Read Time to Heal (Harlequin Heartwarming) for Free Online Page B

shoulders as if he could stroke away her tremors. “It’s not Scotty. This doesn’t have anything to do with Scotty. Sweetheart, don’t…”
    She pulled away. “I’m all right.” She put a hand to her throat. Her mouth wasn’t quite steady as she said, “What is it you’re trying to tell me, Jake?”
    “The boy who came today…” He stopped, rubbing the back of his neck, not meeting her eyes. “I… That time when you left, I went to a bar. There was a woman there. I knew her. She was a DEA contact on the Ramirez case. We had a few drinks, too many drinks.”
    He dared a quick glance at Rachel’s face. It was a frozen mask. Her hand was still at her throat, unmoving. As still as death.
    “We went to her apartment.”
    “I don’t want to hear any more.”
    Her tone almost undid him. “I have to, Rachel. We spent the night together.” He sent her a pleading look. “It was just that one time. I knew it was a mistake. It didn’t mean anything. It… She… I didn’t even remember her at first when—”
    “When what? What!”
    “The boy who came to my office today, Rachel. His name is Michael. He’s almost fifteen years old.”
    She stared at him, uncomprehending. “What are you saying?”
    “Rachel, he’s my son.”
    The enormity of it was almost too much for Rachel to take in. Suddenly the bar was not enough to support her. On trembling legs, she moved to the couch and sat down again, sinking deep into the cushions. She wished for a crazy moment that she could sink all the way to China.
    “I’m sorry, Rachel,” Jake said quietly.
    She stared at her hands. “How can you be sure?”
    He sat down on the couch, not too close, before answering. “I’m sure. There’s a letter from his grandmother, some other documentation and a birth certificate. It’s—”
    Rachel burst into tears. Finally, when she could speak, Rachel asked coldly, “Where’s the moth—the woman?”
    “Anne-Marie D’Angelo is her name. She—”
    “Who cares about her name? Where is she?”
    “She’s dead. She died when he was five.”
    “Then his grandmother. Where is she?”
    “She died two months ago. He’s alone, Rachel. It took him six weeks to find me.”
    She bent over suddenly and put her face in herhands. “I don’t care! You can’t just come in here and tell me this, make this sordid confession and expect me to…” She stopped and raised her head to look at him. “What do you expect me to do, Jake?”
    “He doesn’t have anybody, Rachel.”
    Her eyes teemed with emotion. “What do you expect from me? Answer me!”
    “He’s my son.”
    She wrapped her arms around herself, rocking in anguish. Jake put out his hand, moving closer.
    “Don’t touch me!”
    “He’s waiting outside, Rachel.”
    “He can wait until doomsday!”
    Jake was silent for a minute. “You’re tired and shocked. I don’t blame you. I’m—”
    “Don’t blame me!” She gave him an incredulous look.
    “I’m sorry,” Jake went on firmly. “Would you like to go to the bedroom? You can meet Michael when you’re a little calmer.”
    She stood up. “I’m never going to be calm about your extramarital affairs or your ‘son,’” she said through gritted teeth.
    He took another step, bringing them nose to nose. Catching her by the arm, he said softly. “Don’t ever take that tone about Michael again.”
    She stared at him wordlessly, her eyes bright with unshed tears. He let her go.
    “Now. I’m not going to leave my son outside like a homeless person. Not when we have three thousand square feet in this house and two extra bedrooms.” He headed toward the French doors that opened onto the patio.
    “We only have one extra bedroom,” Rachel said.
    He stopped. “How is that, Rachel?”
    “Because that’s how it will be when you move into one of them.”
    Jake was dead silent for an awful moment. “You’re saying I’m not welcome in our bedroom?”
    “That’s exactly what I’m saying.” For a minute, she