Every Fifteen Minutes Read Online Free PDF Page B

see her.” Caitlin’s blue eyes flashed coldly. “It’s not your night.”
    â€œShe’s my child. ” Eric hated this my-night/your-night business. He missed seeing his daughter every day, and he got to see her only every other weekend and one dinner a week. It was a custody plan the lawyers said was conventional, but Eric had been doing it for three months and it wasn’t getting any easier.
    â€œI’m calling Daniel.” Caitlin slid her iPhone from her shorts pocket and hit a button. “You better call Susan.”
    â€œBattle of the lawyers? No thanks. Please stand aside.”
    â€œKnock yourself out.” Caitlin stepped aside, phone to her ear, then said into the phone, “Daniel, I have a problem—”
    Eric passed her, entered the house, hustled through the entrance hall, then took the hardwood stairs two-by-two. He reached the landing and put on his game face.
    â€œDaddy, is that you?” Hannah called from her bedroom, excitedly.

 
    Chapter Five
    â€œDaddy!” Hannah ran down the carpeted hall to him, and Eric caught her up in his arms, hoisted her into the air, and hugged her close, breathing in the fruity perfume of her Disney Princess shampoo mixed with the oddly synthetic odor of the yellow polyester jersey, which read David’s Dental For Kids.
    â€œHow did you know I was here?” Eric stopped himself before he said home. He had no idea where his home was, now. For Sale. Sold. Gone.
    â€œI heard you on the stairs. You have big feet.” Hannah wrapped her bare arms tight around his neck, clinging like a kitten. Her straight, chin-length light brown hair framed a face as round as a button, and she was skinny, with coltish knees. She had on matching jersey shorts and her feet were bare.
    â€œI love you, honey.” Eric kissed her on the cheek.
    â€œI love you, too.”
    â€œHow did Mrs. Williams like your diorama?” Eric set her down on the carpet. She looked so cute with her softball gear and pink plastic glasses. She was farsighted, so her prescription lenses magnified her sky-blue eyes, and there was something about a little girl in glasses that stole his heart.
    â€œShe loved it!” Hannah beamed, showing mostly even teeth, except for one missing on the upper left. “She said it was one of the best in the class.”
    â€œThat’s great, I knew she would.”
    â€œThree other kids made their diorama about James and the Giant Peach, but I was the only one that showed the magic crystals.”
    â€œWay to go.” Eric knelt down and touched her jersey. “Hey, I like this cool uniform. I hear you’re going to play softball tonight. That sounds like fun.”
    Hannah fell suddenly silent, frowning, but Eric didn’t want to project his feelings onto her, so he tried again.
    â€œI hear you get to wear cleats, too. Cleats are very cool.”
    â€œNo, I hate them. They’re weird. You can’t walk in them unless you’re on the grass. We went to the mall and got them.” Hannah wrinkled her upturned nose, a miniature version of Caitlin’s. “Mommy used to wear them when she played feel hockey.”
    Eric hid his smile. Caitlin had played varsity field hockey, but she wasn’t as good at feel hockey.
    â€œWe got ice cream, and Mommy got me my own glove, too. You have to put it on your hand and it helps you catch the ball.” Hannah brushed her bangs from her forehead. “And we got Croakies for my glasses, to keep them on. In yellow, to match my uniform.”
    â€œWow, that sounds great.” Eric realized that Caitlin had staged a charm offensive, mall trips and ice cream. “Looks like you’re ready for softball. That sounds like fun, doesn’t it?”
    â€œNo.” Hannah looked up from under her bangs, pained. She reminded Eric so much of himself, not her looks, because her fair coloring and clear blue eyes resembled Caitlin more