Once You'Ve Touched the Heart Read Online Free Page A

quietly.
    Tracy went in the room and put on a blazer. “Okay,” she sighed, “we can go now.”
    Calvin and JD tried to refocus on the game after the girls left. They both sat there for a moment. “Teenagers; jail bait.” They both laughed.
    Knowing what he prowled for in the clubs, there was no way JD was going to let these two out of his sight tonight. “Calvin, we are going to Jazzy’s.”
    “I’m with you. But you realize Jazzy’s is an underage club. I will have to wear a disguise; I have a reputation to protect.”
     
    ♥
     
    That Sunday, as promised, JD, Ashley and Tracy went to church and then to Mama Harrison’s house for dinner. Sunday dinner at Martha’s house was always lively and crowded. The whole Harrison family and friends gathered for dinner, including their minister, Pastor Smith, and his wife. Tracy wasn’t used to crowds and this one was a bit much for her. Therefore, she spent most of the day in the kitchen. With that many people coming and going there were always dishes to wash. Ashley was visiting with family in the den and JD was out back playing a pick-up game of basketball with his cousins. When Martha came into the kitchen with Pastor Smith, she saw Tracy washing dishes.
    “Child, why are you still in here? Why don’t you come out and meet some of the family?” Martha encouraged.
    “I thought I would try to knock out some of these dishes so you won’t have too many to clean later,” Tracy replied.
    “Well, thank you, honey, but you are a guest. You don’t have to work.”
    “Oh, I don’t mind helping. You want me to get that for you?” she asked, referring to the bowl Martha had in her hand.
    “No, I can get this. Will you get those glasses the boys left on the table?” she asked, pointing to the patio.
    “Yes ma’am,” Tracy replied.
    “My, my,” Pastor Smith said, “a teenager with manners; you don’t see that too often.”
    “Yes, she’s a sweet girl,” Martha replied. “That’s Ashley’s roommate from college. Kind of a quiet girl.”
    Just as Tracy went out the back door a basketball came straight at her. “Heads up!” someone yelled. Tracy caught the ball, bounced it a few times and made a jump shot from where she stood.
    “Whoa!” the group yelled.
    “I think the idea is to put the ball through the hoop, like that,” she teased. Tracy picked up the glasses and went back into the house.
    JD hit one of his cousins on the back of his head. “Another shot like that and I’m putting her on the team.”
    Tracy was finishing the glasses while Martha was talking to Pastor Smith. JD came in from the game and grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator.
    “Had enough, son?” Pastor Smith teased.
    “Yeah, I think I am done for the night.”
    “Exercise is good for the soul,” Pastor Smith replied laughing. “It keeps you young.”
    JD’s Uncle Joe, who was always loud and had to let everyone in the state know he was there, entered the kitchen. “Hey, what y’all doing up in here?”
    The loud voice frightened Tracy. She froze. The glass she was holding fell to the floor and shattered. JD noticed her reaction to Uncle Joe—or was it his voice?
    “I’m, I’m sorry,” she stammered .
    “What’s wrong with you, gal!” Uncle Joe yelled.
    “Joe,” Martha said with a scowl, “stop scaring the girl. Honey, it’s okay, it’s just a glass. I have too many glasses anyway.” She laughed.
    Tracy still had not moved. It appeared to JD she was holding her breath as if waiting for something else to happen.
    “What do you need, Uncle Joe?” JD asked.
    “A piece of thatcake,” he grinned. As Joe stepped towards the table, Tracy stepped backward, but there was nowhere to go; her back was to the sink.
    JD picked up the cake. “Here you go, Uncle Joe. Take this with you and I’ll bring some plates.”
    “All right now, that’s what I’m talking ’bout,” Uncle Joe replied as he left the kitchen happy.
    JD, Martha and Pastor Smith lookedat