Jake's Bride by Karen Rose Smith Read Free Book Online

unless it was Mr. Gunthry.  "I'm coming."
    She hurried down the stairs.  Before she lifted the receiver to her ear, Jake said, "It's a guy named Mark."
    Sara smiled.  Mark was a good friend and had been her next door apartment neighbor.  Sinking down on the floor where the phone lay, she crossed her legs under her.
    Jake was almost finished removing furniture from the living room to the garage.  All that remained were the end tables and coffee table.  He concentrated on them now, making sure nothing was left in the small drawers.  He listened, not feeling guilty in the least.  The past few weeks, he'd felt as if his life had been turned upside down.  The more he saw Christopher, the more time he wanted to spend with him.  Each time he left his son, he didn't like the feeling.
    There was only one solution to not leaving Christopher...having Christopher live with him.  Yet he couldn't take a child from his mother.  Besides, there were no grounds.  From what Jake could see, Christopher came first with Sara.  Always.
    Of course, there was another solution.  He could marry  Sara.  After all, she'd taken care of their son and from what he could tell had done a very good job.  She'd raised him alone and Jake knew that couldn't have been easy.  On the other hand, at any time she could have called him.  Why hadn't she?
    He wondered about her decision to stay in L.A.  Was she doing it for herself, for him, for Christopher?  Was she staying out of guilt?  Where Sara was concerned, there were too many questions and not enough answers.  Because he didn't know if he could believe what she told him.  He didn't know if he could believe her about anything important ever again.
    The problem was that whenever he came within two feet of her...
    "Hi, Mark.  I meant to call but things have been hectic.   Thanksgiving?  I hope to get back sooner than that to pick up the boxes I left with Mr. Jenkins."  She glanced sideways at Jake as if she wished he weren't within hearing distance.
    Tough.  He was staying.  Sara had driven back to Wasco twice, returning with carfuls both times.  The boxes were stacked in Eloise's garage.  Sara had taken Christopher to Wasco with her.  Those were the only two days Jake had missed seeing his son since he'd learned he had one.  Now, he wondered how much time Sara had spent with this man named Mark.
    "No, I know we didn't have much since it was furnished," Sara said.  "I left a few boxes I couldn't fit into the car.  Mr. Jenkins was great.  He pro-rated the month."  She listened for a moment.  "If you could do that, it would save me another trip up.  I'll send you a money order so you can ship them.  You have my aunt's address?"  She smiled and listened again.
    "Christopher is fine.  He hasn't mentioned yet what he wants for Christmas.  A fire engine?  I'm sure he'd love it.  I've been trying to get Mom's estate in order but now I'll concentrate on him and the holidays...Sure you can talk to him.  Hold on."  She cupped her hand over the receiver.  "Christopher.  Mark wants to tell you something."
    Jake watched his son run to the phone, eager to talk to the man on the other end of the line.  While Sara looked on, Christopher chattered to Mark about his aunt, the ice cream cone he had yesterday and finally said, "I have a Daddy now."  He held out the receiver to his mother.
    Sara took the phone.  "Yes, I did.  I wasn't going to get into that now."  She glanced up at Jake.  "Yes, everything's fine.  I'll write or call when we're more settled."
    After a few more minutes of conversation, she hung up.   Christopher ran back to the kitchen to be with Eloise and Jake asked, "Who's Mark?"
    Sara rose from the floor.  "He was a neighbor...and friend."
    "How much of a friend?"
    "He's going to send the few remaining boxes so I don't have to drive back up."
    "Have you known him long?"
    "Ever since I moved to Wasco."
    "He's not married, I take it."
    "No.