Where Angels Tread by Clare Kenna Read Free Book Online Page A

realize you were married.” He looked as though he was suddenly very sorry for coming inside.
    “I’m not,” Heidi added quickly. “Not anymore, at least. My husband—Zachary’s father—died about three years ago.” Even as she said those words out loud, she had a hard time believing that they were true. Had it really been that long since she had last heard John’s voice, felt his strong arms wrapped tightly around her body? It didn’t seem possible, but somehow, it was.
    “I’m sorry to hear that,” Shane murmured. Heidi busied herself with pouring the coffee into mugs, trying her best to hide the expression on her face. Since she met Shane, her mind and body were in constant turmoil, battling the mix of emotions tumbling through her at all times. Feelings of attraction, mixed with a healthy dose of guilt. Heidi knew in her heart that John would want her to move on, to be happy, but living a fulfilling life without him seemed to her like a betrayal of the worst kind.
    “Thank you,” Heidi said, handing Shane one of the mugs and leading him into the living room. She motioned for him to take a seat on the couch, while she settled herself across from him in the rocking chair that used to be John’s throne. “It’s been hard, but Zachary and I have been doing our best to pick up the pieces and try to live some semblance of a happy life.” She took a sip of the coffee and grimaced. “Sorry. I made this much too strong.”
    “It’s fine,” Shane said, lifting his own mug to his lips. Heidi watched as he puckered his mouth to take in the first steaming sip. “I’ve had a long day and I could use a little extra caffeine.” He licked a few drops of coffee from his lips. “I got to spend a little bit of time with Zachary the other day and he seems like a really sweet kid.”
    “If you can get past the persona he’s trying to adopt, then you’re right,” Heidi said, running her finger along the rim of her mug. “It’s his way of grieving, I guess. Although really all he’s accomplishing is isolating himself from the other kids at school. And from me.”
    Shane’s expression turned grave; Heidi’s cheeks flushed in embarrassment. Why on earth was she pouring her heart out to this man? He was practically a stranger. She sensed, though, that Shane was a good listener, someone she could open up to.
    He studied his coffee for a moment before replying. “I got that sense as well when I spoke with him the other day,” he admitted. “Like he was doing his best to act like he didn’t care, when I could tell that he did.”
    Heidi nodded. “I saw you playing basketball with him through the window,” she said, remembering the look on her son’s face as he lifted his hand in the air for Shane to high-five. “I have to say, I haven’t seen Zachary look so happy in years. I wish I could play, but I was always hopeless at sports. I used to spend my time reading, so I guess you could say I’m kind of a nerd.”
    Shane laughed. “Nothing wrong with a bookworm. My sister Jaime was the same way as a kid, and now she runs a successful editing company. I was the opposite, actually. I used to play every kind of sport imaginable. Basketball was one of my favorites. There’s no feeling in the world like that rush you get as the ball swooshes through that hoop.” He stopped talking, a faraway expression on his face. “Of course,” he added with a grin. “As I got older I realized that there were better things in life, but as a kid I was obsessed.”
    “Zachary used to play, too. John would shoot hoops with him after work for an hour every night. He had a bunch of friends on the team, too. He hasn’t brought a friend home since then.” She cleared her throat awkwardly. “Listen to me going on and on about my son. You’ll have to forgive me. Since you officers picked him up, I’ve been worrying about him nonstop. I’m afraid he’s going down a bad path in life, and I feel helpless to stop it.”
    Shane