Read Online Classic Revenge by Mitzi Kelly - Free Book Online Page B

was just teasing you, Edna" Millie turned
slightly and reached for Edna's hand. "One thing I admire about you the most is that you always think of other
people first what will make them feel better, what they
might need, and you jump right in to fill that need. You're
amazing. I was teasing you because I knew the proper
thing to do was take something over with us. I wish I had
thought about it," she said, smiling wryly. "Forgive me?"
    Edna stared at Millie for a moment. Then Edna
reached over with her free hand and smoothed Millie's
hair. "You are one crazy old lady," she said softly, "and I
love you. Of course I forgive you. I'm sorry I was wearing my feelings on my sleeve. I guess all of this worrying
about Sam is getting to me"
    Trish drove straight ahead with her eyes opened wide
in shock, afraid she'd ruin the moment if she so much
as tried to sneak a look in the mirror. That was the most
tenderhearted, sincere statement she had ever heard
from Millie. She had owed Edna an apology, no doubt
about it, but Trish never would have expected Millie to
be so successful at it.
    "Okay, that's enough of this mushy stuff," Millie
said briskly. "Do we take doughnuts or cupcakes?"

    Twenty minutes later they sat in Shelley's spacious
kitchen eating melt-in-your-mouth coffee cake with Sam
and Claire-with Claire, anyway. Sam wasn't eating.
    While Claire had gone to tell Sam they were there,
Shelley had confided in them how worried she was about
her brother. He wasn't himself lately, not that anyone
could blame him, she admitted, but she hoped their visit
would help to cheer him up some. Then she excused herself, giving Sam's friends and neighbors some privacy
for their visit.
    Edna, bless her heart, did her best to carry on a normal conversation about the weather, about the roof leak
she and Joe had just discovered, about anything that
popped into her mind. Claire dutifully participated, but
it was clear that her heart wasn't really in it. Sam, on
the other hand, didn't even try.
    Millie's eyes had just about popped out of her head
when he'd come into the kitchen, but for once she had
held her tongue. Shelley's concern about her brother
was well-founded. Still in his bathrobe, Sam had aged
at least ten years since they had seen him last. Shuffling
to the table, he had accepted a cup of coffee but declined anything to eat.
    While Edna tried to engage him in conversation,
Trish cast covert glances at him. His smile was stiff and
forced, and his eyes were dull and shadowed-not a
good sign. Sam would have to learn how to manage the
stress and grief he was under, or he would soon be facing serious health problems. But how did you say that
to someone who had been through the traumatic events
Sam had? She couldn't even begin to imagine what he
was going through.
    Claire gathered the empty plates and refilled coffee cups, then said she wanted to clean the upstairs bedrooms before Shelley came home. It was the least she
could do, she explained when Sam protested halfheartedly, since Shelley had so kindly invited her to stay in
her home for a while.

    After Claire left the room, Millie interrupted Edna's
cheerful chatter. "Edna, you've given it your best shot,
now hush. Sam doesn't want to talk about blooming
azalea bushes"
    Trish had wondered how long Millie would be able to
stay quiet. Actually, Trish was pretty sure Millie had just
set a new record. But she was right; Sam wasn't interested in mindless chit-chat. Millie leaned forward and
pointed her finger at Sam. "You're letting yourself fall
apart"
    Sam didn't appear to be offended by the remark. He
leaned back in his chair, crossed one knee over the other,
and smiled slightly at Millie. "No, I'm fine, really just
a little tired."
    "No, Sam, it's more than just being tired, and you
know it. But you have to snap out of it because we need
your help."
    "You need my help?" Sam chuckled bitterly. "I'm
not in a position to help anybody right