The Secret Daughter by Roz Denny Fox

Author:Roz Denny Fox [Fox, Roz Denny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises
Published: 2012-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

ADAM WRAPPED A PIECE of the finest-grade sandpaper around a block of wood and started lightly sanding a cabinet door he’d placed between two sawhorses. Working with wood had become his escape. Coaxing the beauty from a particular grain usually let him blank his mind of all worries and troubles. Over the years there had been many. This mood had settled over him when he’d turned the calendar and discovered tomorrow was the day he’d scheduled to visit his mother. Her doctor had suggested a regular schedule for visits. In the beginning, Adam went twice a week. Then once a week, which later shrank to twice a month. At first her team of psychiatrists had given him reason to hope she’d fully recover. As the years dragged on, and the likelihood of finding his father dimmed, so, too, had his mother’s mental state declined.

He blew off the wood dust and smoothed a hand over the oak. Adam was strongly tempted to go up and knock on Noelani’s door. If he asked nicely, would she come back downstairs and keep him company? Just to talk. Nothing more. He’d been a jerk to hint at more. He’d frightened her—the very last thing he wanted.

His sleeplessness, his need to be close to someone tonight, was all tied in with seeing his mom sometime the next day. And it probably had something to do with tomorrow being opening day for submitting sealed bids on Magnolia Manor.

Adam stared at his hands, usually so steady. Just now they weren’t. He set the sandpaper block aside. Dusting off his hands, his shorts and then his bare legs, he left the room and slowly climbed the stairs.

At the top, he tiptoed across the hall and knocked softly on Noelani’s bedroom door. If she didn’t answer, he’d go back to the garçonnière, get dressed and go for a drive. If she did answer, that would be something to consider, too.

The door opened a crack. “Adam?” The crack widened. “Are you okay? You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?” Noelani asked in a whisper.

“I…no, I didn’t hurt myself. I shouldn’t have come up here and bothered you. It’s…do you ever have nights when you just can’t sleep?”

She heard a hesitation, a tremor in his voice she didn’t recall ever hearing before. Adam’s voice, a rich baritone, always sounded sure, decisive and upbeat. This time she definitely noticed something else.

“I haven’t changed into my pajamas yet. As a rule I don’t have trouble falling asleep. Guess I’m keyed up tonight, too. You aren’t exactly dressed for a walk through the cane, but listening to the rush of wind through the rows generally relaxes me.”

“Like I said, it’s hot tonight. I’ve never been around cane. Music relaxes me. Jazz, in particular.”

“Oh. I don’t even have a radio in my room. Sorry.”

“I’ve got a CD system set up in the garçonnière. I travel pretty light, but music is one thing I take to every job site.”

She opened the door wider, slipped out and closed it softly behind her.

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