Forever After by Karen Rose Smith

Author:Karen Rose Smith [Smith, Karen Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780821756539
Google: 3I5AG121p6QC
Amazon: B0057Q3AWW
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 1996-11-01T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Darcy and Marsha relaxed in the sun. It had been a while since they'd spent some quiet time together. Since Seth no longer represented Brad, Marsha had accepted him in Darcy's life. Tension between the two women was gone.

Darcy took a sip of cold water from the glass sitting next to her lounge chair. "Seth's birthday is in a few weeks. I want to give him a surprise party."

"Would he like that?"

Darcy sighed. "I don't think he's a man who usually likes surprises, but this would be different. I'd just invite you and Chuck and Jenna and Peg and Vic. And I'd keep it simple."

"Sounds good to me. I like Peg and Vic. We all had fun at the barbecue you planned last weekend."

The picnic had been a success. Without the complication of Brad, Chuck had accepted Seth as easily as Marsha. Vic and Peg had seemed to enjoy themselves. Darcy had loved seeing her friends and Seth's get along so well. It was a good omen.

Marsha applied suntan lotion to her legs. "Chuck asked me to marry him."

A pang of envy stabbed Darcy, but it was soon replaced by sheer happiness for Marsha. "What did you say?"

Her friend lay back and closed her eyes. "I didn't. I told him I need more time."

"Why?"

As if she couldn't think clearly from a prone position, Marsha sat up and pulled her knees up to her chin. "After Brad moved out, Jenna asked me if we'd still have enough food to eat, if we'd always live in this house. She was worried if I could provide for us or if I might leave her, too. I want her to know I'm the one person in her life who will always take care of her. I don't want her to grow up thinking we have to depend on a man. Because we don't. We can make it on our own."

Darcy knew she could make it on her own, too. But that didn't keep her from longing for a commitment from Seth. She knew he cared for her. But that's all she knew. Maybe if she told him she loved him... No. That would drive a wedge between them. He didn't believe in marriage. If she said she loved him, he'd think she was pushing, manipulating. But she didn't know if she could hold it back much longer.

Maybe soon, he could say he loved her. She thought she felt love in his hands, she thought she saw it in his eyes, she thought she heard it in his sigh, but she ached to hear the words.

Marsha had the opportunity to share her life, and she shouldn't use her daughter as an excuse. "Don't you think Jenna would feel more secure if she knows you and Chuck will take care of her? Is she really the reason you're hesitating? Or is it because you're afraid to trust Chuck?"

"Of course I'm afraid to trust him," Marsha snapped. "I was burned once. I won't live through the torture of a bad marriage, a separation and divorce.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.