Apple Orchard Bride. Jessica Keller
Чтение книги онлайн.

Читать онлайн книгу Apple Orchard Bride - Jessica Keller страница 11

Название: Apple Orchard Bride

Автор: Jessica Keller

Издательство: HarperCollins

Жанр: Короткие любовные романы

Серия: Mills & Boon Love Inspired

isbn: 9781474064880

isbn:

СКАЧАТЬ She licked her lips. “You grabbing me. It should bother me. Why doesn’t it bother me?”

      He didn’t understand what she meant, but he was glad she wasn’t upset with him. Toby took a deep breath. “Tell me about your dad. That’s where we started before the conversation got derailed.”

      She twisted to lean against the counter, lightly pulling out of his hold. “He has trouble sleeping. His hands tremble. Six months ago, I didn’t know much about MS, and now I feel like I’m an encyclopedia for it.”

      “I’m sorry.” That her dad had an illness. That she was the only family he had, the only one who could shoulder taking care of him long-term. That she’d be alone someday after her dad passed. That her life had been upended by it all.

      He was sorry for all of it. But he didn’t have to explain. She got it.

      “He was diagnosed seven years ago.” Her shoulders sagged. “He kept that from me. From everyone. If he had told me when he started feeling bad, I would have left school. I could have left before my sophomore year. Before...” Her gaze sought his, desperate for encouragement. “He was suffering quietly that whole time, and I missed it. How did I miss it?”

      “Hey.” He clamped his hand on her shoulder and gave a gentle shake. “Don’t blame yourself. This isn’t your fault. Nothing you did or didn’t do caused this or made it worse. You have to believe that, or else questioning it will eat you alive.”

      “You were so young.” She looked at the ground. “With Ben.”

      Even fifteen years later, he couldn’t talk about Ben. Didn’t want to. Not even with Jenna.

      Toby’s arm slacked. “Don’t worry about the motorized wheelchair. I get what it means to you...why it’s such a hard thing. But I’ll help. I’ll build a ramp into the house this weekend.”

      Jenna’s eyes went wide. “I didn’t even think about that. I should probably move his bedroom downstairs, too.”

      Toby mapped out their farmhouse in his mind. “Yes, the bedroom can go into his office. That’s a great idea.”

      “And we’ll move out the rugs and install some handrails.” The first real smile lit up her face. It brought life to her blue eyes, along with the excitement and freedom he was used to seeing there. He’d counted on these expressions from her. She was his beacon of hope, his best friend. Back again. If only for the span of a few heartbeats.

      Toby’s heart twisted. He’d do anything to get her to smile more around him. “We’ll make that place safe for him.”

      “Thank you.” She eased away from the counter. “I really should head in and check on him. I’ll talk to him about moving his room downstairs.”

      “I’ll finish the cider and head back out to the orchard.” He jerked his head in the direction of the tree line. “It looks like there’s going to be a great harvest. You’ve worked hard here, all on your own. You’re a strong woman, Jenna. I hope you know that.”

      She tossed down the dishrag and muttered, “If only that was true.”

      He opened his mouth to argue with her, but Jenna headed toward the door. She glanced over her shoulder as she exited. “Bring the cider to dinner. You’re welcome to join us around five.”

      “I’ll have Kasey.” He pushed his hands into his pockets.

      “Kasey’s welcome, too. I want to meet her.”

      “Then we’ll be there.”

      Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

      Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

      Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

      Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAgEBLAEsAAD/4R7bRXhpZgAATU0AKgAAAAgACAESAAMAAAABAAEAAAEaAAUA AAABAAAAbgEbAAUAAAABAAAAdgEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAExAAIAAAAcAAAAfgEyAAIAAAAUAAAAmgE7 AAIAAAAQAAAArodpAAQAAAABAAAAwAAAAOwALcbAAAAnEAAtxsAAACcQQWRvYmUgUGhvdG9zaG9w IENTMyBXaW5kb3dzADIwMTY6MTE6MjIgMDI6NTY6MDQAS2VsbGVyLCBKZXNzaWNhAAAAAAOgAQAD AAAAAQABAACgAgAEAAAAAQAABmugAwAEAAAAAQAACigAAAAAAAAABgEDAAMAAAABAAYAAAEaAAUA AAABAAABOgEbAAUAAAABAAABQgEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAIBAAQAAAABAAABSgICAAQAAAABAAAdiQAA AAAAAABIAAAAAQAAAEgAAAAB/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAgAASABIAAD/7QAMQWRvYmVfQ00AAf/uAA5B ZG9iZQBkgAAAAAH/2wCEAAwICAgJCAwJCQwRCwoLERUPDAwPFRgTExUTExgRDAwMDAwMEQwMDAwM DAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwBDQsLDQ4NEA4OEBQODg4UFA4ODg4UEQwMDAwMEREMDAwM DAwRDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDP/AABEIAKAAZQMBIgACEQEDEQH/3QAEAAf/ xAE/AAABBQEBAQEBAQAAAAAAAAADAAECBAUGBwgJCgsBAAEFAQEBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAEAAgMEBQYH CAkKCxAAAQQBAwIEAgUHBggFAwwzAQACEQMEIRIxBUFRYRMicYEyBhSRobFCIyQVUsFiMzRygtFD ByWSU/Dh8WNzNRaisoMmRJNUZEXCo3Q2F9JV4mXys4TD03Xj80YnlKSFtJXE1OT0pbXF1eX1VmZ2 hpamtsbW5vY3R1dnd4eXp7fH1+f3EQACAgECBAQDBAUGBwcGBTUBAAIRAyExEgRBUWFxIhMFMoGR FKGxQiPBUtHwMyRi4XKCkkNTFWNzNPElBhaisoMHJjXC0kSTVKMXZEVVNnRl4vKzhMPTdePzRpSk hbSVxNTk9KW1xdXl9VZmdoaWprbG1ub2JzdHV2d3h5ent8f/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/ANkYtp4AMcxP 9yl9jv1lvEzzpGh7KVd1+54MAA7W7Z1Ea7tf3kV11+kmfUO2J5n3O7qHj+LVqMP8v8JsVynQza/2 HKbfuLfYWkEEnQtP5rdv+erDca4fSYRqRHwVfKz8yi2hjQHMte4WDXdH0j6bd3uc5Edl5lmT6NBB bU9n2hzpP0/e9jdfa70fc9/79lSYcnxUEisW+3jL1Low5WV0ZAAWSeg+VsH9Ft9Q7A5wY2dJcdGs R2At5Bj4H4LE6nl0ZeXj4brH13YuSyx7LBDXDu6qzc737f0jP9J/XVtnVL3XZuQ9pr6Z08WNLyff dc0hgrr3fQ/Sfuf8GmSz/Euhwk6g6fKY/wCEzfc8XDGVTHEOL1em+I8OLg/znu/ocLqtdHLXSDHB 5OkIgvaBqHePHblDwcXLGJW7PfsyC3fds9jGk+/b7t381P09yC7Nwq8K7PeMhuLSGlry0NNu+GM+ zMd73b3em3db6SacnxSgSMQ0thGLlzIxjxT9QgDH9KUvTHh/vN0ZdbfpB4jn2ogz6BENs1gj28yq 99MYP2ihtmRbaGCqoPDgXWFlfvfWHt9KrduyLa/8HWrn7KpGm+0AaD3Dtx+ahxfEydsSuHlgATxb kf4qw6pjjltmnPs89v8A1SR6viCJFgnj2+Gnimt6bi01PtuutZXW1z7HFw0aP0j3H2/ydyqU1dOy KWXE5DA9rnMZZtDoDzWRG1zW7n/y0DL4iP8ANpEeWri9fDdW2/2zhf8ACf5v+1JQ/Y2Jzusj+sP/ ACKSX/CnbEr+h95v/9DdrNpe1uwhr5PqHj+pH5j2qGXuofh2Wvaaa3Ftj3AzO2Gv3D6H8tTY6rBs d9oeXbK9rRWdNoLrGttb7v0vt+mpZ7sQY9eTe19YLSWH2OMOb7fa47Nn6T1P0/8ANp3vCUDZqQN1 0FEJESSANb0aPVWk3NDn7LamiwbI3bC47jP0fdW395RweoncKKq5ys178h9jyPTYHe9u5oO+z0sV n8hV3ty8612KDV6bdvrX+oSx4rH0fUDf5z3+/wBP/i61Zqxcn16crLxmPxvay26slrRUfd+kY/Zu /nfS9X/Qf4NQnLLiJBoWfP8Al/XbUMcccJRnwmchxcPFEcHDH9XxeqMf0uOWP/V4l25eHdRjuvwG 52Xc0bnNEA2kF7agXb3/AM3X+k2/zdn6P99aGQ7DsfjYeO1zXvtFt9dDWmwek191TC5/6L9Hku/w v6P9H+4h242LZhNtxWsw8MDdQ6uwA15AlsW6nc+t30Pd+i/nFpYOHW1zK2sD7K4N9xIPvLY0/rVv +n+49GEpSNEijWtbxWHNCwYxI4TMxjxHhBl8n9WPB/Uh/wBUYN6O6
СКАЧАТЬ