Read On the Way to Heaven (BWWM Romance) for Free Online Page B

moved
closer to him. “You gotta know that.”
         “Marisa.” He removed her hand from his arm.
“Like I said, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but I can take care
of myself.”
         “This maid…how do you know you can trust
her around the kids? She’s a stranger.”
         “I saw her references. She comes from a
good agency.”
         Marisa squinted. “How can you be sure?”
         “Everything’s fine.” Neil got off the
stool. “Trust me.”

 
    * * * *

 
         Someone tapped on Trina’s door in the
middle of the night.
         “Trina?” Neil called out from the other
side. “Are you awake? I’d like to speak to you.”
         She sat up in bed and turned the lamp on.
“I’m awake.”
         “May I come in?”
         “It’s your house, isn’t it?” She pulled the
sheet over her thin nightgown.
         He walked in. “Hey.” He closed the door behind
him. “Did I wake you?”
         “Yes.” She rolled her eyes.
           “I’m
sorry for the way I spoke to you earlier. I had no right.”
         She crossed her arms over her bosom.
         “I know you were just concerned.” He sat on
the foot of the bed. “I appreciate that you care about my girls that much.”
         “It’s just sad, to me. This is the time
they need you the most, and you’re not there.”
         “I try to be.” He ran his fingers through
his hair.
         “You need to try harder. They won’t be
little girls forever. One day you’ll wake up, and they’ll be grown and they’ll
hate you for not being there for them.”
         “Do you hate your parents for not being
there for you?”
         She lay back on the headboard. “We’re not
talking about me.”
         “Oh yes, we are.” He tapped his foot. “You
seem to be taking it personal, how I am with my girls. Is that because of your
parents?”
         “I wouldn’t know.” The beginning of a tear
stung her eye. “I didn’t know my parents. I’m an orphan.”
         “An orphan?” His thick eyebrows furrowed.
         “When I was a baby, I was left on the stoop
of this woman’s apartment.”
         “What?”
         “No one knew who I was or who left me
there. The lady took me to the hospital, and from there, my journey in the
system started.”
         “My God.” He stared into space. “That
must’ve been terrible, to not know your parents. You know nothing about your
family?”
         She shook her head.
         “Trina.” He took her hand. “I’m sorry. No
wonder you were angry with me earlier.”
         “I wasn’t angry.” She let go of his hand.
“I just feel so bad for your little girls. Kids need to be protected and loved,
above all else. That’s when they learn how to trust people and if you—the man
who is supposed to be there for them no matter what—are not there, it could
destroy their lives, Neil. You have no idea how it’s been, not knowing my
family or history. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
         “I won’t pretend to understand what that’s
like. I had a great childhood. Born and raised in Allocco.” He smiled. “Where
are you from, because I know you’re not originally from here?”
         “How do you know that?”
         “This is a very small town, and I know all
the black people in it.” He grinned. “Besides, a woman as pretty as you…I’d
remember.”
         She grew warm all over. “I’m from New York
City.”
         “New York City?” He scratched his head.
“What the hell are you doing in Allocco, Nebraska?”
         “Your guess is as good as mine.” She
laughed. “I needed a change. I was sick of big city life, and wanted something
more leisurely.”
         “Allocco is definitely that.” He snickered.
“I could tell you were from the city. Just had that way about you. You also
seem very educated.”
         “You say that like