Trust Me by Brenda Novak Read Free Book Online Page A

Noah, drawing strength from him while she could.
    "Sounds great. See you Friday morning."
    "Leave Kate with my mom and bring enough money for a hotel. We deserve a night alone in San Francisco, don't you think?"
    "I guess so."
    "Aren't you excited?" Oliver asked.
    She wasn't sure. She'd loved him once. Would that feeling return after he came home? She hoped so--for her sake, for Kate's sake, for everyone's.
    "Of course."
    39

Chapter 4
    "You're late."
    David stood on the stoop of his ex-wife's two-story home--his old home--and managed what he hoped was a pleasant smile. "Nice to see you, too, Lynnette."
    "Where've you been?" she asked. "I've been trying to reach you."
    He'd silenced his phone so he wouldn't have to listen to it ring.
    Hearing her bitch at him as he fought the Monday-evening commute wasn't going to bring him home--to her house--any sooner. He refused to let her badger him. "Bad day at the office."
    "They're all bad." She walked away, leaving the door open, her irritation dissolving into an attitude of bored indifference. "Jeremy's been asking for you. He was afraid you'd cancel again."
    It was David's turn to be irritated. "What are you talking about? I hardly ever cancel. Only when work gets in the way."
    "Yeah, well, you do love your work."
    As a phlebotomist at a local lab, her hours were fixed-- nine to three, five days a week, which was perfect because it coincided with Jeremy's school day. But the regularity of her schedule certainly didn't make her more understanding of the spontaneity and extra hours required in police work.
    "You know I can't always quit at five, Lynnette." His job was demanding, but not nearly as demanding as she'd been when they were together. Highly emotional, she was quick to laugh when she was in a good mood and quick to anger when she wasn't.
    "Spare me." She pulled on her shoes and grabbed a coat. Then she motioned at the closet, partially jammed with his jackets, hats, umbrellas, ski equipment. "You still have stuff in here."
    "I know." Was she asking him to remove it? So far, she'd been careful not to go that far. And he'd purposely ignored the fact that he'd left some things behind. Since Lynnette had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, which was discovered after their second divorce became final, he didn't feel he could just walk away. What kind of man would abandon the mother of his child when she was facing a lifelong battle with a disease like that? "I'll 40

    get it soon," he said with a shrug.
    "No, you won't. You'll let it sit here till it rots or I throw it in the street."
    Because he didn't have a choice. It wasn't as if she had any reliable family to turn to. His family had become her family, and they'd decided to stand by her, for her sake and Jeremy's. A phlebotomist didn't make that much, and it probably wouldn't be long before she couldn't work anymore.
    He'd already seen significant changes in her, including an even more volatile temper.
    But they used to love each other. They had ten years invested in the relationship. Surely, with enough effort and persistence, they could make it work. If only he could forget about Skye...
    "I won't be home until midnight," she said.
    Why so late? He spent every Monday with Jeremy while she attended an art class over at American River College. But she'd never come home past ten. Had she met someone else?
    If so, he couldn't believe it would last, couldn't believe she'd find a new husband who'd be willing to take care of her when her health began to deteriorate. He wasn't sure he wanted Jeremy to have a stepfather, anyway.
    That invited a whole slew of additional problems. This was his family; he'd take care of them. "Have fun," he said.
    She eyed him skeptically. "Aren't you going to ask me where I'm going after class?"
    "Should I?"
    A pained expression crossed her face. "No, I guess not. Jeremy's here.
    He's all you care about."
    "Lynn."
    She didn't look up. Taking her keys off the counter, she started for the