Sweetest Desires (A Sweetest Day Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page A

“I don’t like scrambled eggs.”
    “Oh, that’s right.” Katharine snapped her fingers. She pulled a box of frozen hash browns from the freezer and placed it in the microwave.
    “Oooh, yeah. I love those,” CJ cheered.
    “I want some too,” Bethany said, pouting a little as she entered the kitchen.
    “All right, sweetheart,” Katharine soothed, kis sing Bethany on top of her head. ”Just take your seat.”
    As she tried to kiss CJ, too, he grimaced and pulled his head away. “Boys don’t kiss their moms!”
    “You weren’t kissing me, I was kissing you.” It was evidenced through her sparkling eyes.
    “Still,” CJ said, grimacing.
    She was grateful that, after a miscarriage and a stillborn child, God had blessed her with two beautiful, healthy children. What a mighty God we serve . She smiled at the thought.
    Bethany glanced at Carson’s empty chair. “Is Daddy gone already?” she asked, stuffing a forkful of scrambled eggs into her mouth.
    “Yes, Daddy’s already left, but he’s sorry he missed breakfast with you two,” Katharine forced herself to say. “Eat up now so I can comb your hair, Bethany. And I want you to brush your hair thoroughly, CJ.” Even though CJ wore his hair cut close to his scalp, the tight, knotted curls he’d inherited from Carson were growing rapidly. Luckily, Bethany, who was sent to the beauty salon every other week to have her hair washed, blow-dried, and unruffled with an electric flat iron, had inherited her mother’s silky hair.
    After Katharine had divided Bethany’s hair into three long ponytails, the children gathered their bac kpacks and jackets and raced to the car to see who got to sit in the front seat.
    By the time Katharine had tossed on a sweat suit, CJ and Bethany were arguing beside the car.
    “Mommy, CJ pushed me. He won’t let me sit in the front.”
    “No I didn’t, Mom.” CJ retaliated. “She’s just mad ’cause I beat her to the car.”
    “Both of you get in the backseat,” Katharine ordered.
    “That’s not fair!” CJ shouted. “I was here first!”
    “Young man, you’re about to get your fresh little jaw slapped,” Katharine scolded, giving him a stern stare. “You both know the front seat is off limits without permission.” It was useless trying to reason with children of six and eight, who hadn’t yet developed any talent for reasoning. Firmness and a warning look usually did the trick.
    Seeing that look, which meant a harmless whack on the behind if they didn’t obey, CJ and Bethany followed their mother’s instructions.
    As she drove the few blocks to the school bus stop, Katharine looked in every direction hoping to see Carson’s car headed toward home, but she saw no sign of him.
     
    * * *
     
    As soon as Katharine entered the house, she tossed her car keys on the bed and rushed to check the answering machine. The light was solid red. No one had called or left a message. Pacing back and forth between the bed and the sitting room didn’t help, so she sat down on the couch and turned on the TV.
    Flipping through the channels, Katharine listened for news of Carson. She slipped out of her sweats and took the cordless phone into the bathroom while she ran her shower, leaving the shower door halfway open so she could hear the phone ringing.
    Instead of placing the hand-held blow dryer on high as she usually did, Katharine kept it on low taking an extra thirty minutes to dry her hair. Her eyes constantly shifted to the phone.
    She swept her hair into a tight bun then dabbed on a small amount of makeup in her usual fashion. Searching through her closet, she chose a high-collar white blouse with a pleated calf-length skirt and solid jacket. Instead of the three- and four-inch heels that she’d worn ten years earlier, she slipped on a pair of two-inch heeled pumps.
    Even though Katharine was behind in her usual time, she decided to phone Carson’s office at eight fifteen to see if he was there. She thanked God everyday that