Read Online Autumn Leaves by Barbara Winkes - Free Book Online Page A

joined them before Callie could answer. “Craig will drive you home if you want.”
    “No thanks,” Rebecca said. “I think I’ll take a walk.”
    * * * *
    If Rebecca was troubled, Callie felt sorry about it, but she had no idea how to help. With every step forward, she was taking quite a few backwards herself. She saw Maria in church before. They greeted each other and exchanged a few words. When they ran into each other in the grocery store and Maria mentioned choir, it seemed like a great idea to meet more people. To stop defining her days by whether or not Rebecca would drop by, which, of course, she hadn’t since Callie gave her the speech.
    Then Maria had suggested brunch with friends. It was when she mentioned that her last name was Lowman that Callie had realized she might be in trouble. How ironic was it for her to come to this conclusion only now? She was in trouble for some time. Back at home, she turned on the computer listlessly, the blank page staring back at her.
    The ringing of the doorbell was welcome. If Rebecca had something to say, Callie wanted to beat her to it. Determined, she got up to open the door.
    “I think you and I should talk.”
    Any movie-like, love-struck, and utterly foolish confession would have to wait. The visitor was not Rebecca, but Betty LaRue who seemed pretty mad. At me? Callie wondered. She couldn’t remember having done anything against small town etiquette other than...existing.
    “Come on in. Can I offer you anything?”
    Somehow, she knew it wouldn’t be the pleasant banter she had shared with Rebecca, before everything became really complicated. Callie thought Maria and Roz were mostly intrigued and curious. Maria was quite a bit too curious for her comfort. Betty, though, made her wary.
    “I won’t stay long,” Betty said.
    Just as well. “Okay. What do you want to talk about?”
    “This.” With vehemence, Betty slammed a couple of books on the table. They were brand new copies of Heart Fever and the follow-up. Here we go .
    “Oh. Right. I’ll sign them for you if you want me to.” Callie just couldn’t help it. Betty seemed speechless, and Callie almost expected her to turn on her heel and go. Of course it couldn’t be that easy. Callie remembered Rebecca saying, “ No one hates you here .” Hate was hard to understand for someone like Rebecca who gave affection so easily, a kiss on the cheek, a hug that lasted a tad too long. The wave of longing hit her unexpectedly, at this most inappropriate moment. She couldn’t wait for anyone to stand up for herself though. Callie had learned that the hard way before.
    “How can you dare bring this dirt to our homes?”
    “Excuse me?”
    “You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Betty seethed. “Rebecca can’t be in her right mind to let her children anywhere near you.”
    “Why wouldn’t she? What is this—are you jealous because she didn’t ask you to babysit Maggie? No, wait, she did. You said you didn’t have time.”
    “I found this in the bookstore. We don’t like your kind here.”
    “What are you gonna do about it, gather a mob to drive me out of the city? You know what, Betty, I actually like it here. Most people I’ve met aren’t hung up on their prejudices. I don’t have to come to Saturday brunch, if that makes you feel any better…but you know what? I don’t care!”
    Of course, in order to find out what exactly Callie’s kind was, Betty had certainly read the books, cover to cover. Chances were, she was afraid to like what she’d read.
    “Church choir,” Betty snorted. “That’s such a joke. You’re laughing at everything we believe in.”
    “Betty, I believe you’ve made your point. Please leave now.”
    “People like you are making me sick. Stay away from my family!”
    If her vision was blurring now, it was all anger, or at least Callie hoped it was. She certainly had the right to be angry. She hadn’t always led a particularly sheltered life, but somehow,