You Belong To Me by Patricia Sargeant Read Free Book Online Page A

missed these past four years? What could he have had if pride and fear hadn’t crippled him?
    â€œGood morning, Lynnie,” he said. “I hope our talking didn’t wake you.”
    â€œNo, you didn’t wake me.” She yawned wide before settling more comfortably into Nicole’s lap.
    Nicole tipped her wrist to check her watch. “Oops. We’re running behind schedule, sweetie pie.” She rubbed Lynnette’s upper arms before sliding the little girl off her lap. Lynnette claimed the seat Nicole vacated, sitting sideways in the chair and swinging her legs.
    â€œWhat would you like for breakfast?” Nicole called over her shoulder as she hurried into the kitchen. “Scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, panc—”
    â€œCereal,” Lynnette interrupted in a singsong voice that suggested this was a rehearsed exchange. She slid a look toward Malcolm, her lips tipped shyly. Malcolm winked at her, and Lynnette ducked her head as her smile blossomed into a chubby-cheeked grin.
    â€œJust cereal?” Nicole called incredulously, continuing the script.
    â€œJust cereal,” Lynnette affirmed. “Cereal and—”
    â€œJuice,” Nicole finished, carrying the requested meal on a tray. Once she’d placed the cereal, juice, and spoon on the table, she handed Lynnette a napkin, which the child crushed into the neck of her nightgown with pudgy, little hands.
    â€œThank you,” Lynnette said, digging into the bowl.
    â€œI’m going to get your clothes together, sweetie.” Nicole stroked her goddaughter’s hair. “Just call me if you need me.”
    â€œOkay,” Lynnette answered, her attention on her cereal.
    Nicole looked at Malcolm, and he understood her hesitancy. He gave her a reassuring smile to let her know he didn’t mind watching Lynnette while Nicole was in the other room. Nicole hurried into what appeared to be her bedroom.
    Malcolm returned his attention to his young companion, searching his brain for a conversational topic. He was accustomed to being around children. He visited with his nephews several times a year and spoke with them often on the phone. He was fluent in the language of Power Rangers, Transformers, and Dragonball Z. But somehow he didn’t think those languages would interest this young-lady-in-training. He had steeled himself to ask about Blues Clues or even Barney, when she surprised him by opening her own dialogue.
    â€œAre you a friend of my Aunt Nicky?”
    â€œYes, I am.”
    â€œHow come I haven’t seen you before?” she asked between spoonfuls of Apple Jacks.
    â€œI live in California. This is my first trip back to New York in a long time,” he added in an effort to extend the topic. Anything to avoid a discussion of Barney or Blues Clues.
    â€œCalifornia?” Her eyes widened, and her spoon slipped from her fingers to clatter against the bowl. “Isn’t that really far away?”
    â€œYes. It’s about three thousand miles away.”
    â€œWow,” she breathed, concern coloring her tone. “How can you be friends with Aunty Nicky if you live so far away?”
    â€œWell,” Malcolm searched for a simple answer, “we aren’t close friends.”
    Lynnette giggled at the unintended joke. She leaned forward eagerly, eyes sparkling in her small, brown face as she waited for his next comedic endeavor.
    Malcolm laughed. “How old are you, Lynnie?”
    â€œI’m four,” she stated. “I’ll be five on my next birthday.”
    With that, she launched into a discussion of her birthday plans: who she wanted to spend it with, where she wanted to go, and what she wanted to do. All the while, Malcolm wondered why the enthusiasm in the little girl’s words wasn’t reflected in her eyes.
    Nicole reentered the room. “I’m sorry to break up the party, but it’s time for you to hit the showers, sweetie