cat officially hates me, how are you holding up?”
    “I’m okay.”
    Evan turned his head a fraction in silent question.
    “Really.” The words stumbled from her mouth. She swallowed and took a seat at the dining table. Evan followed. “Gram’s apartment is clean, your friends will be here Sunday to drop off the desk, and once the funeral is over tomorrow, maybe things will return to normal.”
    “What about Dad?”
    Discomfort inched its way over her skin at the memory of the previous night’s encounter, and she rubbed her arms. “He stopped by last night.”
    Evan considered this with a dramatic raise of his eyebrows.
    “Don’t even go there.” The glimmer of hope in his eyes extinguished itself. “And there’s something else.” She shifted her weight. “He and Della have been together for awhile now and things are bound to happen.”
    Evan stiffened. “Don’t expect me to congratulate him if he’s dumb enough to marry that nympho.”
    God, how she wished it were that simple. “They aren’t getting married. We have to be divorced first.”
    “That’s a positive on top of a negative. So, if not that then what is it?”
    Her internal voice screamed it loud and clear, but the voice she relied on to form the words vanished. She smiled a little, only to have it shrivel before it had a chance to mature. It hadn’t been easy for her to hear, and there was no easy way around telling him. The words burned past her hesitation. “Della and your father are going to have a baby.”
    Evan shot to his feet. The chair flew backward. “This is