Who Loves Them? (Who--? Series) Read Online Free Page A

grandfather is here, and he wants to speak with you.” She looked down in disapproval at the little box in Chris’ hand.  “Give that to me.  I’ll put it with the rest of the gifts.”
    Chris felt th e sudden urge to keep the box on her person.  She had the feeling that her mother would open it, and she didn’t want her prying into her affairs any more than she already did.  “It’s fine, mother, I want to hold on to it.  “ She paused, lost in thought.  “Did you say my grandfather was here?  He is here right now?”
    Chris’s eyes widened .  Her grandfather had spent quite a lot of time with her when she was young.  He was fond of calling her his favorite granddaughter, to which she had always cheekily replied that she was his only granddaughter.  As he grew older, however, he had confined himself largely to the house and grounds where he lived, rarely venturing out.  She had missed him the last few years.  She might have expected, however, that he would make an appearance for her eighteenth birthday.  She smiled unexpectedly.  “Is he here now?” she repeated.
    Andrew and Elisa exchanged a glance .  “He’s in the study, dear.”
    Chris started toward the door, and then looked over her shoulder.  “Aren’t you coming?”
    Elise shook her head .  “We’ll be along shortly.”
    With a sudden sense of trepidation, Chris knocked on the door and then walked into the study, closing the heavy oak door behind her .  Her grandfather was sitting in the chair near the fireplace, his walking stick in hand.  His white hair had grown thinner, she noticed, and the wrinkles around his mouth seemed more pronounced.  She felt a sense of dread at seeing how her grandfather had aged.  He had always been so lively, bringing her toys and candy as a child, and later, when she had grown older, indulging her other whims, such as her love of riding horses.  The thought of him not being there any longer was painful.  She hadn’t realized how long it had been until she saw how much he had aged.
    She leaned over to give him a hug.  He seemed thinner, and his normally mellifluous voice had grown a bit raspy.
    “It’s good to see you, Christina .  How is my favorite granddaughter?”
    “I’m your only granddaughter,” she teased back as usual, but her voice had a touch of a quaver in it.  She knew something was up.  This was not an ordinary visit.
    “Sit down, Christina,” he said, and she did so, the sinking feeling in her stomach growing stronger.  She noticed he had a thin black briefcase sitting next to his feet.  “What do you have in your hand?”
    “Oh, it’s just a gift from a friend.”
    Her grandfather smiled.  “Aren’t you going to open it?”
    Chris hesitated, and then pulled open the ribbon.  Her grandfather was not like her mother, and didn’t care who she befriended.  As soon as she opened the box, she gasped.  “Oh my goodness.”
    She gently pried the love token from its clasp and held it in front of her.  The token was small, silver, and had the letter C engraved in the middle, with the date and year on either side.  Chris’ heart swelled with affection.
    “From a secret lover, I presume?” her grandfather asked.
    Chris shook her head.  “No.  Just a very good friend.  It’s beautiful.”
    Her grandfather nodded, and then looked wistfully out the window.  “It’s good to have friends, Christina.  Especially at your age.”
    Christina smiled, knowing she was blessed to have such close friends .  It was just a pity her mother saw them as intrusions.  “Yes, I’m glad I’ve got them.  I don’t know who I would turn to, otherwise.”
    Her grandfather smiled sadly.  He sighed and folded his hands in his lap, leaning forward.  “There’s something I need to tell you, Christina.  It may come as a bit of a shock at first, but I want you to remember that your parents and I have only the best of intentions and want only your happiness.”
    Christina put