Free The Strange Healing by Misty Malone Page A

he said, “Good.  I'm really glad, Honey.  But please don't stop now.  I can tell you've just thought of something that's been really hard for you, haven't you?”  When she slowly nodded, he continued, “I'd really like to hear about it.  Can you tell me about it?”
    She shook her head vehemently.  “I can't.”
    Heath saw unshed tears in her eyes, and knew how difficult this was for her.  He picked her up and sat her in his lap, wrapping his arms around her.  He was happy when she laid her head on his shoulder and seemed to relax somewhat.  He simply held her a couple minutes, holding her to him. 
    He kissed her head gently and said, “I know this is hard for you, Sweetheart, but I'd really like to know what's hurting my girl.  I was very serious about wanting to protect you, but I can't if you won't share this with me.  Don't do like you did last night and shut me out.  Please give me a chance this time to help you.”
    Heath knew that made an impression on the little lady he was quickly becoming quite fond of.  She sat up on his lap and looked into his eyes.  He did the one thing that seemed appropriate at the time.  He slowly leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers.  She looked up at him again, then leaned forward to kiss him.  That was all the encouragement he needed.  He took her face in his hands and kissed her, ecstatic when she passionately returned his kiss.
    Eventually he was able to pull back and smile at her.  “Thank you, Sara.”
    She smiled back as she said, “My pleasure, Heath.”
    He leaned back against the couch, pulling her with him, so she was leaning against his chest.  They sat like that, his arms holding her tight against him, her head lying comfortably on his shoulder, for several calm, relaxing minutes.  They both felt a closeness they were unfamiliar with. 
    Thinking back, Heath remembered what they were talking about before their kiss, and wanted to try again to get Sara to talk to him.  He cautiously asked, “Sweetheart, will you please share with me what you were thinking of a little bit ago?  Now especially I want to be able to try to help you.”
    She slowly nodded her head and said, “But what if you don't want to – ” 
    She stopped, and Heath tried to encourage her.  “What if I don't want to what, Honey?”
    “What if you don't want to see me again after I tell you what I did?”
    Heath tightened his arms and said, “Oh, Honey, I don't think that could happen.  You haven't said anything tonight that's even made me consider that.  To the contrary, I just want to keep you wrapped in my arms forever.”  She snuggled in against him a little more, and as he laid his face on the top of her head, he asked, “Please?”
    She reluctantly agreed.  “Okay, but please don't hate me.”
    “ I can't see that ever happening.”
    Sara took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and reluctantly started her tale.  “Well, Dad died shortly after I graduated from college.  A few months later I got a job offer about 50 miles away from home.  It was working for the company I'd dreamed of working for for years, and I took it.  I moved to an apartment in the city shortly afterward.  I came home three or four times a week to help Mom with anything she wanted help with, or just to visit.”
    She stopped and tears welled up in her eyes again.  Heath gave her time to gather her thoughts again, and encouraged her.  “It sounds like you were being a very thoughtful daughter, visiting your mom so often.  I'm sure she appreciated your visits.”
    She sniffled, but continued.  “A couple months after I left, she was killed in an auto accident.”
    Again his arms tightened around this poor little lady who had suffered far too much for a lady so young.  “I'm sorry, Sara.  That had to have been awful for you.”
    “ Yeah, it really was.  I was just starting to come to grips with Dad dying.  At least I had time to prepare for his death because he'd been