Heart of a Husband by Kathryn Alexander

Author:Kathryn Alexander
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2000-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

“Hamburger with what?” Jake asked when they stood at the counter in one of the many small restaurants that lined the Gallery.

“Pickles, ketchup, mustard,” Aaron rattled off the items as though he’d placed that order numerous times, “and large fries.”

“With ketchup,” he and Jake said simultaneously.

“And I want white soda to drink,” Aaron added, fiddling with the straw dispenser.

“It’s clear, Aaron. Not white,” Joanna remarked, removing the half-dozen straws Aaron had in his hands and placing them on the counter.

“Clear as opposed to brown,” Joanna said with a smile in response to Jake’s glance her direction.

“Okay,” Jake said. “What about you? There are dozens of things to choose from. You don’t really want a hamburger, do you?”

“No, I’d rather look around,” she answered.

After they had purchased Aaron’s meal, they found a place to sit at one of small round tables in the center of the Gallery.

Joanna opened a couple of ketchup packets for Aaron to prevent it from being squirted everywhere. “There are so many restaurants here, Jake.” She did not really know what she wanted to try. “What do you like the looks of?” She glanced up in question to his lack of response, only to find he was looking directly at her. Some undefinable emotion darkened his eyes, his expression.

“What’s wrong?” she asked softly.

Just then, Aaron bit into his sandwich. “Mmm…”

Jake shook his head. “Nothing,” he responded. “What would you like for dinner?”

Food was the last thing on Joanna’s mind as she sat looking up at him, wondering what troubled him so. There was a deli behind where Jake was standing, and the colorful red-white-and-blue sign caught her attention. “How about a sub?” She motioned toward the nearest shop.

“That sounds good,” he said, glancing at the restaurant. “What do you want to drink? Clear soda, too?”

“No, thanks. I’d prefer lemonade if they have it.”

He was smiling, but he was not happy, and Joanna wished she could understand why.

The subs served on warm homemade bread tasted delicious. And for dessert, they enjoyed hot fudge sundaes while Aaron worked his way through the large vanilla ice cream cone he’d requested.

After they’d browsed through practically every shop on the premises, Joanna purchased a half-dozen peanut butter cookies from one of the bakeries for Aaron to take back to Smithfield with him. Then it was time to leave.

“Not yet!” Aaron protested loudly as they started the drive toward home.

“Sorry, honey, but you need to get home to get ready for bed. It’s getting late,” Joanna explained.

“We’ll spend another day together soon, Aaron,” Jake added.

“Promise?”

Jake glanced in the rearview mirror, seeing Aaron’s hopeful expression. “I promise.”

Aaron was silent for a moment before asking, “And you keep your promises?”

“I do,” Jake said solemnly.

The reply seemed to satisfy Aaron because in a matter of minutes, he was curled up in one corner of the back seat, sound asleep.

“He had a wonderful time, Jake,” Joanna commented softly while they drove down the highway. She glanced back at the sleeping boy.

“I hope he did.”

“I know he did,” Joanna confirmed.

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