Heartstrings. Sara Walter Ellwood

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ real chance to get out of Texas and make his dreams come true.

      He’d come back, but it was too late. Abby had already given his baby away. She’d already given her heart to someone else. He’d wanted to see his little girl over the years, but every time he’d gathered his courage to come home, Mike’s words burned in his mind.

      What kind of father do you think you’ll be, Seth?

      With the reminder of his parents’ messed up lives, he’d convinced himself Emily was better off never knowing him.

      Until now.

      He tucked the bottle of red wine he’d brought under his arm and gripped the handle of his guitar case tighter with a sweaty hand. According to Frank, Emily was quite a fan of his.

      Something sweet and warm curled inside his heart.

      When the door opened after he rang the doorbell, he expected Carolann. Instead, he met the wide green eyes of a tall, thin, auburn-haired girl who resembled a combination of Abby and his Granny Kendall too much to be a fluke.

      Jesus, she was beautiful.

      He rubbed his goatee and forced air through his constricting voice box to form words. “You must be...Emily?” He swallowed the lump in his throat and painted on a smile. “I’m guessing you already know who I am.”

      But she didn’t know him at all. Dear God, he was this girl’s father.

      She swung the door open, and the shock turned into the biggest and brightest smile he’d ever seen. The force of it hit his solar plexus like a fist.

      She held out her hand. “I’m Emily Ritter. Hi.”

      He looked at her hand, and a million different feelings tumbled through him--fear, joy, amazement, excitement and so many more, he couldn’t keep track. He doubted a blind man seeing a sunrise for the first time could feel this happy. Trembling, he encircled her warm fingers with his big hand.

      You’re my little girl.

      The baby he’d tried for fifteen years to forget about and never quite succeeded.

      Her grip was soft and cool and her fingers trembled. Good, maybe she didn’t feel just how badly his shook.

      When he let go, she balled her hand into a loose fist, held it over her heart and giggled. “I’d have to be blind, deaf and dumb not to know who you are. But that wouldn’t be an excuse in my family. Please come in, Mr. Kendall.”

      Inside the foyer, he set his guitar case next to the wall and hung his hat on the hat rack by the door. Only one other hat hung on the hooks. He stared at Mike’s thousand-dollar tan Resistol, and rage boiled the bile in his belly.

      He yanked his gaze from the hat and smiled at his baby. “Please call me Seth.”

      She blushed and nodded. “Okay, Seth it is. Grandma’s in the kitchen. Everyone else is out back on the patio.”

      He followed her down the hall to the big open kitchen. Carolann turned away from the counter where she was tossing a salad. She smiled and wiped her hands on her white apron.

      “I brought red wine.” He set the bottle on the island counter. “I think it’s still chilled.”

      “Thank you. Emily, why don’t you set it in the fridge for now.” She walked around the island and hugged him. He towered over her petite, five-foot frame. “I’m so glad you could make it.” When she stepped away, she glanced at Emily, who closed the refrigerator door and shoved her hands into the back pockets of her denim shorts. “I told you I had a surprise for you.”

      Emily averted her eyes and sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. Abby used to do the same thing when she was embarrassed.

      “Emily idolizes you.” Carolann smiled up at him again. “She prances around singing your songs all the time.”

      “Grandma!” Emily’s eyes widened.

      Carolann raised a brow. “Did I tell a lie?” She winked at him. “Of course, that isn’t as embarrassing as some of the stories I could tell about him.”

      He laughed on cue, but it was strangled and forced.

      Emily shook her head. “I have all of your music downloaded on my iPod. I can sing and play piano and guitar. And I talked Mom and Dad into letting me sing at the Founder’s Day picnic next month.” She blushed as red as her tank top and looked down at the floor. “I hope you don’t mind. I’d like to sing some of your songs.”

      His heart beat so fast and hard he feared it was going to pound right out of his chest. He couldn’t concentrate on anything except that he and Abby had created this--this person, together.

      “Seth, are you all right?” Carolann’s warm touch on his arm and the concern lacing her soft southern voice drove a hole through the fog surrounding him.

      He blinked. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just a little...I just…just thought of Dad...” he lied. He shook his head, trying to clear it.

      Emily wanted to sing his songs? Dear God, his chest hurt. He put his hand over his heart.

      Carolann patted his arm. “I understand perfectly. It’s never easy losing someone. Even someone you didn’t think you cared a fig about.”

      He nodded agreement, but it wasn’t losing his father that had him turned upside down and inside out.

      The kitchen door opened. “Mom, how much longer? Dad’s getting antsy...” Mike’s words died on his lips when he walked into the kitchen. His gaze hardened and snapped to Emily.

      Carolann picked up the large salad bowl, and a wide smile lit up her face. “Michael, be a dear and take this out to the patio and tell your father dinner will be ready in a few minutes.”

      Mike made no move to take the bowl. “Emily, do as your grandmother asked. I’d like to have a minute with Seth.”

      Emily’s face fell and she huffed. “But, Daddy...”

      Mike raised a brow, and she reached for the bowl with all the drama only a fourteen-year-old girl could muster.

      Carolann looked from Mike to Emily as she handed the bowl to her. “Don’t worry. You’ll have plenty of time to bend Seth’s ears.”

      Mike waited until Emily exited through the kitchen door and Carolann headed for the pantry before moving toward the hall to the living room. Seth followed him into the front room.

      Mike slid the pocket door closed before turning loose the fury in his saddle-brown eyes. “What the hell are you doing, showing up here?”

      Seth turned away and walked around the familiar room slowly. He, Mike and Abby had done their share of romping in here. “I’m here for dinner. Your parents invited me.”

      Mike watched him with his hands fisted by his sides and his feet apart. “You should have declined.”

      “And disappoint your momma? I don’t think so.” He stopped at the mantle with its display of family photos. He picked СКАЧАТЬ