Free Heather Graham by Angel's Touch Page A

yeah, but he was late. Sharon would forgive him; she’d try to make everything appear all right in front of her parents. Still, he felt guilty. Oh, God, he thought, just give me this one chance without words being said, without the kids being hurt. Please, I just need one more chance…
    “Why are you afraid?” Don demanded.
    Jimmy shook his head. “I don’t exactly know except that maybe … I didn’t know before what I’ve come so close to losing.”
    Don took him by the arm. Firmly, Jimmy thought. “Let’s go,” Don insisted.
    “Hey, slow down. My in-laws are in there.”
    “But we haven’t got all night,” Don said firmly. Cathy caught Jimmy’s other arm. Between them, they managed to lead him up the steps and into the house before he could protest again.
    “Okay, okay,” Jimmy said. He fumbled for his key. Before he could find it, the front door flew open. A little boy with bright, hopeful eyes stood there. “Daddy?”
    “Hey, squirt, I’m home,” Jimmy said, plucking up his son. He stepped into the house, followed by Cathy and Don. “Where’s your mom?” he asked.
    “In the kitchen,” the little boy said.
    “Ah, Mum, Dad,” Jimmy said, coming into the living room. He was still awkward, uncertain. Cathy and Don followed closely behind him. Cathy stepped forward to greet the handsome older couple who had come to check out the commotion at the front door. “Cathy and Don, I’d like you to meet my in-laws, Abby and Earl Challifour. Abby, Earl… Cathy and Don Angel.”
    “How do you do?” Earl Challifour said politely, shaking their hands. He looked at his son-in-law curiously, but seemed satisfied that Jimmy O’Connor was sober.
    “And of course,” Jimmy continued, “I’d like you to meet my son Timmy, and over there …” Jimmy hesitated a minute, “Laura, come over here sweetie. Meet Mr. and Mrs. Angel.”
    Laura, looking pretty in her little velvet pinafore, came shyly forward. She went straight to Cathy, smiling. “Are you really an angel?” she asked.
    Cathy stooped down to her. “I really am—I have been since I married Don. It’s his last name. So it’s been mine since we married. Your mommy took your daddy’s name, O’Connor. Like your own.”
    “Oh,” Laura said. “You look like an angel.”
    “Sweetheart, angels have wings!” Abby Challifour said, shaking her head to Cathy in a manner that said Kids! without hurting little Laura’s feelings.
    “You have to be a real angel,” Laura insisted.
    “Laura!” her grandmother murmured. “I am so sorry—”
    “No, no, we’re sorry,” Don broke in. “We didn’t mean to keep Jimmy working so late, it’s just that we’re going to be hit with a big problem if all our plans aren’t solidified by the new year.”
    “Your plans?” Abby Challifour said with polite enthusiasm.
    “For our new house,” Cathy said.
    “For the business—” Don began.
    “The business,” Cathy said.
    “House—” Don began.
    He laughed. “We’re just trying to have everything done,” he said to the Challifours.
    “Mum, Dad, excuse us, will you? I want Cathy and Don to meet Sharon.”
    “Yes, please,” Cathy said, and she hurried along with Jimmy O’Connor into the kitchen. Jimmy entered, calling out his wife’s name.
    They could see Sharon out on the pretty little enclosed side porch. Jimmy stepped on out to talk to her.
    “Jimmy!” She was startled to see him in the house. He looked at Sharon, into her eyes—velvet brown, soft, warm, giving—she smiled. A beautiful smile. Other than the roundness of her stomach, she remained slim. Her short brown hair was stylishly cut. And when she smiled, when her eyes touched Jimmy’s, she wasn’t just pretty, she was beautiful.
    He took her into his arms and kissed her soundly. “I love you,” he whispered.
    “Jimmy … I’m so glad that you’re home. I was so afraid that—”
    She broke off because he kissed her. Kissed her lips, her forehead, her cheeks, her