Love Confessed Read Online Free PDF Page B

that. Her being in flats made her seem so much smaller. Even though I know she’s tough enough to hold her own, the second I touch her she seems more fragile than I ever imagined and I want to hold her tight and keep her safe.
    No. I don’t even know this girl, this girl whose never taken longer than two seconds to acknowledge me. I just can’t help but think in that second, minute, hour, however long it was, that maybe she doesn’t hate me. Maybe she noticed me too? Maybe she isn’t a snob, maybe she is just shy? Or reserved for some reason? She broke the look as soon as she could and wouldn’t even look my direction when I tried to hand her the papers she’d scattered, but it was the longest minute I’d had in, well, I don’t know how long. I am not one of those guys who are afraid to be emotional but being both mom and dad to my six year old daughter as well as losing her mom, my high school sweetheart, has taught me not to rattle easy. I like to be in control. This feeling, feeling like I’m spinning out of control in that moment, like I don’t know what’s happening, is one I can do without.
    But just a minute later it’s over; Leah practically runs back to her office, Scott walks back into his office laughing, and I walk back out to my truck. Off to the next meeting then back to my office. It’s May - the perfect season for high profile weddings, graduation parties for spoiled private school rich kids in the city, summer concert season is starting, and I am swamped. I know I have to leave but I do so on autopilot because ever instinct I have tells me to walk straight into Leah’s office.
    By Wednesday I still can’t get Leah off of my mind. I’m pretty sure Abby has noticed my attention being elsewhere and has a huge melt down. Since I have the Sanders and Smith party on Friday, she is going to stay with her grandma this weekend. She’s usually an easygoing kid and every time she’s started acting out in the past I could just give her a look. With that look, she would laugh and suddenly everything would be ok. But this time is different I – I try the look and…nothing. Man, sometimes I feel like I’m in over my head trying to raise a girl on my own. I don’t understand them at all. Her mother always just told me when things were wrong and I would fix it or at least try. Unfortunately for me, six year olds aren’t quite so forthcoming with helpful information about their feelings. Abby either has be wrapped around her little finger and looks at me like she knows it, or she looks at me like I’m an alien speaking some sort of Martian to her. I think we need to work on our in-between.
    “No Dad! I don’t want to go to grandma’s house!” she yells and then burst into tears, crumbling into a heap on the kitchen floor.
    “Well I’m sorry Abby, but I have adult things going on this weekend and I need for you to stay at grandma’s house. Plus you haven’t seen her in over a month. So please stop with this fit.”
    “Why daddy? Why do you have to leave me? Please daddy.” she sobs. “Don’t make me go.” I sit down on the kitchen floor next to her.
    “Abby, honey, what’s going on with you? You have never not wanted to go stay with Grandma. Can you talk to me, please? Tell me what’s wrong so I can fix it. I can’t help you if you won’t talk to me.” I explain on her level, with her perfect little face in my hands so I can look right into her eyes.
    I must look really desperate because, as I watch her calm herself down, I can see the look of sadness and empathy in her eyes. After several minutes of just looking at each other she climbs into my lap, looks up and says,
    “A boy at school has been picking on me. He said I don’t have a mommy. He pushes me and yesterday he wouldn’t let me look at his Iron Man.”
    “I’m sorry baby. Boys can be mean sometimes. You do have a mommy she just watches over you from heaven. Did you say anything back to him?”
    It’s hard to not let her