Heart Song Anthology by Carolyn Faulkner (e reader pdf best TXT) 📕

“I feel the need to take care of you and before you say another word, it is not a hardship for me. I have plenty of money. I will let you think about it.” He turned his head to the door, as Sally came in with tears in her eyes.

“I am so sorry, Mindy. Please forgive me.”

“She will be fine, Sally, and thank you. My friend will be coming to take her back to her house for a few things and her pets and then he will take her to my penthouse, where she’ll stay until I can get the hell out of here. Will you see him in? Remember, I would still like a word with you later.”

Ike walked into the bathroom and returned in his PJs and robe to wait for his friend. In a few minutes Sally escorted him in, and Ike told him what was going on.

Shaun agreed to take Mindy home and then to Ike’s penthouse, picking her up in the morning to bring her to work.

Ike thanked him and asked for one more thing. “Do me a favor, tomorrow find out what you can about these men.”

Shaun smiled, he’d enjoy the challenge. He had special computer skills and was the best in his field. They both had friends in high places, Mindy’s neighborhood was about to undergo a shake-up.

Once Shaun had escorted a contrite Mindy out, Ike crawled into bed. Sally came back in and plumbed up his pillows, so he was sitting up. Ike then had the same exact talk with Sally he’d had with Mindy about daddies. “So, you see Sally, my friend is a daddy too. Would you like to have dinner with us tomorrow night?”

Sally had the same look Mindy had, but agreed. “I will be right here with you. Just the three of us. I have left Mindy to think about what she wants to do. I won’t lie to you. She thought I would hold her lack of funds against her. That cuts deep. I am letting her think long and hard about what she wants.”

Sally looked at Ike. “You don’t know what it is like to have people look at you like you don’t matter, that you are less than a human being because you are poor. We, unfortunately, do. We both have missed out on promotions. Not because of our skills - we were both top of our classes in school. But because we are poor; we don’t have the social experience others do. So, I am sorry she hurt your feelings, but we have both felt the sting of discrimination.”

Ike nodded his head in acknowledgment. “While I understand, I think she should have known me better. Just so you know, Shaun will not care about your funds or lack thereof either.”

Sally finished her nursing duties and left, giving her friend time to get to her destination before she called and told her everything.

Chapter 3

Mindy arrived at the penthouse to be greeted by a plump, friendly, older woman named Etta. She showed her the guest room and where the food was. “I will have dinner ready for you when you get home from work and clean up before I leave at night. Feel free to wander around. Here is my phone number if you need me for anything. I live just a couple floors down. Welcome, Mindy.”

Shaun had told her he would pick her up in the morning, and arranged her rides the rest of the week before he left her in the housekeeper’s hands.

After Etta departed, Mindy wandered through the different rooms. This was way out of her class. The living room had floor to ceiling windows and, being on the top floor, she could see for miles. She found Ike’s bedroom and took a quick peek inside. Next, she found a locked door. She assumed it was the nursery he’d told her about. She wondered if Etta knew.

As she returned to her room, her phone rang. It was Sally. The girls talked for about an hour before Mindy took a shower and crawled into bed. Pooky was on the next pillow, and soon after doing her own snooping, Peanut crawled up and fell asleep next to her.

Mindy thought about how she had hurt Ike. She owed him an apology at the very least. She also knew the hurt look on his face would haunt her until she was punished for doubting him and their relationship. Sally had told her what Ike said about the situation. She also told her about Shaun and their dinner the next night. Mindy would miss the dinners. It would be part of the punishment, she supposed. She would take her time and think everything over this week.

Every day Mindy continued her regular schedule at the hospital. She spent some time with Ike, as was in keeping with her usual duties. Every morning and night Uber transported her between Ike’s penthouse and the hospital.

Ike started physical therapy, once the cast on his foot was off. It was hard for him to be patient. Mindy could see he wanted to start building up his muscles again with weight lifting and the other equipment, but every day his therapist would patiently explain to him it would take time. Mindy stood off to the side waiting to take him back to his room, and every day she giggled as he growled at the therapist, remembering when he’d growled at her. She had made up her mind about their relationship, but decided to wait until he was due to be released to let him know.

Every evening she returned to the penthouse, tired, but happy. Etta would have her dinner almost ready; and after a shower, she’d greet Peanut and Pooky and then go to the dining room where Etta would sit and eat with her. “Just for company,” she explained. “When Ike comes home I will go to my place downstairs and leave you two