Read 16 Lighthouse Road for Free Online Page A

information about the premature birth and death of his daughter, since there was no possibility of a humanitarian airlift or any way of contactingCecilia. When he finally reached the base, he hadn’t had a chance to absorb the reality of their loss.
    His wife gave him a disgusted look. “Do you have any suggestions, then?” she asked in a superior tone of voice that set his teeth on edge. She knew he hated it when she spoke to him as though he was still in grade school.
    â€œAs a matter of fact, I do,” he said, and got to his feet.
    â€œFine. I can’t wait to hear it.” Cecilia crossed her arms in that huffy way of hers.
    â€œI say we simply go on with our lives.”
    Cecilia frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    â€œDo you plan to remarry?”
    â€œI—I don’t know. Maybe someday.”
    As far as he was concerned, Ian was through with it. Never again would he subject himself to a woman’s volatile emotions or fickle whims. “Not me. I’ve had it with marriage, with you, with the entire mess.”
    â€œLet me see if I understand what you’re saying.” Cecilia stood, too, and started pacing the small living room, passing directly in front of him. He caught a whiff of her perfume, and it was all he could do not to close his eyes and savor the scent. He hated that she still had the power to make him weak, to leave him wanting her….
    â€œYou can figure it out, I’m sure,” he said, purposely being sarcastic because he was angry now. He couldn’t be near Cecilia and not feel a rush of resentment. Not just at her but at himself for harboring emotions that wouldn’t go away.
    She ignored his attitude. “Are you suggesting we not divorce?”
    â€œSort of.” He didn’t want her to assume he was seeking a reconciliation. That wouldn’t work; he already knew it. In themonths after Allison’s death, they’d both tried to make the best of a painful situation, without success.
    â€œSort of?” she echoed, then waved her hand at him. “Tell me more. This whole concept of yours intrigues me.”
    He’d just bet it did. “We could pretend we’re divorced.”
    â€œPretend?” Cecilia didn’t bother to hide her anger. “That is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard. Pretend,” she repeated, shaking her head. “You think we can ignore all our problems and pretend they don’t exist.”
    He glared at her, not trusting himself to speak. Okay, maybe she was right. He didn’t want to deal with this divorce.
    â€œYou’re always looking for the easy way out,” she said scornfully.
    He might be a lot of things, but irresponsible wasn’t one of them. The Navy trusted him with a multi-million-dollar nuclear submarine—didn’t that prove how dependable he was? Dammit, he’d been brought up to meet his obligations, to stand by his word.
    â€œIf I was trying to escape my responsibilities, I’d never have married you.” Ian knew the minute he uttered the words that he’d said the wrong thing.
    Cecilia flew across the room. “I never wanted you to marry me because of Allison! We would’ve been fine….” She faltered and abruptly looked away. “I didn’t need you….”
    â€œThe hell you didn’t. You still do.” If for no other reason than the health benefits the Navy provided, his wife and daughter had needed him.
    â€œYou would never have married me if it wasn’t for the pregnancy.”
    â€œNot true.”
    She swept the hair away from her face. “I can’t believe I was so stupid.”
    â€œYou!” he burst out. Apparently Cecilia thought she was the only one with regrets. He had his own, and every one of them included her.
    â€œAllison and I were…” She hesitated, suddenly inarticulate. “We…”
    â€œAllison was my daughter, too, and