Read Online Hard Silence by Mia Kay - Free Book Online Page A

organizing the entire event.”
    Organizing was a stretch. She’d gone to meetings with blueprints and diagrams and then set up an email loop to simplify communication. Her volunteer coordinator had stepped in when email wasn’t enough. You can do this, Abby. Don’t sound like a moron. She fought the words clattering against her teeth. “I’m glad you’re en-joying. Yourself.”
    Oh God, this is awful .
    Tracy walked into the booth, lifting her glasses as she examined each photo. “These are beautiful, Abby. Tell me about them.”
    She couldn’t, not without Toby, and he would get dog hair all over Charlene’s skirt.
    Jeff walked around the corner, his eyes widening, as Tracy smiled over her shoulder. “Where was this taken?” she asked.
    In my front pasture. I can’t take pictures in the back. No one goes back there. My stepfather is buried ...
    Jeff put his hand on her waist. “That’s the tree between our houses, isn’t it Abby?”
    “Y-Yes.” She soaked in the warmth surrounding her, his smell. “It’s always the first to get the sun in the morning when the fog burns off.”
    “And this one?” Tracy asked.
    Abby walked further, flailing for Jeff’s hand. He grasped her fingers and then linked them together. “That’s in the foothills just north of town, right off the hiking trail.”
    “This tree is interesting,” Tracy pointed at another. “I always like to see the structure left when the leaves fall.”
    Abby nodded. “And the weather patterns the dead ones differently.”
    “It does.” Tracy stopped at a photo in the corner. “This one is beautiful.”
    “I took it last weekend,” Abby explained as she looked at the golden fishing line snapping across the umber trees. “Fishing.”
    “Wow,” Jeff whispered in her ear, heating and tickling her skin. “I never saw you take it.”
    Tracy turned back to her and extended a card. “Call me and we’ll set up an appointment. If your entire portfolio is like this, you’ll pack my gallery.”
    “Thank you, Tracy. I hope you’ll stay and shop.”
    “Wouldn’t dream of leaving until I see if I win my bids. And the food looks amazing,” she said as she left the booth, still smiling. “We’ll talk soon.”
    Charlene held her finger to her lips as she tiptoed forward and looked down the aisle. Gray craned his neck to look over the top of the neighboring walls.
    “She’s gone.”
    Those two words broke the dam.
    “I knew she’d love them,” Tiffany squealed, bouncing as much as her high heels would allow. “I knew it!”
    And then Abby was smothered in hugs. Despite the attention, she still noticed when Jeff released her.
    “Badger,” Gray said as he took Maggie’s hand. “I want you to see something.”
    “You too, Nate,” Faith said as she peeled away. “Come on.”
    Michael pulled Tiffany one way. Kevin tugged Charlene the other. She and Jeff were alone, on opposite sides of the small space.
    “Well,” he drawled. “That was subtle.”
    She rolled her eyes, laughing. It had been years since she’d laughed. “Thank. You.”
    “Glad to help.” He looked around her makeshift store space. “They belong in a gallery. Do you—”
    “There you are.”
    At the words, Abby turned to see Celia Hughes approaching, arm in arm with an unfamiliar man.
    “Abby, this is Doctor Tom Beckett from the VA. I asked him to come down for the benefit and see the facility. Is this a good time for a tour and to talk about your plans for the veterans’ outreach?”
    Tom Beckett had nice eyes. That was a good sign for animal therapy. But his hands were cold. She looked over her shoulder and reached for Jeff. “May I introduce Jeff Crandall? He’s visiting this summer.”
    And he wants to help me, but I can’t let him because it would be too dangerous.
    Jeff squeezed her fingers and smiled.
    “Jeff,” she said. “Celia is the social worker at the hospital. We do animal th-therapy.”
    I started therapy to help me talk about the right