Return by Karen Kingsbury & Gary Smalley

Author:Karen Kingsbury & Gary Smalley [Kingsbury, Karen & Smalley, Gary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Inspirational, Adult, Contemporary
ISBN: 9780842382892
Google: PQx5QAAACAAJ
Amazon: 1414333021
Barnesnoble: 1414333021
Goodreads: 11430
Publisher: Gale Group
Published: 2003-09-04T22:00:00+00:00

Her father gave a sideways shake of his head. "At first I sort of

figured maybe she'd seen your Web site." He smiled at her. "It's

beautiful, Ashley. Your work is wonderful."

She felt the corners of her mouth climb up her cheeks. "Thank

you, Daddy." For the briefest instant, Ashley allowed herself to

bask in the sunlight of her father's praise. Then she did the only

thing she could think to do: put the Paris phone call on hold. She

stood and held up a finger. "I have to check on them." She tiptoed

through the open door and glanced arou id. The women

were still sleeping, and no sounds came from Bert's room. She

waited another few seconds, then rejoined her father.

"So," she caught his eyes again, "you think Paris might be interested

in my work? After I've been gone for so long?"

"That's what I thought at first." He hesitated. "I asked the

woman if I could take a message, and she said no. She said it was

critical that she talk to you personally. After that, I wasn't sure

what she wanted." He reached out and patted her knee. "That's

why I'm here. I thought you could fill in the details."

"I know nothing." Ashley sat a little straighter and gave the

swing a small push with her feet. Why in the world would someone

from Paris call? And what critical thing could the womanwhoever

she was-possibly have to talk about?

Ashley realized her father was watching her, catching every

emotion as it filtered across her face. She laughed softly. "If it's

that critical, I'm sure she'll call back."

196

"Yes, I suppose." He paused, searching her eyes. "It just seemed strange. I ... I didn't want it to be about Cole."

There it was, out in the open.

The dots Ashley had refused to consider, let alone connectthat somehow someone from Paris knew about Cole. With the frightening possibilities suddenly as clear as a summer morning, she could do nothing but let the questions come.

Had Jean-Claude Pierre changed his mind? The artist had sneered at her the last time they spoke, suggesting she get an abortion, telling her he wanted nothing to do with her child. Cole couldn't have been the only illegitimate child he'd fathered, not when he looked at sex as merely an artistic form of exercise.

So what had he done now, hired an attorney? Had the woman called in an effort to find her and track down Jean-Claude's son? Ashley wasn't sure, but she didn't think he'd be entitled to visitation rights after being out of the boy's life for so long. Of course, he had plenty of money if he wanted a legal battle. So was that it? Had he changed his mind, and now he wanted a son?

The idea terrified Ashley like nothing ever had.

"Maybe-" her father's voice brought her back from the edge of a cliff, a canyon of fear that knew no bottom-"it's about some bookkeeping detail, something you could help them with. That could be it, couldn't it?"

Hope gave her a burst of air and helped her catch her breath. "Yes." The more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea.

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