Read Online Hearts in Harmony by Gail Sattler - Free Book Online Page B

askedAdrian about you, and he had so many good things to say. I was wondering if you two were an item or something. It’s not often he talks about a woman, especially someone none of us already know. I can’t help but be curious about you.”
    â€œNo,” she said quickly, trying to keep her voice calm. “We’re not an ‘item’. We’re just…” Her voice trailed off as she tried to think of how to describe her relationship with Adrian. They certainly weren’t dating. She couldn’t call him a friend. She didn’t have any friends any more and she hadn’t known Adrian long enough to call him a new friend. He was really little more than a stranger.
    At best, if she had to put a label on it, they were only casual acquaintances. But she couldn’t say that to Bob, Randy and Paul.
    â€œWe’re just…” She forced herself to smile, hoping Bob wouldn’t misunderstand. “…getting to know each other better. Since we’re almost neighbors, and all that.”
    One eyebrow quirked. “I see. I was just curious. If you don’t mind me asking, I was wondering if there’s anyone else who would mind that you’re, uh, getting to know Adrian better. I noticed you came to church alone.”
    Celeste blinked. She wondered if Adrian had been hurt by a woman recently, and that was why his friends were acting this way. Their obvious concern served as another reminder of the absence of such friends in her life. When she needed help, no one stood up for her. She’d been all but abandoned.
    She’d never needed a friend more in her life than right now. She wanted to have these four men as friends, but she couldn’t ask or expect such a thing because it would be too one-sided. They freely gave their time, energy and dedication to each other. She had nothing to offer but trouble, bad examples and poor judgment.
    But as to Bob’s question, she didn’t know how to answer. There was definitely someone who would mind, even though what she did and who she saw were no longer any of Zac’s business. She’d told him she would leave unless he had a change of heart, since their priorities had become so vastly different. Zac had only laughed at her, so she’d done exactly what she’d said she was going to do. It shouldn’t have been a surprise, but she knew that Zac would have been very, very angry when he discovered that she was gone.
    If she continued on in the way she was doing, Zac would never find her, and he would never know what she did or who she spent her time with. Therefore, technically, at least, there was no one who could mind that she was getting to know Adrian better.
    â€œActually, I recently broke up with someone. It was a bad situation, and I’m glad it’s over,” she said abruptly. “I’m looking forward to a new start.” They didn’t know how much of a new start it really was, and she had no intention of telling them any of the details. She ached with the need to have them respect her, even though she didn’t deserve it.
    Paul set his drink down on the table, and folded his hands. “All of us are pretty settled. Then if you don’t have ties elsewhere, do you think you’ll settle here at our little church or do you tend to move around a lot?”
    Celeste forced herself to breathe. She honestly didn’t know. Too much depended on circumstances beyond her control, and how much she could keep to herself. “Mynew job is close by, so that’s the main reason I decided to move here.” She tried her best to smile and left her thoughts unsaid.
    Paul grew serious, and didn’t reply immediately. She suspected he was considering her in connection with their discussion of roots. She had no roots. Even the car they acknowledged as hers wasn’t her own; it was borrowed. She didn’t even know when her mother would return so they could trade