Read Online All of Me by Lori Wilde - Free Book Online Page B

ski resort
     on the other side of the mountain from Salvation.”
    Rachael’s eyes misted with tears. She was the most emotional of the four and Jillian’s polar opposite. “Oh, Jilly.”
    Jillian pointed at her. “Now, now, no waterworks, missy.”
    “B-but … you’re going to be up there all alone. No friends, no family.”
    “Except for you guys, I haven’t had a real family since I was five,” Jillian said. “And besides, I’ve got Mutt now.”
    At the sound of his name, the dog trotted up, wagging his tail. He’d just come back from the vet after having his little snip-snip
     operation, and he wasn’t his normal peppy self.
    “And isn’t he adorable,” Tish cooed, and scratched Mutt under the chin. The dog ate up the attention.
    “Where’d you get him?” Rachael asked.
    “He just showed up the day after Blake’s funeral,” Jillian said.
    “No kidding?” Tish looked uneasy.
    “Oh my.” Rachael sucked in her breath.
    “Oh my, what?”
    “The dog, it’s Blake’s way of sending you a message that he’s okay,” Rachael said as if she completely believed what she was
     saying and it made perfect sense.
    “What?” Jillian frowned.
    “You’ve never heard that?” Tish asked. “I’ve heard it.”
    “Heard what?”
    “That if a dog shows up right after a loved one dies, it’s the loved one communicating to you from beyond the grave. It’s
     a sign telling you everything is okay,” Delaney added.
    “You too?”
    “It’s a common folklore,” Rachael said. “Google it when you get a chance.”
    “You said the operative word. Folklore. As in fable, old wives’ tale, blarney.”
    “She has such little faith.” Rachael sighed to Tish. “What’s it going to take to make a believer of her?”
    Jillian looked at Delaney. “Speaking of folklore, I’ve got something for you.”
    “Oh?”
    She stepped to her car, picked up the sealed garment bag, and handed it to Delaney.
    “What’s this?”
    “The wedding veil. Please take it.”
    “No, no, Jilly. It’s yours.”
    “I don’t want it.”
    “How do you know? You’re starting a new life. It might be exactly what you need.”
    “The bride thing?” Jillian splayed a hand over her chest. “So not me.”
    “Jillian …” Delaney made a you’re-being-difficult sound in the back of her throat.
    “Delaney …” She mimicked her friend’s tone.
    Delaney gave her the sweetly tolerant look a mother gives a willful child. “It’s going to hit you one day; you
do
know that.”
    “What? A bus? A train? A milk truck? Should I up my life insurance?”
    Delaney ignored her sarcasm. “Love. You can’t outrun it.”
    “Not even in Nikes?”
    Delaney smiled and shook her head. “Salvation’s not going to know what hit them.”
    “Seriously, take the veil.” Jillian thrust the bag toward her. “You bought it; it’s yours.”
    “I don’t need it anymore.”
    “I don’t need it either.”
    “On the contrary. You’ve never needed anything more. You’re at a crossroads in your life. Make the wish, Jilly.”
    “Too late, I already did and nothing happened.”
    Delaney exhaled and her eyes widened. “You? You wished on the veil?”
    “Yep, and like I said, nada, zip, zero.”
    “I can’t believe you wished on the veil. You swore you’d never wish on it.”
    “Like you said—crossroads, desperation. I had a moment of weakness. Lost my head.”
    “And …”
    “And nothing.”
    Delaney’s smile grew sly. “I get it. Something
did
happen, and it scared the underpants off you.”
    “Hey, hey.” Jillian spread her arms. “Check it out. I’m completely clothed here, people.”
    But her underpants sure as hell hadn’t been on in that dream. She wanted to fan herself just thinking about it, and she hoped
     the expression on her face didn’t give her away.
    Delaney giggled and clapped her hands. “It happened. You saw him.”
    “Did not.” She heard the defensiveness in her voice.
    “You saw your soul