The Atonement Read Online Free Page A

nearly made Callie jump out of her skin. She hastened
over to answer it.
    “Who is it?”
    “Handyman,” she heard a familiar voice
say.
    Allen was obviously trying to be funny which
gave Callie a sense of relief. If he was in a joking mood, then she
knew that her secret was still safe. She walked over to the door,
unlocked it and waited for Allen to arrive.
    “Hey, beautiful,” he said after he got off
the elevator and headed in her direction. She noticed he was also
carrying a large shopping bag.
    “I thought you had class tonight.”
    “I did, but I was running late, so I decided
to skip it. Besides, I felt like I haven’t seen you two in so long,
I just had to drop by. I hope I haven’t spoiled your plans.”
    “Not at all. In fact, I’d say this is much
better than the phone call I was expecting.”
    “Really? Then let me make it even more
pleasant,” he said before he took her into his arms to kiss
her.
    “You’re right; that made my day. How was
yours?” said Callie as she led him into the apartment.
    “Just okay, until now. How’s Darius?”
    “He’s asleep. He was a little gassy earlier,
but thankfully I remembered that trick you showed me.”
    “He hasn’t gotten feverish lately, has
he?”
    “Not for a whole week now. His immune system
must be building up. What’s that you’ve got there?”
    “I stopped by the book store after I left the
hospital and decided to pick up some bedtime stories for Darius.
When I saw them I just had to get them. I remember my dad used to
read these to me when I was a kid,” he said as he took them out of
the bag to show her before placing them on the coffee table.
    “And you were worried that I would spoil him?
Allen, you just bought him a whole bunch of clothes last week, not
to mention that big birthday party you threw and all the toys you
bought.”
    “I just want him to have everything he needs.
Miko says reading to him even at this age is going to prepare him
for school.”
    “You say that like…”
    “I’m his dad? As far as I’m concerned, I am.
If that’s okay with you?”
    “ No complaints here. So, how
was Jim?”
    “Physically, he’s a lot better, but he’s
still kinda down on himself. Ya know?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “He’s feeling guilty about cutting us off and
all the mistakes he’s made.”
    “I think that’s a good thing. If you don’t
feel guilty all you do is keep on repeating the same mistakes.”
    “I guess. Then there are all the changes he’s
heard we’ve all been going through. I know you wanted to be there
so we could tell him together, but I told him about us.”
    “You what?!”
    “I’m sorry, but Tamiko gave him a hint and he
asked me point blank. I didn’t want to have to lie.”
    “Of course, that little…” began Callie under
her breath, gritting her teeth in an attempt to stifle her anger.
“It’s just that I wish you would have waited like we planned.”
    “I know, but at least things didn’t go as
badly as we thought.”
    “Are you saying he’s happy for us?”
    “I wouldn’t quite put it that way.”
    “So how would you put it?”
    “He’s just concerned about the amount of
responsibility I’m taking on.”
    “In other words, he doesn’t like the idea of
us being together, either,” said Callie throwing up her hands.
    “At least he didn’t seem angry about it like
my parents were. Anyway at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter
what Jim or anyone else likes or doesn’t like. As far as I’m
concerned, it’s not going to change anything.”
    “My thoughts exactly.”
    “Anyway, I think he’s more concerned about
his own situation - like where he’s going to fit in when he gets
home.”
    “That’s his problem. Jim’s a grown man and
he’s going to have to find his own way.”
    “I think he will. He’s going to be staying
with my parents and I when he gets out. He’s even been talking
about coming back to church.”
    Callie’s heart sank. Allen and Jim