Loving the Bear Read Online Free PDF Page A

and happy endings, she’d thought of him. She only hoped she hadn’t offended him too much because now she realized that he hadn’t offered her the fre e battery with the intent of her owing him something somewhere down the line. She really wanted to phone and apologize, but she was too embarrassed to talk to him.
    “Bears,” said Katlin and it jerked Lilly out of her train of thought.
    “Are you all snuggled up in bed ready to hear the story?” asked Lilly.
    “Eddie’s here too.”
    Lilly smiled. She could picture Katlin and the bear under the covers. She opened the book to the first page.
    “Deep in the forest lived a dog named Ryan. He lived in a house all by himself. Tonight it was raining. He heard something moving outside…”
    “It’s the bear, it’s the bear,” said Katlin.
    “You have to wait and see if it is,” said Lilly continuing with the story. About five minutes later Lilly’s mom came on the line and whispered to her.
    “She’s fallen asleep and I’m creeping outside the room to talk to you so I don’t disturb her.”
    “Is she doing okay?”
    “She’s fine and the bedtime stories were a wonderful idea, honey.”
    “I enjoy them as much as she does,” said Lilly.
    “So how was yo ur day and how did you get on with cleaning your first customer’s home?”
    “It’s a long story , but she died.”
    “Died?”
    “Yes, they think she had a heart attack while she sitting in the chair reading. All that happened before I got there I should add.”
    “Oh honey, that’s awful.”
    “Then the van’s battery died.”
    And a charming and good looking young man helped me and I was downright rude to him.
    No, her mom didn’t need to hear that because she’d lectured her about opening up her heart to someone again. Trusting them enough to let them into her life.
    “I got a new one and it’s back running. At least I have the café job to keep me going until I find a nother customer.”
    “I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you , and don’t you go worrying about Katlin. She can live here with us for as long as it takes you to get settled in there.”
    What would she have done without her mother and stepfather? She hated to think what people did who didn’t have this sort of support. In the back of her mind, she’d given some thought to opening a sanctuary for battered women and their children. Somewhere they could run when things turned ugly and they had nowhere else to turn. One day when she was back on her feet she’d do it.
    “I can send some m oney for her food and clothing. I know she’s growing fast and probably needs something new every week.”
    “You will not. You keep every penny and put it toward making a new home for the two of you.”
    “How am I ever going to repay you?”
    “By beginning a new life, and being happy again, that’s how. Oh and inviting m e and Bob for a vacation in Montana. I’ve always wanted to see Glacier National Park.”
    “Then let’s plan on the four of us going there sometime soon.”
    “I’m holding you to that.”
    “I’ll say goodnight , and kiss Katlin for me.”
    “I will, night y, night honey.”
    Lilly put the phone down. A new life; being happy again. After what she’d done and how she’d behaved toward Christopher, she doubted that was ever in the cards for her because Matt had turned her into an idiot.

 
    Chapter Six
     
    Christopher opened his eyes. The sun was already peeking through the gap where the drapes didn’t quite meet, casting a stream of light across his bed. Barney was awake and looking at him. Christopher had spent Saturday night alone, well that was if you didn’t count the Pomeranian. Christopher had never stayed in on a Saturday night and had never spent it alone, ever.
    Aiden and Charlotte had invited him over to dinner at their new house, but he didn’t feel in the mood for seeing a couple madly in love and not being able to keep their hands off one another. He wanted some of the same things. At