Read Online Breath of Dawn, The by Kristen Heitzmann - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kristen Heitzmann
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the grand piano in the corner.
“I do.” Music had been a huge part of her life, to a detrimental degree at one point, but now she rejoiced in the gift. “You’re welcome to join us Saturday evenings for praise and worship.” She didn’t know if Quinn shared the faith, but it never hurt to offer.
“Mo-mmy.”
When Liam gave her hand a tug, she said, “I’m making this one hot chocolate.”
“With marshmallows!”
“Would you like some?”
She hesitated a moment, then said, “Sure. Thanks.”
Noelle led her to the kitchen. “It’s great what you’re doing for Vera . . . well, RaeAnne. Cleaning that place out.”
“It’s a win for me, too, a wealth of things for my online store.” At the puzzled glance, Quinn added, “I’m an eBay trader.”
“Oh. I’ve heard of eBay but haven’t used it, I’m afraid.” She had charge accounts that her father funded with Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales, and individual boutiques, even if she needed so much less than it once seemed in New York.
“It’s like other online shopping sites, except an endless cyber auction.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“It’s a business,” Quinn said. “I sell things I buy from estates like Vera’s. Though I have to say, I didn’t anticipate the escalation of that job.”
Noelle handed her a mug as Liam made whirlpools in his with hard, pointed breaths. “Please sit.”
Quinn took one of the high stools around the center counter, sitting diagonally from Liam, who perched as usual on his knees. He could reach just fine if he ever sat, but he’d been assembled with a rear wiggle button.
She joined them without a mug of her own and answered the unasked question. “Punky stomach. I’m four months pregnant.”
Quinn’s eyes lit. “Congratulations.”
She formed a wan smile. “It’s a joy and a challenge. These first months anyway. The sight and smell of almost anything . . .” She shook her head, then ruffled her son’s hair. “Liam’s still considering the situation.” She eyed him indulgently, but he was busy trying to sink a marshmallow with his finger. “He’ll let me know when he approves.”
Quinn said, “I’m not sure my sister ever did, but we were eleven years apart. Not likely to become best friends.”
“That’s substantial. I’m an only child. After my mother died, my father raised me with fear and trembling. Tutors, dance, music, art, and equestrian training, with chauffeurs and a security detail to get me everywhere and back safely.”
Quinn cast her a knowing look, as though she’d guessed as much. It must be more apparent than she knew, since Morgan had guessed the same at first glance.
“It wasn’t easy for either of us. That’s why I feel so deeply for Morgan and Livie.” Love and fear were uneasy bedfellows.
Quinn cradled her mug. “Can’t be easy single parenting in any circumstance.”
Noelle nodded, unsure how much to say. Morgan had resented Rick’s nudge, yet he and Quinn seemed to have connected at Vera’s on their own, a conjoining of interests in the house, Quinn for RaeAnne and Morgan in his disconcerting decision to move there.
“I was hoping he could help me with something.”
“Well.” She’d obviously realized what everyone learned sooner or later. “Helping’s what Morgan does best.”
“Is he here?”
“His car’s here. Second cabin down.” After the first months, he’d moved there and insisted on paying the rental rate for a cabin plus expenses. Rick accepted the deal, saying Morgan had to do things his way.
“Well, thanks for the cocoa.” Quinn gave Liam a wave and smiled when he said bye into his mug with marshmallow clinging to his upper lip.
As she hurried through the early twilight, Quinn’s breath made a cloud that curled around her cheeks. The ranch nestled in a valley surrounded by pink granite crags dressed up with conifers and aspen. The log cabins seemed to grow out of the pale grasses and red gravel of the yard. Low airy
“I do.” Music had been a huge part of her life, to a detrimental degree at one point, but now she rejoiced in the gift. “You’re welcome to join us Saturday evenings for praise and worship.” She didn’t know if Quinn shared the faith, but it never hurt to offer.
“Mo-mmy.”
When Liam gave her hand a tug, she said, “I’m making this one hot chocolate.”
“With marshmallows!”
“Would you like some?”
She hesitated a moment, then said, “Sure. Thanks.”
Noelle led her to the kitchen. “It’s great what you’re doing for Vera . . . well, RaeAnne. Cleaning that place out.”
“It’s a win for me, too, a wealth of things for my online store.” At the puzzled glance, Quinn added, “I’m an eBay trader.”
“Oh. I’ve heard of eBay but haven’t used it, I’m afraid.” She had charge accounts that her father funded with Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales, and individual boutiques, even if she needed so much less than it once seemed in New York.
“It’s like other online shopping sites, except an endless cyber auction.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“It’s a business,” Quinn said. “I sell things I buy from estates like Vera’s. Though I have to say, I didn’t anticipate the escalation of that job.”
Noelle handed her a mug as Liam made whirlpools in his with hard, pointed breaths. “Please sit.”
Quinn took one of the high stools around the center counter, sitting diagonally from Liam, who perched as usual on his knees. He could reach just fine if he ever sat, but he’d been assembled with a rear wiggle button.
She joined them without a mug of her own and answered the unasked question. “Punky stomach. I’m four months pregnant.”
Quinn’s eyes lit. “Congratulations.”
She formed a wan smile. “It’s a joy and a challenge. These first months anyway. The sight and smell of almost anything . . .” She shook her head, then ruffled her son’s hair. “Liam’s still considering the situation.” She eyed him indulgently, but he was busy trying to sink a marshmallow with his finger. “He’ll let me know when he approves.”
Quinn said, “I’m not sure my sister ever did, but we were eleven years apart. Not likely to become best friends.”
“That’s substantial. I’m an only child. After my mother died, my father raised me with fear and trembling. Tutors, dance, music, art, and equestrian training, with chauffeurs and a security detail to get me everywhere and back safely.”
Quinn cast her a knowing look, as though she’d guessed as much. It must be more apparent than she knew, since Morgan had guessed the same at first glance.
“It wasn’t easy for either of us. That’s why I feel so deeply for Morgan and Livie.” Love and fear were uneasy bedfellows.
Quinn cradled her mug. “Can’t be easy single parenting in any circumstance.”
Noelle nodded, unsure how much to say. Morgan had resented Rick’s nudge, yet he and Quinn seemed to have connected at Vera’s on their own, a conjoining of interests in the house, Quinn for RaeAnne and Morgan in his disconcerting decision to move there.
“I was hoping he could help me with something.”
“Well.” She’d obviously realized what everyone learned sooner or later. “Helping’s what Morgan does best.”
“Is he here?”
“His car’s here. Second cabin down.” After the first months, he’d moved there and insisted on paying the rental rate for a cabin plus expenses. Rick accepted the deal, saying Morgan had to do things his way.
“Well, thanks for the cocoa.” Quinn gave Liam a wave and smiled when he said bye into his mug with marshmallow clinging to his upper lip.
As she hurried through the early twilight, Quinn’s breath made a cloud that curled around her cheeks. The ranch nestled in a valley surrounded by pink granite crags dressed up with conifers and aspen. The log cabins seemed to grow out of the pale grasses and red gravel of the yard. Low airy
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