Fatherless: A Novel Read Online Free PDF Page A
Author: James Dobson
her growing list of words before the murky images could evaporate again.
MAN
SHADOW
FEAR
ANGER
She only saw his silhouette, but the man’s figure seemed what she had always imagined her father might be—tall, strong, and
kind. Of course, the shadow could have just as easily been cast by a crazed killer stalking his next victim.
No. Julia somehow knew that he posed no threat.
But if he wasn’t dangerous, why so much fear? If kind, why the intense anger?
The dream’s vapor dissipated mid-thought. Her weary mind reached for more as Julia stared at the pad. Several minutes passed.
Nothing came.
Exhaling deeply, she pulled her legs tighter, offering herself a comfort Jonathan might have given had he accepted her invitation
to spend the night.
Oh well. It’s a start.
Julia gave herself the same pep talk on those rare days when writer’s block put her behind schedule. She hoped the same pattern
of determination and optimism that had brought journalistic honors would get her past this nocturnal crisis.
Ever since her sophomore English teacher invited Julia to blog for the high school opinion journal, words had been her driving
passion. They had also been her therapist, helping her sort through private pain and troubling questions. Maria called writing
Julia’s defense mechanism, a harmless but secretly annoying dig at her big sister’s driven personality.
Julia and Maria shared a house on the outskirts of Denver, only a few miles from the suburban high school they had attended
one grade apart. To this day they didn’t agree on who had cast the bigger shadow. Julia had graduated valedictorian and received
countless scholarship offers from top universities. But Maria had received eleven invitations to the senior prom.
Things hadn’t changed much. Despite declining readership, Julia remained a fixture among the journalistic elite. Maria still
enjoyed the company of immature guys, ensnaring Julia in several unwelcome double dates.
Happily, Jonathan seemed different from Maria’s other friends. He held a steady job, read the right books, and drank the best
wine. He talked about culture and politics instead of video games, and she found herself strongly attracted to his distinguished
demeanor. That’s why she’d done something out of character by inviting him to the house. Actually, Maria had made the invitation
with her usual tact. “I bet Julia would love to show you her Pulitzer medal. It hangs on the wall in her bedroom.” This time,
rather than laugh off the suggestion and make excuses about a pressing deadline or an early interview, Julia hesitated—hoping
for a slight tug on the line. When Jonathan remained silent, she took a risk.
“What do you say? Can I interest you in a nightcap?”
Now, standing alone in front of her bathroom mirror, Julia felt foolish. She glanced at the cocktail dress and one-inch heels
lying on the floor where she’d left them eight hours earlier. Maybe Maria was right.
“Why don’t you change outfits?” she had asked. “Guys don’t want pretty sophistication. They want alluring fun!”
Alluring and fun seemed to work for Maria with her endless variety of hairstyles, sassy outfits that filled two closets, and
a magnetic, perky bounce that made her impossible to snub. Julia, by contrast, wore her jet-black hair at shoulder length
and stylishly cut, just as in college. Her tailored wardrobe embodied knee-length elegance rather than slit-skirt seduction.
Friends called her stunningly beautiful, even slightly intimidating. So she wondered why Jonathan found her so easy to resist.
By the time Julia entered the kitchen Maria was already rushing to start her day.
“You look tired. Another dream?” One sight of Julia prompted genuine concern despite the distraction of trying to scrape off
the slightly charred edges of Jared’s bagel.
“Same as before.”
“Did you make an appointment with Dr. Moreland like I told you
MAN
SHADOW
FEAR
ANGER
She only saw his silhouette, but the man’s figure seemed what she had always imagined her father might be—tall, strong, and
kind. Of course, the shadow could have just as easily been cast by a crazed killer stalking his next victim.
No. Julia somehow knew that he posed no threat.
But if he wasn’t dangerous, why so much fear? If kind, why the intense anger?
The dream’s vapor dissipated mid-thought. Her weary mind reached for more as Julia stared at the pad. Several minutes passed.
Nothing came.
Exhaling deeply, she pulled her legs tighter, offering herself a comfort Jonathan might have given had he accepted her invitation
to spend the night.
Oh well. It’s a start.
Julia gave herself the same pep talk on those rare days when writer’s block put her behind schedule. She hoped the same pattern
of determination and optimism that had brought journalistic honors would get her past this nocturnal crisis.
Ever since her sophomore English teacher invited Julia to blog for the high school opinion journal, words had been her driving
passion. They had also been her therapist, helping her sort through private pain and troubling questions. Maria called writing
Julia’s defense mechanism, a harmless but secretly annoying dig at her big sister’s driven personality.
Julia and Maria shared a house on the outskirts of Denver, only a few miles from the suburban high school they had attended
one grade apart. To this day they didn’t agree on who had cast the bigger shadow. Julia had graduated valedictorian and received
countless scholarship offers from top universities. But Maria had received eleven invitations to the senior prom.
Things hadn’t changed much. Despite declining readership, Julia remained a fixture among the journalistic elite. Maria still
enjoyed the company of immature guys, ensnaring Julia in several unwelcome double dates.
Happily, Jonathan seemed different from Maria’s other friends. He held a steady job, read the right books, and drank the best
wine. He talked about culture and politics instead of video games, and she found herself strongly attracted to his distinguished
demeanor. That’s why she’d done something out of character by inviting him to the house. Actually, Maria had made the invitation
with her usual tact. “I bet Julia would love to show you her Pulitzer medal. It hangs on the wall in her bedroom.” This time,
rather than laugh off the suggestion and make excuses about a pressing deadline or an early interview, Julia hesitated—hoping
for a slight tug on the line. When Jonathan remained silent, she took a risk.
“What do you say? Can I interest you in a nightcap?”
Now, standing alone in front of her bathroom mirror, Julia felt foolish. She glanced at the cocktail dress and one-inch heels
lying on the floor where she’d left them eight hours earlier. Maybe Maria was right.
“Why don’t you change outfits?” she had asked. “Guys don’t want pretty sophistication. They want alluring fun!”
Alluring and fun seemed to work for Maria with her endless variety of hairstyles, sassy outfits that filled two closets, and
a magnetic, perky bounce that made her impossible to snub. Julia, by contrast, wore her jet-black hair at shoulder length
and stylishly cut, just as in college. Her tailored wardrobe embodied knee-length elegance rather than slit-skirt seduction.
Friends called her stunningly beautiful, even slightly intimidating. So she wondered why Jonathan found her so easy to resist.
By the time Julia entered the kitchen Maria was already rushing to start her day.
“You look tired. Another dream?” One sight of Julia prompted genuine concern despite the distraction of trying to scrape off
the slightly charred edges of Jared’s bagel.
“Same as before.”
“Did you make an appointment with Dr. Moreland like I told you