February Waltz (Rhythm of the Heart Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

“Funeral can happen any day now. Just need your say so.”
    Calvin swallowed. “Not tomorrow, but the day after would be fine. It's a Saturday. Afternoon, sometime?”
    “Yeah, that'd work. We'll make some calls in the morning.” Grams replied.
    “Well, I have some other news.”
    “Oh?” Pops asked, his brow raising.
    “Yeah. In the letter Zoe's dad left, he left her some money, a nice bit.”
    Pops nodded and took another drink. “That was good of him, I expect.”
    “Yeah, I guess. I just wish he'd done it from the get go, not now.” Calvin grumbled.
    “Ah, don't let hate get ahold of you, son.” Pops shook his head. “Because if he had taken on his responsibilities, you think you and Zoe would be together? Think about it. Fate happened at just the right time and you two needed each other. More than you know.”
    Calvin blew out a breath. “You're probably right.”
    “Take his money with a grateful heart and use it to make a life for you and her.”
    “You're right.” He nodded.
    “I know I am. I been around the block a few times.”
    Grams whirled around with a spoon in hand. “Oh? Is that so?”
    “With you, baby. With you.” Pops chuckled.
    Grams' face softened and she turned back to the stove. “Just as I thought.”
    “What's the secret?” Calvin asked.
    “To what, son?”
    “A love lasting a lifetime?”
    Pops took another sip of his beer. “Ah that's a hard one. Wouldn't you say, Viv?”
    Grams turned again and shrugged. “Compromise. Sometimes you gotta give up what you want most for the greater good. Plus lots of relations don't hurt either.”
    Calvin jumped up from the chair. “Oh man, I don't need to think about that. Thanks for the chat. Let me take the food in to her.”
    Grams laughed. “Go spend time with your girl.”

Chapter Five
     
     
     
    Timing just ain't right... Calvin sighed to himself as he watched his wife carefully brushing her dark hair. Her hands worked through the silken strands to braid it quickly. She wore a pair of black pants, a grey top and a stormy expression. Today they would be burying her father and Calvin hated it. I wish I could take every bit of the pain away for her. I wish she didn't have to do this.
    She turned from the mirror with a tremulous smile. “I'm ready.”
    “It's going to be okay, baby.” Calvin took her hand and helped her to her feet.
    “Yeah, I know. I just want to get this over with.”
    “Grams said she got the old wheelchair out of the garage. You can sit in that so you are resting.”
    “How nice of her,” she whispered softly.
    Calvin led her through the house to the front yard, where his family waited. Tim stood stoically beside his baby sister, for once in his life dressed for the correct occasion. “We're ready.”
    “Zoe honey, don't you look pretty.” Grams smiled.
    “Thanks,” she replied, no emotion to her voice.
    She's shutting everything away and running from the emotion. Maybe it's best for right now.
    Calvin helped her sit in the car and Layla and Tim crawled in the back. Grams and Pops loaded up in the truck and they headed for the cemetery. The funeral director agreed on a grave site burial, no church, due to Zoe's condition. There would be a few words and then the burial. Closed casket. Simple and to the point.
    He had tried to ask her what she would want, but Zoe offered no opinion on the situation so he did what he thought was best. As they parked at the cemetery, Calvin was taken back to the time they visited their parents’ graves together. The sun didn't shine today and there was no magic in the air as there had been then. Instead the sky hung low and grey, storm clouds billowing on the horizon and a stiff wind blew, chilling them all as they stepped out.
    Pops came around the car with the wheelchair. “Here, baby.”
    “Thanks.” She whispered as she sat down on the leather seat.
    Calvin grasped the handles and pushed her slowly up the hill and into the cemetery. The little pathways