A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman Read Free Book Online

you’ll meet a nice young woman.”
    A wry smile hovered on Steven’s lips. “Nice young woman? Hanging out with Joe and the others? I don’t think so, Pop. You didn’t take a shine to the women I met hanging out with Joe and the gang before. What makes you think you will now?”
    “I’m not talking about women like Maggie. Surely there must be some decent young girls you can meet and get to know?”
    “Young?” Steven leaned to kiss his mother’s cheek. “Yep, plenty of those. But decent?” He slapped Patrick on the shoulder. “Trust me, Pop, they’re few and far between. See you later.”
    A thunderous clomping rattled down the staircase, followed by a slam of the front screen door, indicating Gabe was more than ready. “Steeeeeeeeeven!! Meet you on the porch swing.”
    “One Nehi only, Steven,” Marcy warned. “And don’t let her talk you into chocolate—heaven knows she already has enough sugar to keep her up for days.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Steven said with a wave. “Enjoy the solitude.”
    The screen door slammed again, and Patrick eased into the love seat with a sigh. He drew Marcy close. “Solitude,” he whispered. “Heaven help me, I almost don’t recognize it anymore.”
    He felt Marcy’s chuckle against his chest. “Don’t get too used to it, Patrick. We have two sons and a very active foster daughter who still call this home.” Her sigh seemed one of pure contentment. “Besides, raising someone as young and vital as Gabe will help keep us young.”
    His fingers caressed the back of her neck before tilting her face to meet his. One brow edged high as he studied her with a slant of a smile. “I can think of better ways to stay young, Marceline,” he whispered, allowing his eyes to linger on the fullness of her lips.
    She pressed a hand to the scruff of his jaw and smiled while a faint blush colored her cheeks. “And better ways to spend your sweet solitude, I suppose.”
    “Mmm . . . ,” he whispered, taking her lips with his own. His mouth trailed to caress the lobe of her ear. “Sweet solitude, indeed.”

    Emma unlatched the spiked wrought-iron gate and skittered up the red-cobblestoned steps of Mrs. Tunny’s stately, brick row house to see Alli, her adrenaline still coursing from the excitement of the day. She pressed her finger to the ornate buzzer beside the carved wooden door impressively flanked by graceful Greek columns and whispered her usual prayer of gratitude. Thank you, God, for helping me find such a wonderful home for one of my dearest friends. And on Beacon Hill, no less.
    The door swung wide, and she was met by a tiny slip of a woman with warm brown eyes and snow-white hair perched atop her head in a tight little bun. “Emma—come in, come in! How was the wedding? Oh, I bet Katie was a beautiful bride, wasn’t she?” She steered her inside with a strength that belied the tiny, blue-veined wrist clamped to Emma’s arm like a vise.
    “Oh, you should have seen her, Mrs. Tunny!” Emma breathed. “She was stunning—a sleek satin dress handmade by her mother, all studded with pearls at the neckline. Trust me, Luke couldn’t keep his eyes off her.” Emma grinned and wagged a sack in her hand, her tone playfully singsong. “And I have wedding cake . . .”
    Mrs. Tunny giggled like a schoolgirl as she closed the front door. “Oh, I’m so sorry Alli had to miss it, but the good news is I think the worst of her flu is over. And your timing is perfect because she just finished her dinner.” The elderly woman snatched the bag from Emma’s hand and shooed her down the hall. “Now, you go on and see her, and I’ll serve up the cake. How about a cup of tea or coffee to go with it?”
    “Oh, tea would be lovely, Mrs. Tunny, thank you.” Emma hurried to the end of the hall and peeked into the sunroom Mrs. Tunny had converted into a bedroom for Alli. Her lips lifted into a soft curve at the sight of the frail young woman asleep in the bed, barely a bump