Taming Natasha Read Online Free

finger on the glossy surface of the baby grand. “Spence, I know you’re still carrying around guilt because of Angela. I don’t like to see it.”
    His easy smile vanished. “Some mistakes take along time to be erased.”
    â€œShe made you miserable,” Nina said flatly. “There were problems within the first year of your marriage. Oh, you weren’t forthcoming with information,” she added when he didn’t respond. “But there were others all too eager to pass it along to me or anyone else who would listen. It was no secret that she didn’t want the child.”
    â€œAnd how much better was I, wanting the baby only because Ithought it would fill the gaps in my marriage? That’s a large burden to hand a child.”
    â€œYou made mistakes. You recognized them and you rectified them. Angela never suffered a pang of guilt in her life. If she hadn’t died, you would have divorced her and taken custody of Freddie. The result’s the same. I know that sounds cold. The truth often is. I don’t like to think that you’re making this move, changing your life this dramatically because you’re trying to make up for something that’s long over.”
    â€œMaybe that’s part of it. But there’s more.” He held out a hand, waiting until Nina came to him. “Look at her.” He pointed out the window to where Freddie continued to swing high, free as the hummingbird. “She’s happy. And so am I.”

C HAPTER T WO
    â€œI ’m not scared.”
    â€œOf course you’re not.” Spence looked at his daughter’s brave reflection in the mirror while he carefully braided her hair. He didn’t need the quaver in her voice to tell him she was terrified. There was a rock in the pit of his own stomach the size of a fist.
    â€œSome of the kids might cry.” Her big eyes were already misted. “But I won’t.”
    â€œYou’re going to have fun.” He wasn’t any more certain of that than his nervous daughter. The trouble with being a parent, he thought, was that you were supposed to sound sure of everything. “The first day of school’s always a little scary, but once you get there and meet everyone, you’ll have a great time.”
    She fixed him with a steady, owlish stare. “Really?”
    â€œYou liked kindergarten, didn’t you?” It was evasive, he admitted to himself, but he couldn’t make promises he might not be able to keep.
    â€œMostly.” She lowered her eyes, poking at the yellow, sea horse-shaped comb on her dresser. “But Amy and Pam won’t be there.”
    â€œYou’ll make new friends. You’ve already met JoBeth.” He thoughtof the pixieish brunette who had strolled by the house with her mother a couple of days before.
    â€œI guess, and JoBeth is nice, but…” How could she explain that JoBeth already knew all of the other girls? “Maybe I should wait till tomorrow.”
    Their eyes met in the mirror again; he rested his chin on her shoulder. She smelled of the pale green soap she loved because it was shaped like a dinosaur. Her face was so much like his own, yet softer, finer, and to him infinitely beautiful.
    â€œYou could, but then tomorrow would be your first day of school. You’d still have butterflies.”
    â€œButterflies?”
    â€œRight here.” He patted her tummy. “Doesn’t it feel like butterflies dancing in there?”
    That made her giggle. “Kind of.”
    â€œI’ve got them, too.”
    â€œReally?” Her eyes opened wide.
    â€œReally. I’ve got to go to school this morning, just like you.”
    She fiddled with the pink ribbons he’d tied on the ends of her pigtails. She knew it wasn’t the same for him, but didn’t say so because she was afraid he’d get that worried look. Freddie had heard him talking to Aunt Nina once, and