Read Knocking at Her Heart (Conover Circle #1) for Free Online Page B

wasn’t sure she’d slept at all.
“I’m not feeling great. I think I ate too many cookies.” It was the only
explanation she could come up with. “Plus, my mother should be here any day
now.”
    Carol didn't appear convinced.
She took another step closer. “You’re pale and those circles under your eyes
are not attractive.”
    “Be nice. I have a fur ball in my
stomach. And, maybe, a temperature."
    Carol laid the back of her hand
across Maddie’s forehead. “I don’t know about the fur ball, but I do think
you’re running a fever. Neither overdosing on cookies nor parental apprehension
would have much to do with that. You must have some kind of bug. I’ve heard
there is flu going around.” Carol wrapped her arm around Maddie’s shoulder.
“Get your fanny upstairs before you infect the rest of us."
    “I can’t do that. In ten minutes,
kids are going to be here.”
    “I’ll call Terese. She’ll be
happy to help out. The kids will be thrilled if they get to have macaroni and
cheese for lunch.”
    Maybe if she could just get
another hour or two of sleep. “You’re sure?”
    “I’m sure you’re going to fall
down. Go. Now.”
    She might have argued had she had
the strength. Instead, she worked her way up the stairs, each step taking more
effort than the last. She was halfway up when her cell phone rang. She glanced
at the number. Faith . She answered it.
    “Hi,” she said.
    “Oh my God. You sound bad. Your
mother must have arrived,” Faith said.
    Faith Wheaten had moved to
Conover three months after Maddie. The two women had met at a charity walk, and
they’d been friends ever since. Faith was an actuary and actually liked math.
Maddie didn’t claim to understand how the woman’s mind worked, but nobody made
her laugh the way Faith could.
    “Not yet. I’m sick.”
    “With what? Bubonic plague? Were
you hoping a quarantine sign would keep your mother away?”
    “Maybe.”
    “I was calling to see if you
could stop by and check on Cuddles while I’m at my conference,” Faith said.
    “I thought your conference was
local.”
    “That’s next month. I’m off to
Cleveland today.”
    No way. That’s where Jeff is
headed. He has to do some kind of audit. Maybe the two of you can have dinner
together.”
    There was a distinct pause on the
other end. “I don’t think so,” Faith said.
    Maddie knew that Faith wasn’t
crazy about Jeff, which was odd since an actuary and an accountant had to be
wired sort of the same. Both liked numbers and formulas. Things that made
Maddie’s eyes cross.
    “I’ll check on your bird,” Maddie
said.        
    “Never mind. I’ll ask Dante. You
need to be in bed,” Faith said.
    She was too sick to argue. “On my
way.”
    *
    Sam exited the staff entrance of
County General and took a deep breath of the warm spring air. He’d been inside
all day. He started toward his car then swerved the opposite direction. He
would walk to Kids Are It, pick up Kelsie, and the two of them could walk back
for his car.
    He hadn’t mentioned to Tom that
his niece had a spot at Kids Are It. Hadn’t wanted to face the daily
inquisition about whether he’d talked to Maddie and figured out what kind of
offer would have her signing on the dotted line.
    When he got to the daycare, Carol
had at least six kids in the sunny play area. Kelsie saw him and waved. Carol
looked his direction.
    “Hi Carol,” he said, standing in
the doorway. “Where’s Maddie?” he asked, trying to sound casual.
    “Sick. Every time I checked on
her today, she looked a little worse to me.”
    Sam didn’t like the sounds of
that. Had her hand somehow become infected? Was bacteria spreading through her
body? “I think I should take a look.”
    Carol rubbed her chin. “Maddie
will absolutely kill me.” She paused. “Okay, fine.”
    “Let’s go," he said, nodding
at the stairs.
    “I can't leave the kids alone. My
helper already left for the day. You'll have to go on your own.”
    “Fine.