Read Online Lost and Found Family by Leigh Riker - Free Book Online

another firm to remake her closet. No surprise.
    Emma tried to put this newest disappointment out of her mind. But if she didn’t succeed with Melanie’s project, there would certainly be more. Besides, Emma really wanted to help her.
    Maybe today she could even make amends with Grace.
    Emma turned from the stove. Bob’s tail had started to wag full speed. She must have heard a car in the drive. The dog’s ears pricked and now Emma could hear the sounds of doors closing, voices murmuring. By the time Grace and Rafe walked in, Bob’s whole body was quivering with joy.
    Grace fell to her knees and hugged the dog. Both faces were shining, and Emma smiled at what appeared to be a good start to the afternoon.
    Christian strolled into the kitchen and grinned. “I was going to take Bob for a walk but I see I’ve been replaced. Hey, baby.”
    Grace rose to her feet and went into his arms.
    â€œHi, Dad.” She kissed him soundly. “No one can replace you.”
    Half in the door, half out, Rafe stood there looking, as he always did, like he shouldn’t be here. Emma’s heart went out to him; as a newlywed, she’d felt the same way with Frankie. Like Rafe, she’d married into a much wealthier family than the one in which she’d grown up. She frowned. Christian hadn’t said a word to Rafe, only given him a quick nod, but then he rarely did, which pained Emma. She knew how it felt to be an outsider.
    Emma hugged her new son-in-law. With his lean build, and dark hair and eyes, it was no surprise that Grace had fallen for him. “I’ve made your favorite for dinner.”
    â€œThanks,” he said, shrugging out of his jacket.
    Emma turned to Christian. “Isn’t there a game on now? You two could watch the Vols play while Grace and I put the last touches on dinner.”
    Christian shot her a look. So much for the one-big-happy-family approach. Grace was ignoring her, too. Apparently this wasn’t going to be one of their normal Sunday gatherings, after all.
    Owen had always dispelled the awkwardness. Grace could ooh and ahh over his latest toy, and Rafe had chased him through the house or let him ride on his back, pretending to be a horse. Even Christian laughed as he watched them, forgetting to eye Rafe with suspicion.
    Today only the four of them were here. Two men who didn’t see eye to eye, two women with the specter of Grace’s words still between them.
    The lasagna tasted slightly burned to Emma, and the dinner rolls seemed chewy, as if she’d warmed store-bought ones in the microwave, which she hadn’t. Conversation around the table lagged, and she kept catching Rafe with a searching look in his eyes whenever he glanced at Grace. Or was Emma seeing her own expression?
    After dinner he insisted on helping with the dishes. Grace grabbed Bob’s leash and headed for the back door. “We’re going to take that walk,” she said. “Want to join us, Dad?”
    â€œI’ll catch up to you,” he said. Had he seen Rafe’s look, too? As soon as the door closed behind Grace and the dog, Christian crossed his arms over his chest and asked, “What’s going on?”
    â€œI’m not sure,” Rafe said. “The other day she came home and burst into tears. Wouldn’t tell me what was wrong. Every time I ask, she changes the subject. I know we’ve had a lot to do packing up my condo, staging it for sale, keeping everything neat for showings—”
    â€œI know what’s wrong,” Emma murmured. “We had a painful discussion at work.” She hesitated. “Grace blames herself for what happened at the barn.”
    â€œWhy?” Rafe’s brown eyes darkened. “There was nothing she could do. Nothing I could do, either,” he added, “though I wish I could have.”
    That left Emma.
    Christian’s face looked gray but he didn’t say a word.
    Rafe’s