Heart of the Matter (Coming Home Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

and take a seat. I’m about to see a picture of my daughter for the very first time.
    I turn the envelope over and slide one finger underneath the flap. I make a small tear, knowing it’s now or never.
    Mr. Steadham had already informed me there were two photos inside—one of Chloe and the other a family shot. Both images had been found on a social media site and printed from there. Funny how I had spent many hours searching site after site trying to find some sort of information on Jennifer and the private investigator was able to pull the images in just a matter of minutes.
    I’d kept an image in my head throughout the years and figured our daughter had probably taken after her mother, but nothing could prepare me for what that lay on the desk before me. A beautiful teenage girl with long, straight dark-blonde hair stared back at me. She had on a cheerleading uniform and was posing with her pompoms.
    She’s…she’s gorgeous.
    I can’t tear my eyes from the photo. I realize I’ve been holding my breath after several minutes. Her eyes…they’re just like mine. My daughter. I can’t believe I’m seeing her for the first time. I feel the tears begin to pool in my eyes, and I have to look away and blink several times.
    After what feels like forever, I finally take a look at the second photo.
    It’s the perfect family shot—Jennifer...well, she looks the same, just a little older. Her hair is still long, and she really looks happy with her…family. Her husband is a clean cut, good looking guy and they both look great together. The longer I stare, I recognize him as the guy from the restaurant that day long ago—the one who stood up and threatened me if I didn’t leave her alone. Who would have thought Jennifer would marry the guy! I bet they’ve had one heck of a time explaining to their friends how they met. The situation that day wasn’t a pretty one, that’s for sure. They can’t claim it was a romantic meeting or love at first site like some couples like to boast about.
    The younger girl in the photo looks a lot like the guy, but I don’t see much resemblance to Chloe. Maybe up close the girls favor, but this image doesn’t show much in the way of them being sisters.
    Chloe. I can’t believe it. My…my daughter.
    I bring my finger up to wipe at a stray tear. I’m not supposed to cry. I’m not supposed to be getting all teary eyed over seeing these photos. I should be happy that she’s healthy, that she’s turned out to be a pretty, young lady. Instead, I’m sad I’ve missed out. Her childhood has almost passed me by.
    I turn on my computer and look down at the bottom corner to see the time. Have I really been looking at these photos for over an hour? I open up the desk drawer and pull out the mustard-yellow envelope from Mr. Steadham. Every possible way to contact Jennifer is inside. I pull up the medal clamps and slide out the documents. It’s now…or never.
    I click on the email tab on my computer and wait for it to pull up. I ask myself one more time, can I do this? Can I really go through with this?
    Once the blank document appears, I scan the paperwork until I find what I’m looking for—Jennifer’s email. I begin to type the address in the sender box, and after several attempts, I finally type it correctly.
    I write a couple of sentences, then erase them all. I’m not exactly sure how to go about saying what it is I want to say. I mean, I know, but I don’t want to screw it up. After all, time is valuable and if I don’t get it right the first time, my father might not make it. Finally, I get the first paragraph typed and I’m satisfied with what I have so far. One sentence, then another; I keep on typing. The words flow from my heart and I hope to God she doesn’t feel I’m making this up.
    I sincerely hope she reads this carefully and takes into consideration everything I’m saying.
     
    July 1, 2014
     
    To:  [email protected]
    From: