Read Online A Fresh Start by Trisha Grace - Free Book Online Page B

us.”
    “Thank you.” She was slightly embarrassed that Mrs. Seymour read her thoughts. She took the plate from Mrs. Seymour and set it down. “I know. Two women came by last evening and he was quite harsh to them.”
    “He had a tough childhood,” Mrs. Seymour said protectively.
    “I heard.”
    “He told you?”
    “He told me his mom was an alcoholic.” She cut a strip of bacon in half and folded it. “Where is his mother now?”
    “He doesn’t know. She only calls him when she needs money. Other than that, she stays away,” Mr. Seymour answered.
    “He rebuilt the house for her, you know. But she didn’t want to come back. She’s afraid that Justin will force her into rehab.”
    “That’s sad.”
    Paige never knew who her biological mother was and had been blessed to be adopted by the Watsons. They loved her like their own child.  
    Whatever her brother had, she had.
    Even Andrew was the best brother anyone could ask for. He was always protective of her. If there were only one cookie left, he would give it to her without her asking.
    Compared to Justin, God had been nice to her.
    She took a bite of the bacon. Maybe she shouldn’t be blaming God for everything that had happened over the past three years. If God hadn’t given her the home she had, she didn’t know what could’ve become of her.
    “He’s lucky to have you,” Paige said.
    Justin’s didn’t grow up in a favorable situation, but God didn’t leave him all by himself; he had the Seymours.
    “He’s pretty successful now. You must be proud.”
    “He’s rich, but he isn’t happy,” Mrs. Seymour said. “Oh, don’t look so troubled.”
    Paige didn’t know she had looked troubled. She smiled and poured some milk into her coffee before taking a sip.
    “He’s fine.” Mrs. Seymour paused for a moment, turning to her plate of food, then back to Paige. “Who turned up at the door?”
    “I didn’t get a chance to ask.”
    Mrs. Seymour’s head bobbed up and down, seemingly considering who they could be.  
    “It’s not important.” With his fork in hand, Mr. Seymour pointed at her plate. “Eat.”

    Paige walked alongside Mrs. Seymour as they moved through the crowd. She smoothed down her beige colored dress and pulled her cardigan closer together.  
    She was glad she’d picked this dress instead of a comfortable pair of jeans.
    All the women were wearing dresses while the men wore shirts with either pants or jeans.
    “Hi, Celia.” An older lady wearing a sky blue dress with small floral prints strode over, easily moving past the crowd. “I’m thinking of visiting—” The older lady turned toward Paige and was taken aback for a moment.
    “Susan, this is Paige. And Paige, Mrs. Mckay.”
    “Aah…The new owner of our town’s haunted house.”
    She grimaced. “Yes, that’s me.”
    “We’ll talk later,” Mrs. Seymour suddenly said, her eyes staring past Mrs. Mckay. “The vultures are circling.”
    “What?” Paige turned to look, but was dragged away before she could get a clear glimpse.
    Their short conversation with Mrs. Mckay had brought more attention to her presence. With every passing second, more stares were directed toward her. Everyone whom they passed by studied her with utmost curiosity, some with slight disdain.
    She didn’t understand what could’ve caused that look, but brushed it off as her paranoia.  
    Several more people came up to them, trying to pull her away from Mrs. Seymour. But each time, Mrs. Seymour would take her by the wrist and drag her along.
    Paige moved along, smiling politely at everyone who was looking her way, and continued into the church with Mrs. Seymour.
    Though the walk into church took less than ten minutes, it was enough for her to catch the words ‘haunted house’ and ‘Justin’.
    As Paige followed Mrs. Seymour down the aisle, she wondered if the term ‘haunted house’ would forever be linked with her name here.  
    She noticed Mr. Seymour seated on one of the pews