Read Online Memory's Door (A Well Spring Novel) by James L. Rubart - Free Book Online

good.”
    Perry folded his arms and stepped back. “Do you still have feelings for him?”
    “They’re gone.” She turned and focused on a seagull flying low over the water to her right.
    “You’re sure?”
    A tinge of warmth spread across her face and she hoped Perry couldn’t see her blush. “Why is that so important?”
    “Because if we’re . . .” Perry took a sip of his champagne.
    “If we’re what? We’re friends, right? Taking it one day at a time? I thought we just had this conversation.”
    Perry squinted out over the sound toward Lopez Island. “True. My apologies. Your feelings or lack thereof toward Brandon should be none of my business. For now.” He glanced at her, then back to the island. “But if certain scenarios play out, it might become my business.”
    Once again her emotions whipped back and forth like a loose sail in a prevailing wind. She should feel good about Perry’s thinly veiled insinuations about their future. For the first time in . . . forever, she didn’t want a guy in her life. More important, she didn’t need a guy in her life. Which made her want to have someone in her life. It made no sense and all the sense in the world.
    “When’s the next time you’re going to see him?”
    “Tomorrow night at our Warriors Riding meeting.”
    “I see.” Perry sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
    What do you want? The Spirit spoke to her so softly she almost missed it.
    I want to love again. She turned and gazed over the water.
    Yes. I want that for you too. Is Perry the one?
    It was a question she should be asking the Spirit, not the other way around. Right? No, she knew the truth. Knew the answer because it was as clear as the cobalt sky above her.
    She turned and looked at Perry. “There’s nothing going on between us.” Nothing between her and anyone. Except for the gnawing feeling deep down inside that she wouldn’t even tell herself about. She took off her sunglasses once more. “And there never will be. I don’t think we should see each other again.”

    They didn’t speak on the way back to shore and their good-bye was short and tense. Where did she go from here? Not Perry. Certainly not Brandon. No way, never. If God truly wanted her to find love again he would have to create the painting of romance. Because as far as she could see, the canvas was utterly blank.
    Dana shifted her mind to the meeting tomorrow night and the strange line Doug’s cryptic e-mail portended for their meeting. “. . . when we meet you will go deeper than you’ve ever gone before.”
    It sounded like the gathering would be one to remember.

TEN
    R EECE FELT THE HANDS OF HIS WATCH ON S UNDAY , WISHING his meeting with Tamera was already over. Twenty minutes till she arrived. He had a feel for what she wanted to talk about, and the answer he would give her certainly wouldn’t be the one she wanted.
    He sat on his back deck, the late afternoon sun on his face, the image of what the maple trees looked like at this time of year filling his mind, leaves full of light from the sky turning them a more brilliant green, tiny veins weaving through their form. How he missed seeing them.
    Nineteen minutes later a knock came from the front of the cabin. Reece heard Doug invite Tamera in. A creaking came from the living room floor and Reece imagined the woman bouncing across the floor as if trying to burn off some of the perpetual energy she stored inside. Then closer, into the kitchen and out through the screen door that led onto the back deck. The shuffle of two pairs of shoes went silent.
    “Tamera is here to see you.”
    Reece turned to the sound of his voice. “Thanks, Doug.”
    “My pleasure.”
    Reece imagined his friend giving a slight bow, a smile, and a flick of his upturned hand toward Tamera that would have fit into eighteenth-century England like an ivory-colored glove. Tameraand everyone else who saw it wouldn’t understand it was Doug’s dry sense of humor on display for