Captured Heart (A Garrett's Point Novel) by Savanna Grey Read Free Book Online

smiled down at her, his six foot frame towering over her. Brown eyes darkened like cocoa stared into her baby blues as she blinked several times, trying to focus in and glean anything from his expression.
    “Emma, I haven’t had an opportunity to thank you for everything you have done over the past three days.” She started to interrupt him, but he placed a finger to her lips preventing her from speaking. “Let me finish please.” Nodding, she allowed him to continue.
    “I don’t know what the attorney will say tomorrow, but I know there will still be a lot of details to sort through. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I was hoping you might consider staying here with Olivia and me the rest of this week for Olivia’s sake while we work things out? I know it’s supposed to be your Spring Break and all…”
    “Don’t be ridiculous, Jack. Nothing is more important to me right now than Olivia’s wellbeing. Of course I’ll stay for the remainder of the week, and we’ll go from there.”
    Relief flooded Jack like a levy that had let loose. He hadn’t realized how afraid he was to be left alone just yet with Olivia. A small voice in the back of his mind was shouting at him that it wasn’t just about Olivia. He pushed the mute button on the internal voice and ignored it. He needed Emma’s help. That was all.
    “Time to head back, Liv.” Emma herded Olivia back to the house with Jack and Tucker in tow. Tucker had played in the edge of the water, splashing and chasing sticks that Olivia tossed. He was going to need a good wipe down.
    “Do you want chicken casserole, chicken casserole or chicken casserole for dinner?” Emma jokingly asked Jack. “I think we could feed an army with leftover chicken casserole.”
    Jack thought back to all the people that had been at the funeral or come by the house dropping off food. It seems Jack and Dana had made a lot of good friends here as well as Emma. She seemed to know everyone, and everyone loved her.
    “The people of Garrett’s Point certainly seem to be supportive of one another. The food just kept coming.” He smiled remembering how many times Dana had shared with him how special she thought Garrett’s Point was. He was starting to get a glimpse of why she felt that way. He didn’t even know his next door neighbor’s name back in Richmond, but that was life in the city.
    The three of them ate a light meal sitting on the floor around the coffee table of the family room. Olivia yawned creating a chain reaction from both Emma and Jack. Laughing in unison, Jack said, “Why don’t you take Olivia up and get ready for bed. I’ll clean up.”
    Emma found Jack in the family room. He had started a fire and was reclined on the sofa, his head leaning back and his long jean-clad legs were outstretched across the coffee table. A wine glass was in his hand. His expression barely visible in the firelight made Emma pause. Grief completely unmasked and so painful.
    “Jack.” Whispering his name she came to the couch and sat down beside him and waited.
    He was staring at the mantle full of family photos. “You know my parents have been gone for over ten years. Dana was all I had left. Now she’s gone too.” His tone was so matter-of-fact.
    Emma couldn’t refrain from offering him comfort. She couldn’t stand to see him hurting so. “You’re not alone, Jack. You have Olivia. She needs you.” Jack turned to look at Emma directly as he took her words in. “And you have me. I’ll be here to help you Jack. We can help each other. I feel like I’ve lost a sister too.” Her voice broke and she couldn’t continue, not without falling apart.
    Jack sat up and gathered her to him, his arms wrapping tightly around her in a soothing embrace. His hands rubbed up and down her back offering comfort. Emma buried her face in the crook of his neck. “I just can’t believe they are gone.” her whisper barely audible.
    Tears she had been holding back for three days streamed down her