Read Online Family Matters by Laurinda Wallace - Free Book Online
Authors: Laurinda Wallace
Ads: Link
been no saint herself, pulling some stunts that could have landed her in big trouble. She and Michael had really enjoyed high school and had probably added many gray hairs to their parents’ heads during those years. They had been in love since the 8 th grade, and until the accident almost two years ago, they had enjoyed life to the fullest. Gracie turned to his picture on the end table. It was the year he had taken a first prize with one of their Brown Swiss cows at Pike Fair. He had the cow’s lead rope in his left hand and was holding up a large blue ribbon in his right. His beaming face made Gracie smile. He had been a very happy man that day. They’d both been very happy. The dairy farm was going well, Gracie was finally pregnant after trying for years, and life was extraordinarily good. She thought they were untouchable, but within three months, she would be a widow and would lose their baby. Gracie closed her eyes trying to erase the memories.
Walking out to the patio, she took a deep, cleansing breath. The night air was cooling, and the humidity seemed less intense. The peepers were performing a lively concert against the thrum of a lone bullfrog, all residents of the small pond beyond the backyard. Moonlight made the creamy hydrangea blossoms glow. The bushes were heavy with blossoms this year. She would have to remember to cut enough to dry, so she could enjoy them all winter. The sweet scent of stock made the air a touch heady. Gracie absently deadheaded a few snapdragons and daisies that the patio lights shone on, and then padded in bare feet back to the living room. If she could focus on the flowers, maybe the other thoughts would go away. She sipped at the tea left in the mug. It was lukewarm. She dumped it down the sink and put the mug in the dishwasher.
Trouble with Isabelle was only beginning, and the documents Uncle Stan had given her would be demanded at some point. Maybe Uncle Stan had had second thoughts and told Isabelle what he’d given away. She wasn’t ready to roll over and just give them to Isabelle, but she needed to have a copy of them just in case.
Gracie took all the documents to the spare bedroom that contained her small home office. For the next hour, she carefully scanned in all the newspaper clippings and each page of the diary. There would be time to read the entire diary later, but she wanted to ensure that she had everything Uncle Stan meant her to have. She saved it all in a folder named Misc. Dog Info. Gracie was feeling like a CIA operative. The way Isabelle was behaving, she felt that she should be very careful about everything. Gracie pulled out her flash drive and copied the folder onto it. Her motto was “Always Have Plan B.” You never knew when it would come in handy.
Chapter 9
Gracie stared out her kitchen window, absently buttering an English muffin. Joe Youngers was pedaling into the driveway on a black mountain bike. It was 6:45 a.m. He was early, and that was a good sign. Jim’s Explorer was right behind Joe announcing its arrival with a rumble. The muffler was definitely worse. Who knew when he’d get it fixed. The day was overcast, but the clouds were breaking up, and the sun was making an attempt to shine. She’d already decided to let Jim handle the training, to give Joe a fair chance. Gracie had a million errands to do today and phone calls to make. With some luck, she’d be able to disappear for a few hours. Maybe she could even get her hair cut. She needed a trim in the worst way.
Jim jumped out of the Explorer and with a bag in his hand. “Are you decent?” he yelled as he strode up the bluestone path and up the steps.
Gracie opened the door. “Yes, as decent as it gets. What’s that?”
“It’s a peace offering. They’re warm and the first batch out of the oven at Midge’s.”
Gracie inhaled deeply, enjoying the cinnamon and the brown sugar syrup smells wafting from the bag as Jim pulled out the Styrofoam container.
“Not
Walking out to the patio, she took a deep, cleansing breath. The night air was cooling, and the humidity seemed less intense. The peepers were performing a lively concert against the thrum of a lone bullfrog, all residents of the small pond beyond the backyard. Moonlight made the creamy hydrangea blossoms glow. The bushes were heavy with blossoms this year. She would have to remember to cut enough to dry, so she could enjoy them all winter. The sweet scent of stock made the air a touch heady. Gracie absently deadheaded a few snapdragons and daisies that the patio lights shone on, and then padded in bare feet back to the living room. If she could focus on the flowers, maybe the other thoughts would go away. She sipped at the tea left in the mug. It was lukewarm. She dumped it down the sink and put the mug in the dishwasher.
Trouble with Isabelle was only beginning, and the documents Uncle Stan had given her would be demanded at some point. Maybe Uncle Stan had had second thoughts and told Isabelle what he’d given away. She wasn’t ready to roll over and just give them to Isabelle, but she needed to have a copy of them just in case.
Gracie took all the documents to the spare bedroom that contained her small home office. For the next hour, she carefully scanned in all the newspaper clippings and each page of the diary. There would be time to read the entire diary later, but she wanted to ensure that she had everything Uncle Stan meant her to have. She saved it all in a folder named Misc. Dog Info. Gracie was feeling like a CIA operative. The way Isabelle was behaving, she felt that she should be very careful about everything. Gracie pulled out her flash drive and copied the folder onto it. Her motto was “Always Have Plan B.” You never knew when it would come in handy.
Chapter 9
Gracie stared out her kitchen window, absently buttering an English muffin. Joe Youngers was pedaling into the driveway on a black mountain bike. It was 6:45 a.m. He was early, and that was a good sign. Jim’s Explorer was right behind Joe announcing its arrival with a rumble. The muffler was definitely worse. Who knew when he’d get it fixed. The day was overcast, but the clouds were breaking up, and the sun was making an attempt to shine. She’d already decided to let Jim handle the training, to give Joe a fair chance. Gracie had a million errands to do today and phone calls to make. With some luck, she’d be able to disappear for a few hours. Maybe she could even get her hair cut. She needed a trim in the worst way.
Jim jumped out of the Explorer and with a bag in his hand. “Are you decent?” he yelled as he strode up the bluestone path and up the steps.
Gracie opened the door. “Yes, as decent as it gets. What’s that?”
“It’s a peace offering. They’re warm and the first batch out of the oven at Midge’s.”
Gracie inhaled deeply, enjoying the cinnamon and the brown sugar syrup smells wafting from the bag as Jim pulled out the Styrofoam container.
“Not
Similar Books
