Scraps of Love Read Online Free Page A

fault.

Chapter 4
     
         “Come on in, Adam. I hope you
don’t mind, but Jenny is still asleep.” Colleen stepped back so he could pull
the trunk into the entryway. Then she closed the door. She bent down and looked
at the old trunk. The address label said it came from Aunt Ethel. What could
this be? She pulled on the lid. It didn’t budge.
         Out of the corner of her eye,
she could see Adam looking around the small living quarters. “I don’t mind, but
I think we’ve imposed on you enough.”
         “Not at all. Help me open
this, and we’ll call it even.” She searched his face. A soft smile lifted the
corners of his mouth.
         “Deal.” Adam knelt beside the
old trunk.
         “Would you like some coffee?”
Colleen asked, standing up to get out of his way.
         Adam looked up at her. “I’d
love some, thank you.”
         Colleen went into the kitchen
and made a fresh pot of coffee. Her hands shook and her heart pounded. How
could one man shake her up like this?
         To keep busy, Colleen made bacon
and eggs. It gave her something to do and calmed her nerves. She filled two
plates, making sure to leave plenty of bacon for Jenny.
         Just as she set the plates on
the small table, Adam walked in. “It’s open.”
         “Great! Why don’t you sit down
and start eating. I’ll go see what my aunt sent.” She moved past him and
returned to the entryway.
         She knelt beside the chest and
carefully lifted the old lid. A child’s coat lay on top. The fabric looked old
and fragile. Being careful not to damage it, Colleen set it on the floor beside
her.
         She sifted through the
remaining clothes. At the bottom on the box were several books and a sewing
box. She gently lifted an old Bible from the bottom. The black leather was worn
and ragged around the edges.
         “Wow that is really old.”
Adams voice drifted over her shoulder, startling her.
         Colleen jumped. The Bible
slipped from her hand, and they both caught it. Their fingers brushed. Her
heart rebounded against her ribs.
         Adam released his hold on the
book.
         How long had he been kneeling
beside her? She felt heat crawl up her neck and into her face. She quickly
returned all the items to the chest except the Bible.
         “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to
startle you.” Adam straightened and took a step back.
         Colleen closed the lid. “It’s
okay. I just thought you were eating breakfast.” She picked up the Bible,
stood, and smiled.
         He returned her grin. “I hate
to eat alone.”
         The low reverberation of his
voice turned her knees to mush. He probably had no idea how appealing he
sounded when he spoke in low tones like that.
         “Me, too.” Colleen led the way
back to the kitchen. Adam wanted to eat with her. Did that mean anything? She
was afraid to hope. She poured them both coffee.
         When she turned back to the
table, Adam stood waiting behind his chair. Colleen didn’t know what to do. She
felt just as funny as she had the night before at dinner. If sharing meals was
going to be a regular occurrence, maybe she better put a stop to this now. “I’m
not real formal, Adam. You don’t have to do that.” She thought the protest
sounded a little weak.
         “I know.” He continued to wait
with a soft smile on his face that showed off the dimple in his right cheek.
         Colleen realized he had no
intention of sitting down until she did. She carried the coffee to the table
and allowed him to seat her.
         As soon as he sat down, Adam
asked, “Shall I say the blessing?” He extended his hand palm up on the table.
         She placed her hand in his.
“That would be nice, Thank you.”
         His smile warmed her heart,
and she bowed her head. The prayer was simple and straight to the point. Just
the way it should be.
         “Amen”
         She echoed him, pulling