Love's Late Arrival (Sweet Grove Romance Book 1; First Street Church #8) by Sharon Hughson & Sweet Promise Press

Author:Sharon Hughson & Sweet Promise Press [Hughson, Sharon & Press, Sweet Promise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, Forever Love, Inspirational Reads, Love Inspired, Bachelor, Single Woman, Hearts Desire, Clean & Wholesome, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Small Town & Rural Area, Beautiful & Feisty, Sweet Grove Romance, First Street Church Series, Multi-Author Collection
Publisher: Sweet Promise Press
Published: 2018-08-10T04:00:00+00:00

* * *

Saturday, Ariel stayed in her room, huddling beneath her comforter, occasionally playing a game on her tablet, but mostly napping. In the afternoon, a knock on the front door roused Roth from his place at the computer where he’d been reading articles on how to help victims of trauma.

He shoved his reading glasses on top of his head and rubbed his eyes. On his steps, Kyanna held a smallish box, the sunlight turning her hair to gold.

She raised her chin. “Good afternoon. I wanted to check on Ariel.”

Roth backed into the house, motioning her inside. Her flowery tank top made her eyes look bluer than the sky.

He blinked at the dim interior of his living room. “Ariel’s in her room. She’s been sleeping a lot today.”

“How are you holding up?”

Roth froze on the path to his daughter’s room. As if his feelings mattered. He turned his head, noting the compassion creasing her lips and flooding her eyes.

He sighed. “Blaming myself. Trying to figure out how to help her cope.” He shoved his hand into his hair, ramming his fingers into the glasses he’d left there. Heat pulsed up his neck as pulled the glasses away.

“I think we’re all going to play the blame game for a while. It’s normal.”

He frowned, catching the insinuation of her words. “Why would you blame yourself?”

Kyanna raised her eyebrows, and he saw the glaze of tears in her eyes. “I knew Arthur was trouble, but I didn’t do anything to keep her away from him.”

“Everyone has to be accountable for their own actions.” He touched her arm, quickly pulling away from the silky skin. “You aren’t to blame for what Arthur did or who Ariel spent time with.” Air rushed out when he huffed. “I failed to show up when my daughter needed an escort to Homecoming.”

“She could have stayed home.”

Roth cocked his head. “What sixteen-year-old would miss such a big social event?”

Kyanna shrugged. “Clearly, the only person to blame is the attacker.”

Roth clenched his hands. His fists yearned to connect with that man. “The police have leads, but they told me not to hope for a conviction. Apparently, the residents of the apartments where the cousin lives tend to cover for each other.”

“If I can identify him…”

Roth waved her to a stop. He knocked on Ariel’s partly open door. She rolled toward him. The bruise on her face was purple and black, and he glimpsed the red welt on her neck. Frustrated rage swelled in him.

“Miss Patchett is here.”

Ariel nodded and struggled into a sitting position. Roth twisted to beckon the principal forward and nearly collided with her. A warm apple pie scent drifted from the woman. Her lips curved into a semblance of a smile, but worry etched lines around her eyes.

Roth motioned her into the room and leaned on the doorframe.

“I brought you something.” After handing Ariel the box, Kyanna sat on the end of the bed. “That’s quite the shiner.”

Ariel fumbled to open the gift. When she removed the lid, an assortment of chocolates made her lips twitch into a smile.

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