A Healer's Touch by Ashlynn Monroe Read Free Book Online Page A

bastard at the service don’t worry about it.  For all I know my bank foreclosed on his home and he was looking for an excuse.  You don’t have a monopoly on random hatred.”
    “No Fabian, I’m done.  You just have a hero complex.  Eventually you’ll see I’m right and this is for the best.”
    Rushing around , Phoebe gathered her things and her son’s things, and before Fabian could stop her she loaded her car and left.  He stood there watching her drive out of his life, his heart felt shredded.
     

Chapter Eight
     
    New Years Eve was always a busy night at Margie’s and it was the first night Phoebe was back to work.  Time had let some of the rancor towards her settle down and she had to support herself so she was glad when Jana readily gave her the job back.  Each night she lay in her bed crying and missing Fabian.  She loved him with all her heart and soul.  She refused to let him suffer because of what she was.  She was still going to the nursing home and she had managed not to run into him when he visited his grandfather, but each time she went she had secretly hoped just to see him.  She missed his face.  She missed his voice. Doing the right thing sucked.
    Fireworks at midnight brought most of the town out.  Phoebe thought about all the kissing couples she would envy.  Having a broken heart was not the way she wanted to start the New Year. The choice she’d made ripped her heart to shreds. He’d been protecting her from the moment he entered her life, it was her turn to protect him.
    As the patrons started to pile out into the cold , she sighed.  Everyone seemed to be in love. Following the crowd out, the countdown began and she looked up expectantly at the sky.  Watching the fireworks would keep her from thinking about Fabian’s lips.
    “Three, two, one, H appy New Year everyone! Don’t forget to grab a New Year’s glass of the bubbly,” shouted one of the other waitresses. Noisemakers and fireworks erupted with sound and light.
    Phoebe looked up into the sky to see the bright beauty of the fireworks.  Suddenly she was no longer looking up ; instead, her face had been captured.  She felt familiar arms holding her.  Fabian kissed her passionately.
    When he finally stopped kissing her, he spoke.  His voice was rough and raw with his emotion.
    “I refuse to start the New Year without you .”  He stroked her cheek gently.  “I love you and I want you in my life, Phoebe.  You gave me a terrible Christmas present but I’ll forgive you if you give me a New Year’s Eve to remember.  The day you left, I realized how empty my life is without you. I like having Simon around too.  The boy needs a man in his life.” He paused and took a deep breath.  His expression looked tormented.  He had bags under his eyes as if he wasn’t sleeping.  Seeing the look tore at her heart.  “You are more precious to me than I can explain.  It feels like I’ve known you forever.  I…I’ve never felt like this about another woman. I know this is going to sound crazy, but marry me and the town can be damned.”  His eyes searched hers, looking for her response. “They won’t suddenly forget you’re what you are and no expert on the news or amount of time will make those who hate stop hating you.  I will always be from the Sterling family and right now, I make decisions, hard decisions, affecting almost every resident in this town, people will always want to slug me.  For the brief time that you were mine, I finally belonged here.  When you are in my arms, I feel real peace.  I want to be your husband and I want to be the father Simon deserves.  Will you let me belong to you, Phoebe?  Will you be my wife?” His breath froze in little puffs as he spoke, and a glint in his eye awed her as she realized it was a tear.  He hurt as much as she did because of her noble stupidity.
    Tears began rolling off her cheeks as the magnitude of her mistake overwhelmed her.  She shouldn’t have