Read Online Home to Harmony by Dawn Atkins - Free Book Online Page A

Marcus’s attitude. He didn’t judge her or discount her ideas, or make too much of her mistakes. And when she talked, he listened so closely, tracking each hesitation, every change in her tone.
    She’d bet he’d been a damn good shrink. Which reminded her of David and Dr. Mike. “By the way, Dr. Mike turned out to be a bust, so do you know any therapists in Preston?”
    “Sorry, no. My friend Carlos lives there though. He runs the New Mirage clinic. I can ask him for you.”
    “That would be great,” she said, then decided to take a stab at Plan B. “I was thinking, though, about what you said about the therapist needing to be someone David relates to…?”
    “Yes…?”
    “I’ve seen David talking with you in the garden and I know he likes you, so I was wondering if you’d consider maybe—”
    “Treating him? I don’t see clients, Christine. I told you that.”
    “It wouldn’t be official or anything. An informal chat, you know? Every few days maybe?”
    “Listen to me. I’m not who you want for your son. Period.” His words were abrupt, almost angry, which startled her.
    “Okay,” she said. “I guess I have a hard time with no.”
    “Yes, you do.” He shot her a brief smile to ease the moment. “I’m sure there are fine therapists in Preston.”
    “And plenty of quacks, too.”
    “Most therapists will set up a phone interview so you can assess their approach. You’ll find someone, I’m sure.”
    That was that. Worth a try, but no dice.
    Marcus went back to his guitar, playing something Celtic, fast and wild, the melody line flying from deep despair to soaring ecstasy.
    It was wonderfully distracting, she realized, and sank into the moment, the music, the man beside her. She smelled eucalyptus, the metallic scent of the river and traces of creosote. River toads were carrying on, croaking and chirping and groaning out their needs. Crickets rasped away from beneath the porch.
    Moonlight cascaded over the front yard, making it look exotic instead of dusty and abandoned as it had when she’d arrived. She felt better, she realized. “It’s nice out here, huh? I was so miserable as a kid, I never noticed.”
    “Home always seems different when we’ve changed.”
    She blinked. “Wow, good one. That was yours, right?”
    He shrugged.
    “I have changed, I guess. Grown up some anyway. Though around Aurora my thirty-five years seem to melt away.”
    She focused on Marcus’s fingers, so confident on the strings. There was that empty ring finger again. Was he seeing someone? It was only natural to wonder. “Do you get lonely way out here?” she asked. “I mean compared to L.A.?”
    “Why would I? There’s plenty to do.”
    “You can be busy and lonely at the same time, Marcus.”
    He didn’t respond, merely played something quieter.
    “I liked what Aurora said at dinner tonight. May we all find here what we need. ” She studied him. “What about you, Marcus? I know you’re working on a book and all, but why here?”
    He dropped his fingers from the strings and looked at her. “It was Carlos, I guess. I needed a quiet place and he thought I’d like Harmony House. The physical labor clears my head and at night I have the time and space to think and write. The stars are nice.” He looked up at the sky.
    She looked up, too. “Kind of scary,” she said. “All that space and blackness, the stars so tiny. It makes me feel small.”
    “Yeah?” When she looked over, he was watching her face.
    “What do you want from Harmony House? You’re here for your mother and David, I know, but what about for you?”
    “Me? I don’t know….” His close attention made her want to really think about her answer. “I want to make a difference here, make things better. I’m in advertising and I love when my work boosts a company’s profits, so I’d like that. Mainly it’s David I’m concerned about.”
    She scratched absently at her new mosquito bites. “I feel so at sea with him. In the old