Read Online Mine at Last by Celeste O. Norfleet - Free Book Online

other week is nonsense. So, I’ve gone natural and it feels fabulous.” She shook her head and flipped pretend hair over her shoulder.
    They laughed. “I know I’m a little bit early, but I couldn’t wait to see you.” They hugged again. “Hmm, something smells incredible. I stopped and grabbed wine and dessert.”
    “Perfect and perfect,” Pearl said, smiling. “Come on into the kitchen. I’m just finishing up dinner.”
    “What are we having?” Shauna asked.
    “All your favorites,” Pearl said.
    Shauna hugged her again. “Thank you, Pearl. I really needed to see a friendly face right now.”
    Pearl looked at her and nodded. “You’ve got that and all the love you can hold in your heart. Now, never mind about your day right now. We’ll talk about what’s troubling you in a minute. Right now, go upstairs and wash your hands and get ready to eat.”
    Shauna nodded and did exactly as she was told. When she returned to the kitchen, everything was ready, but Pearl wasn’t there. Shauna heard her humming out on the back deck. She walked over and stood at the screened door. Candle lanterns hung from the deck’s wooden beams and the joyous sound of wind chimes played music as the summer breeze blew.
    “It’s so beautiful here,” she said softly. She stepped outside and glanced at the house next door, her house. It was where she’d grown up. It was still very large but it looked different now. The trees were cut and trimmed shorter, the white siding she remembered was now tan, matching the new roof. The playhouse she’d helped build with her mother and father was gone and a gazebo was in its place. She sighed thinking, If only ...
    Pearl stepped up and placed her hand on her shoulder. “They’re nice people with two sons and a daughter. They love the home very much.”
    Shauna nodded. “I’m glad.” She looked out at the well-lit backyard garden with its fragrant, colorful flowers, large swimming pool, tall palm tree and privacy shrubs. “I always loved it here. When you took me in after mom died, I...” she began but stopped and took a deep breath.
    “You know I have plenty of room here still. There’s no one but me. Why don’t you go back to the hotel, get your things and then come stay with me? I’d love the company, and think of the money you’ll save.”
    “Thank you, Pearl. The Cura Group is putting me up, but I’ll tell you what, after I finish this job I’ll hang around the city a few more days. We can catch up.”
    Pearl smiled happily. “Yes, that sounds wonderful. I can think of a dozen things we can do. It’ll be like a mini vacation.”
    Shauna nodded. “I could use a mini vacation.”
    “Good. Now come on. Let’s eat before the food gets cold.”
    Shauna nodded and followed Pearl back inside. Lids came off pots and pans. Pearl had prepared a feast. They made their plates and went back outside on the screened-in deck to eat. By the time they finished eating, it was sunset and everything had been perfect. They each drank a glass of wine with dinner and sipped on sweetened sassafras tea with dessert.
    “God, I forgot how wonderful it is to just sit and watch the sunset over the bay.”
    “You need to slow down. Life isn’t a sprint—it’s a journey. Forget about chasing the hare, and take it easy and follow the tortoise. Too fast and you miss the best parts. To tell you the truth, I wish I had taken my own advice years ago. I wanted to be at the top of my field and I was for a very long time. I gave up family, surrendered relationships and passed on the love of my life just to be on top. Now retired, I look around and see my past mistake was traveling this journey by myself. Being alone is no fun.”
    “You have me,” Shauna said as she leaned forward, reaching across the table and squeezing her hand softly.
    “Yes, I do, and I need you to have someone.”
    Shauna sat back in her seat and exhaled. “Pearl, I blew the job today.” The words tumbled out of her mouth