This Time Forever Read Online Free

her hands through the hair that he now wore long on top, and entwined herself in his arms.
    Rebekka stopped walking toward them suddenly. She stared at Marc. He still watched Danielle, and on his face was the same expression her father wore when he looked at her mother.
    No!
    Her mind rejected the thought immediately. He’s mine! He may not know it yet, but he is mine. I’ve waited so long . . .
    Except she couldn’t deny the truth staring at her. She’d just discovered the biggest irony of all. No wonder Marc had never married—he was in love with her mother!
    The aroma of her father’s coffee pervaded the kitchen. For years, she had linked the smell to her father and security, but all at once it had turned into something devastating.
    Now that she knew the dreadful truth, she saw that Marc’s feelings had been obvious all along, though he probably wasn’t aware of them himself. He always made excuses to be near Danielle. He was the first to volunteer to go to the store for her or to drive her to a doctor’s appointment. Anything she wished, Marc had been willing to do. When Rebekka had been little, he’d often taken her in-line skating or to the park, and he’d always been the one to help her with her homework. He’d even taken her to get her driver’s license, and to nearly every church or school activity. Rebekka had believed he’d done those things because he liked her, but now she understood that he had done it all to be close to Danielle. Rebekka was nothing to him but a pest—a name she had heard him use more than once when he wasn’t aware she could hear. She’d thought he said it tenderly, but now she wasn’t so sure.
    Memory after memory assaulted her—occasions when Marc had arranged to be close to Danielle. Most vividly, Rebekka remembered the many times during the past year when she had thought about moving out on her own, only to be urged by Marc to stay with her parents. Of course! Without her in the apartment, what reason would he have to visit?
    Was even their friendship a farce?
    This thought cut Rebekka to the core. She might be able to stand not having Marc return her love, but she couldn’t take not being his friend. His friendship had been a mainstay in her life since she was five years old. At this dreadful thought, her stomach heaved and acid stung her throat.
    “Rebekka, what’s wrong, honey?” Danielle asked in her soft voice. “You look pale.”
    “I don’t feel too well,” Rebekka managed. “I—Marc, you’re going to have to go without me. I think—I’m going to be sick.” She ran from the kitchen to the bathroom, locking the door behind her. With one hand she braced herself against the sink, and with the other turned on the cold water. She splashed her face repeatedly until the nausea subsided.
    “Rebekka?” Her mother’s voice came from the other side of the door.
    Rebekka looked in the mirror at her face, red now with cold. Her gray eyes stared back at her, large and haunted. She clenched her teeth and lifted her firm jaw, the only physical endowment she had received from her father. “I’m okay, Mother. I’m going to take a bath and lie down. Tell Marc I’m not going. I’m sorry.”
    She wasn’t sorry. She wanted to rip his eyes out and throw them off the balcony. And then throw her mother off after him! How could I have been so blind all this time? How could I not see that Marc loved you instead of me?
    Rebekka didn’t cry. She was through wasting time crying for Marc. She was through being used. Sinking to the floor, she sat with her chin on her knees, holding her misery firmly inside until the urge to weep ceased.
    Now, what to do.
    Numbness settled over her heart. Marc was forever out of her reach, and she couldn’t stay where she would see him so often. Even once a week at church would be too painful. No, she had to get over him once and for all.
    America .
    The thought was unexpected, but not unwelcome. Others had gone to America and found their