Fractured Heart Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Note from the Publisher

  Dedication

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  About the Author

  Also by P.F. Whitney

  A Silver Publishing Book

  Fractured Heart

  Copyright © 2012 by Piper Whitney

  E-book ISBN: 9781614958253

  First E-book Publication: December 2012

  Cover design by Reese Dante

  Editor: Nina Smith

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 by Silver Publishing

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  If you see "free shares" offered or cut-rate sales of this title on pirate sites, you can report the offending entry to [email protected].

  This book is written in US English.

  PUBLISHER

  www.SPSilverPublishing.com

  Note from the Publisher

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for your purchase of this title. The authors and staff of Silver Publishing hope you enjoy this read and that we will have a long and happy association together.

  Please remember that the only money authors make from writing comes from the sales of their books. If you like their work, spread the word and tell others about the books, but please refrain from sharing this book in any form. Authors depend on sales and sales only to support their families.

  If you see "free shares" offered or cut-rate sales of this title on pirate sites, you can report the offending entry to [email protected].

  Thank you for not pirating our titles.

  Lodewyk Deysel

  Publisher

  Silver Publishing

  http://www.spsilverpublishing.com

  Dedication

  For my mom.

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Charlie and Lola: Lauren Child (individual)

  Hannah Montana: Disney Enterprises, Inc

  Barbie: Mattel, Inc

  Chia Pet: Joseph Enterprises, Inc

  Silly String: Julius Samann Ltd

  Styrofoam: Dow Chemical Co.

  Pepto-Bismol: The Proctor & Gamble Co.

  BMW: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Corp

  Superman: DC Comics

  Chapter One

  The first rays of morning light peeked through the gap in the curtains hanging over Cole Nichols' bedroom window. Slowly he opened his eyes, his mind still foggy with sleep and the fresh memories of a recurring dream that had plagued him for three years. He smiled when he heard his bedroom door opening and the telltale sound of the license and name tag jingling from his dog's collar.

  The dog, Kerouac, jumped onto the bed, panting excitedly, wagging his tail furiously, to lick his master's face. Cole lightly patted his head and scratched behind his ears. "Morning, Kerouac." He turned his attention to his little girl as she followed Kerouac and climbed onto the bed with an expression of joy on her face. "Hey, sweetheart," he said as she moved into his warm embrace.

  "Morning, Daddy."

  Cole glanced at the alarm clock on his nightstand and groaned at seeing the red numbers glaring six-thirty. "And why are you up so early this morning?" He sat up and stretched his arms over his head.

  The girl pouted slightly and crossed her arms over her chest seeming somewhat indignant. "You promised to make me pancakes this morning," she replied matter-of-factly.

  Cole nodded. "That I did." He looked from his dog and to his daughter. "I'll tell you what, give me a few minutes to wake up a bit more and we can make breakfast together. How does that sound?"

  She grinned. "Can I watch Charlie and Lola, please?"

  "Yeah, but keep the sound down, okay?"

  She scrambled off the bed and ran to the door. "Come on, Kerry." She giggled when the dog practically fell to the floor and chased her from the room.

  Cole turned and gazed at the picture on his nightstand of his wife. He threw the covers off and got up, ready to start the day.

  * * * *

  Cole made his way downstairs to the family room. He stood in the doorway, smiling at the sight of his daughter in her pink Hannah Montana nightgown, socked feet, and messy hair. She lay on the floor with her favorite pillow and Kerouac snoozing peacefully beside her.

  "Kaity, are you gonna help me make breakfast?" He held back a laugh when the unsuspecting five-year-old jumped at the sound of his voice.

  "Yeah!" she shouted, scaring the dog as she quickly got up. Following Cole into the kitchen, she walked to the counter in the center of the room, placing her tiny hands on the edge and standing on her tiptoes to see over the top.

  Cole occasionally eyed her as he began gathering the ingredients, bowls, and utensils they would need. He grabbed the cookbook from a drawer and set it in front of her.

  He leaned toward Kaity and grinned. "You can't very well help from down there, now can you?" His heart warmed when she giggled. He walked over and picked her up in a tight grip, then set her on the counter before beginning to measure out the ingredients into the bowl.

  "I get to go see Santa today, right, Daddy?" She reached for the set of measuring spoons Cole had discarded in favor of the measuring cups.

  Cole nodded as he cracked an egg into the bowl. "Yup. I'm leaving work early to pick you up from school and we're gonna go see Santa. We have to get some presents for your grandma and grandpa too."

  Kaity's attention turned to the little black dog sitting on the floor, his tail wagging expectantly. "What about Kerry? We can't forget to get him a present."

  Cole nodded as he chuckled. "We'll get something for Kerouac too. Start stirring the batter."

  Kaity picked up the large wooden spoon sitting next to the bowl and dipped it into the thick mixture. She stirred slowly while Cole added vanilla and melted butter to the concoction.

  Cole relished the moments, and the memories he made, with Kaity. She was still at the age where Daddy hung the moon and was her whole world. He knew these days would soon be gone and all he would be left with were the remembrances of the special times, so he soaked them in to keep for later years when she would be married with a family of her own.

  * * * *

  Cole and Kaity walked into the family room, Cole carrying two plates filled with pancakes. Kerouac ran behind them, no doubt hoping to get a taste of what was on the dishes. They sat on the floor and Cole shooed Kerouac away as he and Kaity began eating their breakfast.

  Kaity peered up at him, her mouth filled with food and syrup dipping slowly
down her little chin. "Daddy?" Her voice was muffled slightly as she continued chewing her food.

  Cole turned to her, covering his mouth to prevent spraying food as he laughed. He quickly swallowed. "Kaitlyn Danielle, what have I told you about talking with your mouth full?"

  Kaity's green eyes clouded with sadness as she swallowed and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry." She set her fork on her plate. "Daddy?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Can I get a new sled to take with me to Gramma and Grampa's cabin?"

  Cole took a deep breath as he curled his lips in a half smile. "Yeah, I think we can do that. We should get you a new coat and boots too though. You've outgrown your others since last Christmas."

  "Yippee!" she shouted as she shifted her tiny butt from left to right where she sat.

  Cole couldn't help but be amused. She truly was the only thing that kept him going from day to day.

  Chapter Two

  Cole pulled a black T-shirt over his head, smoothing the cotton fabric across his chest and down to his hips. He checked his appearance in the mirror and walked from the bathroom into his closet. He grabbed the first pair of sneakers he could get his hands on, chuckling when he found a dog toy in one of them. "Kaity, you about ready?" He tossed the red rubber bone onto the floor, then sat on the bed and slipped the shoes on. He frowned when Kaity appeared in the doorway holding a small pair of pink tennis shoes. He noticed the troubled expression on her face. "What's wrong?"

  "Kerry chewed my shoelace off." Cole recognized the agony in her voice. It was the sound that only a child could have over something an adult might find trivial. Cole felt sorry for her when he heard her sniffle.

  Cole tied his shoes and got up. He strode over to her and took the footwear. Inspecting the half eaten shoelace, he sighed. "Well, let's see if we can find you another pair."

  "But, I wanna wear my pink ones," Kaity whined.

  Cole inhaled deeply as he took her hand. "I know you do, sweetheart, but we don't have another shoelace to replace this one right now. You're gonna have to wear some other ones."

  She nodded and Cole led her back to her room.

  He surveyed her floor for another pair that might be hiding somewhere. He took a pair of red and white high-tops from the closet and helped Kaity slip them on, taking care to knot each one. He knew she could handle it herself, but he cherished these little moments with her, even if it meant they would be running late.

  Kaity tapped her feet together and stood up. "Can we get some shoelaces while we're out today?" she asked softly.

  "Yes, we'll see if we can find some while we're at the mall. C'mon, you're gonna be late for school."

  Kaity snatched up her coat and backpack then followed Cole downstairs.

  * * * *

  Cole pulled his black BMW into an empty parking spot in front of the school and shut the engine off. The two got out of the car and Cole slipped his coat on. He walked to the other side as Kaity closed her door. She took his hand as they set out across the parking lot. Kaity skipped happily and Cole swung their joined hands back and forth.

  Kaity rushed ahead, pulling Cole over to a man with a welcoming expression who he'd known since they were in grade school. "Hi Mr Kidwell," she said.

  "Hi, Kaity. Morning, Cole," the man responded.

  "Hey, Syd." Cole let go of Kaity's hand.

  "Go on into the classroom. Hurry up to class, you don't want to be late," Syd instructed.

  Kaity nodded and peered up at Cole.

  He squatted and wrapped his arms around her tightly. He gave her a quick kiss and stood. "Have a good day, sweetheart. I'll be here at two-thirty sharp."

  Kaity hurried to her classroom, waving goodbye as she went.

  Syd raised an eyebrow. "You're picking her up instead of your mom?" he asked.

  "Yeah. I'm taking her to see Santa this afternoon."

  "I see." Syd crossed his arms over his chest. "Do you have a minute?"

  "Yeah. Is something wrong?"

  Syd shook his head. "No, no. I just wanted to show you something."

  "All right," Cole was unable to hide his confusion as he spoke.

  The two men walked into the building and down the main hall. Cole looked at the various pieces of 'artwork' that hung on the walls next to their owners' classrooms. They stopped in front of the wall next to Syd's class and Cole observed a variety of different renditions of Santa, reindeer, presents, gingerbread houses and Christmas trees.

  Syd pulled a tack out of the bulletin board, grabbing the picture it was holding, and handed the drawing to Cole. "I asked the children to draw a picture of what Christmas means to them and, while most of the children drew Santa, his reindeer and Christmas trees, Kaity did that."

  Cole studied the picture and stroked his chin as he contemplated what he was seeing. "It's her mother," he whispered.

  "An angel watching over you, her, and Kerouac." Syd smiled as Cole passed the picture back to him. "You okay, man?"

  Cole wiped at his eyes. "Uh huh. This time of the year is always hardest with Kelsi being gone. I guess I didn't think it was affecting Kaity as much as it is."

  Syd stuck the paper back in its place. "Well, if it's any consolation, she appears to be happy and well-adjusted. So, whatever you're doing, it's obviously the right thing." He placed a slender hand on Cole's shoulder, giving it a friendly squeeze.

  Cole took comfort in the affirmation he was raising his daughter correctly. "You're still coming to my parents' place in Tahoe, right?" he asked.

  "Of course. My dad surprised my mom with a trip to Jamaica for the holidays and since Mitchell and I parted ways a couple months ago, Tahoe sure as hell beats spending the holidays alone at home."

  Cole glanced down at his watch. "I gotta get going. Give me a call if you need anything—and thanks for showing me her drawing, Syd. It means a lot."

  "No problem, man."

  Cole hurried out of the building, afraid he was going to be late to his office. He had five days before Christmas and quite a few T-shirt designs to finish up with before taking a few days off, even though he knew inevitably he would end up having to do a bit of work while he was supposed to be on vacation. It always seemed to be that way.

  Chapter Three

  Syd stood with Kaity in front of the school, smiling as she bounced from one foot to the other. He grinned, noting how much she resembled her father, from the black hair to the pale skin and large green eyes. She was every bit Cole's daughter.

  "Have you and my daddy been friends for a really long time?" Kaity asked suddenly.

  "Yup. We've known each other since we were little boys."

  "Did you know my mommy?"

  Syd's smile wavered a bit at the question. "I did. I was there when they met and when they got married."

  Kaity beamed and turned as Cole's car entered into the parking lot. "I miss her," she murmured.

  Syd felt his heart break at the admission. He knelt down and grabbed one of her hands. "I'm sure she misses you too, Kaity. I'm sure she's watching out for you every day and is very proud of the little lady you're becoming."

  Kaity wrapped her arms around Syd's neck, squeezing him so hard she nearly choked him.

  Cole pulled to a stop at the curb and got out of the car. He walked over to Syd and Kaity, watching as Syd stood once more. "Everything okay here?" he asked.

  "Sure," Syd replied. "We were just having a little discussion about Santa." He peered down at Kaity and winked. "Listen, you two have fun seeing Santa."

  "You ready to go?"

  She jumped up and down, much to Syd's amusement. "Yeah! Let's go, Daddy! Let's go!"

  "Sweetie, go get in the car. I need to talk to Mr Kidwell for a minute, okay?"

  Kaity nodded and hurried into the car.

  "What's up?" Syd scrunched his eyebrows together.

  "Nothing. You still have the spare key I gave you for my house?"

  "Yeah, why?"

  "I have one of Kaity's presents from Santa in t
he garage. I was wondering if you could bring it up to Tahoe with you."

  "No problem. What is it?"

  Cole's face filled with pride. "A Barbie Dream House. She's been asking for the fucker since her birthday in February. I thought it was time to get her one and a couple of Barbies to go along with it."

  Syd raised an eyebrow. "You gonna play dolls with her too?"

  "Actually I am… if she asks me to. We already have tea parties with her stuffed animals once a week, why wouldn't I play Barbies with her?"

  Syd was amused. "Do you wear a silly hat and all that for the tea party?"

  Cole flipped him off discreetly. "You really are an ass, you know that?"

  Syd grinned. "Yeah, but you still love me."

  Cole laughed and shook his head. "I'll see you in a couple of days at my parents'." He walked to the car, taking care to make sure Kaity was strapped into her booster seat before he got in.

  Syd watched as Kaity began talking very animatedly with her father. He waved as they pulled away from the curb and headed out of the parking lot.

  * * * *

  Walking through the crowded mall, Cole took off his jacket. He chuckled when Kaity, as she always did, ran her fingertips over the colorful tattoos adorning his arms. She grabbed his hand and began tugging him in the direction of the huge North Pole display where they would find Santa Claus.

  "Kaity… sweetheart… You're gonna pull my arm out of the socket if you keep dragging me like that," he chuckled.

  Kaity stopped and stared up at him, her lips stuck out in an exaggerated pout.

  "I know you're excited, but Santa's not going anywhere."

  Her bottom lip began quivering. It was a tactic Cole was all too familiar with when she wanted to get her way. And he always gave in, no matter how hard he tried not to.