Saturday's Child Read Online Free Page B

months.” He sucked in a deep breath. “Actually, Jack, thanks for calling. You did me a favour ringing when you did.”
    “Glad to know I’m good for something, then.” Pastor Jack laughed.
    “Good for a lot of things.” Aaron slid his free hand into his pocket. “So, what can I do for you?”
    “Meggie told me about the field and set up you have planned. It sounds good.”
    “Thank you. Miss Knight was telling me about the fireworks you wanted. I assume you’ve ordered them. Where are they being delivered?”
    “One minute, let me check.” The phone clunked as Pastor Jack laid it down.
    Just at the mention of Meggie’s name, Aaron was struck once again by the light and warmth that had sprung from every part of her. So different to the dark, evil that emanated from his stepmother. Sometimes he believed Tanis had something to do with the death of his father. And his wife. There was no way Nancy would have done what she did—not on the day she did it. They were happy, or at least he’d thought they were. Sure, she’d battled some occasional depression, but didn’t everyone at times? He’d thought she was content with what they had. And he loved her. They were starting a family. There was no way…Or was there? Maybe Tanis was right, and it was all his fault.
    “Yes, we have ordered them. They are being delivered to the manse on Wednesday.” Jack’s voice dragged Aaron’s mind back to the present.
    Aaron shook his head. “Are you keeping them at the manse?”
    “I figured the garage would do. Why?”
    “They’d be safer here. If you wanted, that is.”
    “How do you work that out?” Jack sounded more curious than anything else.
    “We’re not talking a couple of those budget boxes, are we?”
    “No. I ordered six hundred quids worth of professional fireworks.”
    “Then the manse isn’t the place to keep them. If they go up accidentally, you’ll lose everything. I can store them here in a locked barn.” He paused. “Besides, can you guarantee Lara won’t wander into the garage, find them and want to look at them?”
    “No, I can’t. OK, thank you. I’ll get onto the firm and have the delivery made to you instead of here. Will someone be around to sign for them?”
    “Yeah.” Aaron took a deep breath, a shiver running down his spine. He turned and caught a glimpse of Tanis standing in the doorway. “So was that the only reason you rang?”
    “No, I’m worried about you.”
    “There’s no need. I’m fine.” It wasn’t exactly a lie.
    “Hmmmm. Aaron, would you mind if I prayed for you?”
    “Not at all.” The answer came without hesitation. Jack had enough faith for the both of them, besides praying was what Jack did—it came with his job, and Aaron wasn’t about to dissuade him otherwise. He headed across to the other side of the farmyard, and fiddled with the fence. He’d need to replace it before the weekend.
    “And you know you’re always welcome here on a Sunday at the services.”
    “I know, but—”
    “No one blames you for Nancy’s death.”
    “But—”
    “Really, they’ll just be glad to see you back.”
    A longing stirred in the depths of Aaron’s soul. By leaving the church, he’d left a lot of friends and people he considered family. But too much had happened, and no matter what Jack said, he held himself responsible, and others would blame him, too. “I’m not going to make promises I can’t keep, Jack. I’m not ready to just…” Aaron broke off, blinking hard.
    “It wasn’t your fault.”
    Was the bloke psychic? Or did pastors just have a sixth sense when it came to people. “Maybe I should have been around more, loved her more.”
    “It wasn’t your fault,” Jack insisted. “We’ll never know why. Would knowing why actually help? Would it make things any easier for you?”
    Aaron glanced at the farmhouse, his mind full of images. He’d come in from doing the milking to find the kettle boiling dry on the stove. Nancy hadn’t answered