Read When Angels Cry for Free Online Page B

counters, mini blinds, refrigerator, appliances, floor tiles —all blind ing white as they were in his father’s house.
    “What in the hell am I doing here?” he muttered, shaking his head.  As he stood before the microwave, he peered at his disheveled reflection.  The wind had done a number on his hair, and he tried to pat it back into place.
    The teapot whistled sharply as a funnel of steam puffed through the spout and dissipated quickly .  Once he’d filled the mugs, Bastian carried a cup to Kaylee, but his hand trembled and some of the hot liquid spilled down the side , burn ing his hand .  He releas ed his grip.  As the cup crashed to the floor, it shattered.  He closed his eyes and saw his father’s face.   “Goddamned it .   That cup cost money,” he could hear his father say.   He gritted his teeth, bent, and picked up the fragments.  After he tossed them in the trash, he grabbed the dishtowel and mopped up the tea.
    “Damn,” Bastian swore.  H e walked over to the cabinet and pulled out another cup and two saucers.  Sliding a saucer under each mug, he then picked up one in each of his hands and stepped into the living room. 
    As he approached Kaylee, Bastian saw that her head had fallen slightly askew from the pillow as sleep had reclaimed her ; long strands of hair had slipped across her features.  Realizing he was going to have to wake her , he set both saucers down and knelt in front of her.  Without realizing what he was doing, his fingers drifted to her face and gingerly brushed the away.
    “Kaylee?” he whispered softly. 
    No answer.
    “Kaylee?   I have your tea. ” he said , a bit louder.  She opened her eyes and peered at him.
    “Thanks.”
    She peer ed at the rising tendrils of steam wafting from the cup.   “Looks hot.” 
    Once she’d sat upright, Bastian offered her the tea.   “You didn’t want it cold, did you?   It wouldn’t help. ”  Bastian lifted his cup to his lips and took a burning sip that forced him to set down the mug.  He glanced toward the kitchen.  “I accidentally broke a cup.  I’ll pay you for it,” he offered, staring at the carpet.
    “No need.  I have others.  What made you come by?  Don’t tell me you just happened to be in the neighborhood.”   She tipped the cup to her lips and closed her eyes, savoring the tea.  She resettl ed the cup on the saucer before placing both on the table. 
    Bastian took a drink. “Actually, I don’t make a habit of driving through this part of town.”  He tapped his foot nervously and l ooked out the window at the snow still wisping across the ground.  Ice had frosted the tree limbs, bowing them.
    “So?   You didn’t answer my question. ”  Her hand trembled and she gripped the mug more tightly.
    “I didn’t know if you’d be going for swim.  You seem to have a knack for that sort of thing.”  He set his tea on the table, got up, and walked toward the window as though mesmerized by the snow. 
    “You were checking up on me —admit it, ” Kaylee said. 
    Bastian shook his head.  “ Maybe I just like driving in the snow.”
    Kaylee snorted.  “In a truck that has no heater and sometimes doesn’t start?   Yeah that’s just what I would do all right . ”
    “We can’t all have limos.  I should go.”  Bastian stiffened and gritted his teeth, thinking just what a lose r he must seem .  He ducked into the hall and reached the entryway in three long strides .
    Kaylee jumped up and followed.  She touched his arm.   “I didn’t mean it that way, Bastian.” 
    He jerked from her hand, ripping his arm away from her fingers.   “Like hell you didn’t.”  
    As he reached for the front door, Kaylee stepped in front of him.   Her chest rose and fell quickly as though she’d just run a marathon.  Her cheeks flushed , she looked around the room and noticed, for the first time in a long time, all the fine things —the paintings, the marble tile, the floral