Monday's Child by Clare Revell Read Free Book Online

lifted her face toward the stairs. “I’m in the kitchen. Do you want breakfast? I’m making coffee. Do you want some? Or do you prefer tea?”
    “Coffee. Thanks.”
    “All right, breakfast in five minutes.” Sara made the coffee. She fought back the wave of nausea that flooded through her. Maybe she wouldn’t have any yet.
    She glanced up as Luke came in. “Morning.”
    “Good morning.” He studied her. “Are you all right?”
    “Yeah.” Could he tell she was sick? “You?”
    “I’m good, but I didn’t have the nightmare last night.”
    Oh the nightmare. That’s what he’s worried about. She shrugged as she spooned coffee granules into two mugs. “I have at least one every night. I have for months. I should be used to them, but I don’t think I ever will be. That one was the worst so far.”
    “Have you spoken to someone about them?”
    The kettle clicked off and she tipped the boiling water into the mugs. “Counseling? No way. It’s a nightmare. I’m not crazy, and only crazy people need shrinks.”
    “Maybe you should consider it.”
    “In your dreams. No shrinks. You have milk and sugar in your coffee?”
    “Neither thanks. I really think you should talk to someone.”
    “One neat coffee coming up. I have both.” She changed the subject. “You look cold, Leftenant.”
    Luke shivered, rubbing his arms. “I’m freezing. The cold here goes straight to the bone. I’ll have to get some thick sweaters. I didn’t pack any. I had no idea what the weather would be like. Is it always...so miserably wet and cold?”
    “Pretty much. Even in the summer, it’s rainy and chilly, but it’s winter here now, so it’s going to be yucky for a while.”
    “It’s winter at home, too, but not— like this .”
    “Be right back.” Sara ran upstairs. Opening her case, she pulled out Jamie’s jumper. Pressing it to her face, she inhaled. It smelled of Jamie’s favorite cologne. She never imagined giving it away, but she didn’t think Jamie would mind. Anyway, she could ask the leftenant to give it back when Jamie finally showed his face permanently. She halted in the doorway. Should she say if instead of when?
    Running back downstairs, Sara held the jumper out to Luke. “Here, put this on. It’s Jamie’s.”
    Luke shook his head. “I can’t accept this.”
    She glanced at the microwave as it beeped. “Please, Leftenant. I can’t watch you freeze. At least borrow it.”
    “Thanks.” Luke took it and put it on over his cotton shirt.
    Sara half smiled. “It suits you.”
    Luke grinned.
    Had she said that out loud?
    Wishing her stomach would stop turning, Sara made the porridge, handed the steaming bowl to Luke, and sat at the table. “Here you go.”
    “Thank you. Aren’t you having any?”
    “Not yet. It’s too early. I can barely keep coffee down before ten.” She swallowed hard, hating this time of day with a passion. “Excuse me.”
    Clamping a hand over her mouth, she bolted for the bathroom.
     
    ****
     
    Luke sat and stared at the doorway Sara ran through. What the heck just happened? Should I follow her?
    She’d probably prefer her privacy, stubborn woman. He said grace and then ate as his stomach growled like a hollow log with a bear inside. He couldn’t believe he was this hungry. He didn’t usually eat breakfast. He prayed for her as he ate. That she’d come to accept the situation and see he was here for her good and not for evil.
    Sara came back downstairs, as pale as the shirt he had on under the sweater she loaned him. “Are you all right, Sara?”
    “Not really, but it’ll pass. It always does.” She started washing the dishes. “Shall I make a shopping list so we can go and get the stuff we need?”
    Noticing the change of subject, Luke dropped her illness for now, but he’d keep an eye on her. Something was very wrong here. “Sure, make a shopping list and I’ll see it gets taken care of.”
    “I thought I—we could go. It’s Saturday, so there’ll be