The Ocean City Boardwalk Series, Books 1-3 by Fasano Donna

Author:Fasano, Donna [Fasano, Donna]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9781939000453
Publisher: Hard Knocks Books
Published: 2017-04-16T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Heather had tossed and turned for more than an hour; it must be close to midnight. Weak winter moonlight shined through the window, painting the bedroom walls with a pale luster. The story about Daniel’s daughter plagued her. She couldn’t get the child out of her thoughts. Their talk had continued after they’d left the café. Daniel’s best guess had been that his sister-in-law was doing everything she could to keep Mia occupied with fun and adventure, that Anica had to be obsessively keeping Mia entertained with new places and probably lots of gifts. He did his best to imagine that Mia was so busy that she wasn’t even missing him. He hoped his little girl wasn’t aware that the police and private detectives were actively searching for her. Heather prayed Daniel was right. She wished there was something she could say, something she could do, to help Daniel through this awful situation.

The idea that tormented Heather the most was when Daniel voiced his worry about what Anica might be saying to Mia about him. It was only natural that a child would worry about and fret over being separated from her father. How might Anica explain that separation, he’d wondered. She certainly couldn’t tell Mia the truth. So what sort of lies was she conjuring?

Lines of strain had dug deep crevices in Daniel’s face, and the memory disturbed Heather to the point that she threw back the quilt and sat up on the edge of the mattress. Suddenly, what was normally the soft, welcoming confines of her bed felt like solitary confinement in a cement block prison. She had to get up, had to move around, so that she could breathe. How on earth had he lived with this situation and remained sane all these weeks?

A little voice in the back of her head whispered, what other choice did he have?

Sooner or later, and she hoped to God it was sooner, little Mia would be found and returned home. Daniel had to remain strong, had to keep his mind and his body healthy, in order to take care of his daughter when that time arrived.

Heather slid her bare feet into her slippers and pushed her arms into her robe even as she moved toward the door. The wooden banister was cool to the touch as she made her way down the stairs. When she passed through the living room on her way to the kitchen, movement near the sofa made her steps slow. Daniel had swiveled his head to look at her, his features half illuminated by the pale light shafting through the front window.

“Can’t sleep?” he asked.

She shook her head.

“Me, either.”

“I was going to make myself some herbal tea,” she told him. “Want a cup?”

He smiled and nodded. “That would be nice. Thanks.”

“I must have half a dozen different flavors. Lemon, mint, strawberry, goji berry…”

His smile widened just a fraction. “Surprise me.”

“I can do that.”

Having a mission made her feel less helpless, and it wasn’t long before she was carrying two steaming mugs into the living room and settling herself next to him.

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