Read Online Color of Loneliness by Madeleine Beckett - Free Book Online Page A

economy-size packs of bottled water into it. Making her way to the check-out, she leaves them in the cart hoping she doesn’t have to drag them out onto the conveyor belt.
    “Myra? Myra Sommers? What are you doing back in town?” Myra stifles a groan when she looks up at the cashier and into the unwelcome face of Lucia Marshall.
    “Hi,” Myra responds with a forced smile.
    “So? Why are you back?” Lucia continues probing as she bats her thick, clumpy five-layers-of-mascara-coated eyelashes at Myra.
    “I moved back into Grampie’s house.”
    “Why?” Lucia asks, her pink bubble gum snapping between her bright red lips. “Why in the world would you move back to Nyssa from Philadelphia?” Lucia says with a snarl.
    Myra ignores her. “Do you need me to get these out?” she asks as she gestures towards the cart.
    “No.” Lucia raises one overly arched eyebrow as she walks around the cart holding her hand-held scanner.
    After ringing them up, Lucia gives her the total while Myra pulls out a twenty and hands it to her. Lucia grabs the phone. “Yeah, Derek? I have a carry-out up front.”
    “Oh, no. No, no, no. I’m fine. Really,” Myra says, shaking her head.
    “Pfft. Derek can take these out for you,” Lucia says as she hands Myra her change. Myra’s eyes fixate on Lucia’s chipped red fingernails and her fingers – all of which are covered in multiple rings.
    “Myra?” She hears a surprised male voice behind her as she tries not to cringe. Slowly, she turns to face the pudgy Derek Marshall.
    “Hi,” she says as her skin crawls at the sight of him.
    “What are you doing back in town so soon?” he asks as he pushes her cart, his nasty eyes roaming up and down her body.
    She pulls her coat tighter around herself. “I moved back into Grampie’s house.”
    “Wow, that’s great,” he responds with too much enthusiasm as he stares blatantly at her chest.
    Myra keeps a safe distance from him as he loads the cases of water into the trunk of her car.
    “I’ll have to stop by some time for a visit,” he says in a creepy voice with an even creepier grin on his face.
    “I don’t have time for visitors right now. I’m too busy,” Myra replies hurriedly as she snatches open her car door and quickly gets in. “Thanks,” she mumbles before slamming the door fast.
    Myra shivers all over – not from the cold weather – as she backs her car up.
    * * *
    Myra walks the short distance to Jim’s door and knocks.
    “Come in,” he says warmly greeting her with a huge smile.
    “Sorry to drop by so late, but my water’s not working. I think my pipes are frozen or something. I called the contractor, but he can’t start working until the day after tomorrow. Do you mind if I use your bathroom until then?” Myra asks.
    “Of course not. Just think of this as your second home,” Jim says. “Now let me find you a key,” he mumbles as he rummages through several drawers. “Ah, here’s one.” He places a key gently in Myra’s hand and squeezes it. “This unlocks the front door. No need to knock; just come in when you need to.”
    “Thank you,” she says.
    Myra’s brows furrow when she notices Jim’s coffee table covered in photographs. “What’s this?” she asks. He sits down in front of the mess and motions for her to sit by him. “I was going through some old photo albums last night and found some pictures I thought you’d enjoy.” He picks one up and passes it to Myra. “That’s your Grammie and Grampie about twenty-five years ago, probably close to the time you were born.”
    Myra eagerly looks at the photo. It was taken inside Jim’s house. Her grandparents are sitting on the couch and Grampie has his arms wrapped tight around Grammie and they both have huge grins on their faces.
    “They were so in love,” she murmurs as her fingertips gently touch the photo. She wonders what it felt like for them to experience that kind of love. She never had that with Trent. Her heart longs to have