Read Online Anna's Courage (Rose Island Book 1) by Kristin Noel Fischer - Free Book Online
Authors: Kristin Noel Fischer
Tags: Fiction
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offered.
I bristled. Moving on sounded too much like forgetting, and I didn’t want to forget about Marcus. “I’m trying to be grateful for what I have and not dwell on what’s missing.”
She nodded. “That’s a good policy. I’m trying to focus on the positive in my life as well. I think there’s something valid to the whole gratitude movement.”
“I agree.”
Over the next several minutes, I lost myself in the rhythm of my work . . . dividing Jillian’s hair into sections, grasping a strand between my fingers, and cutting it at an angle to give her the soft look that best framed her face. A country station played in the background and various artists sang about love, God, America, and old pickup trucks.
When I finished Jillian’s haircut, she asked if the Kempners were planning on adopting Hailey and Gabby.
“I’m not sure.” I described the chaotic meeting with Caroline and Doug’s family. “Nick doesn’t think he can provide the girls a stable home, but I don’t know what he’s going to do.”
Jillian glanced over her shoulder at Bianca and lowered her voice. “Is she right in saying that something is going on between you and Nick?”
I couldn’t help but smile as I slid smoothing gel over Jillian’s hair. “Nothing’s going on. I kissed him again, but nothing can come of it. He’s here only temporarily. Once he figures out the girls’ situation, he’s leaving.”
“So you don’t see yourself getting involved with him?”
“No. He’s army. You know what that’s like.”
“Yes, I do.” Jillian’s tone was bitter. It was no secret she blamed the military for her divorce.
Her ex-husband, Keith Foster, had been the company commander when Marcus was killed. I’d never held Keith responsible for Marcus’s death, but Keith hadn’t been able to overcome the loss. Marcus’s death dramatically changed him, leaving him angry and prone to alcohol abuse.
“You know,” Jillian began with a false cheerfulness, “Bryan has a golfing friend. A dentist named Mitch Norman. He’s recently divorced, handsome, and very sweet. And he just bought a house on the island because he’s planning on staying. I think you’d really like him. How about I set something up for the four of us?”
Bianca glared from across the salon and mouthed the words, “Don’t do it.”
“I think you met Mitch at church a few Sundays ago,” Jillian continued. “He’s that good-looking guy with the straight white teeth?”
“Oh, sure. I remember him.” I’d spoken to Mitch briefly, and while he was pleasant, I hadn’t felt any spark between the two of us.
“Well, what do you think?” Jillian asked. “Are you interested?”
I thought about it for a minute. Maybe going on a date with Mitch would take my mind off Nick. “Sure. Why not?”
“Okay, I’ll see what I can do.”
Later, after Jillian and Dr. Lindsay left, Bianca shot me a disapproving glare. “Are you seriously going to let my sister fix you up with one of Bryan’s golfing friends? Boring Bryan ? Mr. Excitement himself?”
“Bryan’s not so bad.”
“Well, he’s no Nick Peterson,” she insisted.
No kidding, I thought.
*
After lunch, Nick called to explain they’d had car trouble and were stuck just north of the island waiting for parts. Tense, I hung up the phone and explained the situation to Bianca who didn’t see any need for alarm. “I don’t know why you’re worried. They’ll be home soon.”
“I know.” Of course I agreed it wasn’t healthy to worry, but that was the problem. I couldn’t seem to stop unfounded fears from taking over my thoughts.
Bianca made a disapproving clucking sound. “I can only imagine what’s going through that irrational mind of yours. Why don’t you stop biting your lip and throw in a load of laundry.”
“Yes, boss.” I scooped the towels out of the hamper and took them to the washing machine. Would I ever be able to conquer my anxiety issues? Would I ever be able to
I bristled. Moving on sounded too much like forgetting, and I didn’t want to forget about Marcus. “I’m trying to be grateful for what I have and not dwell on what’s missing.”
She nodded. “That’s a good policy. I’m trying to focus on the positive in my life as well. I think there’s something valid to the whole gratitude movement.”
“I agree.”
Over the next several minutes, I lost myself in the rhythm of my work . . . dividing Jillian’s hair into sections, grasping a strand between my fingers, and cutting it at an angle to give her the soft look that best framed her face. A country station played in the background and various artists sang about love, God, America, and old pickup trucks.
When I finished Jillian’s haircut, she asked if the Kempners were planning on adopting Hailey and Gabby.
“I’m not sure.” I described the chaotic meeting with Caroline and Doug’s family. “Nick doesn’t think he can provide the girls a stable home, but I don’t know what he’s going to do.”
Jillian glanced over her shoulder at Bianca and lowered her voice. “Is she right in saying that something is going on between you and Nick?”
I couldn’t help but smile as I slid smoothing gel over Jillian’s hair. “Nothing’s going on. I kissed him again, but nothing can come of it. He’s here only temporarily. Once he figures out the girls’ situation, he’s leaving.”
“So you don’t see yourself getting involved with him?”
“No. He’s army. You know what that’s like.”
“Yes, I do.” Jillian’s tone was bitter. It was no secret she blamed the military for her divorce.
Her ex-husband, Keith Foster, had been the company commander when Marcus was killed. I’d never held Keith responsible for Marcus’s death, but Keith hadn’t been able to overcome the loss. Marcus’s death dramatically changed him, leaving him angry and prone to alcohol abuse.
“You know,” Jillian began with a false cheerfulness, “Bryan has a golfing friend. A dentist named Mitch Norman. He’s recently divorced, handsome, and very sweet. And he just bought a house on the island because he’s planning on staying. I think you’d really like him. How about I set something up for the four of us?”
Bianca glared from across the salon and mouthed the words, “Don’t do it.”
“I think you met Mitch at church a few Sundays ago,” Jillian continued. “He’s that good-looking guy with the straight white teeth?”
“Oh, sure. I remember him.” I’d spoken to Mitch briefly, and while he was pleasant, I hadn’t felt any spark between the two of us.
“Well, what do you think?” Jillian asked. “Are you interested?”
I thought about it for a minute. Maybe going on a date with Mitch would take my mind off Nick. “Sure. Why not?”
“Okay, I’ll see what I can do.”
Later, after Jillian and Dr. Lindsay left, Bianca shot me a disapproving glare. “Are you seriously going to let my sister fix you up with one of Bryan’s golfing friends? Boring Bryan ? Mr. Excitement himself?”
“Bryan’s not so bad.”
“Well, he’s no Nick Peterson,” she insisted.
No kidding, I thought.
*
After lunch, Nick called to explain they’d had car trouble and were stuck just north of the island waiting for parts. Tense, I hung up the phone and explained the situation to Bianca who didn’t see any need for alarm. “I don’t know why you’re worried. They’ll be home soon.”
“I know.” Of course I agreed it wasn’t healthy to worry, but that was the problem. I couldn’t seem to stop unfounded fears from taking over my thoughts.
Bianca made a disapproving clucking sound. “I can only imagine what’s going through that irrational mind of yours. Why don’t you stop biting your lip and throw in a load of laundry.”
“Yes, boss.” I scooped the towels out of the hamper and took them to the washing machine. Would I ever be able to conquer my anxiety issues? Would I ever be able to
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