Steeling My Haart by Lizzy Roberts Read Free Book Online Page B

she would get there eventually. Her Upper West Side
apartment building was one of the nicer ones in the city. When she had
graduated from college, she had landed herself an amazing job offer with
Whernside and Associates, one of the biggest licensing, branding, and corporate
legal practices in the country. The job was interesting and paid well, which
allowed her to live in a reasonably big apartment in a nice building. She had
splashed out on the apartment just last year after making enough with one of
her bonus checks to pay a huge down payment on the stunning property. She had
little else to spend her hard-earned money on and certainly no one else to
share it with – apart from the odd transfer she made to her parents who
still lived back in Oklahoma, just a few towns away from Glen Springs.  
             As
she waited for the elevator to arrive her thoughts drifted as they sometimes
did. She had it all. A great job, fantastic apartment, and enough money to be
comfortable but she was lonely and just in that moment she felt incredibly sad.
This wasn’t supposed to be how it all worked out. She wasn’t supposed to be
alone and so miserable. Her life consisted of a job she was good at, but had no
passion for, a beautiful apartment that wasn’t a home, and a lonely existence
that should have been full of happiness. Deep down, she knew a long time had
passed. Eight long years, in fact, but the reason for her constant melancholy
took the form of Charlie Haart, the man who saved her life and stole her heart
then crushed it and walked away.

Chapter
Six
     
            Just
as the elevator bell rang out to signal its arrival, an almighty squeal of
excitement erupted from behind her.   Turning and wiping the stray tear away from her cheek, she plastered on
a smile as little Adie ran to her and grabbed her legs from behind, nearly
sending her flying.  
             “Auntie
Em! Auntie Em! I’m having a sweep over at your house tonight and I’m so
excited!” the little voice excitedly announced.  
             Emma
bent down and placed the bags and the food she was holding onto the floor and
scooped up her beautiful three-year-old goddaughter, hugging her tight and kissing
her all over her face.
             “I’m
pretty excited, too, Adie, but you are going to have to tell me how these sleepovers
work, though.   I’ve never done one
before!”
             Before
either of them could say anything, Lily abandoned the stroller and bags she was
carrying and came barreling towards the two of them and flung her arms round
them both, hugging them tight.  
             “Em,
thanks so much for doing this. I know it’s a lot to ask but you don’t know what
this means to me.” Her voice was shaky as she spoke and the strain was plain on
her tiny face.
             Emma
was surprised when she looked at her friend. Lily was usually so put together
and her long shiny, blonde hair framing her tiny elfin face was the envy of any
woman, but today she noticed the usually impeccable presentation was sorely
lacking. Her normally sparkling blue eyes were a dull grey and her beautiful
hair was in need of a good wash and hung limply around her shoulders. She was
wearing baggy yoga pants, covered in kid grime and coupled with a huge hoodie
and sneakers. Emma was worried to think that this wasn’t the usual Lily, who
normally, despite having two small kids, would have at least attempted to tame
her hair and wear a little make up.
             “Okay,
lets get you all up to my apartment and I’ll get us both something to drink,
eh?   Adie, sweety, would you help me
carry my bags into the elevator and I’ll help your Mommy? And if you do a good
job, honey, you can press the buttons, too!” Emma gently said as she let go of Lily
and placed Adie on the floor and picked up her things before holding the door
for the stroller.
             The
short elevator ride was full of chatter from