Whispered Promises. Brenda Jackson

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СКАЧАТЬ tears to Caitlin’s eyes.

      She had found it difficult to tear her gaze away from them. Somehow she had forced her attention to things she needed to do like preparing the guest room for Dex.

      It was only when she had come back into the living room that she noticed a confused expression on Jordan’s face.

      “Jordan, what’s the matter?”

      Jordan looked up at her mother. “Where’s Grampa?”

      Jordan’s question made Caitlin go still as pain tore through her. She had wondered how long it would take for her daughter to notice her grandfather’s absence. The two of them had been very close. From the time she had brought Jordan home from the hospital, they had lived in this house with her father. Moving to Fort Worth six months ago had been hard on all three of them.

      “Grampa’s gone away, honey,” she finally whispered to her daughter.

      Jordan seemed to ponder Caitlin’s words. “To Azalea Mommy?”

      A lump formed in Caitlin’s throat. She had been unable to reply. She was grateful to Dex for coming to her rescue by answering for her. “No, Jordan. Your grampa hasn’t gone to Australia. He’s in heaven.”

      Jordan turned wide dark eyes on her father. “He’s up there with the angels?”

      “Yes, sweetheart,” Dex replied, smiling tenderly, pulling his daughter closer to him. “He’s up there with the angels.”

      A pleased smile spread over Jordan’s face. “They’ll give him some wings.”

      It wasn’t long afterward that Jordan began getting sleepy. Together, Caitlin and Dex had taken her upstairs to tuck her in. They had listened as she said her prayers, saying a special prayer for her grampa in heaven, and thanking God for sending her daddy home to her and her mommy.

      Listening to Jordan’s prayer had made Caitlin’s throat constrict. It had taken all the strength she could muster not to fall apart right then and there. After letting Dex know the guest room had been prepared for him, she had quickly said good-night and escaped to her own bedroom.

      The sound of Jordan’s laughter brought Caitlin’s thoughts back to the present. Sighing, she glanced at her watch. The services for her father were tomorrow, and there were a number of things she needed to do before then.

      Following the sound of cheerful loud voices, she wondered if the truce between her and Dex was still in effect. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the kitchen door and walked into the room.

      Dex’s gaze met hers when she entered. He was standing near the kitchen table. The collar of his shirt was unbuttoned and the sleeves were rolled up on his forearms. “Good morning, Caitlin.”

      At the mention of her mother’s name, Jordan, who had been on her knees in a chair leaning over the kitchen table, squealed with glee when she saw her mother. “Mommy!”

      Dex quickly helped his daughter down from the chair when it appeared she would jump. Running over to Caitlin, Jordan leaped into her mother’s outstretched arms. “Mommy! We’re making you breakfast!”

      Caitlin smiled at her daughter. “Really? What’re you making?”

      Jordan turned to her father. “What’s it called, Daddy?”

      Dex’s laughter filled the room. “If we told her, sweetheart, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

      “Oh,” she replied to her father. To her mother she said, “It’s a surprise, Mommy.” Then in the same breath she exclaimed, “I’m going to see the world today.”

      Caitlin raised a brow. Her lips formed in a grin. “You’re what?”

      There was deep amusement in Dex’s eyes when he glanced at Caitlin. “What she’s trying to say is that she is going to Sea World today. If that’s all right with you, that is. Ms. Logan called and invited Jordan to go with her and her granddaughter.”

      “Yes, it’s all right with me.”

      “She also told me to tell you that she’ll be happy to keep Jordan for you tomorrow.”

      Caitlin nodded. She was grateful for Ms. Logan’s kindness. She put Jordan down. “Have you had breakfast yet?”

      Jordan nodded her head. “Daddy said when you got up we would give you your surprise.”

      “Oh, he did, did he?” Slowly being pulled in the excitement and conspiratory merriment surrounding father and daughter, Caitlin turned to Dex. “What’s this big surprise for breakfast?” She sniffed the air, bringing forth giggles from her daughter. “I don’t smell bacon or eggs or anything like breakfast.”

      “Come see for yourself,” Dex invited. He couldn’t help noticing the style of Caitlin’s hair. It was arranged in a bevy of soft curls that dipped over her face and shoulders. He thought the stylish cut provided her with a totally different image than the one she had worn four years ago. This new style gave her a look of an even higher level of maturity and sophistication. Even dressed in a pair of well-worn jeans and a T-shirt, she looked nothing like the little slip of a woman that he had married.

      Caitlin walked over to the table where Dex was putting the finishing touches on a concoction she didn’t recognize. She looked from father to daughter. “I give up.” She raised a brow. “What is it?”

      Jordan laughed. “Tell Mommy what it is, Daddy.”

      “It’s a Rice Krispies’ ice-cream float with berries, nuts, chocolate syrup and whipped cream,” Dex said, chuckling. “This one is for you. We ate ours already. They were delicious.”

      “Would you like some more?”

      Caitlin pushed herself away from the table. “I think I’m going to be sick,” she said, rubbing her stomach.

      Dex grinned. “No one forced you to eat it, Caitlin.”

      She moaned. “How could I not eat it? Jordan was so excited about helping you prepare breakfast, I didn’t have the heart not to eat all of it. It’s a good thing Ms. Logan came when she did, or Jordan would have wanted me to have seconds.” Caitlin smiled. “If I’ve gained weight from eating that thing, it’s all your fault. I feel fat.”

      He smiled easily. “Relax. You’re not fat. You’re as beautiful as you were the day I first laid eyes on you.”

      The lighthearted remark sent panic racing through Caitlin. Please don’t bring up the past. I couldn’t handle it if you did, her mind screamed. Not wanting to bring up their past, she took the initiative to change the subject. “You did say Clayton was coming today?”

      Dex met Caitlin’s direct gaze. “Yes. He should be here sometime this morning.”

      She regretted asking about Clayton the moment the question had left her lips. She knew why he was coming. Dex had summoned his attorney brother to do whatever was necessary to undo what her father had done. He wanted to make sure he was free of her as quickly as possible. However, there was the issue of Jordan. She wasn’t certain what Dex’s plans were regarding their daughter, but she was more than sure he wouldn’t be one of those СКАЧАТЬ