Derailed Hearts by Darlene Fredette

Author:Darlene Fredette [Fredette, Darlene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Clean and Wholesome Romance; Two-Hour Read; Family Drama; Second Chances; Family Life Fiction; Train Ride; Doctor; Fashion Designer
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2022-06-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Jenn blinked open her eyes, squeezed them shut, and then stared wide. The light from the bathroom lit the room in a soft glow. Her fingertips tingled from a heavy weight resting on her arm. She turned to find Avery asleep and snuggled into her side. Savoring the moment, she closed her eyes, her thoughts sprinting through the last few hours.

After a delicious dinner in the dining car, Jenn, Ethan, and Avery retired to their cabin. They coloured pictures and played a couple games of Go Fish.

Avery mastered saying go fish and won all four games. The little girl washed and dressed in pajamas, then selected a book for Ethan to read. She pulled Jenn onto the bed to rest on her left and tugged Ethan to lie on her right.

The cozy family image was forever imprinted within Jenn’s mind. All grief and haunting memories of the past momentarily faded, and contentment settled with ease. The last thing she remembered was snickering at Ethan changing his tone to portray the voice of the tiny mouse in the story. Her heavy eyelids won the battle.

She reopened her eyes and spied the bunk open above her. Realization hit, and her pulse spiked. She’d fallen asleep in Avery’s and Ethan’s bed. Slowly turning her head, she smiled at Avery in a deep slumber. Jenn gazed past Avery to find the adjacent pillow unoccupied.

Ethan lounged in a chair by the table, his long legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. A reading light was clipped to the book he held in a hand.

He glanced up and smiled. “You’re awake.”

Her heart skipped a beat. She could easily grow accustomed to waking to that smile. “I can’t believe I fell asleep. What time is it?” She gingerly withdrew her arm from under Avery’s back, then waited a beat to be certain she hadn’t disturbed the child.

Ethan glanced at his watch. “After ten.”

Sliding aside the blanket and sitting, she ran a hand through her hair. “I’ve been asleep for three hours?” Not once in the past year had she slept three hours straight.

“Was my storytelling that boring?” He chuckled.

“Just the opposite. Your soothing voice lulled me into a welcomed nap.” She reversed the comment in her mind to be sure she hadn’t said captivating. Because truth be told, Jenn could listen to Ethan’s deep sultry voice all night. She slipped to the edge of the bed.

Ethan shut off the reading light. He raised a hand. “You can stay there.”

The thought of lying so close to Ethan flushed heat into her warming cheeks.

“I’ll take the upper bunk.” He pointed.

“No.” She waved a dismissive hand. “Avery might stir and wonder where you are. We don’t want—” What was she doing including herself as part of their family? She shook her head. “You don’t want her to have a setback. She’s doing so well.”

“You’re probably right.” He nodded.

“I’ll go wash my face.” Jenn scooted off the bed and stepped over his legs. She freshened up in the bathroom, then returned to the main room and sat in the second armchair.

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