DESIRE Read Online Free

gathered my books. “Sarah helped me pass out my invitations and everyone is eager to come. Well, all except two.”
    “That’s a surprise. Who on earth would refuse you? You're to be a woman of great standing. Marrying the future Governor of Arcadia is nothing to snub your nose at.”
    “Well, either they were not impressed with that or they don’t believe it’ll be part of my Life’s Plan.”
    “Either way, Honey.” She came up to me and grabbed my cheeks the way she so often did when she had a lesson to transmit. “Don’t be in too much of a rush to marry that future governor of yours. Regardless of how good and great a man Liam may be, take the time to discover who you are before you become Mrs. Governor. Marriage is hard, serious and complicated sometimes. It’s not all wine and roses.”
    “Is that why you never married my father?”
    She released my cheeks and turned to stir the tomato sauce. “I should’ve seen that coming.”
    Seeing the sadness cross her face, I regretted the question I’d slipped out before I could catch it. “I understand if you don’t want to talk about it.”
    “No,” she said, her eyes still on the sauce.
    I could have sworn I saw tears welling up in her eyes and hated myself for bringing up such a painful topic.
    “I know it’s always bothered you, not knowing who your father was. When you were little I didn’t think it mattered. So long as I was there, you’d be fine, but I realize now how much you’ve missed his presence. I wish things could have been different.” She turned to me, sad, but with a hint of joy as she reminisced. “We loved each other so much, desperately, but it was forbidden for us to marry. Being from the two extremities of society, it was frowned upon.”
    I wanted so desperately to know more about my father. Over the years I’d wanted to ask about him, but the mere mention of him was enough to set a grim line to her lips, much as it had now, so I never pressed for more. I didn’t even know what he looked like, what his name was. It had always been a mystery to me.
    The doorbell rang, slicing into the tension that had quickly become unbearable. I hated seeing her like this, but I also hated how thoughts of my father left me feeling so empty. A huge part of my life was missing and, while I never let on, it did affect me.
    “The tomato sauce is ready. All I have to do is drop the spaghetti in the pot of boiling water and you're set, Mom.”
    “I’m set? And where are you off to? Who’s that at the door?”
    Vigilant, attentive and always needing to know what I was up to, she was a cool and understanding mother. I knew she wanted what was best for me, partly why she had brought me to Arcadia to begin with.
    The perfect little town that produced perfect little people who lived out their perfect little lives.
    “It’s Liam, Mom,” I called over my shoulder as I headed to the front door. My hand was slightly shaky as it turned the knob to open the door.
    “Hey, Kama,” Liam whispered, his voice husky. “Ready?”
    “Yeah, come in. I’ll just go get my purse.”
    I left him at the door just as my mother arrived to greet him.
    “Liam, how nice to see you.”
    “You’re looking as lovely as ever, Miss Johnson.”
    “Forever the sweet charmer, just like your father. And how is Pim?”
    “Busy, but that’s the way he likes things. Working makes him happy.”
    “I’ve noticed. I haven’t seen him in a while, but I should soon at one of the next meetings.”
    “I’m ready,” I chimed as I glided down the stairs and grabbed Liam’s arm. “I won’t be back late, Mom. We’ll study a bit, look over the last minute details for my birthday party, and Liam will have me home at a respectable hour.”
    “Promise,” Liam added.
    “I’m not at all worried,” Mom said as she waved us away. “If there’s anyone I trust my daughter with, it’s you. Plus it’s just a matter of months, perhaps after graduation that we would be planning a