Now and Forever 4, The Renovated Heart Read Online Free

he had three heads. Such a long time since anyone has held a chair for me. She
placed the platter on the table then sat down.
    Everyone passed around the mustard and
ketchup along with a plate of Jim’s tomatoes that he had sliced and
layered beautifully. A bowl of baby carrots and celery sticks
completed the meal.
    “What happened at camp today?” she
asked.
    “Nothing,” Laura said. She piled ketchup on
her hamburger then closed the bun.
    “We did soccer and swimming. I’m going for
my minnow badge on Friday.” Scottie took a big bite out of his
hotdog.
    “But you don’t know how to swim!” Sarah
remarked.
    “I do…sort of. I need more practice.”
Scottie stopped talking to take a drink of his milk.
    “Where do you swim?” Jim asked.
    “At the town pool.” Scottie dug a few
carrots out of the bowl.
    “I’d be happy to take you there one
afternoon this week to practice,” Jim volunteered.
    “You don’t have to,” Sarah said. She stacked
two slices of tomato on her hamburger before closing the bun.
    “I’d like to.”
    “Can I, Mom? I want to get the badge.”
Scottie’s eyes widened.
    “We could all go,” Sarah said.
    “Not me! I don’t want my friends to see me
hanging out with Scottie,” Laura said.
    “You can’t stay home alone, Laura. You’re
too young. So if we all go, then you go too.”
    “Mom! I’m not going!” Laura flashed defiant
eyes at her mother.
    “Why don’t you stay here with Laura. Let me
take Scott,” Jim suggested.
    “Can I, Mom? Please?” Scottie begged,
putting his palms together.
    “Okay, okay. I can see I’m outvoted.” Sarah
took a bite out of her burger.
    “How about tomorrow?” Jim added ketchup to
his burger.
    The boy nodded. He bit off a good sized
piece of hot dog.
    “Tomorrow is good,” she said. “Thank you,
Jim.”
    She smiled shyly at him. Sarah wasn’t used
to getting help from others. Ever since her parents died when she
had turned nineteen, she’d been shouldering a heavy load, starting
with being a parent to her sister, Callie, who was sixteen at the
time.
    Responsibility didn’t stop when she married
Bob right after college graduation. They had Laura soon after their
marriage. Sarah became a full-time mother. People thought strong,
capable Sarah never needed help. Never had, never would…they were
wrong.
    Jim insisted on helping her with the dishes
while the children watched TV. She went to the cabinet to put the
salt and pepper shakers away as Jim headed to the refrigerator.
They collided. She bounced against his hard chest, emitting a small
gasp. His right hand grabbed her wrist to keep her from falling
while his left arm circled around her waist, pulling her closer,
right up against him. Her hand lay flat against his chest while she
looked up into his brown eyes, the color of buckskin. He shifted
his gaze to her pink lips before he lowered his head to kiss her.
When Sarah didn’t pull away, he lingered in the gentle kiss.
    It had been a long time since a man had
kissed Sarah. Heaven . His lips were soft, curious, and
gently stroking hers, coaxing her. Sarah and Bob had been estranged
for a year before he died. Even before then there had been no
affection between them for a long time, only an atmosphere charged
with fear and hostility.
    An affectionate woman, Sarah hugged and
kissed her children often. As her relationship with Bob
disintegrated, she missed sharing affection with him, but he had
become too dangerous for her to get close to.
    Sarah pulled back a little allowing him to
lower his lips to her neck. He tightened his hold on her a little
while he continued to kiss her. Need tugged at her body as well as
her heart, Sarah bent her head back, making her neck more
accessible. She enjoyed the feel of his touch, which sent a little
shiver down her spine. Abruptly she remembered the children were in
the other room.
    She broke from him, as heat colored her
neck.
    “The children,” she whispered.
    “They’re busy,” he