Read Online I'll Be Home for Christmas by Fern Michaels - Free Book Online Page B

calling her again.”
    â€œI’ve done that. Her answering machine comes on. I know she’s there listening, but she won’t pick up. I told you, I don’t blame her.”
    â€œMaybe you could disguise yourself and ride up on a motorcycle with…someone’s animal and pretend…you know, it will get you in the door. She’ll have to listen if you’re face-to-face.”
    â€œSadie, that’s probably the worst idea you ever came up with. Andi Evans is an in-your-face person. She’ll call the cops. They already gave me a warning. I don’t want my ass hauled off to jail. They print stuff like that in the papers. How’s that going to look?”
    Sadie threw her hands up in the air. “Can you come up with a better idea?”
    â€œNo. I’m fresh out of ideas. I have to go home to shower and shave. Then I have to go to the office. I have a business to run. I’ll stop by on my way home from the office.” Peter kissed his grandmother goodbye, his face miserable.
    Sadie eyed the urn with Hannah’s ashes on the mantel. “Obviously, Hannah, I have to take matters into my own hands. Men are so good at screwing things up, and it’s always a woman who has to get them out of their messes. I miss you, and no, I’m not going to get maudlin. I now have a mission to keep me busy.”
    Sadie dusted her hands before she picked up the phone. “Marcus, bring the car around front and make sure you have my… things. Scotch Plains. The weather report said the roads are clear.” She replaced the receiver.
    â€œThey’re meant for one another. I know this in my heart. Therefore, it’s all right for me to meddle,” Sadie mumbled as she slipped into her faux fur coat. “I’m going to make this right or die trying.”
    îŠ¦
    Andi had the door of the truck open when she saw Gertie picking her way over the packed-down snow. “Gertie, wait, I’ll help you. If you tell me you walked all the way from Plainfield, I’m going to kick you all the way back. You’re too old to be trundling around in this snow. What if you fall and fracture your hip? Then what? Where’s your shopping cart?”
    â€œDonald’s watching it. I wanted to see Rosie and her pups. Can I, Andi?”
    â€œOf course. Listen, I have some errands to run. Do you want to stay until I get back? I can drive you home after that.”
    â€œWell, sure.”
    â€œRosie’s in the kitchen, and the tea’s still hot in the pot. Make yourself at home. I might be gone for maybe…three hours, depending on the roads. You’ll wait?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œGertie, don’t answer the phone.”
    â€œWhat if it’s a patient?” Gertie asked fretfully.
    â€œIf it is, you’ll hear it on the machine. Pick up and refer them to the clinic on Park Avenue. My offices are closed as of this morning. I called the few patients I have and told them.”
    â€œAll right.”
    â€œI’ll see you by mid-afternoon.”
    Ninety minutes later, Andi pulled her truck alongside Tom Finneran’s white Cadillac. “Oh, it’s wonderful, Tom! The snow makes it look like a fairyland. I love the old trees. Quick, show me around.”
    â€œEverything is in tip-top shape. Move-in condition, Andi. The owners’ things are packed up ready for the mover. All the walls and ceilings were freshly painted a month ago. There’s new carpet everywhere, even upstairs. Three bathrooms. A full one downstairs. Nice modern kitchen, appliances are six years old. The roof is nine years old and the furnace is five years old. The plumbing is good, but you do have a septic tank because you’re in the country. Taxes are more than reasonable. I have to admit the road leading in here is a kidney crusher. You might want to think about doing something to it later on. Fill the holes with shale or something. It’s a