The Marriage Merger by Sandy Curtis Read Free Book Online

a
satisfied smile.
    “Pardon?” Jenna asked.
    “Jeff never said you were such a good cook.”
Tiny lines crinkled the corners of Braden’s eyes. He had changed
into tee-shirt and jeans that moulded to the lean muscular length
of him so well she had had trouble concentrating on the cooking
skills he praised. He admired the animal biscuits Caitlin had
offered, and although she hadn’t smiled Jenna had seen the pleasure
in her eyes. The roast lamb, baked potatoes and vegetables were
cooked to perfection. But when he watched Jenna making the gravy
she became so nervous she ordered him out of the kitchen, then
hurriedly removed the lumps that had formed.
    He refused dessert, then changed his mind at
the sight of the fresh fruit salad, chunky with tropical fruits.
Caitlin ate quietly but steadily, and now her eyes were heavy with
tiredness. Jenna tenderly brushed strands of dark hair across the
small forehead and lifted the little girl in her arms.
    “You’re not such a big girl that I can’t
carry you in to bed, are you Possum?” she asked. The small head
sagged against her shoulder and as the little arms crept around her
Jenna’s heart swelled with affection. Caitlin was such an easy
child to love, and her need for acceptance and security triggered
Jenna’s protective instinct. She was determined that somehow she
would find a way to heal Caitlin’s psychological injuries as well
as her physical ones. She knew it was possible for Caitlin’s hip
and leg to recover completely, and she had seen some miraculous
progress in other children similarly afflicted.
    The wounds to Caitlin’s psyche were another
matter. The physical scars, although permanent, would fade in time,
but to Caitlin they represented the reason for her mother’s
rejection of her. Jenna hoped that if Alicia could see Caitlin
walking normally again she might be able to come to terms with her
guilt and accept Caitlin as she was now.
    After she watched Caitlin brush her teeth she
tucked her into bed. For the past two nights Jenna had left a lamp
on in the far corner of the room so Caitlin wouldn’t be completely
in the dark. As she’d left the room she’d been puzzled by the taut
line of Caitlin’s body under the covers and the look in her eyes.
It was almost but not quite a plea, an entreaty that Jenna stay
because there was something else to do. It had gnawed at the back
of Jenna’s mind. Now she sat on the side of the bed.
    She watched Caitlin’s little fingers linked
together and suddenly realised that what she had surmised was the
child’s distress at fearing sleep for the dreams it would bring was
actually the clasp of hands in prayer. She covered the small hands
with her own.
    “Dear God,” she prayed aloud, “please look
after Caitlin’s Mum and help her to get better, and keep her Daddy
safe with you in Heaven.”
    Caitlin’s tense look started to relax, and
Jenna went to lift her hands away. The tension returned and Jenna
realised she was meant to continue. “And please look after Uncle
Braden and keep him safe.” With this addition Caitlin’s breath
released in a satisfied sigh. She lifted her arms and her hug gave
Jenna time to blink back the tears she could feel threatening to
spill.
    She turned to leave and saw Braden shadowed
in the hallway. He walked to the bed and bent down as Caitlin
opened her arms to him. The tender smile on his face transformed
the hard lines and Jenna realised with a thudding heart how deeply
she was attracted to that face and the man behind it.
    Her initial physical attraction had changed
to something far deeper. Sympathy, yes, but she had felt
sympathetic towards other patients’ family members. There was
something about Braden that pulled at her heart. He was a strong
man with a forceful personality but the tenderness and caring he so
obviously felt for Caitlin revealed more to Jenna than he would
probably have liked. It was at odds with the cynical attitude he
had displayed when she had originally