BOH 8-21-07 (00178434).DOC by Unknown Read Free Book Online

“Sure. I’m on my way.” She
    stepped around him, quickening her step when she sensed
    him on her heels.
    She sank into her usual chair and halfheartedly
    munched on pizza that went down hard as a piece of
    cardboard. Soon as Katy went to bed, she’d tell Mike her
    news.
    “Yoo hoo, Cyn. Are you with us?”
    Katy giggled and followed Mike’s question with a
    comment of her own. “Space to Cyn. Do you read me?”
    Cyn tossed her crust into the box. “Sorry. Guess I’m
    preoccupied. Did I miss something important?”
    Katy sipped her milk and wiped off the white
    mustache. “Just us talking about my birthday party. It’s
    tomorrow afternoon. Here. Fifteen of my friends are
    38

    Bridge of Hope

    coming. I need a big cake.”
    Cyn bolted to attention. “You’re kidding me? Why
    didn’t you say something sooner?”
    Mike tweaked Katy’s nose. “She’s teasing. Her
    birthday isn’t until September. Off to bed, sweet pea.
    You’ve got ten minutes before I come tuck you in.”
    Katy jumped to her feet. “G’night, Cyn.”
    “Good night. Sweet dreams.”
    Katy scampered out and an uncomfortable silence
    hung. Cyn didn’t know what to make of the strange
    tension in the air. She cleared off the table and prepared
    to wash the few dishes when a warm breath whispered on
    the back of her neck. Her knees threatened to buckle. If
    she turned just now…
    “Come sit down. What’s troubling you? The move?”
    He spoke and ruined her fantasy. She scooted away
    to a chair on the far side of the table. “No. I’m happy with
    the apartment. I think it’ll be good for me.”
    Despite picking a chair as far away from Mike as
    possible, he walked around the table and sat next to her.
    “Then what is it?”
    She stared at her folded hands and attempted a
    smile. “I’ve always had difficulty accepting change. I’m
    working on it.”
    She raised her head and stared into green eyes. The
    bottom dropped out of her stomach like when she rode
    Ferris wheel at the County Fair.
    “You’re not alone in fighting that particular demon,”
    he said.
    “Speaking of change, I found a job.” She threw her
    news out and watched his reaction.
    Mike sat in dazed silence, gaze glued to Cyn’s mouth.
    A wide smile lit up her face. He could count on one hand
    the times he’d seen her smile like this. Blue eyes sparkled
    with excitement and something else he couldn’t put a
    name to.
    “That’s wonderful,” he replied and hoped the lack of
    enthusiasm in his voice passed without notice. “I didn’t
    39

    Pam Champagne

    realize you were in the market for one.” Why couldn’t he
    be happy for her?
    “Dr. Wentworth suggested it. The more I considered
    the idea, the more sense it made. Otherwise, I’ll never be
    able to support myself.”
    “The important thing is that you’re moving forward.
    Tell me about the job. Is it on base? I’ll have to find
    another sitter for Katy,” he muttered, more to himself
    than Cyn.
    Her blonde curls swung like silk when she shook her
    head. “No, not on base. The library in town.”
    “You’re kidding me?”
    Mike instantly regretted laughing when her smile
    vanished.
    She pushed away from the table. “What’s so funny?
    Got something against libraries?”
    “Of course not. It’s just that I can’t picture you
    working in one.”
    She glared at him. “You don’t need to make other
    arrangements for Katy. I work mornings so I can drop her
    off at school and pick her up in the afternoon.”
    Mike tilted back in the chair, rubbed his chin and
    realized he needed a shave. Since when did he worry
    about a few whiskers? “Are you sure? I can look for
    someone else.”
    She bristled like a cat protecting her kittens. “And
    get someone else like Doreen?”
    He coughed to stop the laughter tickling his throat.
    “No. I’d go through an agency this time. Anyway, it’s not
    your problem. So when do you start?”
    Her gaze slid toward the clock. “Tomorrow at 9 a.m.”
    Mike