Hidden Shadows (The Shadow Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

didn’t see the mother, or any adult, but thought he could indulge the boy for a moment before checking. “Let’s see," Ben looked over the land, rubbing his chin, “what can Dawson do? I bet you’re good at moving stuff, aren’t you?”
    “Yep!”
    “Okay, well, how about every time I put a bush or flower in the ground, you move all that black-looking dirt over it?”
    “What is the black stuff?”
    “It’s called mulch.”
    “Mull-ch,” Dawson sounded it out.
    “Exactly. It protects the plants and makes sure they grow big and strong. And,” Ben paused dramatically, kneeling close to the boy with a whisper, “wanna know a secret?”
    Dawson nodded with serious eyes.
    “There’s an ingredient that makes it extra special. See how it smells kind of funny?” Ben cupped a palmful and wafted it under Dawson's nose. “Know what that smell is?”
    Dawson shook his head, anticipating with wide eyes what was sure to be an important revelation.
    “It’s cow doo-doo!” Ben said on a laugh.
    “EWWW!” Dawson shrieked with laughter and jumped back from the now revealed yet not-so-impressive secret.
     
     
     
    Jenna rested her foot on the pink and white soccer ball, then bent to grab it as she plopped to the ground for a breather. “Jacy baby, Momma’s gotta stop for a minute."
    “Me too.” Jacy ran over, panting, even though Jenna knew she wasn’t out of breath in the slightest. Jenna grinned and welcomed the camaraderie as her little mini-me sighed and collapsed down beside her.
    “I’m hungry,” Jacy declared. “What's for lunch?”
    “We’ll have to dig up something. We need to go to the grocery, so maybe leftovers or sandwiches.”
    “Sandwiches.”
    “Sandwiches it is then.”
    Come to think of it, Jenna realized, they were out of lunch meat too, so she’d have to use the old PB&J standby.
    She’d planned to get groceries yesterday, but that idea was shot, along with all of her other weekend To Do’s, when Keith called early Saturday to say he wouldn’t be getting the kids this weekend.
    She wasn’t sure why it seemed unbelievable to her that he’d abandoned them again. It was getting to be a trend now, more often the rule than the exception. But somehow, even after all the other times, she was still shocked a man treated his own children so carelessly. They were his flesh and blood. Who cared how he felt about her, but the children, the sweet children.
    While Jacy relaxed in the warm sun and Jenna ran her fingers through her daughter’s soft hair, Jenna knew that while the kids might not mean much to Keith, they meant something to her. Everything to her, in fact.
    So as hard as it was, she’d continue to put on a front for their sakes where their father was concerned. She’d keep smiling, maintain politeness when car seats, back packs, and overnight bags were exchanged, and try not to let any of her venting be overheard by little ears.
    No matter how it cost her pride, she really did want civility between her and Keith. The kids deserved it. They’d done nothing wrong and she never wanted to give them an inkling otherwise.
    She just prayed Keith would step up and begin to act like a father so at least some of her efforts at courtesy were deserved.
    The kids were getting to an age where his absence and continual broken promises were obvious. They’d start to hurt soon, if they hadn’t already, and she did not want either of her babies on the receiving end of Keith's desertion.
    She’d been there, and it wasn’t pretty.
    Those first days and weeks after he’d left had been devastating. No getting out of bed, no eating, no feeling really. Just a void of emptiness. A black hole that swallowed her up every time she tried to do anything but sleep.
    And even in sleep, she’d been disturbed. Dreams, unfortunately, could be just as real as life.
    But she’d had a newborn and a three-year-old. She had no choice but to go on. Live for them. Move for them. Function normally so they could