Read Online Alaska Twilight by Colleen Coble - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Colleen Coble
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her lips. “Augusta, I heard about Joy today.”
Augusta’s fingers stilled, and she looked up. “Joy?”
“Don’t lie to me, Augusta.” She approached the table and knelt beside Augusta. “Why didn’t you tell me I had a half sister?”
Augusta put the book down and stared into Haley’s eyes. “I did what I thought was best. I tried several times, but in the end, I couldn’t.”
“Didn’t you think I’d find out about her when we came?”
“I thought she was gone from the area, and I didn’t think we’d get to town much. I’d hoped to find the right time to tell you. If I’d dreamed you would discover it within hours of our arrival, I would have prepared you. I’m sorry.”
“Why didn’t you seek custody when my parents died? Aren’t you curious to meet her?”
Augusta closed the book. “The attorney told me her mother’s parents were caring for her. I thought there was no need for me to intervene. I intended to check on her, of course, when I was sure you wouldn’t be hurt.” Her grandmother rubbed Haley’s cheek with gentle fingers. “I love you, Haley. I couldn’t let you worry that you would lose my love too. You’re the most important thing in my life.”
Haley’s knee was cramping, so she stood, then dropped into the chair beside her grandmother. “I’m not sure what to feel, Augusta. I’m more upset for Chloe than for me. I got used to the rejection long ago. I hear this girl looks like Chloe, and even Mother accepted her in Chloe’s place. I don’t like it.” Augusta was silent for so long, Haley began to think she wouldn’t answer. After all, how could she argue against the truth?
“If Grady were still alive, I’d take a switch to him,” Augusta said finally. “You can’t let this eat at you, darling. Chloe’s death changed them so.”
“It changed us all.”
Augusta nodded. “You most of all. I remember how adventurous you used to be. How curious. You bottled it all up after that. Only your pictures betray you. You hide behind the camera. Someday, you need to step out and be yourself again.”
Haley heard the rest of the group talking and laughing as they approached the cabin. “Don’t say anything to the rest of them,” she said. She couldn’t handle speculation and pity right now. Maybe never.
Five
W hat a motley-looking crew. Tank wanted to walk away as he surveyed the ragtag assortment of men and women assembled outside the cabin. Kipp had bags under his eyes, and he still reeked of beer, though he was clearly dressed for the camera. The producer’s eyes drooped as he leaned against his backpack. Tank’s gaze found Haley. Dressed sensibly in jeans and boots with layers of shirts, her auburn curls sprang from her head as though they were alive. Her pale complexion glowed with health, but her amber eyes looked shadowed. Augusta’s slim figure was outfitted with as much common sense as Haley’s was, though her clothes were obviously not as new as her granddaughter’s.
His gaze traveled to the dog that peeked out of the pack on Haley’s back. He frowned. “You’re not taking that dog with you, are you?” He scowled at Oscar.
“Of course. We’ll be gone too long to leave him behind.”
“I doubt you’ll see many bears with all the noise he makes,” he said dryly. “We’d better get going if we want to be ready for the afternoon feeding frenzy.” He adjusted the strap on his backpack and took off down the trail. He heard faint grumbling behind him.
“Hey, aren’t you going to help haul the stuff ?” Kipp called.
“You shouldn’t be bringing more than one backpack per person. Everyone out here needs to pull their own weight. I suggest you stick your clothes in the middle of your sleeping bag.” He saw Haley cover her mouth with her hand, but it didn’t hide the amusement he saw in her face. Maybe she wasn’t quite as bad as the rest of them, though if bringing that dog was any indication, she didn’t have much more sense. He
Augusta’s fingers stilled, and she looked up. “Joy?”
“Don’t lie to me, Augusta.” She approached the table and knelt beside Augusta. “Why didn’t you tell me I had a half sister?”
Augusta put the book down and stared into Haley’s eyes. “I did what I thought was best. I tried several times, but in the end, I couldn’t.”
“Didn’t you think I’d find out about her when we came?”
“I thought she was gone from the area, and I didn’t think we’d get to town much. I’d hoped to find the right time to tell you. If I’d dreamed you would discover it within hours of our arrival, I would have prepared you. I’m sorry.”
“Why didn’t you seek custody when my parents died? Aren’t you curious to meet her?”
Augusta closed the book. “The attorney told me her mother’s parents were caring for her. I thought there was no need for me to intervene. I intended to check on her, of course, when I was sure you wouldn’t be hurt.” Her grandmother rubbed Haley’s cheek with gentle fingers. “I love you, Haley. I couldn’t let you worry that you would lose my love too. You’re the most important thing in my life.”
Haley’s knee was cramping, so she stood, then dropped into the chair beside her grandmother. “I’m not sure what to feel, Augusta. I’m more upset for Chloe than for me. I got used to the rejection long ago. I hear this girl looks like Chloe, and even Mother accepted her in Chloe’s place. I don’t like it.” Augusta was silent for so long, Haley began to think she wouldn’t answer. After all, how could she argue against the truth?
“If Grady were still alive, I’d take a switch to him,” Augusta said finally. “You can’t let this eat at you, darling. Chloe’s death changed them so.”
“It changed us all.”
Augusta nodded. “You most of all. I remember how adventurous you used to be. How curious. You bottled it all up after that. Only your pictures betray you. You hide behind the camera. Someday, you need to step out and be yourself again.”
Haley heard the rest of the group talking and laughing as they approached the cabin. “Don’t say anything to the rest of them,” she said. She couldn’t handle speculation and pity right now. Maybe never.
Five
W hat a motley-looking crew. Tank wanted to walk away as he surveyed the ragtag assortment of men and women assembled outside the cabin. Kipp had bags under his eyes, and he still reeked of beer, though he was clearly dressed for the camera. The producer’s eyes drooped as he leaned against his backpack. Tank’s gaze found Haley. Dressed sensibly in jeans and boots with layers of shirts, her auburn curls sprang from her head as though they were alive. Her pale complexion glowed with health, but her amber eyes looked shadowed. Augusta’s slim figure was outfitted with as much common sense as Haley’s was, though her clothes were obviously not as new as her granddaughter’s.
His gaze traveled to the dog that peeked out of the pack on Haley’s back. He frowned. “You’re not taking that dog with you, are you?” He scowled at Oscar.
“Of course. We’ll be gone too long to leave him behind.”
“I doubt you’ll see many bears with all the noise he makes,” he said dryly. “We’d better get going if we want to be ready for the afternoon feeding frenzy.” He adjusted the strap on his backpack and took off down the trail. He heard faint grumbling behind him.
“Hey, aren’t you going to help haul the stuff ?” Kipp called.
“You shouldn’t be bringing more than one backpack per person. Everyone out here needs to pull their own weight. I suggest you stick your clothes in the middle of your sleeping bag.” He saw Haley cover her mouth with her hand, but it didn’t hide the amusement he saw in her face. Maybe she wasn’t quite as bad as the rest of them, though if bringing that dog was any indication, she didn’t have much more sense. He
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