Mending the Widow's Heart by Mia Ross

Author:Mia Ross
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-10-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Every bit of color drained from Daphne’s face, and she slumped back against the throw pillows in what Holly feared was an honest-to-goodness faint. Rushing forward, she caught her mother and was relieved to discover that she was still conscious.

But that was small consolation when she saw the horror that suddenly darkened the aging beauty’s features. Holly had been the one to find Brady’s lifeless body, and she had more experience with that kind of life-altering emotion than she’d prefer. She understood all too well how it felt to be blindsided that way.

“Where,” Daphne asked in a strangled whisper, “did you hear that name?”

Holly had been prepared for anger or shock, but not anguish. Taking a moment to collect her thoughts, she sat on the coffee table and relayed how she’d found out who she really was. Then, a glimmer of hope flared and she asked, “Is it true?”

Daphne nodded, and that tiny spark winked out as if it had never existed. Those wide violet eyes gazed on her with a heart-wrenching mix of love and dread, but the exuberant woman she’d adored her entire life suddenly seemed very far away. They should have so much to say to one another, but neither of them seemed to be able to reach across the yawning chasm that had suddenly sprung up between them.

Love and patience were the only ways to bridge that kind of gap. Since she couldn’t leave Daphne alone in her condition, Holly knew she’d be needing plenty of both to get through the rest of the summer in Liberty Creek.

They sat there for what felt like an eternity, and finally Daphne closed her eyes without saying anything more. Out of respect for her unspoken wishes, Holly retreated and left her to get some rest.

Since there was nothing more she could do until her mother was ready to talk, Holly spent some much-needed quiet time with Chase, hearing about his entertaining day at the mini golf course and letting him beat her at the well-used game of Chutes and Ladders she’d found at a yard sale.

At bedtime, they got on their knees beside his bed, and he began with the usual kid-related stuff before adding some more serious prayers.

“Take care of Dad,” Chase said. After a pause, he went on, “And help Mom when she needs You, ’cause she won’t ever ask.”

Touched by the sentiment, she nudged his shoulder. “I save all my prayers for you.”

He gazed up at her with those large, intelligent eyes that would forever remind her of the Brady she’d fallen in love with. “I know, but you should keep one for yourself. Everyone needs help sometimes.”

“Where did you learn that?”

“Sam told me.”

The former soldier had made it painfully clear that he was no longer the religious type, and she asked, “When?”

“When he came over the other day to bring Auntie and her wheelchair inside. I said it was nice of him to help us, and he said that’s what neighbors do. I told him we didn’t have that before, and he said it was a good thing we came here.

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