Lucky Charm Read Online Free Page B

custody, but she always had a rational reason why Holly couldn’t come visit. A sleepover at a friend’s, a birthday party she couldn’t miss. It was as if Marlene was punishing him for not being there for her.
    Only recently, after she’d gotten engaged to John Bartman, did she soften toward Derek. She’d fallen in love, and John treated her the way Derek should have. She’d finally declared a truce. That had given Derek more access to his daughter and he was grateful.
    He smiled at Holly, who rose to face him.
    â€œI promise I won’t get angry.”
    Holly drew a deep breath. “Mom used to say that you hated giving her child support, that you considered spending your hard-earned money on me a waste.” She bit her bottom lip with her teeth and her eyes filled with tears.
    The knife in his chest twisted deeper. While he wasn’t surprised Marlene had been so bitter, it infuriated him that she’d lie to his daughter about something so serious.
    â€œDid Mom ever not buy you things you wanted or needed?” he asked.
    She shook her head. “No! And she hasn’t said that in a really long time. But she did once and I couldn’t ever forget it.” Holly sniffed.
    â€œI don’t have any tissues. Want to use this, instead?” Derek grinned and held out his sleeve.
    She giggled. “Dad!”
    He laughed. “Listen to me.” He took her small hand in his, overwhelmed by the connection between them. “I promise you I’m not angry,” he told her, squeezing her palm tighter in his. “I made a lot of mistakes with your mom. I’m upset that I made her so unhappy that she felt that way.” He struggled for the right words so it didn’t seem as if he was bashing her mother.
    He and Marlene had come a long way.
    â€œLet me make a few things clear to you right now. Number one, I love you. I didn’t walk out on you. Your mother and I agreed that me leaving was for the best. Your mom was angry at me for a lot of grown-up reasons, but that’s over now. I’m happy for her and John. Are you?”
    Holly nodded. “He’s not bad. And Mom seems a lot happier now so that’s good.”
    Derek exhaled, relieved she understood. Divorce wasn’t easy on kids. “So how about you and I start over? No assumptions, no misunderstandings. If you want something, ask. I reserve the right to say no if I think it’s bad for you, but it’ll always be out of love. Okay?”
    His little girl, who at eleven looked much older, stood in front of him, merely staring.
    â€œDo you understand what I said?” he asked, wanting to be clear.
    She nodded and sniffed. “I think you said you want to buy me those sheets. You just used a long explanation to get there.” She shuffled from foot to foot, her excitement tangible. “Can I pick them out now?”
    He laughed, and despite knowing better, he pulled her into a hug.
    She froze and his heart felt as if it had stopped. It had been too long since they’d been that comfortable around each other and he held his breath, waiting for her reaction. Inch by inch, she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him back. His heart began to beat again.
    She bent back down and handed him the items—sheets, pillow cases and, of course, the extra throw pillows and dust ruffle that added to the cost but increased her smile by a yard.
    â€œYou need pillows to fit inside the odd shaped shams,” he told her. “I saw them over there by the sample bed.” His arms were full with her choices.
    â€œI’ll get them.” She ran back to the display and returned a minute later with three small pillows in her arms.
    Once again, she began squirming, obviously excited about something new.
    â€œWhat’s up?” he asked.
    â€œWhile I was there, I heard two women talking,” she whispered. “One was Ms. Merchant, the librarian. The other was a