Broken Things (Faded Photograph Series) by Andrea Boeshaar Page A

in regular intervals, realizing he’d been holding his breath. Allie at the hand of an abusive spouse? Jack shook the chilling image out of his head. He’d seen enough domestic violence cases in his career to know the particulars. They weren’t pretty.
    He took a long drink of cola. His brief conversation with Allie made him want to know more. Where was this dude she’d married? Didn’t sound like she loved him. Why was that comforting?
    Maybe because he’d never loved his ex-wife either. But he had tried.
    Jack squeezed his eyes shut against the ocean of memories flooding his being. God knows I tried .
    * * *
    Hours later, with his hands on the steering wheel of his Mercury Sable , Logan turned onto Waukegan Road and headed for Schaumburg. The drive took about thirty-five minutes from Oakland Park to the townhouse that Marilee and two other teachers shared.
    Darkness shrouded his vehicle except for the intermittent glow of the streetlight. A cool autumn breeze blew in from off the lake. But as he picked up speed, both he and Marilee closed their windows.
    “I had a nice time today.” Marilee’s sweet voice wafted to his ears above the music coming from radio.
    Reaching for the dash, Logan turned down the volume so he could hear her better. “Yeah, I had a good time too.” He smiled, but didn’t take his eyes off the road.
    “I had the chance to speak with your dad this evening. I…” She hesitated. “I like him. I don’t feel so intimidated by him anymore.”
    “Good. I had prayed something like that would come out of this afternoon’s picnic.” He glanced her way and grinned. “I’ll confess that I was surprised at Dad’s sociable mood, especially since I coerced him into coming today. He didn’t want to. But that’s what God can do―change a man’s heart.”
    “So I’ve been told.”
    Marilee’s voice trailed off, and Logan sensed she had more to say. “What is it?” he finally prompted.
    She took an audible breath. “I hope I’m not out of line in saying this, Logan, but I think you should drop the idea of finding your biological mother. Your dad is warming up. But if you consume yourself with searching for your mother, you might lose the precious ground you’ve gained with him.”
    “Consume myself?” He made a right onto Lake Cook Road.
    “Logan, I know you. Once you get an idea in your brain, you’ve got a one-track mind. It’s all you think about.”
    He grinned. Marilee did, indeed, know him well. Moreover, she was right about another thing―he didn’t want to hurt his dad. He desired a close relationship with him and had been working on cultivating it. Logan sensed, even more strongly after today that beneath the rocky resolve of his father’s beat an extremely tender heart―one that, Logan guessed, had been wounded far too many times. Did he dare challenge him with the past and add to it?
    Logan’s thoughts plagued him until they reached Marilee’s townhouse. Located in a lively neighborhood, it was walking distance to the church and school. Pulling up to the curb, he parked, climbed from the car, and walked around to the other side where he opened the door for Marilee.
    She smiled. “It always amazes me what a gentleman you are. You’re the first guy who ever insisted I stay seated until he opens the door for me.”
    “Good training,” he quipped.
    Her smile broadened.
    Taking her hand, Logan walked her to the front door.
    “Will I see you tomorrow?” With her free hand, Marilee fished her keys from her purse.
    “Sure. I’ll be around all day.”
    “Good.”
    Logan released her hand and Marilee stuck the key into the door. She turned back to him. “I had a lovely afternoon. Thanks.”
    “Sure.” He cupped her cheek and resisted the desire to kiss her.
    If he succumbed to his feelings right now, he’d betray himself and everything he wanted to stand for. Besides, he would be a hypocrite in every sense of the word. He would know it in his heart, and there was