One Heart by L. F. Hampton

Author:L. F. Hampton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BelleBooks
Published: 2014-05-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

SEAN BREATHED A sigh of relief. No alarm had sounded. Although the lights on the first floor of the dwelling were out, the ones on the second level still glowed. He was faced with a decision. Did he go up to the second level and knock, or did he knock here in the dark? There was no way up to the second level from the outside. Fine, problem solved. He stepped to the door, rapped on the wood and waited. He felt juvenile, stupid and foolish. What would he say? What if this wasn’t his grandmother’s home?

Sudden dim light came through the windows of the dwelling’s lower floor. Moments later someone came to the front door. A light flashed on above Sean, exposing his position. With his heart pounding, he drew back further into the shadows of the flowering bushes surrounding the entrance. He waited, hidden from view. The door opened.

“Is someone out here?” A deep grumble came from the male who stepped out and looked around. He scratched short gray-haired stubble on his chin then yawned. Shaking his white head, he called back over his shoulder. “See, I told you that you were imagining things, Mannie.”

Sean focused on the name. Mannie could be a derivative of Amanda, his grandmother’s name. From what Sean saw, the man was a burly elder wearing rumpled clothing, probably sleepwear. The man grumbled some more and switched off the light, but he didn’t go back inside. Instead, he held open the outer door that was covered in some kind of insect netting. “I don’t understand why we need to have tea out here at this hour. And why do I have to have tea, anyway? You’re the one who can’t sleep, Mannie. I was doing just fine until you started tossing and turning and hearing things. The least you could do is to offer me whiskey, not tea.”

“Oh, Randall—” Indulgent feminine laughter sparkled in the night. Sean’s heart leaped at the sound of it. A silver-haired female stepped out. She sat the tray she brought with her on a side table and joined the male on a swinging bench. Sean’s breath tightened in his chest. Sudden tears threatened. He was home. Randall was the name of Sean’s step-grandfather. He had to be at the right house. Still, he couldn’t bring himself to move.

The woman’s soft voice continued teasing, the lyrical sound drifting in the quiet evening. Her words sounded like music to Sean’s ears. “I didn’t mean to wake you, honey. And I didn’t offer you whiskey since it gives you indigestion this late at night. You know that.” She patted his hand. “Now, come on, enjoy the stars with me. Sip your tea then we’ll go back to bed.” Moonlight glittered on the female’s hair as she poured liquid into cups. She appeared taller than the male or, at least, perhaps the same height.

Sean waited in silence, debating on his next move. He had expected his grandmother to be petite like his mother or his sister, Cayla.

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