Read Online Betrayal by Fern Michaels - Free Book Online

Later, she would return and decide on a new pattern. She’d never be able to re-create what had been destroyed.
    Back inside the house, Kate was quiet as she took the steps to the upstairs bedroom where Sara was napping. She wasn’t trying to be sneaky. She just wanted to make sure that if Sara was sleeping, she didn’t wake her. A crack in the bedroom door revealed Sara curled into the fetal position. Her eyes were closed. Kate gave the child the benefit of the doubt. She would assume she was truly sleeping. With her hand on the knob, she was about to close the door when she spied Sara’s sneakers on the floor. One shoe lay on its side, revealing the bottom of the shoe. Embedded in the beige-colored rubber sole were several shards of red earthenware. Her hand shook as she quietly opened the door. Careful not to disturb Sara, she scooped the shoe off the floor and hurried out of the room. Kate entered the master bedroom, then closed and locked the door behind her. She placed the sneaker on her bed. Before she had second thoughts, she went to the bathroom to get a plastic bag from beneath the sink. She put the shoe with the slivers embedded in the sole in the bag. She took the bag to her closet. Once inside, she stood there in a daze. Both sides were filled with her clothes. Alex’s were kept in a smaller closet in the second spare bedroom. Someday she’d downsize and wouldn’t need the entire closet. Riffling through the clothes at the back of the closet, Kate found an old leather jacket she hadn’t worn since high school. She tucked the shoe in the inside pocket. She wasn’t sure why she did this, but it seemed like the right thing to do. Kate didn’t know how to approach Sara with the incriminating shoe, but at least she had tangible evidence that there had not been a break-in. That part was a relief, but knowing that Sara was responsible for the damage alarmed her even more, especially after the conversation she’d had with Emily. Sara needed help, and she needed it soon, before her shenanigans escalated into something much worse. Kate remembered what Emily had told her about Sara and her mistreatment of their neighbor’s cat.
    Sara needed help.
    And she needed it right away.

Chapter 6
    B ecause of bad weather in the Caribbean, Don and Debbie arrived to pick up the girls a day early. Kate had managed to keep Sara out of trouble for the remainder of her stay. After much thought, she’d allowed Alex and Gertie to believe they’d had a burglar. She knew she should’ve told Alex that Sara was responsible, but something held her back. She hated being deceitful, but Alex enjoyed the girls’ visits so much, she just didn’t have the heart to tarnish his image of Sara. She, too, had enjoyed Emily and Sara, even if Sara had complained constantly. She reasoned that it had taken twelve years to turn her into a spoiled young girl. Kate knew she couldn’t expect a miracle in the short time she’d spent with them. She decided to speak privately with Don before they left.
    As usual, Kate made a hearty breakfast for everyone. Pecan waffles, sausage patties, and pan-fried new potatoes with onions and green peppers. She sliced cantaloupe and honeydew melons for herself and Debbie. After they’d finished their meal, Debbie went upstairs with the girls to help them pack. Alex and Don drank their coffee while Kate put the dishes in the dishwasher.
    With all the pups adopted out from the last litter, Kate knew Alex wouldn’t be in a major rush to head out to the kennels. She needed to get him out of the room for a few minutes. “Alex, why don’t you run upstairs and help Deb take the girls’ luggage to the car.”
    Alex stood up and stretched. “I think she wants me to get to work.”
    Don laughed. “Then you’d better get your ass out of here.”
    Alex gave Kate a hurried kiss on the cheek.
    Kate didn’t have much time. She