Free Laura Ray (Ray Series) by Kelley Brown Page A

was uterine. When we discovered that we understood why she was never able to conceive.”
    “You’re still not too old to have children.”
    Art laughed, “I would have to marry a woman much younger than me. I haven’t met anyone who had the same interests in life that I do at that age. Children would have been nice but it looks like God had other plans for me.”
    Now Laura decided it was her turn. “Okay,” Laura smiled, “What do you do that makes you happy?”
    Art dipped his head acknowledging her question with a smile, “I’ve opened my mechanic garage, which has been a lifelong dream of mine. I’ve found and rented a place to start my Kuk Sool Won Karate School. It’s been another dream of mine to teach children discipline and training to defend themselves. I guess since I had no children of my own, I wanted to be a good influence on other’s children. My next goal is to find a home to buy. I’m not in a hurry about that yet.”
    They visited for a couple of hours more and Art stood to go. When he got near Danny, he asked Laura, “What do think about us taking the boys to Bell’s Amusement Park next Saturday?”
    Danny piped up and said, “Yeah, Mom. That sounds like fun.”
    Laura reached over and put her arm around Danny’s shoulder, “Well, Danny,” she grinned at Art, “if it was open in the winter maybe we could.”
    “Oh,” Danny said defeated.
    “Oops,” Art laughed, “I was trying.”
    “I know,” Art tried again, “I heard that the Nutcracker is playing at the Performing Arts Center in Tulsa. What do you think about that?”
    “You’re on your own with this one,” Danny declared holding up his hands. “I’ll find something to do with Aaron.”
    Laura opened her mouth to say no, and then she felt guilty about turning him down again. “Okay,” she agreed. “Let me know when you can get tickets and I’ll plan to go.”
    She went to her room and sat on her bed. Did I really agree to go on a date with Art? If Danny’s not going, I’m with him all night by myself. She was shaking like she had a chill. What would John think? She looked over at John’s closet. She had removed very little of his clothes, like she thought any time he might walk in and need something. He’s been gone two years.
    She resolved that she would donate those clothes to the Salvation Army before Christmas. She was fooling herself that by keeping his clothes that someway she could still feel his protective presence. Like curling up in his big chair felt like he was holding her and making her world right. She couldn’t depend on John anymore for her happiness.
    Art kept asking about her happiness. What a strange thing to say? She remembered growing up; all she ever wanted was to have her own home, her own husband and children. John offered all that. Laura sighed. She wouldn’t trade her experiences with John and the children for anything. She had always felt fulfilled until John died. She had her children, of course, but now Nora was gone. Thank God, she still had Danny.
    She got up and went to the kitchen and touched the spring bouquet that Art brought. How beautiful and fresh they looked !  Alive!
    Mary called her that night, “Bobby has been coming over a lot to see Aaron. I feel so sorry for that boy. I would love to adopt him. He is so starved for love.”
    “Did you get a chance to talk to Coach about his bruises?” Laura asked.
    “Yes, he said that he would keep an eye out for him. It’s such a shame that a mother would go off and leave that boy. Especially leave him with a father that would beat him and stay drunk all the time,” Mary commented.
    “I called Donald Littlefield about it”, Laura said. “He said that at Bobby’s age if he doesn’t want to admit that his dad beat him, even if we took pictures and documented it, the court wouldn’t do anything about it.”
    “Art said that he contacted Alcohol Anonymous about him and they are working to convince Bobby’s dad to let them