Destiny's Whisper Read Online Free PDF Page A

remember that in the future. No more growing up unless you’re around,” she replied, her own eyes filling with tears that slipped silently down her rose-tinted cheeks and splashed onto the stuffed bunny that sat in her lap. With a little gasp, Dani dissolved into her mother’s arms, closing her eyes as the comforting feel of being totally safe and home again rushed over her in a wave. No matter how old she got to be, she couldn’t imagine ever feeling as safe as she did in her mother’s arms and this home. The bond between mother and daughter was rock solid, built on love, respect and communication, with a good dose of humor thrown in to get them over the rocky periods, which were, thankfully, few and far between.
    Jordan gave Dani a quick, final hug and tussled her daughter’s short curls, “I think your hair’s adorable, but if you dare tell your father I said this, I’ll swear I didn’t, until my final, dying breath!” Jordan stated laughingly, with a quick kiss to Dani’s nose and slid off the bed.
    “It’ll be our little secret.” Dani agreed, placing her favorite stuffed bunny back against the numerous fluffy pillows, unfolded her long legs and joined her mother. With a smile, Dani accepted the armful of dirty clothes from her mother and followed her out the door. As she made the short trek to the laundry shoot, she had to stop every now and then to pick up a lost piece of clothing that fell from the pile she carried and finally shoved the clothes through the small door.
    “So tell me, Mom. What’s the deal with Sergei skating pairs? When did this all come about?” Dani asked, following her mother down the hallway that led to the stairs.
    “Whittaker finally caught the hint I’ve been throwing at him for the last three years and made the suggestion today. I tell you, sometimes you have to hit a man over the head with a four-by-four a millions times before they can take a hint.” Jordan mumbled.
    “Except for Daddy,” Dani qualified.
    “Including your father!” Jordan announced. “In the beginning, your father was just like your brother, or at least according to Frank, he was. I think that’s why your father and brother disagree so strongly. It’s hard to deal with someone when you look at them and see yourself staring back. Mirror images have always been a hot issue. Think about it, your brother’s legally able to drink alcohol.”
    “Mom, he’s so straight laced it’s ridiculous. You’d think that now he’s twenty-one, he’d want to be out there partying. Is he? No! His idea of a hot Friday night is critiquing skating tapes and drinking iced tea! I tell you, living that dangerously, he might as well be an engineer!” Dani complained.
    “Chronologically he’s twenty-one. Unfortunately, sometimes I think he’s an old man in a young man’s body, he’s too serious for his age. I don’t want him to miss out on being young because he thinks he has to prove he’s mature enough not to do something stupid, something childlike. Some of life’s hardest lessons come from making mistakes,” Jordan said.
    “Sergei hates to make mistakes!” Dani stated knowingly.
    “Don’t I know it!” Jordan sighed in agreement, knowing how difficult the path her son was moving toward was going to be and wishing she could make his trek an easier one.
    Whoever said being a parent was easy had obviously never been one!

CHAPTER 3 
    S ergei held his head in his hands, his palms covering his ears as he attempted to muffle the shrill sounds of too many female voices talking excitedly at once. Leaning against the low wall, his elbows rested on the wall of the rink, his dark, frazzled gaze stared at the tiny lines scored by numerous blades in the ice directly below him. The headache, which had begun as a mere annoyance, now throbbed painfully in tempo to the pulse that beat strongly at his temple. How had this happened?
    The sudden hearty slap on his back and Whittaker’s booming greeting, caused Sergei