Read Online Finding Madelyn by Suzette Vaughn - Free Book Online Page A

didn’t speak, it was just like sitting at the house having lunch during the summers. Harland trying to be gentlemanly and convince her to talk more. Galen trying to make her laugh, which he was doing now by running his fingers against the ticklish spot in her knee.
    “About time.” Rita ruined the moment.
    The waitress looked half ragged sitting down two cups of hot cocoa and a large order of fries.
    “Hey Harland, good to see you home.” She was pretty when she smiled. “What can I bring you?”
    Rita started, “I want a strawberry milkshake.”
    The young woman standing at the end of the table nodded but didn’t take her eyes off Harland.
    “Add to that a hamburger and fries, Olivia.” Harland kept the smile.
    “It will take a little longer than normal, but you got it.” She bounced away.
    “If she didn’t talk so much it’d be quicker.” Rita moved her eyes out the window.
    Harland closed both his eyes, clasped his hands together, and took a deep breath. Galen took the moment to lean over to Maddy.
    “You like the cocoa?”
    She smiled at him and nodded, hoping she could pass a look across as well as Olivia had.
    “Good. Eat the fries , too.” His leg rubbed across hers, but at least his hands were on top of the table.
    “What are you two whispering about?”
    She shot Harland a look that this time went through as he looked to the table.
    “Why would anyone care?” Rita said mindlessly, still looking out the window.
    Harland’s hand wrapped around the back of Rita’s neck and he pressed his fingers just below her ear, pulling her to face him. It was singly the most abrasive thing she’d ever seen him do, and she nearly cheered him for it. He leaned to the side away from her and Galen. The muscles in his jaw moved and Rita’s face went near the shade of the snow on the window.
    “You wouldn’t?” For Rita, it actually came out as a whisper as they stared each other down.
    “You know I would.” He kissed her forehead and turned back to Galen. “You two have plans after this?”
    “Take her home so her pa doesn’t skin me alive.” Galen cleared his throat.
    “Too bad, thought we’d go for a drive by the water.”
    “Not tonight.”
    She swallowed the last bit of cream out the bottom of the cup feeling much warmer than before. The fact that Galen hadn’t moved his leg had helped. Each time he wiggled in the seat, he brushed against her. That was a new issue she could get used to.
    “Are you ready?” He whispered to her.
    “It might be best.” It would at least get her away from Rita.
    He slid out of the booth and popped Harland on the shoulder while she slipped into her coat.
    “In case I don’t see you again, Harland, have a good visit.”
    “Have a Merry Christmas, Madelyn.”
    They passed Olivia carrying food when they started out the door.
    “Why does Harland date her?” Maddy couldn’t keep the question in any longer.
    Galen chuckled, “Because, believe it or not, he loves her.”
    Maddy stopped walking. “He what?”
    Galen stopped a few steps ahead and turned back. He looked good with his hands in his pockets. His hair just sticking out from under the hat with the Christmas lights from the hardware store twinkling in his eyes.
    He came back and linked his arm with hers. “With all her faults, he loves her and prays that she will grow up. Soon.”
    “It would explain why she’s always around him, but I don’t understand it.”
    “She doesn’t understand us, I’m sure.”
    “I don’t even understand us, yet.”
    “We will figure it all out and have plenty of time to do it.”
    It turned out to be the point where Galen was wrong. They grew up far too quickly and still, time was their greatest enemy.

Eight
     
    Maddy locked the diner door behind Paula, wondering why Galen hadn’t eaten tonight. The grocery wasn’t bad, but cooking on Stan’s old hot plate was not real food. Being left alone all day wasn’t good either. Remembering was painful. Even staying